How to Start an Online Business in Nepal - Store, Payments & Delivery

More people in Nepal now shop through Facebook, Instagram and websites. Digital wallets like eSewa and Khalti have also made paying online much easier. That makes now a good time to start selling online.

But where do you begin? Which products should you sell? Do you need a website? How do you get paid and deliver orders?

This guide walks you through the whole process in 7 simple steps, from your first idea to your first order.

Yes, for many types of businesses. Online selling works well for:

• Small shop owners who want more customers
• Home-based sellers (clothing, food, handmade items, beauty products)
• Brands that want their own store instead of depending only on social media
• Wholesalers and suppliers who want to reach businesses across the country

Be ready for some challenges:

• Many customers still worry about trust, so they want to see reviews and a real business name.
• Delivery outside Kathmandu Valley can be slower and costlier.
• Returns and fake cash-on-delivery orders need a clear policy.

None of these are deal-breakers. They just need planning, which the steps below cover.

Your product choice decides most of your success. Keep it simple.

Start with one product category. Selling shoes, phone covers, food and furniture all at once confuses customers and makes stock hard to manage.

Check these before you decide:

• Demand: Are people already buying this? Look at Facebook pages, Daraz and competitor websites.
• Margin: After product cost, delivery, packaging and ads, is there profit left?
• Size and weight: Small, light items are cheaper to ship.
• Return risk: Clothes and electronics are returned more often than books or accessories.

Tip: Start with a product you know well. You will answer customer questions better and spot problems sooner.

Not sure what to sell? These categories suit Nepali customers and are easy to start:

• Fashion and accessories: clothing, bags, shoes, jewelry
• Handmade and local products: handicrafts, pashmina, Himalayan tea, honey, spices
• Beauty and personal care: skincare, cosmetics, herbal products
• Food and grocery: home-made snacks, organic products, bakery items
• Electronics accessories: phone covers, chargers, headphones
• Home and kitchen items: décor, storage, small appliances
• Books and stationery: school supplies, study materials
• Services: salon, tutoring, repair and event booking (see Booking & Appointment App Development in Nepal)

Tip: Look for a product with steady demand, a good margin and low return risk. Local and handmade products also sell well to tourists and to the Nepali diaspora abroad.

A registered business builds customer trust. It is also usually needed when you apply for payment gateways and business bank accounts.

In general, you will need to:

• Choose a business name
• Register your business with the relevant government office
• Get a PAN (or VAT, depending on your turnover)
• Open a business bank account

Important: Registration rules and requirements change from time to time. Check the latest requirements with the relevant government offices or speak to an accountant before you start.

You have three main options.

Many sellers ask whether a Facebook page is enough. Here is the difference:

In short: Facebook is great for starting and promoting. A website is better for growing and building a lasting business. Most successful sellers use both.

Your online store is your shop window, so it should be fast, clear and easy to use on mobile. Most Nepali shoppers browse on their phones.

Your store should have:

• A clean homepage showing your best products
• Product pages with good photos, clear prices and simple descriptions
• A shopping cart and easy checkout
• Search and category filters
• Contact details, an About page and a return policy
• Fast loading speed

Platform options in simple words:

• WordPress + WooCommerce: flexible and popular, good for small and medium stores
• Shopify: easy to start, but monthly fees and international payment limits can be a problem in Nepal
• Custom development: built for your exact needs, best for larger or unique businesses

Not sure which to pick? Read our full guide: Ecommerce Development in Nepal: Process, Cost, Platforms & What to Expect. To compare technologies, see Best Website Technology for Businesses in Nepal: WordPress, Laravel or Next.js?

If you want many sellers on one site, read How to Build a Multivendor eCommerce Website in Nepal.

Need a professional online store? Our team builds fast, mobile-friendly stores with eSewa, Khalti and Fonepay integration, plus SEO from day one. Get a Free Quote

Trust is the biggest barrier in online shopping. Build it with these simple steps:

• Show real contact details: phone, email, address and business hours
• Add an About page: who you are and why customers can rely on you
• Use real product photos: avoid copied images from other sites
• Display reviews and testimonials: with names or photos where possible
• Publish clear policies: return, refund, delivery and privacy
• Offer secure payments: show eSewa, Khalti and other trusted logos
• Reply quickly: on WhatsApp, Viber, Messenger and phone
• Show your registration: PAN/VAT or company details in the footer

Not at the beginning. A mobile-friendly website is enough for most new stores.

