ChannelEngine: common marketplace seller requirements (KYC requirements)
About this article
This article describes the most common requirements marketplaces ask of sellers, also known as Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Before you can establish an API connection via ChannelEngine with a given marketplace, you must first qualify as a seller on that marketplace and provide essential documentation to the marketplace. When onboarding as a new seller on a marketplace, the marketplace may send you recurring requests related to Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements. Marketplaces are legally obligated to verify the identity and legitimacy of the businesses they work with. As a result, they often request specific documents and information before allowing sellers to go live, the so-called KYC requirements.
The information in this article is meant to help you prepare to meet KYC requirements in advance of the marketplaces' requests, avoid delays during onboarding, and ensure a smooth setup process. Please note that exact requirements may vary depending on the marketplace, region, and type of business, but the information below reflects the typical patterns that ChannelEngine sees across its global marketplace network.
Identity verification
Marketplaces must confirm the identity of all relevant business stakeholders, including owners, legal representatives, and ultimate beneficial owners (UBOs).
You may be asked to provide:
- A valid Proof of Identity (POI) for all relevant individuals, such as:
- Passport
- Driver’s license
- Government-issued photo ID card
- The name on the account must match the name on the identity document.
- In some cases, a proof of UBO structure (ownership chart) or an official extract from the Chamber of Commerce may be required.
Company information
To verify your company’s legal existence, marketplaces commonly request:
- Business registration certificate
- Chamber of Commerce extract
- VAT/TAX registration number
- Official company address (corresponding to the country of VAT registration)
This information ensures that the seller profile matches a registered and legitimate business entity.
Bank account verification
Marketplaces often perform checks to confirm that your bank account belongs to your registered business.
Typical requirements include:
- A recent bank statement showing the company name and IBAN (or equivalent).
- For some marketplaces (e.g.: eBay), microdeposits may be sent to your bank account.
- These small test deposits may take 3–5 business days to appear in your account.
- Once received, you may need to verify the amounts in the marketplace’s seller portal to confirm account ownership.
Letter of authorization (if applicable)
Some marketplaces, such as eBay, may request a Letter of Authorization (LoA) when someone other than the legal contact will manage the seller account.
This letter must be issued and signed by the legal representative of the company.
It should clearly state that the designated secondary contact is authorized to act on behalf of the business for marketplace matters.
Additional information for marketplace setup
When setting up your stores on marketplaces, you may also need to provide the following:
- Seller/store name (you can adjust this per marketplace store)
- Company email address
- Credit card number and expiration date (for billing or subscription fees)
- Billing address associated with the credit card
- Bank account details (can be set per store)
- VAT/TAX number
- Registered business address
- For bol: Activity code – SBI Code (Netherlands) or NACE Code (Belgium)
To sell on any US-based marketplace, the following seller requirements apply to you as well:
- US Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN)
- US-based warehouse
- Ability to process returns
- Customer service available by email, at a minimum
Summary checklist
To ensure a smooth KYC and onboarding process, please have the following ready:
| Category | Required information/documents |
| Identity | Valid passport, driver’s license, or government ID of legal representative(s) and/or UBO(s) |
| Company | Business registration, Chamber of Commerce extract, VAT/TAX certificate |
| Bank account | Bank statement in the company name, possible microdeposit verification (eBay) |
Authorization |
Signed Letter of Authorization from legal representative |
| Marketplace setup | Store name, email, credit card details, billing address, bank account, VAT number, business address, activity code (bol) |
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