How to Start an Online Business in Bangladesh: A 30-Day Plan
A week-by-week plan to launch an online business in Bangladesh: product, page, store, courier, payments, first ads and the numbers to track.
DokanKit Team
2 min read
বাংলায় পড়ুন
Bangladesh has one of the fastest-growing online shopping markets in South Asia, driven by Facebook, mobile wallets and courier networks that now reach every district. Starting is easy. Starting well takes a plan. Here is one you can follow in 30 days.
Week 1: Product and numbers
- Choose one category you know and can source reliably (how to pick a product)
- Get samples from two or three suppliers and compare quality
- Work out your full cost per order: product, packaging, delivery, COD charge, ads and returns
- Set a price with at least 30–40% margin after these costs
Week 2: Brand and page
- Pick a short name that is easy to say on the phone
- Make a simple logo and cover image
- Create a Facebook page with a pinned post listing prices, delivery charges and payment rules
- Take 5–10 good photos per product in daylight
Week 3: Store, courier and payments
- Open merchant accounts with one or two couriers (Steadfast, Pathao or RedX)
- Set delivery charges for inside Dhaka, the suburbs and outside Dhaka
- Decide when to ask for a bKash advance
- Set up an online store so customers can order without waiting for a reply
Week 4: Launch and first orders
- Announce the launch to friends, family and relevant groups
- Run a small Facebook ad test: two or three ads, a small daily budget, 5–7 days
- Confirm each order by phone before booking the courier
- Ask every happy customer for a review and photo
The numbers to track from day one
| Metric | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Cost per order from ads | Tells you if ads are profitable |
| Delivery success rate | Low rate means fake orders or wrong customers |
| Return rate | High rate eats your margin |
| Repeat customers | Your cheapest source of sales |
| Average order value | Bundles and upsells raise it |
Common mistakes to avoid
- Spending on ads before checking the margin
- Promising delivery times you cannot keep
- No fixed rules for advance payment
- Keeping all orders only in Messenger
The first month is about learning. Keep costs low, track every order and improve one thing each week.
Paperwork comes next: read trade licence for online business. DokanKit was built for this plan, with a Bangla store, cash on delivery, bKash advance, courier booking and customer delivery history in one place.
