How to Start an Online Store in Nigeria — Complete Step-by-Step Guide (2026)

Nigeria's ecommerce market is one of the fastest growing in Africa, projected to exceed $75 billion by 2027. Millions of Nigerians shop online daily, and the number keeps rising. If you have ever considered starting an online business, now is the time.

This guide covers everything: business planning, legal requirements, ecommerce platform selection, payment gateway setup, delivery logistics, mobile app launch, and marketing strategies.

Step 1: Choose Your Niche and Products

The first step is deciding what to sell. Some profitable niches in Nigeria include:

• Fashion and Clothing — Ankara, aso-oke, ready-to-wear, accessories, shoes
• Electronics and Gadgets — Phones, phone accessories, smart home devices, laptops
• Beauty and Personal Care — Skincare, wigs, hair extensions, cosmetics
• Grocery and Food — Fresh food delivery, packaged foods, spices
• Health and Wellness — Supplements, fitness equipment, organic products
• Home and Kitchen — Furniture, decor, kitchenware, appliances

Tip: Focus on a specific niche rather than trying to sell everything. Niche stores build stronger brands and grow faster.

Step 2: Business Registration (CAC)

To run a legitimate online business in Nigeria, you need to register with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

Step 3: Choose an Ecommerce Platform

This is the most important decision. You need an ecommerce platform that handles your website, admin panel, payment processing, and delivery logistics in one place.

Our recommendation: FlexiCommerce — from ₦14,999/month, 500+ features, 3 mobile apps, Flutterwave + Delivery Partner App built-in. See the full comparison here.

Step 4: Set Up Payment Gateway (Flutterwave)

Flutterwave is the leading payment gateway for ecommerce in Nigeria. It supports all the payment methods your customers need:

• Card Payments — Visa, Mastercard, Verve with 3D Secure
• Bank Transfer — Direct bank transfers from all Nigerian banks
• USSD — GTBank (*737#), Access Bank, Zenith, First Bank, UBA and more
• Mobile Money — OPay, PalmPay, Moniepoint, Kuda
• NQR — QR code payments at checkout
• Cash on Delivery (COD) — Essential for Nigerian ecommerce, with OTP verification

With FlexiCommerce, Flutterwave comes pre-integrated — just connect your Flutterwave account and start accepting payments. Read our detailed Flutterwave setup guide.

Step 5: Set Up Delivery and Logistics

Delivery is one of the biggest challenges for ecommerce in Nigeria. Instead of relying on third-party courier services with variable quality, FlexiCommerce gives you a built-in Delivery Partner App:

• Full-featured delivery partner mobile app (iOS and Android)
• Real-time GPS tracking for every delivery
• Automated delivery assignment to the nearest partner
• Zone-based delivery pricing
• COD collection with OTP verification
• Return pickup scheduling
• Open box delivery support
• Delivery partner earnings dashboard and KYC management

This means you can build your own delivery fleet rather than depending on third-party couriers. Better control, better customer experience, lower costs.

Step 6: Launch Your Mobile App

In Nigeria, over 85% of internet users access the web via mobile. If you do not have a mobile app, you are losing a massive portion of potential customers. Read why your store needs a mobile app.

FlexiCommerce includes 3 mobile apps:

• Customer App — iOS and Android, voice search, push notifications, gamification
• Seller App — Vendors manage products, orders, and earnings from their phone
• Delivery App — Delivery partners track and manage deliveries

Step 7: Add Products and Go Live

From your admin dashboard, add products:

1. Upload high-quality product images (white background recommended)
2. Write compelling titles and descriptions
3. Set prices in Naira (₦)
4. Add product variants (size, colour, etc.)
5. Set up categories and brands
6. Configure inventory and stock quantities
7. Set shipping weight and dimensions

Step 8: Marketing and Getting First Customers

After launching your store, marketing is the most critical step. Here are the most effective strategies for Nigeria:

• Social Media — Instagram and Facebook are huge in Nigeria. Post product photos, reels, and run targeted ads.
• WhatsApp Marketing — Use WhatsApp Business to share your catalogue. Create broadcast lists and customer groups.
• Google Ads — Run Google Shopping ads targeting Nigerian buyers searching for your products.
• SEO — Optimise your product descriptions with relevant keywords. Write blog posts to drive organic traffic.
• Influencer Marketing — Partner with Nigerian micro-influencers on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
• Launch Offer — Give your first 100 customers a special discount. Create urgency and excitement.
• Push Notifications — Use your mobile app to send targeted offers and price drop alerts.

Total Cost to Start an Online Store in Nigeria

Conclusion

Starting an online store in Nigeria has never been more affordable or accessible. With FlexiCommerce, you get a complete ecommerce store from ₦14,999/month — website, 3 mobile apps, admin panel, Flutterwave payments, built-in delivery partner app — everything ready to go in 20 minutes. Save 20% with annual billing.