Online shopping in Pakistan has grown fast. People now buy clothes, cosmetics, electronics, home decor and even groceries from their phones, and they pay through cash on delivery, JazzCash, Easypaisa and cards. If you have been wondering how to start an online store in Pakistan, there has never been a better time, but there are also new rules, payment choices and delivery challenges you need to understand first.
This step-by-step guide on how to start an online store in Pakistan covers everything: choosing a product, picking a platform, registering with FBR, setting up payments and couriers, launching your store and getting your first orders.
How to Start an Online Store in Pakistan: 10 Steps at a Glance
- Choose a niche and products
- Research competitors and pricing
- Pick a business name and register a domain
- Register your business with FBR (NTN)
- Choose a platform: Shopify, WooCommerce or a marketplace
- Design and build your store
- Set up payment methods
- Connect courier and delivery services
- Launch and market your store
- Track results and improve
Step 1: Choose Your Niche and Products
The first decision in how to start an online store in Pakistan is what to sell. Popular and profitable categories include women’s clothing and unstitched lawn, modest fashion, skincare and cosmetics, perfumes, mobile accessories, kitchen and home items, kids’ products and handmade crafts.
Good products for beginners are light, hard to break, easy to explain with photos and have a healthy profit margin after delivery costs and returns. Avoid starting with products that need complex certification, such as medicines or food, unless you understand the regulations.
Step 2: Study Competitors and Set Your Prices
A key part of learning how to start an online store in Pakistan is studying competitors. Look at how similar stores sell on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Daraz and their own websites. Note their prices, delivery charges, return policies and the reviews customers leave. Then calculate your real cost per order: product cost, packaging, courier fee, payment fees, advertising and an allowance for returns. Many new sellers lose money because they forget returns.
Step 3: Pick a Name and Domain
When planning how to start an online store in Pakistan, choose a short, easy-to-spell brand name and check that the matching domain and social media handles are free. A .com or .pk domain both work well for local customers. Register the domain in your own name so you always control it.
Step 4: Register Your Business With FBR
If you are learning how to start an online store in Pakistan, know that registration is no longer optional for most sellers. Under rules introduced in July 2025, online sellers of goods need to be registered with the Federal Board of Revenue, and couriers and online marketplaces are not allowed to serve unregistered sellers. Couriers and payment providers also deduct a withholding tax on orders and pass it to FBR.
- Get a National Tax Number (NTN) through FBR’s IRIS portal using your CNIC.
- Open a business or dedicated bank account for store payments.
- Register for sales tax if your products or turnover require it.
- Consider registering a company with SECP as you grow.
Tax rules change with each budget, so speak to a tax consultant before launch. Proper registration also makes it easier to get approved by payment gateways.
Step 5: Choose the Right Platform
| Platform | Best for | Main costs |
|---|---|---|
| Shopify | Beginners who want an easy, hosted store | Monthly plan in US dollars, apps, theme |
| WordPress + WooCommerce | Full control and lower monthly costs | Hosting, domain, premium plugins |
| Marketplaces (Daraz and others) | Testing products without a website | Commission and fees per sale |
| Social media only | Very small sellers starting out | Time, ads, manual order handling |
Choosing a platform is the biggest technical decision in how to start an online store in Pakistan. Most serious brands use their own website and sell on social media and marketplaces as extra channels. Not sure which platform to choose? Read our detailed WordPress vs Shopify comparison.
Step 6: Design and Build Your Store
Your store must look trustworthy and work perfectly on mobile, because most Pakistani shoppers buy from their phones. Make sure you have:
- Clear product photos from several angles, with size charts where needed
- Honest descriptions, prices and delivery times
- A simple checkout with as few fields as possible
- Clear return, exchange and refund policies
- A WhatsApp button and visible contact details
- Fast loading speed and basic SEO for Google
To plan your budget, see our guide to website development cost in Pakistan.
Step 7: Set Up Payment Methods
Payments are a big part of how to start an online store in Pakistan. Cash on delivery (COD) is still the most common choice, but COD orders are often refused at the door, which means double courier charges and lost time. Offering prepaid options reduces this problem.
