LinkBack URL
About LinkBacks
Opening a Merchant account without having a KITAS
We are opening a business in bali and we need
the possibility that the customer can pay with their credit card details via internet/phone
and
we need a credit card swipe machine for customer who want to pay when they are onsite in BALI
We have no Kita's and are in Bali on a Tourist Visa - Extend it every month.
We have a Nominee (like everybody) who is the "owner" of the business.
Somebody can advice?
Try with your nominee. As for you on a tourist visa absolutely no chance. You are already breaking the law by operating a business which is working and you cannot do on a tourist visa and you are looking to compound the problem even further.
If your company can make money do it legally and you can then get a KITAS visa and open both private and business accounts.
You asked for advice
Regards Jimbo
I have to agree with Jimbo here, you are on tourist visa, operating a business. You are looking for big problems.Originally Posted by Jimbo
But surely it depends. If you are investing in a business which employs people to operate it, then you are not "working" so there is no visa problem.
But then you may argue, that by getting involved in opening bank accounts you seem to getting involved in the management which would be work. On the other hand you may be just taking an interest in your investment.
This would be interesting to find out more about.
If I buy half shares in a shoe shop in Darwin and pay any taxes that come up but never work a day in the shop do I need a work permit?
If I buy shares in Bank of America (apart from being stupid) I don't need a work permit.
If I own a share of a Balinese business and pay my taxes do I need a work permit? I think not, but who knows?
No really, who knows?
the company is not in his name, it's registered on an a balinese name (nominee) with I hope for him solid contracts :)
But I believe he has no contracts between him and his nominee, since he himself is asking "who's the owner". What kinda business is it, a UD,CV,PT?
but that put aside...
for your website, gonna cost you about $100 up front and alot of time opening a credit card merchant account (account wich you don't have yet) and getting a SSL certificate for your own secure website.
In my humble opinion, in your situation it's maybe better to use paypal in the beginning but that does rule out the option of accepting payments by phone, or CC-swipe on site.
The swipe machine is like Jimbo said impossible to get without a merchant's account agreement, but this being said...the merchant account does not have to be on Bali/Indonesia.
Markit...I have alot of 'shares' in several kinda businesses on Bali from the local warung to a radiostation..
I don't pay taxes since that's the resposibility of the owner (wich is not me) I do also not generate income from this, just an annual return of investment (without profit/interest). And I am not breaking any laws, even if I did all this on a tourist or sosbudvisa ;)
don't read between the lines..i think the words are clear enough...:)
Thanks Gil, kinda what I thought but it's nice to have it confirmed.
PayPal
PayPal? Try finding an Indo bank that works with PayPal. We've just gone through the whole PT creation process, we also have a business PayPal account which when we inquire at any branch of any Bank as to whether or not we can link our corporate PayPal to an account we are met with vacant stares.
Everything you require will have to be done through the name of your Nominee, before you do, lock down those contracts. You are basically bankrolling a local to start a business under their name but you will be 'employed' with KITAS to act in an advisory, consulting role. We set all our local bank stuff up here in one day with BNI. I returned there the next day to see the same official who then refused to issue me with a copy of company / Bank contract as he would only give it to our nominee, such is life.
If you wish to have an online store option, we are setting one up, you need what is called an Internet Payment Gateway, IPG, which is pretty much a third party service that works with banks to provide bank clients with Credit Card clearance services. Thus far we have found that it is cheaper to set that up here to begin with. This is due to the fact that no one works with PayPal. We have been accepted for an IPG through BNI which costs around US$1000 to set up. Believe me, we tried everything to find a way to get this working here but no way.
As this is our first year though we are not expecting to go through any great shakes on turnover etc so we are not that bothered with having everything set up financially in Bali. If that becomes an issue we will look towards either Singapore or HK to set things up there but respectively require $10k and $12k to set up there what we have set up in Bali for a fraction of that cost.
Cheers,
Cam.
@ Markit, you're welcome buddy :)
@ Canonman...
like I said the merchant account doesn't have to be in Indonesia (Indonesian Bank)..
What is an internet merchant account?
It’s an account with a bank that allows you to process credit cards online.
below from paypal's website...
a Great way to accept credit card payments.
Our easiest, most popular way to accept credit card payments is a product called Website Payments Standard. You can literally create a payment button in about 15 minutes with no programming skills required.
Higher-volume businesses prefer Website Payments Pro. It's a more sophisticated way to accept credit card payments and provides the convenience of an internet merchant account and gateway all in one. You also get low, simple pricing and one point of contact for questions and support.
See which credit card processing solution is right for your business.
Looking for an easy, affordable way to accept credit cards?
Try Website Payments Standard, here's why:
•No advanced programming required
•Works with most popular shopping carts
•No monthly fees and no setup or cancellation fees
•You only pay a small percentage of each payment you receive
•Built-in fraud screening at no additional charge
here's a link.... https://merchant.paypal.com/cgi-bin/...dard&nav=0.3.3
don't read between the lines..i think the words are clear enough...:)
Yeah Canonman I'm also kind of mystified by the lengths you've gone to to get a credit card payment scheme set up. I'm not doubting your abilities or what you say I just think there must be more to it than I am understanding.
From my own experience, in your place I would set up a website with a paypal option paying into your western bank account and then, presuming you need the money in Bali, I would set up a standing transfer to my Indo bank account.
Haven't done it yet but that is the way I would go at it - why didn't you? Please don't misunderstand I'm not pulling your wire I would really like to know where the misunderstanding lies.
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
