Why does eBay ask business sellers to distinguish themselves as businesses?
Every business seller has a legal obligation to be clear to their buyers in their eBay listings that they are operating as a business.

Registering as a business means information such as your business address and returns policy can be displayed in all of your listings (see below) and allows buyers who prefer the increased legal protection they enjoy when buying from a business to quickly and easily distinguish between private and business sellers.

What if I don't register as a business, even though I'm trading?
The Unfair Commercial Practices Directive makes it an offence to falsely represent yourself as a consumer. If you don't declare yourself as a business on eBay when you are in fact trading, you'll be breaking the law. So the business registration process helps you comply with the law by making it clear to consumers on every listing that you are in fact a business.

• Register a new business account
• Upgrade to a business account

Do business sellers pay different fees?
Under the pricing scheme introduced in 2008, business registered sellers can qualify for a discount on eBay fees, provided they meet a number of criteria.

How do I decide whether I'm operating as a business?
For most business sellers it should be obvious – if you're operating as a business in the real world, and your eBay selling activities are connected with this business, then you should register as an eBay business.

But if you're not sure…

Choose a business account if you:

• sell items that you have bought to resell
• make items yourself and sell them, intending to make a profit
• are a Trading Assistant
• buy items for your business on eBay

Choose a private account if you:

• sell items that belong to you and that you don't need anymore
• buy things for your personal use

If you're in any doubt, please contact your legal advisor to find out whether you're operating as a business. Remember, it's your own responsibility to make sure that all your business activities, both on and off eBay, comply with the law.

What if I use the same account for business and private selling?
We recommend that you use one account for business selling (registered as a business account) and one account for private selling (registered as a private account). This has the added benefit of making it easy for you to report your business activities and expenses to the tax authorities, should you find you need to do this. See more information on Tax.

What are the legal obligations of business sellers?
You can read up on your obligations in the eBay Business Centre:

• Learn about laws surrounding listings and items
• Learn about laws surrounding returns
• Learn about tax and your eBay sales

What are the advantages of registering as a business?
Aside from ensuring you comply with the law, business registration also means you can:

• provide eBay with your VAT identification number and qualify for VAT-exempt seller fees
• register with a company name. Your company name and brand can be displayed in all communications with your buyers, such as invoices, helping to increase brand awareness
• receive regular business newsletters and communications from eBay
• access our free New Business team support line when you register
• participate in the PowerSeller programme
• be eligible to qualify for a discount on eBay fees, provided you meet the relevant criteria

I'm a PowerSeller. Will I automatically be considered a business seller?
If you're a PowerSeller, you need to be registered as a business from 20th July 2008 in order to keep enjoying the benefits of being a PowerSeller. Upgrade to a business account now.

How does business registration affect my listings?

• Business sellers display "Account type: Business" in the section containing their eBay Member Profile.
  
  
  
• The law requires business sellers to display the geographic address at which their business is established. On eBay, business sellers must supply this address at one of the following locations:
  1. On the View Item page in the Business Seller information section
  2. On the About Me page
  3. On a custom Shops page that is no more than one click away from the main Shop
• This enables you to comply with the law, which requires you to provide contact details on your listing when selling as a business to a consumer.
  
  
• It also enables buyers to distinguish between private and business sellers and choose to purchase from business sellers to take advantage of the increased legal protection they enjoy when buying from a business. Buyers can search listings by seller type.