MoCI makes it easier and cheaper to launch home businesses
Qatar’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), in a bid to encourage more people to start home businesses, has reduced its licensing fees to QAR300. It also simplified the procedures to bring home businesses under the purview of the law.
“The licensing fees of home-based businesses have been reduced from about QAR1,500 to QAR300 to encourage entrepreneurs to legalise their micro-businesses,” MoCI’s Head of Commercial Records and Licensing Department Latifa Al Ali was quoted as saying by The Peninsula.
She said the Ministry had also increased the number of home business activities from 15 to 63 to promote micro-entrepreneurship and local investments.
“We’ve simplified the procedures for the issuance of licenses to home-based business activities. Now, only the QID address of the applicant needs to match with the home address ‘Onwani’ (my address),” said Al Ali.
As per current licensing conditions, the applicants are required to produce the QID of the owner of the home, the QID of the applicant, and Onwani.
Al Ali said each business activity needs a separate license, urging entrepreneurs to obtain licenses for running their businesses legally for their, and the consumers’, safety.
She said licenses for home-based business activities were being issued in such a way that it does not affect local traffic or disturb the neighbours.
She also spoke about the ministry’s attempt to monitor home-based business activities.
“While the MoCI inspects issues related to licensing, the Ministry of Public Health are in charge of food safety and health,” said Al Ali.
Al Ali said the MoCI had seen a spurt in the number of applications seeking licenses after simplifying procedures. The license application can be made online through the Single Window portal. If the application is submitted electronically, there is no need to fill out the license services application form.
Some of the activities of a home-based business are…
* Roasting and packaging nuts
* Tailoring and sewing men’s clothing
* Repairing leather products such as luggage and bags
* Maintenance of electrical appliances
* Repairing document copying machines
* Repairing computers
* Trading dates and their by-products
* Trading computers and their accessories
* Designing and programming custom software
* Trading clothing of men, women and children
* Trading shoes
* Renting travel supplies
* Translation activities
* Trading men’s accessories and perfumes
* Designing jewellery
* Photography
* Trading women’s cosmetics, beauty and hair care products
* Interior decoration activities
The MoCI had earlier announced the implementation of Ministerial Decision No. 60, 2024, to reduce fees for some commercial services and business activities by more than 90% from July 11.
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