A few questions

Accounting & Taxes
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Topic summary

Topic: A 16-year-old in the Czech Republic wants to start a dropshipping store (Shopify) under a parent’s name and asks about legal setup, billing, taxes, IP checks, fees, and refunds. Dropshipping = selling without holding inventory; supplier ships directly. Shopify = e‑commerce platform.

Guidance provided:

  • Setup: Parent should create the Shopify account in their name and register their credit card for billing. Minor can handle product research, store design, listings, and order processing; parent manages legal/financial duties.
  • Compliance: Consult an accountant/legal expert for taxes and required registrations. Costs include Shopify fees, domain, marketing, and possible legal advice.
  • IP checks: Use PatentGuru plus official databases—EUIPO (EU trademarks/designs) and WIPO (international coverage).
  • Refunds: Manage returns via Shopify’s backend and publish a clear refund policy to reduce disputes.

Latest updates / open questions:

  • Clarification requested on whether the parent’s credit card is needed only at initial signup or also again for store billing later.
  • How EUIPO works: whether it’s sufficient for checks and practical steps to use it.

Status: Discussion is ongoing; follow-up questions remain unanswered.

Summarized with AI on December 20. AI used: gpt-5.
1

Hello,

My name is Nico i am from Czech republic (EU) and I will soon turn 16 years old.

I heard about dropshipping about 9 months ago, and i started getting info about it.

I want to start my store when i am 16, but I still have a lot of questions to ask and a lot things to make sure of.

At first, because dropshipping is age restricted to 18 years, my parents have to create it for me.

What would mom fill out by herself, and what could i do by myself?

Do parents have to register their credit card?

What do i have to do (pay) to assure, that my mom won’t have any trouble? I want a realistic answer, because my mom has got already a lot on her plate.

If my store would be registered on her name, what things can i do by myself and what things does my mom need to do?

Do I have to get some permission, or better said, does my mom need to get some permission to start a dropshipping store? My mom is an entepreneur. Maybe that’s enough, but i would like to be sure.

What about taxes? What taxes do i need to pay, or should I at first make some money and hire an accountant to do it for me?

When it comes to patents, tell me is this website - https://www.patentguru.com/ for all over the world?

What about trademarks and copyrights, is there a website so i can be sure that i am not stealing someone’s brand name?

Is there anything else i have to pay?

What about refunds? How do you clear that? Does an email come an say ‘’ i want a refund ‘’ ? I would like to know, because I don’t want some people then to be unsatisfied or maybe even sue me or sue my mom. And that’s where i get to my point. I am very proud of my mom, and I would like to help her, not cause her more trouble.

I know i have the potential to be a multi-milionaire, and if i would wait 2 more years so i would be 18, it would be much harder to staret, because of the competition that would be there.

I would really appreciate a PRECISE answer to all of my questions,

Thank you in the advance,

Hope y’all have a great day :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:

Nico Weber

2

@Nico_19

Hi Nico,

It’s great that you’re thinking ahead about starting a dropshipping store. Since you’re under 18, your mom would need to set up the Shopify account in her name, including registering her credit card for billing. You can manage tasks like product research, store design, adding products, and handling orders, while your mom would take care of legal and financial aspects.

Given that your mom is already an entrepreneur, she might have the necessary business registrations, but it’s essential to consult an accountant or legal expert to ensure everything is in order, especially regarding taxes. For checking patents, trademarks, and copyrights, you can use resources like PatentGuru, but also check official databases such as EUIPO for Europe or WIPO for international coverage. Refunds typically involve customers emailing for returns, which you can manage through Shopify’s backend.

Just ensure your refund policy is clear to avoid any issues. Besides Shopify’s monthly fees, plan for costs like marketing, domain registration, and potential legal consultations. Starting now is a smart move, but make sure it doesn’t place too much burden on your mom. Best of luck with your store!

3

Hello,

At first, I highly appreciate your answer.

Sorry for being annoying, but i got 2 more and last questions to ask.

  1. Does my moms credit card need to be added just at the start when you are paying for shopify, or does she then later have to put her card info again, when setting up the store billing?

  2. How exactly does EUIPO work? I mean is Euipo all i need? If yes, could you quickly tell me how to use it?

I know that sounds stupid, but i want to make sure.

Thank you,

Regards,

Nico Weber