Starting an online store in Pakistan can open doors to a thriving market. With e-commerce revenue expected to hit US$5.91 billion by the end of 2025, more entrepreneurs are turning to digital sales to reach customers across the country. Whether you're selling fashion items, electronics, or handmade goods, the process involves careful planning, legal steps, and practical setup.

This guide walks you through each stage, from idea validation to launch, with tips tailored to Pakistan's market, where cash on delivery (COD) dominates over 75% of transactions.

By the end, you'll have a clear roadmap to get your store running.

Let's break it down.

Step 1: Validate Your Business Idea and Choose a Niche

Before investing time or money, confirm there's demand for your products. Pakistan's online shoppers favour categories like fashion, electronics, and home goods, with fashion showing the fastest growth at 20% annually.

Conduct Market Research: Use free tools like Google Trends or surveys on social media to spot trends. For example, search for "summer kurtas" or "smartphones under 50,000 PKR" to gauge interest. Talk to potential customers via WhatsApp groups or Facebook communities in your city.
Pick a Niche: Narrow your focus to stand out. Instead of general clothing, target "affordable ethnic wear for working women." This helps in sourcing and marketing.
Test Demand: Start small by selling on social media or marketplaces like Daraz to see what sells without building a full site.

Aim for products with low competition but steady demand. A solid idea here sets the foundation for everything else.

Step 2: Create a Simple Business Plan

A business plan keeps you organised and helps secure funding if needed. It doesn't have to be long; 10 pages is enough for starters.

Outline Goals: Set targets like "reach 100 orders in the first month" or "achieve 20% profit margin."
Estimate Costs: Keep your initial investment flexible based on your goals. Your main expenses typically include inventory, website setup, and ongoing marketing. If you manage most tasks yourself, you can significantly reduce the overall startup cost and begin with a lean budget.
Plan Revenue Streams: Include COD, card payments, and potential upsells like bundles.
Identify Suppliers: Source locally from markets in Pakistan or online wholesalers on Alibaba.

Keep it flexible, update as you learn from sales data.

Step 3: Handle Legal Requirements and Register Your Business

Operating legally builds trust and avoids fines. Pakistan requires basic registrations for e-commerce, even for small setups.

Requirement	Description	How to Get It
Business Registration	Register as a sole proprietor or company via SECP for legitimacy.	Use SECP's eServices portal online; Takes 1–2 weeks.
National Tax Number (NTN)	Mandatory for tax filing; register with FBR.	Apply via the FBR IRIS portal; free and quick. Needed for sales tax if turnover exceeds PKR 5 million annually.
Domain and Trademark	Secure a .pk domain; trademark your brand name.	Register a domain via PKNIC; trademark via IPO Pakistan.
Consumer Protection Compliance	Display clear policies on returns, refunds, and data privacy.	Follow ETO 2002; no extra cost, but consult a lawyer.

Join your local Chamber of Commerce for networking. If importing, check customs rules via FBR. These steps ensure you're compliant from day one.

Step 4: Source Products and Manage Inventory

Reliable products keep customers coming back.

Decide on Model: Resell from wholesalers, manufacture your own, or use dropshipping to avoid holding stock.
Find Suppliers: Visit wholesale markets in Karachi or Lahore, or use apps like Daraz Seller Center for leads. For quality checks, order samples first.
Inventory Tips: Start with 20–50 items. Use tools like Excel or free apps like Inventory Management by Zoho to track stock.

Price competitively, factor in 15–20% for taxes and shipping. Aim for 30–50% margins to cover costs.

Step 5: Build Your Online Store

Choose a platform that fits your tech skills and budget. Pakistan's top options support local payments and mobile optimisation, crucial since over 70% of traffic is mobile.

Platform	Best For	Cost (PKR/month)	Pros	Cons
Shopify	Beginners	2,000–10,000	Easy setup, 100+ themes, Integrates with JazzCash and Easypaisa via XPay.	Monthly fees.
WooCommerce	Custom sites	Free (hosting PKR 500)	Flexible with WordPress, unlimited products.	Needs hosting setup.

Sign up, pick a theme, add products with high-quality photos (use your phone with good lighting), and write clear descriptions. Test mobile view. Launch in 1–2 weeks.

Step 6: Arrange Shipping and Fulfilment

Delivery is make-or-break in Pakistan, where customers expect 2–5 day nationwide service.

Choose a Partner: Reliable couriers like PostEx Pakistan handle urban and rural areas.

For seamless operations, use PostEx, a full-stack logistics provider designed for e-commerce in Pakistan. They offer nationwide coverage, including hard-to-reach areas, with features like automated tracking, COD collection, and easy API integration for platforms like Shopify.

Pricing starts low, with transparent rates, no hidden fees and benefits like 99% on-time delivery. It's ideal for startups, handling everything from pickup to returns without you needing a warehouse. Sign up on their site for quick onboarding and focus on sales, not logistics.

For shipping, you can add shipping costs to prices (PKR 150–300/order) and display estimates clearly.

Step 7: Set Up Payment Gateways

Payments must be secure and convenient. COD is king, but offers options to boost conversions.

Top gateways for 2025:

JazzCash: User-friendly for mobile payments; integrates easily with Shopify via XPay.
EasyPaisa: Fast for e-wallets; supports COD integration.
XPay: Secure for cards; boosts conversions by 35% with seamless checkout.

Setup takes 1–3 days; verify with PCI-DSS for security. Always include COD to match local preferences.

Step 8: Develop a Marketing Strategy

Drive traffic to your store with targeted efforts.

Social Media: Post daily on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok—platforms with 50+ million Pakistani users. Use ads (PKR 5,000 budget) targeting Lahore or Karachi shoppers.
SEO Basics: Optimise product pages with keywords like "best budget laptops Pakistan."
Email/SMS: Collect contacts at checkout for promotions via tools like Mailchimp (free tier).
Marketplaces: List on Daraz for initial exposure.

Track with Google Analytics (free). Aim for 1,000 visitors in month one.

Step 9: Launch, Monitor, and Scale

Go live with a soft launch, share with friends for feedback.

Monitor Metrics: Watch orders, cart abandonment, and return rates via your platform's dashboard.
Customer Service: Respond to queries within hours via WhatsApp. Offer 7–14-day returns.
Scale Up: Reinvest profits into ads or new products. File taxes annually via FBR.

Common pitfalls:

Underestimating shipping delays or ignoring mobile optimisation. Adjust based on data.

Final Thoughts

Launching an online store in Pakistan is straightforward with these steps, but success comes from consistent effort and customer focus. Start small, learn from each order, and streamline operations with PostEx. By 2025, with rising smartphone use, your store could tap into millions of new buyers. Ready to begin?

Start today and build that first Social & Web page. Your digital business awaits.

How to Start an Online Store in Pakistan

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