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Step-by-step guideHow to start an online store in South Africa
Selling online in South Africa is easier than ever, but there are a few local things to get right: how customers pay, how parcels reach them, and what the law asks of online shops. This guide walks through the steps in order.
1. Choose what you sell and who you sell to
Start with a clear range and a clear customer. Work out your prices with delivery in mind: South African shoppers expect to see delivery costs up front, and a free-delivery threshold (for example "free delivery over R750") lifts order values.
2. Register a domain name
A .co.za domain tells customers you are local and builds trust. Keep it short and easy to say. You can check domain prices and register one in minutes.
3. Get hosting
Your store needs somewhere to live. A standard cPanel hosting plan with PHP and MySQL is enough for most small and medium shops, with free SSL (the padlock) and daily backups. Afriweb hosting plans are hosted in South Africa.
4. Pick your store software
You can rent a hosted store builder by the month, assemble WordPress with WooCommerce and plugins, or buy complete store software once. DemoCart is the last kind: R1,999 once-off, 136 features, built for South Africa. See our comparisons with Shopify and WooCommerce.
5. Set up payments
Most South African shoppers pay by card or Instant EFT. PayFast handles both (and more) and pays out to your bank account. Many customers still like plain EFT, so offer bank details with a proof-of-payment upload. Add PayPal if you sell overseas.
6. Sort out delivery
Decide between courier delivery, locker or pickup-point delivery and in-store collection. Showing live courier rates at checkout avoids under-charging, and clear delivery times reduce "where is my order?" emails.
7. Tick the legal boxes (POPIA, ECTA, CPA)
Online shops must show their business details, a returns and refunds policy and a privacy policy, ask permission before marketing emails, and protect customer data. ECTA also gives online buyers a cooling-off period. Good store software includes the pages and settings for this.
8. Add products that sell
Use clear photos on a plain background, honest descriptions, sizes or options with their own stock, and reviews. Group products into collections customers understand.
9. Test, then go live
Place a few test orders end to end: pay, receive the email, print the invoice, book the courier. Then open your doors and tell people: your existing customers first, then social media and Google.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start an online store in South Africa?
The basics are a domain (a .co.za is inexpensive per year), hosting (a monthly plan) and store software. Hosted builders charge monthly; DemoCart is R1,999 once-off with no monthly licence fees.
What is the best payment gateway for South African online stores?
PayFast is the most widely used: it takes card, Instant EFT and other methods and pays out to a South African bank account. Many stores also offer plain EFT and PayPal for overseas buyers.
Do online stores in South Africa need to comply with POPIA?
Yes. Any business that collects personal information, such as names, addresses and emails at checkout, must protect it, explain how it is used in a privacy policy, and get consent for marketing.
Can I start an online store without coding?
Yes. Store software like DemoCart has an installer, a setup wizard and a drag-and-drop page builder, so you can build and run your shop without code.
DemoCart: R1,999 once-off, 136 features
Complete online store software for South African businesses. No monthly licence fees.