# Which online business can you start in Pakistan? Selling, freelancing and services compared

URL: https://which.pk/business/guides/online-business-in-pakistan/
Author: Ahtisham
Updated: 20 Oct 2026

## Summary

The online businesses our guides cover differ mainly in who finds the buyer and how money reaches Pakistan. Social selling, Daraz and Fiverr cost nothing to open; Shopify costs US$25 a month and Amazon's Professional plan $39.99. Daraz takes a 2% to 20% category commission, Fiverr 20%, Upwork 0% to 15%. Etsy, eBay and Amazon pay through Payoneer in dollars. Selling goods inside Pakistan through a courier or marketplace needs FBR registration, and COD sales lose 2% income tax and 2% sales tax for filers.

## Key facts

- No fee to open: Social selling, Daraz, Fiverr
- Daraz commission: 2% to 20% by category
- Fiverr's cut: 20%
- Tax on a COD sale (filer): 2% income tax + 2% sales tax

An online business in Pakistan usually means one of nine routes our guides cover: selling on **Daraz**, your own **Shopify or WooCommerce** store, **reselling** through an app, **Etsy**, **Amazon**, **eBay**, **Instagram or Facebook**, or freelancing on **Fiverr** or **Upwork**. Three cost **nothing to open**: social selling, Daraz and Fiverr. The tables below compare what each costs, what it takes from a sale, and how the money reaches you, mostly from each platform's own pages (October 2026).

**Tax withheld on a Rs 10,000 COD sale (filer):** Rs 400 (Rs 200 income tax (section 153(2A)) plus Rs 200 sales tax, deducted by the courier or marketplace. FBR rate card, tax year 2027.)

## What does each online business cost to start?

| Route | Cost to open | What the platform takes |
|---|---|---|
| [Daraz](/business/guides/how-to-sell-on-daraz/) | No listing fee | Commission by category: 2% to 20% (June 2026 list) |
| [Shopify store](/business/guides/shopify-pakistan-payment-gateways/) | US$1 a month for 3 months, then US$25 a month (Basic) | 2% on gateway orders (Basic); card gateway such as Safepay 2.9% + Rs 30; none on COD |
| [WooCommerce website](/business/guides/daraz-vs-shopify-vs-own-website/) | Free software; hosting from US$25 a month; .pk domain Rs 2,100 a year | Your payment gateway's fee only |
| [Reselling app (COD)](/business/guides/dropshipping-in-pakistan/) | Markaz: no sign-up fee, no minimum order | Delivery about Rs 165 plus Rs 50 COD fee per order (Markaz) |
| [Instagram / Facebook](/business/guides/sell-on-instagram-facebook-pakistan/) | Nothing | Nothing; you pay the courier |
| [Etsy](/business/guides/sell-on-etsy-from-pakistan/) | One-time set-up fee (shown at sign-up), $0.20 per listing | 6.5% transaction fee plus 6.5% + $0.30 processing |
| [Amazon.com](/business/guides/how-to-sell-on-amazon-from-pakistan/) | $0.99 per item sold, or $39.99 a month | Referral fee, most often 15% |
| [eBay](/business/guides/sell-on-ebay-from-pakistan/) | 250 free listings a month, then $0.35 each | 13.6% plus $0.30 or $0.40 per order in most categories; 1.55% on sales abroad |
| [Fiverr](/business/guides/fiverr-vs-upwork-pakistan/) | Nothing to publish a Gig; some new freelancers pay an ID-check fee (amount not published) | 20% of each order |
| [Upwork](/business/guides/fiverr-vs-upwork-pakistan/) | Connects at $0.15 each to apply for most jobs | 0% to 15% per contract |

Amazon needs an internationally chargeable credit card at sign-up, and Etsy needs a debit or credit card to pay its bills.

## How does the money reach Pakistan from each one?

| Route | How you get paid | When the money is available |
|---|---|---|
| Daraz | Into your bank account | 7-day payment cycle (Daraz's last published figure, April 2021) |
| Shopify or WooCommerce | Card gateway, or courier for COD | Set by your gateway or courier |
| Reselling app | The app collects COD and pays you | Not stated; delivery takes about 3 to 5 days (Markaz) |
| Instagram / Facebook | Raast or wallet transfer, or courier COD | Raast: instant. Leopards Retail COD: weekly |
| Etsy | Payoneer, in US dollars, then your bank | Every Monday to Payoneer; 2 to 5 business days to the bank |
| Amazon.com | A payment provider such as Payoneer; Pakistan isn't a direct payout country | Not covered in our research |
| eBay | Payoneer, in US dollars | 2 business days after payment is confirmed |
| Fiverr | Payoneer (bank transfer $1 to $3) | 14-day clearing, then 1 to 3 business days |
| Upwork | Direct to Local Bank in rupees, $0.99 | Fixed-price: 5 days after approval; hourly: 10 days after the week; bank within 4 business days |

PayPal and Stripe don't serve Pakistan, so none of these routes uses them. Each payout route is covered in [freelancer payment methods in Pakistan](/business/guides/freelancer-payment-methods-pakistan/).

