10 Steps to Start Selling Online in Bangladesh
A practical checklist for new online sellers in Bangladesh: choosing a product, sourcing, pricing, delivery, cash on delivery, bKash, couriers and your first orders.
DokanKit Team
3 min read
বাংলায় পড়ুন
Starting an online business in Bangladesh takes less money than a shop, but it still needs a plan. Most new sellers fail for simple reasons: wrong pricing, unclear delivery charges, or orders lost in Messenger. These ten steps cover what to sort out before and right after your first sale.
1. Pick one product category
Start narrow. "Women's three-piece" or "homemade pickles" is easier to market than "everything". A narrow category lets you build trust, write better posts and keep stock small.
Good first products are:
- Light and hard to break (cheaper delivery, fewer returns)
- Bought again and again (food, cosmetics, kids' items)
- Easy to show in photos or short videos
2. Find a reliable source
Talk to two or three wholesalers or makers. Check quality yourself before you post anything. For clothing, Dhaka's wholesale markets are the usual start; for food and crafts, local producers often give better margins.
3. Price with every cost included
Your price must cover the product, packaging, the courier's COD charge, returns and ads. A simple formula:
| Cost item | Example (BDT) |
|---|---|
| Product cost | 600 |
| Packaging | 20 |
| Courier COD charge (about 1%) | 10 |
| Ad cost per order | 80 |
| Return allowance | 40 |
| Total cost | 750 |
| Selling price | 990 |
If the margin is thin after ads, the product is not right for paid promotion.
4. Set delivery charges by area
Most sellers use three zones: inside Dhaka, Dhaka suburbs (Savar, Gazipur, Narayanganj) and outside Dhaka. Publish the charges clearly so customers do not ask every time.
5. Decide your payment rules
Cash on delivery is the default in Bangladesh. To cut fake orders, many sellers ask for the delivery charge in advance through bKash for orders outside Dhaka or for high-value items.
6. Sign up with a courier
Steadfast, Pathao and RedX all have merchant accounts you can open with your NID and a bank or mobile wallet for payouts. Compare their rates and how fast they send COD money back.
7. Open a Facebook page
Use a clear name, a logo, a cover photo and a pinned post with prices and delivery charges. Post real photos, not only supplier images.
8. Give customers a proper order page
Taking orders in comments and inbox works for a few orders a day. After that, orders get lost. A simple online store lets customers pick a product, enter their address and see the delivery charge without waiting for a reply.
9. Get your paperwork in order
A trade licence and a Digital Business Identity (DBID) make it easier to open a business bank account and use payment gateways. See trade licence for online business.
10. Confirm every order and track results
Call or message to confirm orders before booking a courier. Keep a record of each customer's delivery history so you can spot people who often refuse parcels.
Your first goal is not a big sale. It is ten smooth orders that teach you how your product, pricing and delivery really work.
For a 30-day plan, read how to start an online business in Bangladesh. DokanKit gives Bangladeshi sellers a store with cash on delivery, bKash advance, courier booking and area-based delivery charges, with a free trial and no commission on orders.
