Based in Cape Town, working across South Africa
How to start an online store in South Africa
Starting an online store in South Africa takes less than most people think, but a few local details trip people up: payments, couriers, VAT and the legal pages. Here are the steps in order.
- Checked on
- 1 November 2026
- Steps
- Eight, in order
- Built for you from
- R6,500 once off
- Scope
- General information, not advice
Checked on 1 November 2026. This is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Steps
Eight steps, in order
- Know what you sell and who buys it.
Check that people search for your products, and what others charge, including delivery.
- Choose your platform.
Shopify is quickest to start; WooCommerce costs less to run. Website builders like Wix suit very small stores.
- Open a payment provider account.
Payfast, Yoco, Peach Payments and Ozow all work for South African stores. Most ask for your ID, bank details and business details before you can take payments.
- Sort out delivery.
Choose a courier or a locker service, and decide whether you charge a flat rate, by weight, or free above a set amount.
- Check VAT.
You must register for VAT once your sales pass the threshold SARS sets. Ask your accountant.
- Add the legal pages.
Your business details, returns, shipping, privacy and terms. South African law asks for these.
- Add your products properly.
Clear photos on a plain background, honest descriptions, sizes, and the price including delivery or a clear delivery cost.
- Get your first visitors.
Tell your existing customers, post on social media, and list your products on Google. Paid ads speed it up once the store works.
Where to sell first
Your own store, Takealot or social media?
- Your own store
lets you keep the customer and the margin, but you have to bring the visitors.
- Takealot
brings buyers, but takes a share of each sale and sets the rules.
- Facebook and Instagram
are a good place to test products before you build a store.
Many businesses start on one and add the others.
Common mistakes
Mistakes that cost new stores sales
- Delivery costs that only show at checkout
- Product photos taken on a phone in bad light
- No clear returns policy
- A checkout that's slow or confusing on a phone
- Launching without testing a real order
Want it built for you?
Rather have it built for you?
We build Shopify stores from R6,500 and WooCommerce stores from R9,500, with payments, couriers, VAT and the legal pages set up and tested.
Questions
Starting a store: questions
Do I need a registered company to sell online?
Not always. You can sell as a sole proprietor, but payment providers and VAT rules may ask for more. Ask your accountant.
How much does it cost to start?
A store built by us starts at R6,500, plus the monthly platform and payment fees. Our Shopify pricing guide shows what Shopify costs to run.
How long does it take?
About 2 weeks for a small store, once your products and photos are ready.
Send us your website. We'll show you where the enquiries are slipping away.
Free audit video within 2 working days. Most people WhatsApp us; the form is here if you'd rather write it down.