Consider an app when:

• You have many repeat customers
• You want push notifications for offers and order updates
• You sell products people reorder often (grocery, medicine, food)
• You want a smoother experience than a mobile browser can give

Start with the website, grow your sales, then add an app. Read the cost breakdown: How Much Does Mobile App Development Cost in Nepal? and How Much Does a Delivery App Cost in Nepal?

Customers are more likely to buy when they can pay the way they prefer.

Common payment options in Nepal:

• eSewa and Khalti: the most popular digital wallets
• Fonepay and IME Pay: widely used for QR and wallet payments
• Bank transfer: useful for larger orders
• Cash on Delivery (COD): still very popular

About Cash on Delivery:

• Builds trust for new customers
• Can lead to fake or refused orders

Tip: Offer both COD and digital payment. You can also ask for a small advance payment on high-value COD orders to reduce fake orders.

Delivery is where many online businesses succeed or fail.

Plan your delivery:

• Work with one or two reliable courier or delivery partners
• Set clear delivery charges for inside and outside Kathmandu Valley
• Show estimated delivery time on every product page
• Pack products safely and add your brand name to the package

Write a simple return policy:

• Which products can be returned
• How many days the customer has
• Who pays for return delivery
• How refunds are made

A clear policy protects you and gives customers confidence to order.

A store without visitors makes no sales, so plan your marketing before launch.

Free and low-cost ways to start:

• Social media: post product photos, short videos and customer reviews on Facebook and Instagram
• Facebook and Instagram ads: start with a small daily budget and test
• WhatsApp and Viber: reply fast and follow up with customers
• Google Business Profile: helps local customers find you on Google Maps
• Reviews: ask happy customers to leave a review and share photos

Long-term growth: SEO. Search engine optimization helps your store appear on Google when people search for your products. It takes time, but it brings steady, free traffic. Learn more in SEO Services in Nepal – Cost, Process & What to Expect.

Want customers to find you on Google? We help Nepali businesses rank higher and get more orders through SEO. See Our Services

Customers remember brands, not just products. Before you launch, prepare:

• A simple, clear logo that works on a website, packaging and social media
• Brand colors and fonts used consistently everywhere
• A short brand story explaining what you sell and why
• Consistent social media profile pictures and covers

A professional logo and consistent look make a new business feel established and trustworthy. If you need help, our team can design your logo and brand style along with your website. Talk to Our Design Team

Costs depend on your product, store type and marketing plan. Here are the main things to budget for:

Two ways to start:

• Low budget: social media selling and a simple store
• Growth stage: a professional website with payment integration, SEO and ads

For website pricing details, see Web Development in Nepal: Cost, Process & Best Company to Choose (2026).

You don't need to be an expert to get started:

• Write unique product titles and descriptions. Don't copy the supplier's text.
• Use keywords customers search for, such as "women's winter jacket Nepal."
• Add alt text to images so Google understands your photos.
• Make your site fast. Compress images and avoid heavy plugins.
• Create category pages for each product group.
• Set up Google Business Profile if you have a physical shop or pickup point.
• Get reviews from real customers.
• Publish helpful content like buying guides and how-to posts.

1. Selling too many things at once. Focus on one category first.
2. No clear return policy. Customers hesitate to buy without one.
3. Ignoring mobile users. Most of your visitors will use phones.
4. Poor product photos and descriptions. Customers can't touch your product, so show it well.
5. Slow replies. A customer who waits a day will often buy elsewhere.
6. Skipping SEO. Relying only on paid ads makes growth expensive.

We help businesses in Nepal and abroad launch online with websites, apps, SEO and branding.

• Experience: serving clients since 2011
• Trusted: 1000+ clients and 5-star reviews
• Local expertise: eSewa, Khalti and other payment integrations built for Nepali businesses
• Complete service: website, mobile app, SEO and logo design from one team
• Proven work: including government and business projects, such as our Nepal Oil Corporation case study