There are a lot of online store platforms that will allow you to create an online store for your business easily. However, not all of these are free.
There is one platform in particular that will allow you to create an online store for free in South Africa. That platform is WordPress, on which we built Orcanically and many other websites.
WordPress is a free website builder platform that is easy to use and it can be extended to include e-commerce functionality with WooCommerce.
Both of these platforms are open-source and free to use. However, you will need to have a domain name and hosting, which you will need to pay for.
The fees included in building a free online store in South Africa in 2024 include the following:
- Domain name (R100 per year)
- Website Hosting (R360 per year)
- Card processing fees (starting at 3.4%)
These are all costs associated with building an online store in South Africa. However, the platform to be used, WordPress + WooCommerce, is 100% free. It just needs to be hosted somewhere. (See best website hosting companies in South Africa)
So let’s look into exactly how to start an online store in South Africa. Here is the step by step guide that I would use to launch an online store today (if I were to do it).
1. Get a domain name
Getting a domain name is as easy as searching for one that is available and then purchasing it. Just head over to Priority One and search for your domain name.
Your domain name should usually include your business name, or your online store name. It would look something like this: “mybusiness.co.za”
Getting a .co.za domain name is the cheaper option in South Africa, as it is only R100 per year. Other domain names are more expensive.
Since this article is about launching an online store for free, I will assume that you don’t have a lot of extra cash lying around.
If you already have a domain name, just click on Transfer.
So just add the domain name you choose to your cart and add some hosting with it.
2. Get some hosting
Next, you will need to get hosting so that the data on your website can be accessed by the world by clicking on your domain name or by typing it into a browser.
Cool hey? Anyone will be able to access your very own store. And buy from you.
So get some hosting. On Priority One, there is a hosting package for R30 per month or R360 per year that is perfectly fine for launching your online store.
Besides, we want to do it as cheaply as possible, so that you can start to make a profit as soon as possible.
So now, complete your order by checking out and paying with a card. This will allow you to log in to your Cpanel account so that you can set up a business email address and your website.
3. Install WordPress
It will take some time for your domain to go through, however, you can start to install WordPress so long through the CPanel that comes with your hosting profile.
Click on WP Toolkit to install WordPress for free.
Then click on install.
This will take you to a panel where you can set up your WordPress installation. In the directory, choose the simplest option. On the installation path, leave the directory blank.
You can also fill in your website title, plugin / theme set (choose ‘none’), set up your username and password and click on install. This will then install WordPress on your domain and let you know when it’s done.
4. Set up a professional email address for your business
While waiting for your WordPress installation to finish, set up your email address. Head over to the tools section:
Click on email accounts:
Then click on the + Create button. This will take you to a page where you can choose your email address, set a password and even set it up on your favourite email client (such as Outlook or Gmail).
Choose your email and password and click on create. You now have a professional email address.
Having a professional email address for your business instead of using a personal email address is the smart thing to do. You can set up email addresses that look like to following email address: name@yourbusiness.co.za or admin@yourbusiness.co.za.
This email address can then be displayed on your online store so that customers can contact you. It can also be used to send order or delivery confirmation emails from to make it look more professional.
5. Set up your WordPress store
Once WordPress has been installed on your domain, you can log in to the backend and build your online store. You can access the backend of your store by going to yourbusiness.co.za/wp-admin and logging in using your username and password.
Make sure that the username and password you choose cannot easily be guessed, otherwise your website may be hacked.
Alternatively, you can log into your website backend through CPanel.
Click on WP Toolkit on the left of the screen.
Then simply click on the login button found here:
In order for you to sell products on your website you need to add e-commerce functionality. On WordPress, this is done through installing the WooCommerce plugin.
After logging in to your website, click on plugins and then add new. Search for WooCommerce and click on install now. After the plugin has been installed, click on Activate.
Then just follow the prompts from WooCommerce to add products, add shipping options, add a payment processor (Such as Payfast). After setting up all of these options, you can begin selling online.
6. Design your online store
After you have added some of your products, it is easy to design your store so that it looks beautiful and is in line with your brand image.
The best designer software for WordPress is called Elementor. For designing a great online store with lots of functionality and customizability you will need the Pro version of Elementor.
You will need the advanced package for your online store which costs $99 per year. Sign up for the package and download the pro plugin.
Then, upload the plugin to your WordPress store by going to plugins > Add New > Upload. Add Elementor Pro and follow the prompts.
You can choose a prebuilt theme and customise it for your store. This is recommended for speed and efficiency and also if you are new to website design.
Once you have chosen a theme, it will be automatically applied to your store and you can edit from there.
To edit any page, go to pages > edit pages and click on edit with Elementor when hovering over any of the pages. This will take you to Elementor’s backend page builder where you can customise your page.
7. Marketing your online store
There are lots of ways you can market your online store to potential buyers. Here is a list of marketing methods you can try:
- Tell your contacts: tell your friends, family and business associates about your new online store and ask them to give you feedback. This is a great way to get tips from people you already trust. And, some of them might even buy from you.
- Social media marketing: Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest are great places to post about your products and how you solve your customers’ problems. Which social media platform is your ideal customer on? That is the platform where you should be spending the majority of your time.
- Local trade shows or markets: Going to local trade shows or markets that are focussed on your industry is a great way to find new customers. You can either have your own stall at the trade show or attend it. Walk up to people and start a conversation.
- Search Engine Optimisation: Your potential customers might already be looking for your products on search engines such as Google or Bing. Optimising your website to rank on these search engines is a great way to make some extra sales.
- List on local directories: Finding some local directories in South Africa and listing your shop on there is a great way to get extra traffic to your website and eyeballs on your products. Please go through our list of local directories and list your business on each of them for maximum exposure.
Marketing your online store is very important, otherwise you will not get any sales. There are a lot of online shoppers in South Africa that are looking for new online shops in South Africa, you just need to let them know about yours and what makes it unique.
The e-commerce market in South Africa is growing in leaps and bounds and you can capture that market by building an online shop through following this guide.
Let us know if you have any questions while building your own online store. Let us know in the comment section below.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a business license to sell online in South Africa?
You do need to have a registered business to open a card processor account at companies like PayFast or Yoco. This is needed to take online payments when people reach checkout on your online store. Therefore, you do need a business license to sell online in South Africa.
Is it profitable to have an online store?
The profit of a business depends on your income and expenses. To set up and run an online store in South Africa is much cheaper than having a brick-and-mortar store. Sales depend on your ability to attract potential buyers to your online store and convert them into customers. The competition in South Africa is also getting very fierce. Therefore, whether it is profitable to have an online store in South Africa depends on your marketing abilities.
How much does Shopify cost in South Africa?
The most basic Shopify account is currently going for $25 per month. This translates into R450 per month for a Shopify account in South Africa (at the time of writing). Additionally, Shopify will take 3% of your sales as a processing fee. You will also have to pay 3.4% or more for card processing fees at a provider like Payfast or Yoco. However, Shopify is very easy to use and set up, even for beginners.
Can I sell on Amazon if I live in South Africa?
Yes, it is now very easy to sell on Amazon if you live in South Africa. Just go to amazon.co.za and click on ‘sell on Amazon’. You will need to complete an application and pay the monthly fee to be an Amazon seller.
How much does it cost to build an ecommerce website in South Africa?
If you design your website by yourself, it will cost you about R2600 per year for hosting and software. If you get your website designed by an agency, it will cost about R20 000 once-off and R1000 per year for hosting. If you have lots of time on your hands and know how to optimise your website for conversions, you can design your own website, it is much cheaper. Otherwise you will need an agency like Orcanically to create an online store for you.
