Eva Answers / Walmart

Do You Have to Have an LLC to Sell on Walmart Marketplace?

Answered by Hai Mag, Founder & CEO, Eva Commerce, with 20+ years in eCommerce transformation, marketplace optimization, and AI-driven automation.

Last reviewed: October 26, 2026

Short answer: No, Walmart does not require an LLC specifically. It requires a business tax ID (an EIN for U.S. companies) or a business license number, documents that verify your business name and address, and it does not accept a Social Security number. Walmart’s list of U.S. entity types covers C-Corporations, S-Corporations, partnerships and LLCs taxed as a C-Corp or S-Corp, so confirm your structure fits before you apply, because the entity type cannot be changed after onboarding.

What Walmart actually asks for

Requirement	What Walmart asks for
Business tax ID	A business tax ID or business license number. An SSN is not accepted. U.S. companies provide an EIN and are classified as W-9.
Entity type	You declare one entity type during business verification. The U.S. list is C-Corporation, S-Corporation, Partnership, LLC taxed as a C-Corp and LLC taxed as an S-Corp.
Proof of business	Documents that verify your business name and address. Walmart may ask for an IRS EIN letter (LTR 147C or CP 575) and a state business license, registration certificate, articles of incorporation or Certificate of Good Standing.
Personal ID	A copy of a personal ID for the applicant or legal representative.
Selling history	A history of marketplace or eCommerce success.
Product IDs	Products with GTIN/UPC GS1 Company Prefix Numbers, and a catalog that complies with the Prohibited Products Policy.
Fulfillment	A B2C U.S. warehouse with returns capability that can meet the Seller Performance Standards, or Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS).

Steps to get ready

Confirm your entity type with a tax professional. Walmart’s entity guide does not list sole proprietorships, or LLCs without a C-Corp or S-Corp tax election, among the U.S. options. If your business is set up that way, get advice and contact Walmart Seller Support before you register, because the choice cannot be changed later.
Get an EIN. The IRS issues EINs for free and warns that you never have to pay a fee for one. You can apply online if your principal place of business is in the U.S. and the responsible party has an SSN or ITIN; otherwise you apply by phone, fax or mail.
Collect your documents. Keep the IRS EIN letter and your state registration documents ready, and enter your legal business name and address exactly as they appear on them. Walmart says mismatches are a common cause of EIN validation errors.
Check your product IDs and catalog. Make sure your items carry GS1 based GTINs/UPCs and none are on the Prohibited Products list.
Decide how you will fulfill orders. Either ship from a U.S. B2C warehouse that handles returns or plan to use WFS.
Apply in Seller Center. After approval, onboarding covers fulfillment settings, payments and item setup.

Exceptions

Companies outside the U.S. A non-U.S. company with an EIN is classified as W-8ECI. For some countries Walmart accepts the home-country tax ID instead; for others you may need a U.S. tax ID.
Individual sellers outside the U.S. Walmart supports the W-8BEN classification only for sole proprietors from Mexico or India, and Mexican sole proprietors can only onboard to the Mexico market.
New businesses. Even with an LLC and EIN in place, Walmart also looks for a history of marketplace or eCommerce sales, so a brand new company may need to build that record first.

How Eva handles this

For international founders, Eva’s company formation service sets up a U.S. LLC or C-Corp, the state of formation, EIN, registered agent, operating agreement and U.S. banking. For brands adding Walmart, Eva’s marketplace expansion team starts with a readiness check and builds the launch plan once the brand has the proof, inventory and capacity Walmart expects. As Walmart advises, confirm the entity type with your legal or tax professional before you register.

Follow-up questions

Can I sell on Walmart Marketplace with my Social Security number?

No. Walmart says it needs a business tax ID or business license number and that an SSN is not accepted. U.S. companies use an EIN, which the IRS issues for free.

Does it cost anything to apply to Walmart Marketplace?

No. Walmart says signing up is free and there are no setup or monthly fees. You pay a referral fee on each item you sell, and the rate depends on the product category.

Can I change my business entity type after I am approved?

No. Walmart says you cannot change your entity type once onboarding is complete, even if you chose the wrong one, and tells sellers to consult a legal or tax professional before submitting.

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