How To Start Online Store In South Africa

How To Start Online Store In South Africa

What is an Online Store?

Online shopping is a form of electronic commerce which allows consumers to directly buy goods or services from a seller over the Internet using a web browser or a mobile app

How To Start Online Store In South Africa

1. Create your own website

Whether you’re making your own products at home, selling a service, or reselling goods you’ve found elsewhere, setting up a website is probably the best way to get your business out into the world.

Shopify is an all-in-one commerce platform for all your business needs to start, sell, market, and manage your business.

  • Start – Build your brand and your website
  • Sell – Showcase your products across social channels and online marketplaces
  • Market – Email marketing, Facebook Ads and SEO marketing automation tools.
  • Manage – Collect orders, process payments, and manage shipping.

2. Social media

If you have a small number of products or you’re looking to sell on an ad-hoc basis, social media might be the option for you.

Platforms like Facebook offer built-in features like Marketplace, allowing you to sell directly to customers. If you’re planning on selling more than one product or want to establish a brand, starting a group or business page gives you the freedom to do so and allows you to do paid advertising.

3. Takealot

Takealot.com is one of South Africa’s favourite online shopping marketplaces, from stationery to gym equipment and everything in between.

But it’s not just reserved for famous brands: any product owner can sell on the platform.
 
The site has millions of subscribers, which is to your benefit, but it does come at a price.

Sellers on Takealot can expect to pay:

  • A monthly subscription fee.
  • Referral fees and transactional costs.
  • Storage fees (if applicable to your product).

Takealot is ideal for businesses that have enough existing stock to sell. However, you’ll be competing against every other brand on the website that falls within your category, so keep that in mind.

4. Classifieds

For once-off sales or services, classifieds platforms like Gumtree or OLX are free and ideal. In most cases, you’ll only need an email address to post something for sale.

However, as there is no verification process, safety is a concern. So, it’s best to limit your use of these sites to only selling products that you can courier instead of completing the sale in person.

5. bidorbuy

It’s no secret that South Africans love a good deal. bidorbuy is an ecommerce site that allows buyers to make an offer, join an auction, or simply buy a product at the listed price.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Do you have to register an online business in South Africa?

Firstly, there are different types of business models in South Africa, and while not all of them need to be registered with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC), they do all need to be registered to pay tax with the South African Revenue Service (SARS).

How much does it cost to start an online store in South Africa?

To build an online store, you need anywhere from $1000 – $100,000. There is no set price for building an online store because the cost varies for different companies, depending upon what each company needs. A small company can spend $1000 – $10,000, while an enterprise company can spend $50,000 – $100,000.

Does Wix work in South Africa?

Currently, It is not possible to purchase a South African (.za) domain from Wix or transfer one to Wix. However, you can purchase a South African (. za) domain from another domain host and connect it to your Wix site.

Is an online store profitable in South Africa?

It’s one thing to sell a product online; it’s quite another to sell it at a profit. Research by Marketing Sherpa found that ecommerce stores with annual revenue of under $100,000 have a 30 percent median gross margin.

How much is an ecommerce website in South Africa?

Website design prices in South Africa can range anywhere between R500 to R50 000. Ultimately, the price of a website largely depends on two factors – what you need and who you’re getting it from.

Is there jumia in South Africa?

Johannesburg (South Africa) – April 8 2020: Jumia, the leading e-commerce platform in Africa has announced today the launch of its portal in South Africa to help consumers access essential products at the lowest price (www.jumia.co.za).

Is it profitable to sell on Takealot?

Takealot has published a comprehensive document that highlights its success fees, as has Loot. In general, you can expect to pay anything between 6% and 15% of the sale price of your product to Takealot or Loot, depending on the category.

How do I set up an Etsy shop in South Africa?

Be sure to subscribe for updates or follow on Bloglovin’ or Facebook to catch the rest of the series which will include getting Etsy payments in South Africa. Your first step is to go to www.etsy.com and select Sell on Etsy and then Open at Etsy Shop.Fill in all your details and click Register.