How to Create a Free Online Store in South Africa (Step-by-Step Guide)

Do you feel stuck in the process of wanting to sell online but are scared off by setup costs and tech headaches? Starting a free online store in South Africa doesn’t have to be daunting or costly, thanks to Netcash Shop. 

Our 30-day Free plan is packed with valuable features and requires no added coding, hosting, or monthly costs. It’s perfect for beginners wanting to sell crafts, beauty products, or digital goods amid rising demand.

This step-by-step guide to opening an online store for free walks you through everything, from setup to the first sale. Build a secure store in minutes with “Instant Site” design templates, integrated Netcash Payment Gateway, and auto-sync to social media and Google Shopping.

Why open a free online store in South Africa with Netcash

There are many reasons why you would want to create an online store in South Africa. Whether you are a new business owner or want to expand your brick-and-mortar company, here is everything you need to know before clicking ‘create’.

South African online store statistics

• According to World Wide Worx, South Africa’s online retail sector was expected to grow to R130-billion by the end of 2025.
• The fashion industry dominates the eCommerce market, accounting for 32% of South Africa’s online shopping. The second largest online retail sector is hobbies and arts. These account for 27% of sales. 
• South African online shoppers really value freebies and convenience above all. In a 2025 study by Meltwater, the consumer intelligence company found that 67.3% of all eCommerce shoppers are more likely to purchase from your shop if they receive free delivery. 
• According to a Mastercard report on online retail in South Africa, EFTs are the most popular payment method with 94.5% of users. It is followed closely by debit cards (93.5%), credit cards (75.6%), and Instant EFTs (40.8%), which are still the most widely used payment methods among South Africans. 
• BNPL services are rapidly gaining traction in South Africa, with many online shoppers opting for flexible payments. It is expected to reach $815.1 million USD in 2025.

Benefits of creating an online store for your business

So, you want to start an online store website for free. Here are some of the benefits you’ll get, whether you’re starting from scratch or looking to expand your business. 

• Low or no cost: You can avoid high upfront costs (or any costs at all) with the right online store builder, allowing you to have bigger ROIs each year. 

• 24/7 availability: Unlike brick-and-mortar stores, your site can run all day, allowing customers to purchase goods at any time.
• Easy scalability: Stocktaking, adding new products, or removing items is much easier in an online business. This also makes it much easier to expand your catalogue as your business grows. 
• Risk-free experimentation: When you’ve invested tons of money in a business, it can be scary to venture out of what works. Testing new business ideas, products, or marketing strategies is much easier without a significant financial commitment. 
• Convenience: Online stores often come with integrated tools to help you manage orders, shipping, and payments through a central dashboard. This removes the need for unnecessary Excel sheets and paperwork.
• Can complement physical stores: Some entrepreneurs start with online stores, while established businesses may expand their reach through them. Starting a free eCommerce website is an effective way to do so on a low budget. 
• Enhanced marketing: Online stores benefit from easy access to social media, SEO, and analytics to better understand customer behaviour and increase reach. 

What you can sell online

The great thing about selling goods and services online is that you don’t have to be boxed into one thing. 

• • Fashion: Many online retailers sell shoes, apparel, and accessories under their own personal brand or act as middlemen for other brands.  
  • Electronics: New and secondhand electronics and gaming equipment, such as smart devices, headsets, and power tools, are often in demand. 
  • Health and beauty: What you sell in this sector is often influenced by trends, but staples include skincare, makeup, vitamins, supplements, and personal care items. 
  • Home and kitchen: This casts a wide net of products you can sell, from decor and bedding to appliances and organisation tools. 
  • Hobby and crafts: These include arts and craft supplies, DIY kits, and materials for creative projects. 
  • Pet supplies: Pet products range from pet care essentials and food to toys and apparel.
  • Food: You can sell food online, ranging from long-life shelf food to fresh products. You can also sell speciality food or imported goods that may be difficult to find in South Africa. 
  • Digital products: Not all products have to be tangible. You can also sell e-books, digital planners, and online courses in your store.

• Subscription services: Sometimes your product is ‘convenience’ in the form of monthly coffee deliveries or meal prep kits. It can also be something related to a customer’s hobby, such as monthly puzzles or a wine-a-month subscription.

How to open an online store in South Africa: A step-by-step guide 

Creating a free website has never been easier with Netcash Shop’s Instant Site, which offers a website builder that requires no design or coding skills. The best part? It won’t cost a cent. Here is our easy guide to creating a free online shop in South Africa.

Step 1. Sign up for a free Netcash Shop account

Instant Site is a free service included with any Netcash Shop plan. The Free plan defaults to a 30-day duration. It switches to the ongoing Free status only after you activate your Netcash account and gateway, and then process transactions through it.

The Free package includes free hosting, free SSL certificate, automated maintenance, and backups, all managed by Netcash Shop. Note that the Free plan has limitations, so if your business requires more features or more than 10 product listings, opting for the competitively priced Venture plan may be your best option.

Step 2. Design and build your store

Our Instant Site offers an online store builder that lets you customise the design to align with your brand colours and style. You can also add your store logo and pages without coding. 

Your site will also be mobile-friendly thanks to its responsive design, which adapts to desktop, smartphone, and tablet screen sizes.

Step 3. Add products

You can easily add your products, photos, descriptions, and prices to your site through the Netcash Shop admin panel. For easy browsing, you can also categorise your items according to various groups. If you have a seasonal business, for example, you can also toggle item displays off with a simple click.

Step 4. Activate payment methods

From the admin panel, you can also activate the integrated Netcash eCommerce payment gateway and add your shipping methods. We offer various payment methods, from EFT to Scan to Pay, making it easier not only for your customers but also for you.

Step 5. Connect to your channels

This is an optional step, but our integrations on the Free Plan let you link your shop product catalogue to Pinterest, Snapchat, and Google advertising to increase reach and impressions.

Step 6. Test your site and launch

It is always wise to preview your store, place test orders, and view it on mobile to ensure there are no errors that could cause friction during checkout. Once this has been checked thoroughly, you can finally go live with your site.

​Step 7. Start selling your products or services

Finally, the last thing to do is to reap the fruits of your labour and have a free website. 

How to Upgrade When Ready

While Netcash Shop offers a free plan, you can also upgrade for more perks and features for your online eCommerce shop. The plans range from ‘Venture’ to the ‘Unlimited’ plan, which allows you to upload an unlimited number of goods to your store.

FAQs about creating a Free Online Store in South Africa

Netcash might be your answer for creating an easy and free eCommerce website in South Africa

This comprehensive guide highlights how to create an online store for free without the burden of upfront costs. So you can start selling online for free with Netcash Shop today. 

Join the momentum of South Africa’s booming R130-billion eCommerce market with the tools, stats, and steps you need right here at Netcash Shop to turn hesitation into hustle.