Commercial Registration (Trade Registration) Services
by Experts
Every step handled by a professional team with over 30 years of experience
Registration for
shops, restaurants
and online stores
Advice
before registration
Filing documents
with the district office
or municipality
What Is Commercial Registration or Trade Registration?
Commercial registration is the formal registration process for certain commercial activities in Thailand. It is also commonly referred to as trade registration.
Who Must Complete Commercial Registration
Sole proprietors
Businesses with two or more co-investors that are not registered as a juristic person
Which Businesses Require Commercial Registration?
Online shops (Shopee, Lazada, Facebook, Website)
Restaurant / Cafe / Bar
General retail shops
Shops with a permanent place of business
Other Businesses That Provide Services
Businesses Exempt from Commercial Registration
1.
Services and Contract Work
- Making jewelry or gemstones for hire
- Contract manufacturing of goods or contract work of any kind
2.
Service Businesses
- Airline ticket booking
- Life insurance policy sales agents
- Bookkeeping and accounting services
“Businesses of this nature are considered services or contract work, so the law does not require them to obtain commercial registration.”
3.
Property Rental Businesses
- Renting out buildings for residential use
- Renting out warehouses for storing goods
- Renting out apartments on a daily or monthly basis (if not operating in the nature of a hotel)
Businesses of this nature are considered property rental, so they are not among those required to obtain commercial registration.
4.
Hawkers and Street Stalls
Hawkers and street stalls are not subject to the Commercial Registration Act B.E. 2499 (1956) under Section 7, so they do not need commercial registration.
What Do You Get from Commercial Registration (Trade Registration)?
- Customers feel more confident, because the commercial registration confirms that the business really exists and has a clear location. Buyers therefore trust that they will receive the goods they ordered, more than when buying from an unregistered shop.
- Online buyers can verify that the shop really exists. For shops that have electronic commercial registration and the DBD Registered mark, buyers can check with the Department of Business Development (DBD), which helps reduce concerns about fraudulent shops.
- It can be used as supporting evidence for loan applications. For people doing business as individuals without a regular salary, financial institutions often use the commercial registration when considering loans, from working capital and business expansion loans to home and car loans.
- You can apply to use the DBD certification marks. Shops with electronic commercial registration can request the DBD Registered mark to display on their website to show that they legally exist, and can apply for DBD Verified, which carries greater credibility, if the website meets the conditions and criteria of the DBD.
Commercial Registration (Trade Registration) Process
- Check whether the business meets the conditions that require commercial registration
- Prepare the form for submitting the commercial registration application
- Attach the supporting documents used for commercial registration
- Submit the commercial registration application together with the supporting documents
Documents Required for Commercial Registration
(Trade registration)
1. New Registration (Individual)
– Fill in application Form TP (commercial registration application)
– Copies of the ID card and house registration of the business operator
– Documents showing ownership of the business location, namely a copy of the house registration of the location, a copy of the house registration and a copy of the ID card of the location owner, a sale and purchase agreement, or a land title deed
– A letter of consent to use the premises if the premises are provided free of rent, or a lease agreement in the case of a lease (in the case of a lease, the lease agreement must bear stamp duty as required by law)
– A rough map showing the business premises and nearby places
– Photographs of the inside and outside of the business premises for commercial registration, or Facebook/website/Instagram for those selling products online who want electronic commerce registration
– A power of attorney with 10 baht of stamp duty affixed (if another person is authorized to act on your behalf)
2. Amending a Commercial Registration (Amending a Trade Registration)
Amendments to a commercial registration include changing the business objectives (discontinuing some, or adding new ones), changing the name used in the business, changing the manager, a change of address of the owner or manager, relocating the head office or adding a branch, increasing or decreasing capital, and correcting the website name.
2.1 Change of first name or surname
– Fill in Form TP, item 1
– Copy of the document showing the change of first name or surname
– Power of attorney (if authorizing another person)
2.2 Change of shop name
– Fill in Form TP, items 1 and 2
– Power of attorney (if authorizing another person)
2.3 Change of type of business (objectives)
– Fill in Form TP, items 1 and 3
– Power of attorney (if authorizing another person)
2.4 Change of the amount of capital used in the business
– Fill in Form TP, items 1 and 4
– Power of attorney (if authorizing another person)
2.5 Change of manager’s name
– Fill in Form TP, items 1 and 6
– Power of attorney (if authorizing another person)
2.6 Change of head office location
– Fill in Form TP, items 1 and 5 or 10, as the case may be
– Copy of the house registration of the head office or branch office location, as the case may be
– Copy of the national ID card and copy of the house registration of the property owner
– Documents showing ownership of the business location, such as a copy of the house registration of the location, a copy of the house registration and a copy of the ID card of the location owner, a sales contract, or a land title deed
– A letter of consent to use the premises if the premises are provided free of rent, or a lease agreement if the premises are rented (for a lease, the lease agreement must bear stamp duty as required by law)
– A map showing the location of the business premises and nearby places in brief
– Power of attorney (if authorizing another person)
3. Cancellation of Commercial Registration (Cancellation of Trade Registration)
When a business operator closes the business and wants to cancel the commercial registration
– Fill in Form TP, items 1, 2, 5, sign it, and submit it with the documents required for cancelling the commercial registration
– Commercial registration certificate (original)
– Copy of the national ID card and copy of the house registration of the business operator
– Power of attorney with a 10-baht stamp duty affixed (if authorizing another person to act on your behalf)
Where to File Commercial Registration (Trade Registration)
Time Limits for Commercial Registration (Trade Registration)
- Anyone operating a business that requires commercial registration must register within 30 days from the date the business starts.
