"A small online shop doesn't need registering" and 6 other beliefs moms should know about before opening their first shop

It’s often when your kids are little that the thought of earning your own income comes knocking. Some moms want to be with their kids as much as possible, some because one income for the household is getting tight, and many simply want something that’s “theirs” again.

The first question that follows is “can I really do this?” Our answer: yes, you can. But before you start, there are 7 beliefs you’ll hear a lot. If you believe the wrong ones, you may wear yourself out for nothing, lose money, or even break the law without realizing it.

Belief 1: “I have to wait until the kids are older before I can start”

The truth: You don’t have to wait, but you do have to start at a size your time can handle.

Moms who run a business while raising little kids mostly don’t have more time than anyone else. They’re just good at using the short stretches of time they already have, such as a 1 to 2 hour daytime nap or after the kids go to bed.

Before you start, try this:

1. For 1 week, note when you’re really free and have enough energy to think
2. Add it up into hours per week. For most people it’s about 5 to 10 hours
3. Choose a business you can run in that many hours, not a dream business that needs 8 hours a day

Belief 2: “I need a big lump sum of startup money first”

The truth: Most moms’ first businesses start from skills they already have, with as little money as possible.

Before you put money into stock or pretty packaging, first check whether people will actually pay.

• Sell knowledge or a service, such as online tutoring, graphic design, translation or bookkeeping. Almost zero startup cost
• Pre-orders: gauge interest first, take a deposit, then make the product. No stock to carry
• Sell to a small group first: friends, family, moms’ groups. If this group doesn’t buy again, strangers will be even harder

Give yourself about 90 days, then look at the one number that matters most: do customers come back and buy again?

Belief 3: “A small online shop doesn’t need registering”

The truth: It does. Anyone selling goods or services through a website, social media or online platform must do electronic commerce registration within 30 days of the day they start selling.

This is the one people misunderstand most. Many think that selling only on Facebook or Line (the messaging app most people in Thailand use) doesn’t count. But under the Commercial Registration Act, selling through any internet channel counts as a commercial activity that must be registered, and not registering can bring a fine.

The good news is that registering is much easier than you’d think:

• Where: a district office in Bangkok, or the municipality or subdistrict office (อบต.) in other provinces (some areas let you apply online)
• What you need: your ID card, and a screenshot of your shop or the page you sell from
• After registering: you can request the DBD Registered mark from the Department of Business Development to display on your page, which helps customers trust you more

Belief 4: “If my income is under 1.8 million, I don’t need to bother with tax”

The truth: 1.8 million baht a year is only the VAT registration threshold. Every baht of income from selling must be declared for personal income tax.

Here it is side by side:

What	Who it applies to
Personal income tax	Everyone with income must file a return every year (after expenses and allowances, you may not have to pay anything)
Value added tax (VAT) registration	When sales income goes over 1.8 million baht a year

What to do from day one: open a separate bank account for the shop and record income and expenses every month. If you’re not sure, go and talk to your local Revenue office or an accountant once. It’s much better than having to fix things later.

Belief 5: “If I make it at home and sell to friends, I don’t need product permits”

The truth: Some types of products need permission before going on sale, whether you sell a lot or a little.

Things moms often make to sell that you need to check first:

• Cosmetics, soap, creams, body oils must be notified to the Thai FDA (อย.) before going on sale
• Food, snacks, drinks: many types need a Thai FDA number or food registration number, depending on the type and how it’s made
• Baby products and toys: some types have safety standards they must pass

Especially if it’s something that goes on children’s skin or in their mouths, it needs to be done properly, because that’s the trust other moms are placing in you.

Belief 6: “Moms who are great at business do everything themselves”

The truth: Most moms who go far have systems and people helping them. They don’t do everything alone.

• Batch your time, for example photograph the whole week’s products on Monday and pack orders on Wednesday, rather than mixing everything together every day
• Use tools: scheduled posts, auto-reply messages, an order system
• Agree with the people at home on 2 hours without interruptions on some days
• Know when to hire. Tasks you’re slow at and don’t enjoy, like bookkeeping or packing orders, are the first to hand off once income allows

Belief 7: “If I feel guilty about not being with my child all the time, it means I shouldn’t do this”

The truth: Guilt is normal for almost every working mom, and it doesn’t mean you’ve made the wrong choice.

Your child gets to see a mom who dares to try something she cares about, and mom gets a space of her own. The rest is about clear boundaries, like no phone at dinnertime, or closing the shop on Sundays. And on days when you’re too tired, rest. Resting is part of running a business too.

A first-30-days checklist for moms who want to start

Quick Answer: Start small, do it properly, then see whether people buy again.

1. Count your real free hours per week
2. Choose 1 product or service you can manage in that time
3. Check whether the product needs any permits
4. Test-sell to a small group, or open pre-orders
5. Do electronic commerce registration within 30 days of starting to sell
6. Open a separate bank account for the shop
7. Record income and expenses every month

We go deeper into each of these in the Mamapreneur section, from time management and starting to sell online from scratch to the stories of moms who built brands from home. Take your time and read one at a time.