How to Start an E-Commerce Store and Sell Online in Jamaica in 2026: The Complete Guide

Ryon Whyte
December 10, 2025
4:30 pm

Jamaica’s e-commerce market is booming. In 2024, online retail revenue reached US$259 million, a remarkable 20-25% growth from the previous year. By 2029, that figure is projected to hit US$406.3 million, with user penetration climbing to 25.8% (over 710,000 online shoppers). With one of the highest mobile phone penetrations in the world and over 1.864 million active debit cards on the domestic MultiLink network, Jamaica is ripe for entrepreneurs ready to sell online.

But where do you start? From business registration to accepting your first credit card payment, the process can seem overwhelming. This comprehensive guide walks you through every step, from registering with the Companies Office of Jamaica to setting up merchant processing with PowerTranz (formerly First Atlantic Commerce) and launching your WooCommerce store.

Let’s get your online business up and running.

Step 1: Register Your Business with the Companies Office of Jamaica

Before you can open a bank account or accept payments, you need to legally register your business. The Companies Office of Jamaica (COJ) handles all business registrations under the Companies Act 2004 and the Registration of Business Names Act 1934.

Online Registration Made Easy

The good news? You can register from anywhere in the world using the Electronic Business Registration Form (eBRF). Simply visit www.orcjamaica.com and complete the process online. You’ll need a Taxpayer Registration Number (TRN) and a Jamaican business address.

Registration Fees

Sole trader: J$2,500
Partnership (2-5 partners): J$2,500
Partnership (6-20 partners): J$5,000
Corporation trade name: J$3,000

Want to reserve your business name first? A name search costs J$500, and name reservation costs J$3,000 (valid for 90 days).

Processing Time

Standard processing takes just 2 working days. Need it faster? Pay an expedition fee of J$1,500 for 1-day processing, or use the same-day express service to receive your certificate after 2:30pm. Your registration is valid for 3 years.

Once approved, COJ can deliver your certificate directly to your address. Depending on your location, expect to receive the physical certificate within 2-4 weeks.

COJ Contact Information:

Main Office: 1 Grenada Way, Kingston 5
Montego Bay Branch: Alice Eldermire Drive, Fairview, St. James
Phone: (876) 276-9558
Email: custsupport@orcjamaica.com

Step 2: Obtain Your Tax Compliance Certificate (TCC)

A Tax Compliance Certificate (TCC) proves that your tax liabilities and statutory deductions are up-to-date. You’ll need this document to open a business bank account, especially at NCB Jamaica. It’s also required for importing goods, bidding on government contracts, and obtaining certain business licenses.

The TCC is free to obtain and can be processed the same day if your payments are current. Once issued, it’s valid for 3 months.

Required Clearance Letters

To get your TCC, you need clearance from these agencies confirming you’re up-to-date on contributions:

1. National Insurance Scheme (NIS)

Location: 18 Ripon Road, Kingston 5
Phone: (876) 922-8000
Email: nisandyou@mlss.gov.jm
Documents needed: NIS Card/Number
Fee: None

2. National Housing Trust (NHT)

Location: 4 Park Boulevard, Kingston 5
Phone: (876) 929-6500
Email: wecare@nht.gov.jm
Documents needed: TRN
Fee: None

3. HEART/NSTA Trust

If your business has gross wages exceeding J$14,444, you’re required to contribute 3% monthly to the HEART Trust Fund. Register using the SO1 Form available at Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) offices or online at www.jamaicatax.gov.jm.

4. Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ)

For clearance on income tax, GCT, and education tax.

The One-Stop Process (Recommended)

Here’s a time-saving tip: Tax Administration Jamaica now offers a “One-Stop” service. If all your payments are current, you can apply directly through TAJ without visiting NIS, NHT, or HEART separately. Apply online at www.jamaicatax.gov.jm/tcc and receive your certificate within 24 hours.

Step 3: Open a Business Bank Account

With your business registered and TCC in hand, it’s time to open a business bank account. In Jamaica, two banks work with PowerTranz for merchant processing: NCB Jamaica and CIBC FirstCaribbean.

Option A: NCB Jamaica (National Commercial Bank)

NCB Jamaica is the country’s leading financial services provider, commanding a 40.8% market share with 36 locations and over 170 ATMs island-wide. Their larger customer base means more established processes and support for getting your merchant processing set up.

Benefits for New Businesses:

No monthly service charge for 3 months
No minimum balance requirement for 3 months
FREE Sweep Facility for 3 months

Option B: CIBC FirstCaribbean

CIBC Caribbean also offers merchant services integrated with PowerTranz. Their e-commerce solutions include 3D Secure authentication and Address Verification Service (AVS) for fraud protection. They also offer Fygaro, an all-in-one platform for payments, invoicing, and web store management.

Pro Tip: NCB has a larger Jamaican customer base and more established merchant acquisition processes, making them the preferred choice for most local e-commerce businesses.

Step 4: Apply for a Merchant Processing Account with PowerTranz

This is where your online store gains the ability to accept credit and debit card payments. PowerTranz, formerly known as First Atlantic Commerce (FAC), is the leading payment gateway provider for the Caribbean and Central America.

About PowerTranz (Formerly First Atlantic Commerce)

Founded in 1998 and headquartered in Bermuda, PowerTranz has been the trusted payment processing partner for Caribbean businesses for over 25 years. The company officially rebranded from First Atlantic Commerce to PowerTranz to reflect their evolution and future-forward vision.

