To launch an ecommerce business in Italy, you need to fulfill specific administrative obligations, including filing a Certified Notice of Start of Business (SCIA), which officially notifies the relevant municipality that you’re starting a business. Let’s look at what a SCIA is, how it applies to ecommerce businesses, in what cases it’s required, and how to file it online.

What’s in this article?

• What is a SCIA?
  
• Are ecommerce businesses required to file SCIAs?
  
• What’s the point of a SCIA for an ecommerce business?
  
• When should you file a SCIA for an ecommerce business?
  
• How to file a SCIA for an ecommerce business
  
• How to fill out a SCIA form online
  

What is a SCIA?

A SCIA for commercial activities is a notice that should be submitted to the One Stop Shop for Business Activities (SUAP) of the municipality that your business is based in or that you live in.

Article 19 of Law 241/90 created the SCIA to streamline the administrative process of starting a business. As soon as a SCIA is filed, you can start operating your business—whereas in the past, the wait could last weeks, or even months.

Are ecommerce businesses required to file SCIAs?

An ecommerce business is considered a commercial activity in all respects, meaning filing a SCIA is typically required. More specifically, it’s required if:

• Online sales are the business’s main activity.
  
• The ecommerce business sells food:
  
  • If the business sells food online, it must file a health SCIA along with the administrative SCIA, as required under EC Regulation No 852/2004.
    
• It’s a business-to-business (B2B) ecommerce business.
  
• The online shop is open more than 30 days per year (i.e., it isn’t temporary):
  
  • If the online shop operates for fewer than 30 days a year, it’s considered a temporary shop—an occasional activity—and doesn’t require a value-added tax (VAT) number or a SCIA.
    

You don’t need to file a SCIA for an ecommerce business if the online activity supports an existing retail business that was already reported to the SUAP and it involves the same goods as the primary business.

What’s the point of a SCIA for an ecommerce business?

A SCIA serves various purposes for an ecommerce business, including:

• To inform the municipality that the business is starting to sell products or services online
  
• To allow the business to start operating immediately, without having to wait for any authorizations
  
• To ensure that the business’s activity complies with the regulations in force, including tax and health regulations
  

To file a SCIA, you must self-certify that you meet specific requirements, which depend on the kind of activity you’re starting. They fall into two categories:

• Subjective requirements
  These pertain to personal and professional factors. The former might include moral requirements, such as a clean criminal record (i.e., the absence of criminal convictions or ongoing legal actions that could prevent you from running a business). The latter are especially important for selling food online and might include things such as mandatory specialized qualifications or experience.

• Objective requirements
  These pertain to the physical and structural aspects of the business, such as having registered with the Business Register, meeting applicable health and hygiene standards (which are key for online food stores, in particular), and holding any required environmental permits.

How long does the municipality have to respond to a SCIA?

Once you file a SCIA for an ecommerce business, you can start operating right away. The relevant authority will review the notification within 60 days. If any issues are found (e.g., if the legal requirements aren’t met), the relevant authority might ask for more information or temporarily suspend your business’s activity. In this case, you can address the issue within a timeframe determined by the authority—at least 30 days, in general.

How much does it cost to file a SCIA for an ecommerce business?

The cost to file a SCIA depends on several factors, including the municipality the business is established in and whether the business receives assistance from professionals. However, the cost typically ranges from €46 to €1,000, and can include:

• Municipal administrative fees: These fees are usually between €30 and €100, though they can be higher in some municipalities.
  
• Fees of qualified professionals (e.g., surveyors or accountants): These fees generally range from €100 to €250, depending on the complexity of the process and the professionals’ rates.
  
• Revenue stamps and other related costs: These costs range from €16 to €32.
  

When should you file a SCIA for an ecommerce business?

A SCIA must be filed before you can start operating your ecommerce business. You should only file the SCIA once you fulfill all the requirements to launch your business.

How to file a SCIA for an ecommerce business

You can only file a SCIA online. Here’s how:

• Access the portal: You can submit the SCIA for your ecommerce business through the portal at Impresainungiorno.gov.it, Italy’s One Stop Shop (OSS) for administrative procedures related to business and trade. You can also visit the website of the SUAP of the municipality your business operates in or you plan to start your business in.
  
• Fill out the online form: After you’ve logged in, you’ll need to enter information pertaining to the business, to the activity you intend to carry out, and to your fulfillment of any legal requirements.
  
• Attach the documents: You’ll need to attach all the documents required under the law and by the municipality, in digital format. These documents might include a copy of the ID of the business owner or legal representative, the Chamber of Commerce registration (for existing businesses), and the floor plan (for businesses with a warehouse, for example). Depending on the type of activity, other documents might be needed.
  