- Cash on delivery: essential at launch, but consider confirming orders by phone or WhatsApp.
- Mobile wallets: JazzCash and Easypaisa are used by millions of Pakistanis and should be offered.
- Cards and bank transfer: through a payment gateway or aggregator such as PayFast, XPay or a bank gateway.
- Prepaid incentives: a small discount or free delivery for prepaid orders encourages customers to pay upfront.
Payment gateways usually ask for your NTN, business bank account, CNIC and a live website with policies, so prepare these early. If you use Shopify, note that Shopify Payments is not available in Pakistan, so you will connect a local gateway instead.
Step 8: Connect Courier and Delivery Services
Delivery is often the hardest part of how to start an online store in Pakistan, and reliable delivery is just as important as your website. Compare courier companies on delivery charges, COD settlement speed, coverage of small cities, return handling and tracking. Many Pakistani couriers offer integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce so orders and tracking numbers sync automatically.
Tips to keep delivery costs under control:
- Weigh and package products properly to avoid weight disputes.
- Send tracking links by SMS or WhatsApp.
- Track your return-to-origin (RTO) rate by city and adjust COD rules where returns are high.
Step 9: Launch and Market Your Online Store
- Social media: Instagram, Facebook and TikTok are the biggest sales channels for fashion and lifestyle brands.
- Paid ads: start with a small daily budget on Meta and test different products and creatives.
- SEO: optimise product and category pages and publish helpful blog posts to get free Google traffic over time.
- WhatsApp marketing: share new arrivals and offers with customers who opted in.
- Influencers: micro-influencers often deliver better results than big names for new brands.
- Reviews: ask happy customers for photo reviews to build trust.
Step 10: Track, Learn and Improve
The final step in how to start an online store in Pakistan is measuring results. Install Google Analytics and the Meta Pixel from day one. Watch your conversion rate, average order value, cost per order and return rate every week. Small improvements, such as better photos, faster pages or clearer delivery information, can raise sales without spending more on ads.
How Much Does It Cost? Budget for How to Start an Online Store in Pakistan
| Item | Approximate cost (PKR) |
|---|---|
| Domain (yearly) | 2,500 to 5,000 |
| Hosting or Shopify plan (yearly) | 10,000 to 60,000+ |
| Store design and development (one-time) | 70,000 to 250,000 |
| Initial stock | Depends on products |
| Packaging and branding | 10,000 to 50,000 |
| Marketing for the first months | 30,000 to 150,000+ |
You can start smaller by testing products on social media first, then investing in a professional store once you know what sells.
Common Mistakes When Learning How to Start an Online Store in Pakistan
- Selling too many unrelated products at the start
- Ignoring returns and courier costs when setting prices
- Using low-quality or copied product photos
- Not registering with FBR, which can block courier and payment services
- Building the store on a cheap template that loads slowly on mobile
- Stopping marketing after the first few orders
How to Start an Online Store in Pakistan: FAQs
Can I start an online store in Pakistan without investment?
You can start with very little by selling on social media or through dropshipping, but you will still need money for ads, samples and packaging. A professional store requires a moderate budget.
Is Shopify available in Pakistan?
Yes. You can build and run a Shopify store from Pakistan, but you need a local payment gateway because Shopify Payments is not supported.
Do I need an NTN to sell online in Pakistan?
In most cases, yes. FBR rules now require online sellers of goods to be registered, and couriers and marketplaces can refuse unregistered sellers.
Which is better for beginners, Daraz or my own website?
A marketplace is easier for testing products, while your own website builds a brand, gives you customer data and avoids commission on every sale. Many sellers use both.
How long does it take to launch an online store?
With products and content ready, a professional store usually takes two to five weeks to design, build and test.
Ready to Launch Your Online Store?
Now you know how to start an online store in Pakistan, from choosing products to getting your first orders. If you want a fast, mobile-friendly Shopify or WooCommerce store with local payments, courier integration and SEO built in, the NovaXperts team can help. See our services or get a free quote today.
