Bangladesh's ecommerce market is growing faster than ever. With over 50 million smartphone users and rapid mobile banking adoption through bKash and Nagad, starting an online business in Bangladesh has never been more accessible. This guide walks you through every step — from choosing your product to making your first sale.
Step 1: Choose the Right Product to Sell
Your product choice determines everything else. Here's what sells well in Bangladesh's ecommerce market in 2026:
- Fashion and clothing — Bangladesh's top-selling ecommerce category. Salwar kameez, sarees, men's shirts, and kids' clothing sell consistently.
- Health and beauty — Skincare, hair care, and herbal products have grown significantly since 2021.
- Home goods — Kitchen items, bedding, and decorative pieces perform well on Facebook and Instagram.
- Food products — Honey, pickles, dried fish, and organic food sell well to health-conscious urban buyers.
- Gifts — Customised gifts, teddy bears, and flower arrangements have strong seasonal demand.
Key tip: Start with a niche you understand. Selling something you know well means better product descriptions, better sourcing, and better customer service — all of which lead to more repeat buyers.
Step 2: Register Your Business
You don't need a trade licence to start selling online in Bangladesh, but registering helps:
- Trade licence from your local city corporation or municipality — required to open a bKash merchant account
- TIN certificate — needed for proper invoicing once you grow
- Bank account — for receiving larger payments and courier cash-on-delivery amounts
You can start selling without registration, but get your trade licence early so you're not blocked when you try to set up bKash merchant payment.
Step 3: Set Up Your Payment Methods
Bangladesh shoppers pay in three main ways:
Cash on Delivery (COD)
COD is still the dominant payment method in Bangladesh — around 70–80% of orders. The courier collects cash and sends it to you. It's higher risk (some buyers refuse delivery) but essential. Don't launch without COD.
bKash Merchant
bKash is the second most important payment method. Apply for a bKash merchant account at your nearest bKash agent with your trade licence and NID. Once approved, customers can pay via bKash at checkout. bKash charges approximately 1.5% per transaction.
Nagad
Similar to bKash but run by Bangladesh Post Office. Nagad charges slightly lower fees and is growing fast in rural areas. Apply online at nagad.com.bd.
Step 4: Choose Where to Sell
Option A: Facebook Page Only
Many Bangladeshi businesses start on Facebook. Create a Facebook Business Page, post product photos, and take orders via Messenger. This is free and works well to start, but you have no order tracking, no stock management, and no data about your customers.
Option B: Your Own Ecommerce Website
A dedicated ecommerce website gives you full control. Customers browse, add to cart, pay via bKash or COD, and orders flow into your admin panel automatically. You have stock tracking, customer history, and courier integration all in one place. See our ecommerce website development service or check the pricing guide to understand costs.
Option C: Marketplace (Daraz, Shajgoj, etc.)
Listing on Daraz gives you access to their existing customer base. But you have no control over pricing, face heavy commission fees (10–20%), and compete directly with thousands of other sellers. Most successful Bangladesh ecommerce businesses eventually move away from marketplace dependence.
Recommended path: Start on Facebook to validate your product. Once you're making 50+ orders per month, build your own website.
Step 5: Set Up Delivery and Courier
The three most popular courier services for small businesses in Bangladesh:
- Pathao — Good for Dhaka, growing nationwide. Easy mobile app for pickup requests. Around ৳60–100 per parcel.
- RedX — Strong outside Dhaka, better for nationwide delivery. Around ৳70–110 per parcel.
- SteadFast — Competitive pricing, reliable for medium to large volume sellers.
Tip: Use multiple couriers. If one has delays, you can switch. Most ecommerce websites (including ours) can integrate all couriers in your admin panel so you create shipments with one click.
Step 6: Market Your Business on Facebook and Google
Facebook Ads
Facebook advertising is the most effective paid channel for Bangladesh ecommerce. Start with ৳500–1,000/day on product carousel ads targeting your specific buyer demographic. Install Facebook Pixel on your website to track purchases and retarget people who visited but didn't buy.
SEO (Free Traffic from Google)
If you sell "organic honey" or "cotton saree", you want your website to appear when people search those terms in Google. This is SEO — it takes 3–6 months to see results but brings free traffic forever. A properly built ecommerce website with good product descriptions already does half the SEO work.
WhatsApp Marketing
Save your customers' phone numbers and send product updates via WhatsApp broadcast lists. Keep messages personal and valuable — not spam. Many Bangladeshi ecommerce owners generate 20–30% of repeat orders this way.
How Much Does It Cost to Start an Ecommerce Business in Bangladesh?
| Item | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Trade licence | ৳2,000–৳5,000 |
| Ecommerce website | ৳15,000–৳60,000 |
| Domain + hosting (yearly) | ৳4,000–৳10,000 |
| Initial product stock | ৳20,000–৳1,00,000+ |
| Product photography | ৳3,000–৳10,000 |
| Facebook Ads (first month) | ৳5,000–৳20,000 |
Total startup cost for a small ecommerce business in Bangladesh: ৳50,000–৳2,00,000 depending on your product and ambition.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Skipping the website — Facebook-only businesses lose all their customer data if their page gets restricted or hacked
- No COD option — Many customers in Bangladesh only trust COD. Always offer it.
- Bad product photos — Your photo is your product. Invest in good photography before advertising.
- Ignoring returns — Have a clear return policy. Customers who get easy returns become loyal buyers.
- No after-sale follow-up — A simple WhatsApp message after delivery asking for feedback converts first-time buyers into regular customers.
Ready to Start?
EOMSBD has helped 50+ Bangladesh businesses launch their ecommerce operations since 2016 — from first website to full OMS integration. Whether you need a WooCommerce shop to get started quickly or a fully custom Laravel platform to scale your business, we can help. WhatsApp us at 01784-222255 for a free consultation.