• Sign electronically: The business owner, the legal representative, or an authorized third-party, such as an accountant with a specific power of attorney, must sign the SCIA electronically—this makes the document valid from a legal point of view.
  
• File online: You need to file the signed SCIA online through the SUAP portal.
  
• Save the confirmation for your records: The portal automatically creates an electronic confirmation with the date and time of the submission—it indicates that the SCIA has been filed and allows you to start operating your business immediately.
  

Filing a SCIA through the Comunicazione Unica

Under Article 5, paragraph 2, of Presidential Decree 160/2010, you can file a SCIA to the SUAP through the local Chamber of Commerce by including it in a Single Communication (Comunicazione Unica) submission.

To do so, use Starweb—the portal for submitting Single Communications—and complete the “SCIA Submission” (“Invio SCIA”) section.

Once the SCIA has been filed, the Chamber of Commerce will forward it to the relevant SUAP and provide you with a confirmation detailing the actions taken. Under Article 5 of the Ministerial Decree of November 10, 2011, this confirmation authorizes you to start your business.

What documents are required to file a SCIA?

A SCIA for an ecommerce business typically requires fewer documents than for activities with a physical location open to the public. Here are the most commonly required documents, as well as pieces of information you could be asked to provide:

• A copy of a valid ID for the sole proprietor or legal representative
  
• An updated Chamber of Commerce registration (if the company is already registered with the Business Register)
  
• A copy of the owner’s or the business’s tax identification number (codice fiscale)
  
• A power of attorney (if a third party, such as an accountant, submits the SCIA)
  
• A declaration of certifications and affidavit regarding personal requirements, such as the absence of criminal convictions; for ecommerce businesses, there are typically no specific professional requirements, but you should check local regulations
  
• The address of the domain or domains used for the ecommerce activity
  
• A description of the ecommerce activity you plan to carry out, including the types of goods you intend to sell
  
• The location where the goods are stored, if it’s different from the registered office, and if it’s relevant to specific rules, such as health and hygiene regulations for some products
  

Filing SCIAs for ecommerce businesses with warehouses

A SCIA for an ecommerce business with a warehouse features additional requirements—you need to describe the storage facility and guarantee its compliance. The storage facility must meet the following requirements:

• Compatibility with intended use: The storage facility must be designated for a use that’s compatible with the business’s activity. For example, using a residential building as a storage facility is usually not allowed without changing its designated use.
  
• Health and hygiene requirements: The storage facility must comply with all health and hygiene requirements in force.
  
• Building and urban planning compliance: The facility must comply with local building and urban planning regulations.
  
• Workplace safety: The facility must comply with safety regulations, as mandated under Legislative Decree 81/2008.
  

Here are the documents that should be attached to the SCIA for a business with a storage facility:

• A detailed floor plan of the facility indicating the surface areas, access points, and layout of the storage spaces
  
• A report from a qualified technician certifying that the warehouse complies with all urban planning, building, health, and safety regulations
  
• A copy of any permits related to the facility, if applicable
  
• A health notice (for food storage)
  
• A fire-safety SCIA or other fire-safety documents, if applicable
  
• A noise-impact assessment (for storage facilities that might generate noise)
  

The rules vary depending on the municipality; contact the SUAP of the relevant municipality for detailed and up-to-date information.

How to fill out a SCIA form online

After accessing the impresaungiorno.gov.it portal, choose the SUAP of the municipality where you plan to start your business and log in using one of the following types of credentials: the Public Digital Identity System (SPID), the National Service Card (Carta Nazionale dei Servizi or CNS), an Italian Electronic Identity Card (CIE), Telemaco, or Electronic Identification, Authentication, and Trust Services (eIDAS), which is a form of digital ID in other EU countries. Then, complete the SCIA form online by entering the following information:

• Personal details: Enter the personal details of the business’s owner or legal representative.
  
• Description of the business: Indicate that it’s an ecommerce business, specifying the products or services offered and the platform used.
  
• Type of notification: Specify if it’s a new notification or a modification to an existing one, then fill in the relevant section.
  
• Address: Provide the address of the registered office or local branch, even if it’s an online-only business.
  
• Storage facility: Indicate whether you have a warehouse, and its location, if applicable.
  
• Personal and professional requirements: Confirm that you fulfill the requirements to carry out the activity.
  
• Attachments: Gather and attach the required documents, such as a copy of your ID, your VAT registration certificate, and any mandatory authorizations.
  
• Electronic signature: Use a recognized electronic signature method to sign.
  
• Online submission: Submit the SCIA through the relevant municipality’s SUAP portal. You’ll receive a confirmation that allows you to start operating your business immediately, subject to the competent authority’s later review.
  

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