What do we need to sell consumer software in other countries?
Selling online is global by default. Tax, currency and payment rules aren't.
- Do we charge sales tax abroad?
- Local currency?
- Which countries first?
Start with the countries where you already see demand. Show prices in local currency and set them for local buying power. Register for and collect sales tax where required: GST/HST in Canada, state sales taxes in the US and VAT in the EU and UK, which can apply to non-resident sellers of digital services. App stores handle tax on their sales. Billing tools and merchant-of-record services can handle much of it. Get tax advice.
Checklist
- Countries with existing demand.
- Local currency prices.
- Sales tax registration where required.
- Local payment methods.
- Translated key pages.
How we look at it at ShoutEx
We set up localized pricing pages, billing and tax tools. This is general information, not tax advice.
- One USD price everywhere.
- Ignoring sales tax.
- Card only.
- Translating everything first.
- Demand-led countries.
- Local prices.
- Tax handled.
- Local payments.
What founders and platforms say
Here is what tax authorities and founders say.
Rules for digital sales in Canada.
Read the CRA page →Community summaries describe recurring themes in public threads, not individual posts. Vendor pages describe vendor claims, so test them on your own calls.
Read next
Go deeper in the ShoutEx guides, or check the sources behind this answer.
We'll set up local pricing and billing.
Book a call →Follow-up questions
Merchant of record or own billing?
MoR is simpler; own billing gives more control.
Do app stores handle tax?
On their sales, yes.
Selling to the US from Canada?
Pick one US segment, show US proof, price in US dollars and make it easy to buy without a call to Canada. How Canadian startups sell to US buyers.