- If there are changes to the commercial registration details, the registration must be made within 30 days.
- If the business is discontinued, the registration must be made within 30 days from the date the business ceases.
Operating a business that requires commercial registration, changing registered details, or discontinuing the business without registering is an offense subject to an administrative fine of not more than 2,000 baht, and if the failure to register continues, a further administrative fine of not more than 100 baht per day until the matter is corrected. - If the commercial registration certificate is lost, you must apply for a replacement within 30 days from the date of loss.
If the commercial registration certificate is lost and no request for a replacement is filed, an administrative fine of not more than 200 baht applies, and if the failure continues, a further fine of not more than 20 baht per day until the matter is corrected.
What Must You Do After Commercial Registration (Trade Registration)?
- Display the commercial registration certificate (or its replacement) at the office in an open and clearly visible place.
- If you do not display the commercial registration certificate or do not put up a shop name sign, you must pay an administrative fine of not more than 200 baht, and if it is still not corrected, an additional fine of not more than 20 baht per day until it is corrected.
- If you are ordered to have your commercial registration certificate revoked and still continue operating the business, the penalty is a fine of not more than 10,000 baht, or imprisonment of not more than 1 year, or both.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Are trade registration and commercial registration the same?
Yes, they are the same thing. The term trade registration is what people commonly say, while the correct legal name is commercial registration under the Commercial Registration Act. The document you receive is therefore called a commercial registration certificate (Form PK.0403). When dealing with government agencies or banks, using the term commercial registration makes communication clearer.
Do small shops need commercial registration?
It depends on the type of business and sales. Under the Ministry of Commerce Notification B.E. 2567 (2024), businesses that must register include, for example, selling goods or services online through Shopee, Lazada, Facebook or your own website. Buy-and-resell shops, such as grocery stores, producers who sell their own goods, rice mills, sawmills, and brokers or agents, must register when they sell 300 baht or more per day or have goods for sale totaling 10,000 baht or more.
Exempt businesses, such as hawkers and street stalls, certain types of contract work and certain types of service businesses, are described in full in the sections above on this page.
What documents are needed to register a shop as an individual?
For a new registration in the name of an individual, the main documents to prepare are as follows:
- Commercial registration application (Form TP)
- Copy of the business operator’s national ID card
- Copy of the business operator’s house registration
- Copy of the house registration of the property used as the shop location, with a letter of consent to use the premises or a lease agreement if it is not your own house
- Map showing the shop location
- For online sales, attach images of the online storefront and the website name or account used for selling
Details for each case (new registration, amendments and cancellation) can be found in the documents section above.
Within how many days must commercial registration be filed?
The application must be filed within 30 days from the date the business starts. If there are changes to the registered details, such as moving the shop, changing the shop name or closing the business, you must also notify within 30 days from the date of the change. Late filing or failure to file is subject to fines as prescribed by law.
Where do I file commercial registration, and how much is the fee?
You can file at the district office or municipality where the shop is located. In Bangkok, file at the district office; in other provinces, file at the municipality or Subdistrict Administrative Organization in the area.
The commercial registration fee for a new registration is 50 baht, while amendments and replacement certificates have separate rates for each item. This is a very low cost compared to the benefits received.
Can Greenpro KSP handle trade registration for me?
Yes. We provide a complete commercial registration and trade registration service covering every step, from checking whether your business is required to register, preparing documents and completing the application form, to filing with the agency on your behalf.
It is suitable for those who find it inconvenient to go to the district office themselves or are unsure which documents to prepare. Get a free consultation before you decide: call 094-864-9799
Interested in Our Commercial Registration Service
(Trade Registration)?
Contact Greenpro KSP Consulting Co., Ltd.
Address: 43 Thai CC Tower, 11th Floor, Room 111, South Sathorn Road, Yannawa, Sathorn, Bangkok 10120
Phone: 094 864 9799
LINE Official Account: @greenproksp
E-mail: surapa@greenproksp.com