Envato Market and sole proprietors in Georgia: how to receive payments (Payoneer/PayPal/bank), save 1 % tax, and avoid losing money on commissions

Why it makes sense to register as a sole proprietor in Georgia if you sell on Envato

• Low tax for small businesses. For small/medium‐sized authors, the “small business” regime (1 %) can significantly reduce the tax burden compared to the general regime — this is the main reason.
• Legal transparency. An individual entrepreneur simplifies the issuance of documents for clients/platforms and the opening of a business account.
• Payment infrastructure. Envato pays in currency (usually USD/EUR) and offers payment options that can be conveniently integrated with Payoneer/Wise/a local bank.

What payment methods does Envato support and how does it work?

• PayPal is a simple option that is often available, but PayPal may have unfavorable exchange rates/fees when withdrawing to GEL.
• Bank Transfer (SWIFT/Local) — Envato can send bank transfers; if you want virtual USD accounts (receiving in USD → withdrawing in local currency), select “Bank Transfer” and then link Payoneer/Wise as an intermediary bank.
• Payoneer / Wise / Revolut — not always a separate button, but available as options within bank withdrawals; they provide receiving accounts (USD/EUR), which are convenient for optimizing conversion.

Practical tip: go to your author profile on Envato → payouts → see which methods are available to you (varies by country and verification).

Which method to choose

1. If you want to minimize conversion losses: try Payoneer and Wise — many authors find that they offer a better effective rate than direct SWIFT transfers to local banks.
2. If speed and simplicity are important: PayPal is convenient, but consider the spreads when converting to GEL.
3. If you expect large regular payments: consider Bank Transfer → local bank (but keep in mind possible correspondent fees with SWIFT).

Step-by-step guide: from “I want to sell” to “it worked out”

1. Register as an individual entrepreneur (IE) in Georgia. You can do this through the Public Service Hall or through an agent; the process is usually quick (a few hours to one day).
2. Apply for Small Business Status (1 %) if your planned annual turnover and type of activity meet the requirements — check the current thresholds with your accountant/tax advisor.
3. Open/register receiving channels: Payoneer/Wise/PayPal account, and (if desired) a business bank account in Georgia.
4. In Envato → Author Dashboard → Payouts, add the selected method (Bank Transfer or PayPal). If you are connecting Payoneer/Wise, select Bank Transfer and specify the details of the virtual receiving account in the settings.
5. Make a test withdrawal of a small amount ($20—100) for each method you are considering — record how much you received, what fees were charged, and how many days it took. This is the only reliable way to choose the best channel.
6. Keep a record table: date of sale, amount (USD), Envato fee (if any), payout fee, exchange rate/conversion, total in GEL. You will need this for tax purposes.

Taxes and accounting (basic rules and what to look out for)

• 1 % of turnover (Small Business) — subject to the limit (in practice, 2024—2025 is usually ≈500,000 GEL; in some materials — 700,000 GEL for certain sectors). If you exceed the limit, the rate changes/status may be revoked. Check before submitting.
• Currency accounting. Envato pays in USD/EUR — for reporting purposes, you need to convert the amounts to GEL at the rate specified in accounting/tax practice (record dates and rates). Keep Envato and Payoneer statements and bank SWIFT notifications.
• Social security contributions and additional payments. Depending on your residency status and the options you choose (e.g., dividend payments, hiring), there may be other obligations — discuss this with your accountant.

Checklist “to do right now”

• Register as a sole proprietor (IE) at the Public Service Hall or through an agent.
• Open a Payoneer/Wise/PayPal account and complete verification.
• Apply for Small Business Status (1%) — check limits and type of activity.
• In Envato → Payouts, select a method (Bank Transfer or PayPal); when selecting a virtual provider, select Bank Transfer and enter the receiving account details.
• Make a test withdrawal of $20–$100 → record the actual fees and time.
• Keep a table: date, amount in USD, fees, exchange rate, total in GEL.

Life hacks that really help

• Test several providers and compare the results “on the card” — only real transfers will show the truth.
• If Payoneer provides a USD receiving account, leave some of the funds in USD and spend/transfer selectively to catch a favorable exchange rate.
• Keep in mind that SWIFT transfers may incur correspondent fees — for small regular payments, virtual providers are often cheaper.

Conclusion

Envato is a creator‐friendly platform: it supports PayPal and bank transfers and allows you to use virtual providers (Payoneer/Wise). If you sell from Georgia, registering as a sole proprietor and applying for small business status (1%) usually makes it easier and cheaper to work with your income — provided you choose the right payment method and test real transactions.