How to start an online business in Bangladesh: step by step

If you want to know how to start online business in Bangladesh, the short answer is: pick one product, sell ten of them to real people, and only then build the rest.

Most people do it the other way round. They spend a month on a logo, a Facebook page theme, and a business name. They have no product, no supplier price, and no idea who will buy. This guide is the order that actually works for a first-time seller.

You do not need a developer. You do not need a lot of money. You do need patience for the boring parts: counting stock, answering messages, and packing parcels.

Step 1: Pick one product you can describe in one sentence

Do not start with "fashion" or "electronics". Start with something narrow.

Good examples of narrow: cotton panjabi for men, phone covers for one phone model, handmade soap, school bags for children. You can describe them in one sentence, and a customer can too.

Pick a product where:

• You can get it from a supplier you can visit or call again.
• You can photograph it yourself.
• A parcel with it is easy to pack and unlikely to break.
• You can explain who it is for (for example, office workers in Dhaka, or new mothers).

Sell one category first. You can widen later when orders tell you what people want.

Step 2: Work out your real cost and price

Write down what each unit costs you, not what you hope it costs.

1. Buying price from the supplier.
2. Packaging: poly bag, box, tape, a thank-you card if you use one.
3. Delivery cost to you for each unit you restock.
4. What you lose on returns. Some COD parcels come back. Plan for it. We wrote about what happens when a COD parcel comes back.
5. Your time. Even if you pay yourself nothing now, know the number.

Then set a price that leaves a margin after all of that. If the margin disappears the moment one parcel in a batch comes back, the price is too low.

Check your courier's merchant panel for current delivery and COD charges. Do not copy a number from a blog post. Courier rates change.

Step 3: Sort out the paperwork you need

Rules for registering a small business, trade license, and tax numbers depend on your city, your product, and how big you plan to get. We are not going to give you a checklist that may be out of date.

Do two things. Ask a local accountant or your city corporation office what applies to you. And check what Pathao, Steadfast, bKash, and any other service you want will ask for when you open a merchant account.

You can often start small and formalise as orders grow. But find out the rules before you scale, not after.

Step 4: Take good photos with the phone you have

You do not need a studio. A phone, a window, and a plain wall are enough for a first catalog. We have a separate guide on product photography and descriptions that sell.

For now: take one clear front photo, one close-up, and one showing size or scale. Keep the background plain. Shoot in daylight.

Step 5: Put your catalog on a real store, not only a Facebook page

A Facebook page is good for finding customers. It is a poor place to run a business.

Stock lives in your head. Orders live in Messenger threads. A page restriction can cut your reach overnight. A store gives you a product list, a checkout, an order record, and a link you can put in every post. Our guide on how Facebook sellers should think about f-commerce and a website covers the split.

On StoreOS you can start free: website builder, up to 50 products, 1 staff. Free is for loading the catalog. It does not take COD orders or book couriers. Paid plans do. The Silver plan is Tk 499 a month with a 7-day trial. Live prices are on pricing.

Step 6: Offer cash on delivery first

Many first-time buyers in Bangladesh want to see the parcel before they pay. That is normal. It is a trust issue, not a technology gap. We explained it in why COD still wins in Bangladesh.

Start with COD. Add bKash, Nagad, or card payment later, when repeat customers ask for it. Our guide on online payment methods for your store covers what to add and when.

Use a phone number at checkout. Ask for the address in a clear form with area and landmark. A real handset number cuts down on fake orders.

Step 7: Ship with a courier you can track

Open a merchant account with Pathao or Steadfast. Many sellers keep both. Each order should have the name, phone, address, items, and COD amount in one place, so you are not retyping it into a courier panel.

On a paid StoreOS plan, you connect Pathao or Steadfast with your own merchant credentials and book from the order. You still need the courier account. StoreOS does not replace their pickup network.

Set your delivery charges honestly. Inside Dhaka and outside Dhaka usually cost different amounts. See our delivery charge guide.

Step 8: Get repeat orders

The cheapest sale is the second one to the same person.

• Pack neatly. Include a small card with your phone number and store link.
• Message after delivery: "Did the parcel arrive okay?"
• Send the product link, not a screenshot, when someone asks about stock.
• Use a coupon code for repeat buyers once you have a handful of them.

Keep a simple list of customers who bought more than once. Those people are your best source of new product ideas.

How to start online business in Bangladesh: your first 30 days

Week 1. Pick the product. Cost it. Order a small batch.

Week 2. Photograph it. Write short descriptions. Load the catalog on a free store.

Week 3. Post on Facebook and WhatsApp with product links. Take your first orders. Test the full process with one order to your own address.

Week 4. Fix whatever broke: wrong sizes, unclear delivery charge, slow replies. Decide what to reorder.

Do not judge the business by the first week. Judge it by whether a stranger can find your link, place an order, and receive the parcel without you explaining anything twice.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Buying a large stock before you know it sells.
• Skipping the cost sheet and finding out later you lost money on every order.
• Taking orders only in chat, then overselling. See stop running stock from a Messenger thread.
• Turning COD off because one or two parcels came back.
• Copying another seller's prices without checking your own costs.

FAQ

How much money do I need to start an online business in Bangladesh?

It depends on your product. The main cost is stock. You can start a store on a free plan and load the catalog before you spend on a paid plan. Work out your cost per unit first, then decide how many units you can afford to buy.

Do I need a website, or is a Facebook page enough?

A page is enough to start talking to customers. A website gives you an order record, stock control, checkout, and a link that is yours. Most sellers keep both.

Should I accept cash on delivery?

Yes, for first-time buyers. Many people want to inspect the parcel first. Add online payment later as an option, not a replacement.

Can I start with no developer?

Yes. With a hosted store, you add products in a console and pick a theme. You do not write code.

What to do this week

1. Choose one product and write its cost per unit.
2. Set a price with a margin that survives a return.
3. Take three photos of it with your phone.
4. Open a Pathao or Steadfast merchant account.
5. Put the catalog online and test one full order to yourself.

Create a free store and load your first products. When you are ready to take COD orders and book couriers, move to a paid plan.