---
title: "Let merchants apply online"
description: "Once your marketplace is known, merchants will want to join. Business signup lets them apply from your website, and you approve them."
canonical: https://docs.ordering.co/docs/discovery-ordering/launch-your-marketplace/part-4-merchants/merchant-signup/
---

# Let merchants apply online

Once your marketplace is known, merchants will want to join. Business signup lets them apply from your website, and you approve them.

**Where:** Settings › Platform settings

1. **Turn on business registration.** In your platform settings (**Settings › Platform settings**), turn on business registration.
2. **Require approval.** Turn on business signup approval so new merchants cannot log in until you enable them.
3. **Get notified.** Turn on the email or push alert for new business owner signups in your notification settings.
4. **Add a "Sell with us" link.** Point it to the business signup page from your homepage and footer, and explain the benefits on a CMS page ([Chapter 11](https://docs.ordering.co/docs/discovery-ordering/launch-your-marketplace/part-3-build-the-marketplace/brand-your-website/)).

## What the merchant experiences

The merchant opens your website, chooses to sign up as a business, fills in the form, and sees a message that you will contact them. When you enable their account, they receive an email with dashboard access and can start creating their store.

> **Call before you approve**
>
> Approval is your quality filter. A five-minute call to confirm the merchant is real, can deliver on time, and understands your fees prevents bad first orders. Approve, then send the onboarding kit the same day.