What is Alibaba.com and how to get started

Alibaba.com, the founding business of Alibaba Group, is the world's largest business-to-business (B2B) wholesale marketplace, connecting global buyers with suppliers in China.

By the 21YunBox Compliance Team·Reviewed 2026-10-07·Verified against primary sources

What does a foreign company need to sell on Alibaba.com?

Creating a seller account is free; being allowed to sell is not. The gate is business-entity verification — and because Alibaba.com is Alibaba's cross-border, export-facing B2B marketplace rather than the domestic 1688.com, a foreign company can clear it under its own home-country business registration. You need a mainland China entity only to operate as a China-registered supplier.

Before you can trade as a supplier, Alibaba.com verifies that your company is "legally registered and operating" — checking "with the local government, company registration department, commercial agent or tax department" — and that the applicant "is authorized to conduct business on our platform on behalf of the company." Its highest tier, Verified Supplier, adds an independent third-party "On-site assessment" "conducted by SGS International and TÜV," "not by Alibaba.com itself and not self-declared." Separately, any personal data of mainland China individuals you handle through the platform is governed by PIPL, and moving it offshore is a cross-border transfer. The guide below walks through buyer and supplier onboarding; the facts here are what actually gates a foreign seller.

This is a risk map, not legal advice — whether you sell cross-border under a foreign entity or need a mainland company turns on how you want to operate and whose data you touch. Our China team can map your path with you →

What a foreign company must clear to sell on Alibaba.com

Fact	Primary source
Alibaba.com is the cross-border, export-facing B2B marketplace — so selling does not, by itself, require a mainland China entity. It is Alibaba Group's global wholesale platform, distinct from the domestic 1688.com, and its supplier onboarding accepts a home-jurisdiction business identity: acceptable "Proof of Registration" is a "Valid business license or business registration document," "Articles of incorporation, organization or formation," or a "DBA … trade name … registration" — not a specifically Chinese license. A foreign company onboards under its own country's incorporation and sells cross-border.	Alibaba.com Seller Center — Global Gold Supplier onboarding rules (seller.alibaba.com), retrieved 2026-10-07
The real gate is business-entity verification, not the free account. Before a supplier can operate, Alibaba.com verifies "whether the company is legally registered and operating," checking "with the local government, company registration department, commercial agent or tax department," and confirms the applicant "is authorized to conduct business on our platform on behalf of the company." It also asks for proof of address such as a recent utility bill, tax document or bank statement. A legally registered entity and an authorized representative are preconditions, not later steps.	Alibaba.com Seller Center — Global Gold Supplier onboarding rules (seller.alibaba.com), retrieved 2026-10-07
The top "Verified Supplier" tier is an independent third-party on-site inspection, not a self-declaration. Alibaba.com calls Verified Supplier its "highest trust tier," in which "A third-party inspection covers your business license, facilities, quality-control process, and R&D capabilities." The assessment is "conducted by SGS International and TÜV," "not by Alibaba.com itself and not self-declared," and includes an "On-site assessment" of the premises before the badge appears "on your storefront, product listings, and search results."	Alibaba.com Seller Center — Verified Supplier (seller.alibaba.com), retrieved 2026-10-07
A Chinese business license is required only to operate as a mainland-China-registered supplier. Alibaba.com verifies each supplier against the company registry of its own jurisdiction; for a mainland-China supplier account that registry is China's, and the credential is a Chinese business license carrying an 18-digit Unified Social Credit Code, verifiable on the State Administration for Market Regulation's National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System (GSXT). An overseas team that wants the China-based supplier position — not merely to sell cross-border under a foreign entity — therefore needs a mainland company and license. (That Alibaba requires a Chinese license specifically for a China-registered account follows from its jurisdiction-of-registration verification plus PRC company law — confirm the current account rule with counsel.)	National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System (gsxt.gov.cn), SAMR, retrieved 2026-10-07; cross-referenced with Alibaba.com supplier verification
Mainland users' personal data you collect through the platform is governed by PIPL. To the extent you handle the personal information of individuals in mainland China — buyer and counterparty contacts, RFQ and inquiry data, real-name or KYC details — China's Personal Information Protection Law applies, and storing or routing that data outside the mainland is a cross-border transfer under PIPL requiring notice, separate consent and a transfer mechanism (Articles 38–43). A critical-information-infrastructure operator or large-volume handler must also store the data in China (PIPL Article 40; Cybersecurity Law Article 39 (formerly Article 37)). Treat this as a risk to assess with counsel for your specific data and role.	Personal Information Protection Law of the PRC, Articles 38–43 & 40; Cybersecurity Law of the PRC, Article 39 (renumbered from the 2016 Article 37, effective 2026-01-01) — gov.cn, retrieved 2026-10-07

Sources verified by the 21YunBox compliance team on 2026-10-07.

About Alibaba.com

Alibaba.com is the founding business of Alibaba Group and the world’s largest business-to-business (B2B) wholesale marketplace. Launched in 1999 in Hangzhou, it connects buyers around the world with suppliers — predominantly manufacturers and wholesalers based in mainland China.

Because it is easy to confuse with its sister platforms, the distinction is worth drawing clearly: Alibaba.com is cross-border wholesale (B2B), AliExpress is cross-border retail (B2C), and Taobao and Tmall are domestic Chinese retail. Alibaba.com’s core features — supplier storefronts, Request for Quotation (RFQ), and Trade Assurance order protection — are all built around sourcing goods in bulk.

How to get started on Alibaba.com

Buying on Alibaba.com

Step 1: Create a free buyer account.

Step 2: Search by product or category, and filter for verified or Trade Assurance suppliers.

Step 3: Message suppliers directly, or post an RFQ and let suppliers come to you.

Step 4: Place the order through Trade Assurance, so payment and delivery terms are protected by the platform.

Selling on Alibaba.com

Step 1: Register a supplier (seller) account.

Step 2: Complete business verification. A membership such as Gold Supplier requires a verified business, which for a mainland supplier means a Chinese business license and entity.

Step 3: Build your storefront and list your products.

Step 4: Respond to buyer inquiries and RFQs, and fulfill your orders.

Do not have a Chinese entity, phone number, or ID? We can help

Selling as a China-based supplier generally calls for a Chinese business license, a local entity, and the supporting paperwork that goes with them — the exact things overseas teams rarely have on hand. 21YunBox can provide those documents, walk you through the process, and bring your company and products into compliance with Chinese law along the way.