Do I need a company to sell software or digital products online?
The problem“Every payment provider asks for a company. I’m one person testing an idea.”
Not to take card payments. With a Merchant of Record you sell courses, templates, software or services as an individual, because it is the legal seller. AgentaOS, Dodo Payments, Fungies, Polar and Gumroad say in their own docs that individuals can sell with no company; payouts are where they differ. At home you still declare the income, and your country may expect you to register as a sole trader once you sell regularly. Looking for a Stripe alternative as an individual? Pick one of these; unlike a plain payment account, they also handle VAT and sales tax.
Why don’t I need a company?
The Merchant of Record buys your product and resells it to the buyer, so the buyer’s invoice carries its name, not yours. You receive a payout and a self-billed invoice for your books.
“Consideration for the Products resold by Aristokrates OÜ as merchant of record”
Source: AgentaOS self-billed invoice
Which providers let individuals sell?
| Provider | Individuals, no company | Payouts | Per sale |
|---|---|---|---|
| AgentaOS | Yes | To your bank in 85+ countries | 4.5% + €0.50 |
| Dodo Payments | Yes: “You do not need a registered business” | USD, GBP or EUR, to listed countries | 4% + $0.40 (US cards) |
| Fungies | Yes: “Not necessarily, because we are the legal seller” | 110+ countries | 5% + $0.50 |
| Polar | Yes, personal accounts | Stripe Connect only, so a bank in a Stripe country | 5% + $0.50 |
| Gumroad | Yes, built for creators | Bank in about 90 countries, or PayPal | 10% + $0.50 |
| Lemon Squeezy | Not stated in its docs | Bank or PayPal | 5% + $0.50 |
| Paddle | Not stated in its docs | Wire or Payoneer, monthly | 5% + $0.50 |
| Creem | Not stated outright | Bank, Alipay (China) or USDC | 3.9% + $0.40 |
From each provider’s own docs and pricing page, checked 18 October 2026. “Not stated” means we found no clear answer, not a no: ask them before you build. AgentaOS is one of the providers listed.
What do I still need?
- Declare the income in your country; keep each payout statement and self-billed invoice.
- Check if you must register as a sole trader once sales are regular. Each country guide links the local rules we know about.
- Open a company later for liability, investors or large volumes, not to take your first payment.
What does each route cost in the first year?
| First year, all-in | AgentaOS | Stripe, existing company | Stripe + new US company | Stripe + new EU company |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Card and payout fees | €1,725 | €678 | €1,110 | €678 |
| Subscription billing | Included | €168 | €168 | €168 |
| Tax registration and filing abroad | Included | €960 | €1,080 | €960 |
| Company and accountant | Not needed | Already have one | €1,799 | €2,443 |
| Your time | 9.5h · €285 | 42h · €1,260 | 60h · €1,800 | 68h · €2,040 |
| Total first year | €2,010 | €3,066 | €5,957 | €6,289 |
First year, selling €2,000 a month (€50 average, half the buyers abroad, subscriptions). Your time (setup, invoicing, tax and bookkeeping each month) valued at €30 an hour. Sources: each provider’s pricing page; company and accountant costs from Stripe Atlas, the State of Delaware, e-resident.gov.ee and enty.io, as on our cost calculator. Existing company: no setup costs; time covers setting up Stripe, Billing and Tax and about 3 hours a month of reconciling payouts, invoices, disputes and tax returns (our estimate).
All-in, the first year costs about €2,010 with AgentaOS. With Stripe it is about €3,066 if you already have a company, and €5,957 to €6,289 if you open one abroad. Stripe’s card fees are lower; tax filing abroad, subscription billing, the company and accountant, and the hours you spend running payments every month are what make the difference.
What should I avoid?
- Forming a US LLC just to get StripeIt costs $400 a year in Delaware tax plus a yearly IRS Form 5472, before your first sale.
- Not keeping recordsTax offices ask for proof of foreign income; North Macedonia’s UJP sent letters about it in December 2025.
Where does AgentaOS fit?
AgentaOS accepts individuals and companies and pays out to banks in 85+ countries. Check yours.
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Related questions
What is a good Stripe alternative for individuals without a company?
A merchant of record that accepts individuals: AgentaOS, Dodo Payments, Fungies, Polar or Gumroad, according to their own docs. As the legal seller, each also charges and files the VAT and sales tax on your sales. Check where each pays out before you choose: Polar pays only through Stripe Connect, so you need a bank in a Stripe country.
Can I sell services as an individual?
Yes, fixed-price packages once approved.
Which merchants of record accept individuals without a company?
AgentaOS, Dodo Payments, Fungies, Polar and Gumroad say so in their own docs. Polar pays out only through Stripe Connect, so you need a bank in a Stripe country. Paddle, Lemon Squeezy and Creem do not state it clearly, so ask them.
Can you sell from your country?
Pick your country. See how you get paid, what it costs and which platforms work there.
86 countries, checked 6 October 2026No company needed