Courier Sole Proprietorship: Step by Step

To work with delivery platforms as a motorcycle courier, you need to open a sole proprietorship. We explain the required documents, tax office and Bağ-Kur steps, how long it takes, the cost items and what to do in your first month.

Motorcycle couriers who want to work with food and parcel delivery platforms are usually asked one thing first: “Do you have a tax certificate?” Since most platforms pay against an invoice, couriers working on their own account need to open a sole proprietorship. In this guide we explain step by step how a courier sole proprietorship is opened in Ankara, which documents are needed, what it costs and which obligations await you after opening.

Why do motorcycle couriers open a sole proprietorship?

When you work with a platform as an “independent courier”, the platform is not your employer; you become a business selling a service to it. To be paid for that service you must issue an invoice, and to issue an invoice you must be a registered taxpayer. A sole proprietorship is the fastest and cheapest way to do this.

If you are curious about the general differences between a sole proprietorship and a limited company, see our article Sole Proprietorship or Limited Company? For most couriers, a sole proprietorship is enough to start with.

Which documents do you need?

• Turkish ID card
• Proof of residence (available from e-Devlet)
• Business address details: a lease, title deed, or the permissions needed to use your home address as your business address
• Phone and e-mail details (for e-Notification and e-Archive)
• Motorcycle registration and driving licence details, if available

Depending on how the activity is carried out, registration with the tradesmen and craftsmen registry or an additional authorisation document may or may not be required. Clarifying this with your financial advisor before applying saves you from penalties or closure procedures later.

Opening a courier sole proprietorship step by step

1. Initial meeting: The platforms you will work with, your estimated earnings and whether you are insured through another job are assessed.
2. Choosing the activity (NACE) code: A code suitable for courier activity is selected. A wrong code can cause tax and social security problems later.
3. Business start notification: Your business start is registered with the tax office; in most cases this is initiated digitally through your financial advisor.
4. Inspection: The tax office may inspect the business address you declared.
5. Tax certificate: Once registration is complete, your tax certificate is issued and can be sent to the platforms.
6. e-Archive invoice application: The e-Archive system is set up so that you can issue your invoices electronically.
7. Bağ-Kur registration: Your 4/b social security coverage starts with the sole proprietorship registration.

How long does the opening process take?

The chart below shows the approximate duration of each step for an application with complete documents. Durations may vary depending on how busy the tax office is and the inspection date.

What are the cost items?

To see the approximate amount of your Bağ-Kur premium, use our Bağ-Kur premium calculator. We explain how the monthly accounting fee is set in our article Accounting Fees in Ankara.

What awaits you after opening?

Once your business is open, you need to issue invoices regularly, document your expenses and file your returns on time. Activity-related spending such as fuel, maintenance and repairs, spare parts, helmets and phones can be taken into account in your tax calculation when properly documented. We cover which taxes you pay and when in detail in our article Which Taxes Do Motorcycle Couriers Pay?

If you want to see all the stages of opening a sole proprietorship in general, also take a look at our guide What You Need to Open a Sole Proprietorship.

How do you set up invoicing when working with platforms?

The issue couriers struggle with most is how much to invoice and on which date. Most platforms send you a statement of earnings at set intervals (weekly, every two weeks or monthly). You issue your invoice based on this statement.

1. Check the statement: Are the number of deliveries, deductions and the amount payable correct?
2. Issue the invoice via e-Archive: Enter the platform’s legal name, tax office and tax number, together with the service fee and VAT.
3. Send the invoice to the platform: Upload your invoice through the channel the platform requires (panel or e-mail).
4. Match the payment: Match the payment received in your bank account with the invoice; if there is a difference, ask immediately.
5. Send a copy to your financial advisor: e-Archive invoices are usually visible in the system, but a regular flow of information still reduces errors.

If you work with more than one platform, a separate invoice is issued for each. To calculate amounts including and excluding VAT, use our VAT calculator.

Your own motorcycle or a rented one?

From an accounting perspective, the two situations have different results. When you register your own motorcycle to your business, its value can be expensed over the years through depreciation, and maintenance and repair costs also become business expenses. If you use a rented motorcycle, the rent is recorded directly as an expense as long as it is invoiced.

Which is more advantageous depends on the value of the vehicle, how long you use it and the rental terms. To see how depreciation is spread over the years, take a look at our depreciation calculator.

Checklist for the first month

• Have you sent your tax certificate to the platforms?
• Are your e-Archive invoice login details ready?
• Are your fuel and maintenance receipts issued to your tax number?
• Has your Bağ-Kur registration been created, and do you know the first premium amount?
• Are you setting aside part of every payment for taxes and premiums?

Which forms of support can couriers benefit from?

The Income Tax Law includes a young entrepreneur income exemption for first-time taxpayers who are under 29; those who meet the conditions pay no income tax for three years on earnings up to a certain amount. The conditions include running the business personally and registering as a taxpayer for the first time.

Special tax procedures and exemptions for small businesses also come up from time to time. Whether you can benefit from them depends on your personal situation and the current legislation; checking before opening is important so that you do not lose your rights. We explain the details of the young entrepreneur support in our article What You Need to Open a Sole Proprietorship.

Small habits that protect your earnings

Transferring part of your weekly earnings to a separate account for tax and Bağ-Kur prevents end-of-month surprises. Photographing and sending your fuel, maintenance and equipment receipts every week ensures that your expenses are recorded completely. Keeping the platforms’ earnings statements regularly also makes it easier to check invoice amounts.

Frequently asked questions

Can I work as a motorcycle courier without opening a business?

If you work as a salaried courier on an employer’s payroll, you do not need to open a business. If you work independently with platforms and are paid against invoices, you need to open a sole proprietorship.

Can I use my home as my business address?

Since courier work does not require a fixed shop, your home address can often be used as your business address. If you are a tenant, you may need the landlord’s permission; if you live in a residential complex, the management’s permission may be needed.

I am insured through another job; will I still pay Bağ-Kur?

For people covered by both 4/a (employee insurance) and 4/b (Bağ-Kur) at the same time, 4/a coverage generally takes priority. It is important for your financial advisor to check that your situation is correctly reflected in the social security records.

Which courier company do I invoice?

You invoice the company you provide the service to and that pays you. You can find the platform’s billing details and invoicing dates through its own information channels.

Can I close my sole proprietorship later?

Yes. When you stop working, a business closure notification is made to the tax office, final returns are filed and your Bağ-Kur registration ends. Your financial advisor can also handle the closure.

How much does it cost to open a courier sole proprietorship?

The cost consists of the opening service fee, chamber registration if applicable and the first month’s accounting fee. The Bağ-Kur premium also starts with the opening. We give you exact figures for your situation in the initial meeting.

I live outside Ankara; can you open my business remotely?

Most of the procedures can be carried out digitally; however, the inspection by the tax office responsible for your business address and some signature procedures take place in your city. We can plan these steps together.

Final word

Opening a courier sole proprietorship is not complicated, but if the activity code, Bağ-Kur status and invoicing routine are not set up correctly from day one, fixing them later takes time. A correct start also makes monthly tracking easier.

If you work as a motorcycle courier in Ankara, we handle the whole process for you, from opening to monthly tracking. See our courier accounting page for details, or get in touch with our office in Kızılay.