Is dropshipping legal in Poland? Check before you open a store!

The legality of dropshipping is a topic that returns like a boomerang – especially among people who are just entering e-commerce. On one hand, you hear that “it’s a great way to sell without a company and without risk,” and on the other hand, you start wondering if it’s all really within the law. And rightly so. The truth is that dropshipping sales in Poland are legal, but – as always – the devil is in the details. It’s not enough to just set up a store and “rush to advertise.” You need to understand what dropshipping entails in practice, when you need to register a business, and what obligations fall on your shoulders.

Legal or borderline? What does the legality of dropshipping in Poland really look like?

Let’s start with the basics: yes, dropshipping is legal in Poland. It’s a normal form of sales, just based on a different logic than classic e-commerce. You don’t store goods, you don’t ship them yourself – it’s the wholesaler that does it, and you’re responsible for the store, customer service, and promotion. This arrangement, namely sales directly from a wholesaler, fits within the bounds of Polish law as long as you operate according to regulations.

The problem starts when someone assumes that since it’s “just passing orders,” they don’t need to worry about formalities. This is a mistake. Because even if you don’t physically handle the goods, you still conduct sales in the dropshipping model and are subject to the same obligations as any entrepreneur. In short: legal? Yes. Without obligations? No.

Dropshipping and the law. When do you need to register a business? The income threshold that changes everything

Not every online sale immediately means you need to start a company. But if you plan to operate longer and more systematically, the situation is simple: at some point, you will need to register a business. The Polish legislator recognizes any activity that is profit-oriented, continuous, and organized as a business. And that perfectly fits dropshipping – because you’re not doing a one-time experiment, you’re creating a store, promoting it, collecting orders, and planning to earn from it. Of course, at the very beginning, you can operate as a non-registered business if your monthly income does not exceed 75% of the minimum wage (which is 3499.50 PLN in 2025). But this limit is very easy to exceed – even with a few orders. So if you take this seriously and plan to grow your dropshipping sales, be prepared that registering a business is not “maybe someday,” but “rather sooner than later.”

Legality of dropshipping and taxes, ZUS and CEIDG. What do you need to handle before you start selling?

Unfortunately, there are no shortcuts here. If you want to operate legally, you must handle several formalities. First: company registration in CEIDG. It’s free and not as scary as it seems – but you need to know what to input in the fields. Second: choose the form of taxation. Most beginners opt for a lump sum (8.5% or 3% depending on the type of activity), but it’s worth consulting with an accountant. Third: ZUS contributions. At the start, you can take advantage of a discount – for the first six months you pay nothing, and for the next two years, you have lower contributions. Remember, even in dropshipping you are subject to taxes – regardless of whether you sell products from Poland or abroad. Dropshipping model does not exempt you from tax liability. Even if you use a foreign wholesaler, you must know how to account for income, whether to add VAT and how to handle customer service in the context of consumer rights.

Returns, complaints and personal data – the obligations of a dropshipper towards the client

The fact that you do not send packages yourself does not mean you have no obligations towards customers. Quite the opposite. From the consumer’s point of view, you are the seller, not the wholesaler. And it will be you the customer will contact when the shipment is lost, the product turns out to be defective or does not meet expectations. You are obliged to respect the right of withdrawal within 14 days, you must clearly inform about the return conditions, and respond to complaints. Moreover – in accordance with GDPR – you process personal data, so you must have a privacy policy, store regulations, and secured user data. Selling in the dropshipping model means you are simply “the face” of the entire process. And even if the wholesaler fails, the client holds you accountable. If you do not include this in your action plan – instead of making money, you’ll be dealing with dissatisfied customers and legal issues.

Contracts with suppliers – is it worth having them and what should they contain?

A formal contract with a wholesaler is something beginner dropshippers often forget about. And that’s a big mistake. Because if you’re basing your entire business on cooperation with one supplier, you need to know where you stand. What if the product suddenly disappears from the offer? What if the wholesaler does not complete the order or sends goods that do not match the description? The contract does not need to be elaborate – it’s about establishing who is responsible for what, what are the deadlines, and how are returns and complaints handled. In many cases, wholesalers have ready-made contract templates – but it’s worth analyzing them carefully or even consulting with a lawyer. This way, you gain confidence that dropshipping sales will not be based solely on “trusting someone’s word.” Because if something goes wrong, it’s better to have documents in hand than just a chat history with a wholesaler’s representative.