Sell online in South Africa — with just your phone
You don't need a website, a developer, or a warehouse. If you have products and a phone, you can be taking orders today. Here's the honest version of how selling online works in SA — and the fastest way to start.
What you actually need (it's shorter than you think)
Three things: product photos, a place buyers can browse, and a way to take orders. Most South African sellers already have the third one — WhatsApp. What they're missing is the middle piece: posts in groups get buried in minutes, and Instagram DMs turn every sale into twenty messages.
A TradeFeed shop fills that gap. Your products live at one permanent link (tradefeed.co.za/your-shop), buyers browse and pick sizes themselves, and the order arrives in your WhatsApp pre-filled — product, variant, quantity, total.
The WhatsApp-first way vs the website way
A traditional online store (Shopify, Wix, WooCommerce) means monthly fees in dollars, payment gateway setup, and buyers who must trust an unknown website with their card. The WhatsApp-first way flips it: buyers order in the app they already use daily, you confirm payment and delivery in chat, and your catalogue link does the selling. For most small SA sellers, that's not the budget option — it's the better option. If you're weighing it up, read our honest Shopify comparison.
Three steps to your first order
1. Snap a photo. Upload it and AI writes the title, description and tags in about 10 seconds. You check it and publish. 2. Share one link. Post your catalogue link in WhatsApp groups, your status, Instagram bio — anywhere your buyers are. Already have a WhatsApp Business catalogue? Import it in one go. 3. Take orders on WhatsApp. Buyers send a ready-made order message; you confirm payment and delivery. The full method is in our guide to selling on WhatsApp.
What it costs
R0 to start: 20 products free, forever, with 10 AI listings a month. Upgrade to Starter (R99/month) for unlimited products when the orders justify it. Full details on the pricing page — prices in rand, cancel anytime, no card to start.
Getting paid safely
Confirm payment before you ship — EFT with proof, PayFast for card payments, or cash on delivery for local orders. Because the conversation happens on WhatsApp, you keep a written record of every agreement. Use a business WhatsApp number because TradeFeed places it in the order link buyers tap to contact you.
20 products free · 10 AI listings a month · no credit card · set up in under 3 minutes
Frequently asked questions
- What do I need to start selling online in South Africa?
- A smartphone, product photos, and somewhere buyers can browse and order. On TradeFeed that's a free online shop with one shareable link — no website, no coding, no app for your buyers to download.
- How much does it cost to sell online?
- TradeFeed is free for your first 20 products, forever, including 10 AI-written listings a month. Paid plans start at R99/month when you outgrow that. No card needed to start.
- Do I need to register a company to sell online in SA?
- No — you can start selling as an individual. Registering with CIPC becomes worth it as you grow (it helps with business banking and wholesale accounts), but it is not a requirement to open your shop.
- How do I get paid safely?
- Most sellers confirm payment in the WhatsApp chat: EFT, PayFast, or cash on delivery for local orders. TradeFeed never holds your money — buyers pay you directly.
- Can buyers trust a small online shop?
- That's exactly what TradeFeed is built for. Your shop shows a Verified Seller card — verification status, orders fulfilled, reply time, and location — so a small reseller looks as trustworthy as an established store.