This guide assumes you are starting from nothing and want a store that actually takes orders, not a website that just looks nice. It applies whichever platform you choose.
Step 1 — Decide exactly what you sell
The most common beginner mistake is a general store selling a bit of everything. It is harder to source, harder to photograph, harder to explain, and impossible to become known for.
Choose narrow. "Handmade leather wallets" beats "accessories". "Lawn suits for women" beats "clothing". You can broaden later once people know you for one thing.
Before committing money, check three things: can you restock it reliably, does it survive courier handling, and is the margin enough to absorb a return? A fragile item with a thin margin will drain you.
Step 2 — Sort out delivery before you launch
Most new sellers do this last. It should be near-first, because it decides what you can promise on your product pages.
- Compare the couriers — Leopards, PostEx and TCS are the common choices. Ask for rates for your typical parcel weight and your main cities.
- Check COD remittance timing. The courier collects your money and pays you later. Whether that is one week or three weeks changes how much stock you can afford to buy.
- Know your return process before your first refused delivery, not after.
- Buy packaging that survives. A damaged parcel costs you the sale, the shipping and the review.
Step 3 — Set up how you get paid
Cash on Delivery is still essential in Pakistan. Many buyers want to see the product before paying, particularly from a store they have not bought from before. Offering only prepayment loses you real sales.
But offer the alternatives too — JazzCash, Easypaisa and bank transfer. Some customers prefer to pay immediately, and a prepaid order is one that cannot be refused at the door.
Step 4 — Build the store
This is genuinely the quickest part. What matters:
- A real name and logo. Simple beats clever.
- Clear product pages — price, what it is, size and material, delivery time.
- Your policies written plainly — delivery time, return window, how refunds work. Vague policies cause arguments later.
- A visible way to talk to you. A WhatsApp button converts better than a contact form in Pakistan, because buyers want to ask before they commit.
- It must work on a phone — nearly all your traffic will be mobile.
On TijarahOnline the free plan covers all of this with no commission on your sales, so you are not paying monthly before you have income.
Step 5 — Take photographs that sell
Photos matter more than your design. Customers cannot touch the product, so pictures carry the whole job of convincing them.
- Daylight, near a window. Free and better than most indoor lighting.
- Plain background. A white sheet or plain wall costs nothing.
- Several angles, plus a close-up of texture or stitching.
- Show scale — the item held in a hand, or worn.
- Show flaws honestly. A surprise on delivery becomes a return and a bad review.
Step 6 — Place a test order yourself
Before you tell a single person about the store, buy from it. Go through checkout as a customer, confirm the order arrives in your dashboard, book it with the courier, and read the messages the customer receives. You will find something broken. Everyone does — better you than your first real buyer.
Step 7 — Get your first ten customers
Do not start with paid advertising. You do not yet know which products sell or what a customer is worth, so you would be buying data at the worst possible price.
- Your WhatsApp contacts. Message people individually — not a broadcast. Family, friends, former colleagues.
- Your existing social accounts. Post the real products with real photos.
- WhatsApp status. Genuinely effective in Pakistan and completely free.
- Local Facebook groups where selling is allowed. Read the rules first.
- Ask every happy buyer for a photo or a line of feedback. Real reviews from real people convert strangers better than any advertisement.
Once you have consistent orders and know your numbers, then consider advertising — and use tracked links so you can tell which campaign actually produced sales.
Step 8 — Keep the customers you already paid for
Getting a new customer is the expensive part. Selling again to someone who already trusts you is nearly free, and almost every beginner ignores it.
- Save every buyer's WhatsApp number, with what they bought.
- Message them when relevant new stock arrives — personally, not as spam.
- Follow up after delivery to check they are happy. It prevents bad reviews and often produces the next order.
A realistic first month
| Week | What you do |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Pick your products, contact couriers, compare rates, order packaging. |
| Week 2 | Photograph everything, build the store, write your policies, place a test order. |
| Week 3 | Sell to WhatsApp contacts and social followers. Fix what the first real orders reveal. |
| Week 4 | Post consistently, gather reviews, and review which products actually sold. |
Anyone promising you a full-time income in month one is selling you something. A steady trickle of orders by week four is a genuinely good start.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to register a company to sell online in Pakistan?
Many people start as an individual seller and register later once there is steady income. Registration and tax obligations depend on your turnover and your situation, so speak to an accountant before assuming either way. What you do need from day one is a working way to take payment and a reliable way to deliver.
How much money do I need to start?
Less than most people expect if you start with Cash on Delivery and a free store. Your real costs are inventory and packaging. You can build the store itself on a free plan and only pay once orders are coming in.
What is the best payment method for Pakistani customers?
Cash on Delivery remains the most widely accepted, because many buyers still want to see the product before paying. Offer JazzCash, Easypaisa and bank transfer alongside it — some customers prefer to pay up front, and prepaid orders are less likely to be refused at the door.
Which courier should I use?
Leopards, PostEx and TCS are the commonly used services and all handle COD collection. Compare their rates for your typical parcel size and the cities you ship to most, and check how quickly each remits your COD money — that gap affects your cash flow more than the per-parcel price.
How do I get my first customers?
Start with people who already know you: WhatsApp contacts, family, friends, your Instagram followers. Then post consistently with real photos of real products. Paid advertising works better later, once you know which products sell and what a customer is worth to you.
How long does it take to set up an online store?
The store itself can be live in under an hour. Doing the parts that matter properly — good photos, honest descriptions, clear delivery and return policies, and a test order you place yourself — is a weekend of work.
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