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How to start a e-commerce store in Alabama
Sell physical products online via Shopify, Amazon, Etsy, or your own site.
Recommended structure
LLC
Typical startup cost
$500 – $10,000
State
Alabama
Step-by-step
- 1Form an LLC and get an EIN
- 2Apply for a sales tax permit / resale certificate in your state
- 3Open a business bank account
- 4Set up Shopify, WooCommerce, or your platform of choice
- 5Connect Stripe or your payment processor
- 6Register a DBA if you're selling under a different brand name
Licenses & permits you'll likely need
- Sales tax permit / resale certificate
- General business license
- Home occupation permit (if shipping from home)
Exact requirements vary by city and county. Confirm locally before you operate.
Insurance
- • General liability
- • Product liability
Tax notes
You owe sales tax in any state where you have nexus (physical presence or significant sales). Use TaxJar or Avalara to automate.
Business banking
You need a business bank account to accept Stripe/Shopify payouts cleanly. Get this set up before your first sale.
Official Alabama filing links
File LLC / Corp with Alabama
Alabama Secretary of State
Search business name
Confirm your name is available
Alabama Department of Revenue
State tax registration
Apply for an EIN (IRS)
Free federal tax ID
Build your personalized plan
We'll generate a Alabama-specific checklist for your e-commerce store and walk you through every step.
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