PowerTranz by the numbers:

Trusted by over 10,000 merchants
Operating in 21 Caribbean and Central American countries
Processing payments in 145+ currencies
Settlements available in 15+ currencies
Integrated with the JETS debit network in Jamaica and LINX in Trinidad

Notable clients include PriceSmart, which has used PowerTranz services (including 3D Secure) since 2010 across Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados, Jamaica, USVI, and Aruba.

Key Features of PowerTranz

PCI DSS Compliant: Meets the highest payment security standards
3D Secure 2.0: Required by Caribbean banks for online transactions (Visa Secure, Mastercard Identity Check)
Card Tokenization: Securely store customer cards for recurring payments and faster checkout
Fraud Management: Advanced tools to protect against fraudulent transactions
Real-Time Reporting: Web-based dashboard for transaction monitoring and reconciliation
PCI Validated P2PE: Point-to-Point Encryption for in-person payments

How to Get Your PowerTranz Merchant Account

The merchant account application process is handled through your bank:

Open your business bank account at NCB or CIBC (Step 3)
Request merchant processing services from your bank
The bank connects you with their merchant acquisition team
Complete the merchant application with your business documents, ID, and bank details
Wait for application review and approval (typically 2-3 weeks)
Receive your PowerTranz credentials (Merchant ID and Password)

Need help getting connected? Contact Sitepact JA and we can introduce you directly to the bank’s merchant acquisition team to expedite the process.

Step 5: Build Your E-Commerce Website

Now for the exciting part, building your online store. For Jamaican merchants using PowerTranz, WooCommerce (built on WordPress) is the most popular and flexible platform choice.

Why WooCommerce?

Free and open-source: No monthly platform fees (unlike Shopify)
Full ownership: Complete control over your store and customer data
Highly customizable: Thousands of themes and plugins available
PowerTranz integration: Native payment gateway plugins available
Flexible product types: Supports physical goods, digital downloads, subscriptions, memberships, and more

Sitepact JA: Your WooCommerce Partner in Jamaica

At Sitepact JA, we specialize in building WooCommerce stores for Jamaican businesses with PowerTranz integration. We understand the local market, the banking requirements, and the technical setup needed to get you selling online.

What we offer:

No upfront website cost: Flexible payment arrangements available
Professional, mobile-responsive design
Complete WooCommerce setup with products, categories, and shipping
SEO optimization for the Jamaican market
Training on how to manage your store
Ongoing support and maintenance

PowerTranz Payment Gateway Plugin for WooCommerce

To accept credit card payments on your WooCommerce store, you’ll need a payment gateway plugin that connects to PowerTranz. Our PowerTranz Payment Gateway Plugin for WooCommerce provides seamless integration with all the features Caribbean merchants need.

Plugin Features:

Full 3D Secure 2.0 support: Required by Caribbean banks for online transactions
Card tokenization: Let customers save cards for faster future checkout
WooCommerce Subscriptions support: Perfect for recurring billing and membership sites
Classic and Block Checkout compatible: Works with both WooCommerce checkout styles
Multiple integration types: SPI, FPI, and Hosted Payment Pages supported
Fraud detection: Optional Kount integration for advanced fraud screening
Flexible payment flows: Authorize & Capture or Authorize Only
Full refund support: Process refunds directly from WooCommerce admin
Multi-currency support: Accept payments in multiple currencies
Detailed transaction logging: Complete audit trail for troubleshooting

Get the PowerTranz Plugin

View Plugin Documentation

Step 6: Configure and Launch Your Store

With your website built and PowerTranz credentials in hand, it’s time to bring everything together:

Install the PowerTranz plugin on your WooCommerce store
Enter your credentials: Add your PowerTranz Merchant ID and Password in the plugin settings
Configure 3D Secure: Enable 3D Secure authentication (required for Caribbean card transactions)
Test in sandbox mode: Use PowerTranz test credentials to verify everything works
Add your products: Upload images, write descriptions, and set prices
Configure shipping: Set up shipping zones and rates for Jamaica (and international if needed)
Set up taxes: Configure GCT collection if applicable to your products
Run test transactions: Complete the full checkout process to ensure everything works smoothly
Go live: Switch to live mode and start accepting real payments!

Timeline: How Long Does It Take to Launch?

Here’s a realistic timeline for getting your Jamaican e-commerce store up and running:

Step	Estimated Timeframe
Business Registration (COJ)	Same day to 2 days (certificate delivery: 2-4 weeks)
TCC and Clearance Letters	Same day to 1 week (if payments are current)
Business Bank Account	2-4 weeks
Merchant Account (PowerTranz)	2-3 weeks
Website Development	2-4 weeks (varies by complexity)
Total Estimated Time	6-8 weeks

Many of these steps can happen in parallel. For example, you can start website development while waiting for your merchant account approval.

Start Selling Online in Jamaica Today

Jamaica’s e-commerce market is growing at double-digit rates, and there’s never been a better time to start selling online. With PowerTranz (formerly First Atlantic Commerce) as your payment processing partner and WooCommerce as your platform, you have access to enterprise-level tools at small business prices.

The path is clear:

Register your business with the Companies Office of Jamaica
Get your Tax Compliance Certificate
Open a business bank account with NCB or CIBC
Apply for PowerTranz merchant processing
Build your WooCommerce store
Launch and start making sales

Ready to get started? Sitepact JA is here to help you every step of the way, from connecting you with bank merchant teams to building your store and integrating PowerTranz.

Get Started – Contact Sitepact JA