To start your e-commerce journey in Saudi Arabia systematically, you need 3 essential things: either a Freelance Document (free and suitable for individuals) or a Commercial Registry (for institutions), after which you verify your store on the Business Platform of the Saudi Business Center. The great thing is that Salla supports both options, and you can activate integrated payment gateways and receive your payments (Mada, Visa, Apple Pay) with only the freelance license, without needing to open a commercial registry or go to banks, and it is linked to more than 100 shipping companies.

Imagine with Me

Imagine you are excited to start your project; you have chosen the products, designed the logo, and are ready to launch. But suddenly you stop in front of the computer screen and ask yourself: "Where do I start legally? Do I need a commercial registry and pay fees? How can I receive money from customers? Do payment gateways accept me as an individual?" And you find yourself drowning in a loop of old articles and conflicting information that makes you postpone your dream month after month.

Where is the Problem?

The problem is not the difficulty of the procedures, the problem is the "dispersed information". Many beginners believe that e-commerce requires large capital, establishing a company, and paying thousands of riyals for licenses and banks even before they sell their first product. This misconception makes some start systematically incorrectly (and face violations), or withdraw completely. While the truth is that systems in Saudi Arabia have developed amazingly and now support individuals to start from scratch with the lowest cost and in the fastest time.

What is the Solution?

The solution starts with choosing the path that suits your current size. If you are an individual working from home, the Freelance Document is your golden ticket. And if you are an institution or have a warehouse and store, the Commercial Registry is your path. In both cases, the Salla platform was designed to shorten the path for you. Once you issue your document and verify your store on the Business Platform, you can open your store on Salla and activate payment gateways directly with a click of a button. No need to go to a bank, or sign contracts with external payment companies. Salla gives you an integrated solution that receives your money and transfers it to your account securely, letting you focus on the most important thing: selling.

And the best part? 1 out of 2 people in Saudi Arabia has previously bought from a store on Salla. This means from day one your store is on a platform trusted by the buyer, and customer data is securely saved, making the purchasing experience faster and conversion higher. And do not forget that Salla provides you with free marketing via Mahally, meaning you can market your products without paying a percentage to anyone, unlike platforms that share your profits.

And if you are starting for the first time and feel you need support, Salla provides you with an integrated community of merchants and service providers—meaning more experiences to benefit from, and services at competitive prices, all without leaving the platform. Salla is a platform with you from zero to billions; it starts simple with you, and as you grow, you find ready-to-use tools to support your growth.

How Does It Work? (Practical Steps)

To start your business today, here are the steps simply:

• Determine your legal path: Issue a "Freelance Document" for free from the platform (freelance.sa) if you are an individual, or issue a "Commercial Registry" from the Ministry of Commerce if you are an institution.

• Verify your store: Log in to the "Business Platform" (business.sa) and link your bank account to the freelance document or commercial registry to verify your store systematically.

• Open your store on Salla: Register on Salla, choose your plan, and start designing your store and adding your products.

• Activate payment gateways: From the Salla dashboard, activate electronic payments directly (Mada, Visa, Apple Pay, Tabby, Tamara) based on the freelance document or commercial registry, without any external contracts.

• Link shipping and launch: Choose from more than 100 shipping companies ready and linked on Salla, and receive your first orders.

An Example from Market Reality

Noura, an employee in the private sector, dreamed of opening a store to sell specialty coffee. After learning that a commercial registry does not conflict with her job, she discovered she could issue a "Freelance Document" for free. In less than 24 hours, she issued the document, verified her store on the Business Platform, and opened her store on Salla. Most importantly, she was able to activate electronic payment (Apple Pay and Mada) directly with the freelance document, and began receiving orders and payments smoothly, all from home and without paying company establishment fees.

When Do You Need It?

You need to know and apply these requirements if:

• You are hesitant to start because you are afraid of legal complications.

• You are selling via Instagram or WhatsApp and want to shift to a professional and reliable store.

• You want to provide your customers with secure payment methods (Apple Pay, credit cards, Tabby, Tamara) instead of manual bank transfers that cause half of the orders to be lost.

Remote Control

As the founder of your store, Salla gives you a full financial control panel. You can track all payment transactions and know when amounts are transferred to your bank account (whether it is an individual account with a freelance document or an institutional account). Everything is transparent and demonstrated in front of you, and you can manage your business from your mobile wherever you are.

Hint

Hint: Do not forget that buyer trust starts from verifying your store. When the customer sees that your store is verified on the "Business Platform" and offers secure payment methods via Salla—which is the platform that 1 out of 2 people in Saudi Arabia has previously purchased from—their order completion rate increases significantly. Trust is the fastest way to increase sales.

The Bottom Line

Starting e-commerce in Saudi Arabia has become easier than ever. You do not need complications; a freelance document, verification on the Business Platform, and a store on Salla. This trio saves you months of research and effort, providing you and your customers with a secure, legal, and reliable buying and selling experience. Salla is with you from zero to billions—it grows with you and supports your growth at every step.

What Are You Waiting For?

Do not let procedures stop your dream. Issue your document today, and start your business with Salla, which provides you with integrated payment gateways that accept the freelance document, free marketing with 0 commissions, an integrated community of merchants and service providers, 24/7 technical support, and full protection of your rights as a merchant. Create your store now and let us help you in your first steps to success.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I activate payment gateways, including Tabby and Tamara, in Salla using only the freelance document?

Yes, absolutely. Once you verify your store using the freelance document on the Business Platform, you can activate electronic payments in Salla (Mada, Visa, Apple Pay, Tabby, Tamara, etc.) and receive your funds directly without the need for a commercial registry.

What is the basic difference between the Commercial Registry and the Freelance Document for the store?

The freelance document is free and suitable for individuals who work from home and does not require a physical location. While the commercial registry has annual fees and is mandatory if you have a commercial location (store or warehouse) or if you want to establish a company/institution.

Does Salla take a percentage of my sales after activating payments?

No, Salla does not take a percentage of your sales. Salla applies flat transaction fees (only one Riyal on every sales transaction) regardless of the order value, unlike other platforms that share your profits and take a percentage.