## Do I need to register an online business in Pakistan?

It depends on what you sell and to whom.

- **Selling goods inside Pakistan** through Daraz, a courier or your own store: you need FBR income tax registration, because since **1 July 2025** online marketplaces and couriers may not serve unregistered sellers. Online sellers of goods also need sales tax registration; cottage industry is exempt. See [e-commerce business in Pakistan](/business/guides/ecommerce-business-pakistan/) and [how to get an NTN](/business/guides/how-to-get-ntn/).
- **Tax on each domestic sale:** **1%** income tax on online-paid orders and **2%** on cash on delivery for filers (double for non-filers), plus **2%** sales tax, withheld before you are paid.
- **Selling abroad** on Etsy, Amazon or eBay: your bank deducts **1.25%** of goods export proceeds under section 154 (tax year 2027). See [e-commerce exports from Pakistan](/business/guides/ecommerce-export-pakistan/).
- **Freelancing:** Fiverr and Upwork verify your ID; Upwork accepts a CNIC. Your bank deducts **0.25%** of export receipts if you are [registered with PSEB](/business/guides/pseb-registration/), **1%** if not.

## Which online business suits you?

- **No money to spend:** a Fiverr Gig, a reseller app or social selling. You pay nothing up front, but the platform or courier takes its share of each sale.
- **You have a skill to sell by the hour:** Upwork's fee can be lower than Fiverr's 20%, but you pay Connects to apply and need your profile approved.
- **You have stock and want buyers fast:** Daraz brings its own buyers for a category commission.
- **You want your own brand:** a Shopify or WooCommerce store has a monthly cost and you find every buyer yourself.
- **You make handmade or niche goods for foreign buyers:** Etsy and eBay accept Pakistani sellers through Payoneer.

More guides: [E-commerce & IT Export](/business/ecommerce-it-export/), [best courier service in Pakistan](/business/guides/best-courier-service-pakistan/), [Raast](/money/guides/raast/).

## Questions people ask

### Which online business can I start in Pakistan without investment?

Selling on Instagram or Facebook, opening a Daraz shop and publishing a Fiverr Gig cost nothing to open, and reseller apps such as Markaz charge no sign-up fee. On Daraz you still need stock, and you need an NTN before a courier or Daraz will serve you.

### Do I need to register my online business in Pakistan?

If you sell goods inside Pakistan through a courier or an online marketplace, yes: since July 2025 they may not serve sellers who aren't registered with FBR. Freelancers verify their identity with Fiverr or Upwork, and PSEB registration cuts the tax a bank deducts from export receipts to 0.25%.

### Which platforms pay directly to a Pakistani bank?

Daraz pays into your bank account, Upwork's Direct to Local Bank sends rupees for $0.99 a withdrawal, and Raast transfers from customers are free and instant. Etsy, eBay, Amazon and Fiverr pay through Payoneer or another payment provider first.

### Is Instagram Shop or TikTok Shop available in Pakistan?

No. Pakistan isn't on Meta's list of countries for Shops on Facebook and Instagram, or on TikTok's list of TikTok Shop markets. Sellers take orders by DM or WhatsApp instead.

## Sources

- [Start Selling on Daraz](https://www.daraz.pk/sell/), Daraz (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- [Daraz commission list effective 1 June 2026 (third-party copy)](https://retaileasepos.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Daraz-New-Updated-Commission-List-effective-from-01-June-2026.pdf), RetailEasePos (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- [Daraz announces 2021 seller promises: faster pay outs](https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/66081/daraz-announces-2021-seller-promises:-faster-pay-outs-and-accelerated-business-growth-for-local-entrepreneurs), Daraz via ACN Newswire (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- [Shopify pricing (Pakistan)](https://www.shopify.com/pk/pricing), Shopify (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- [Shopify pricing (plan comparison)](https://www.shopify.com/pricing), Shopify (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- [Safepay pricing](https://getsafepay.pk/pricing), Safepay (accessed 16 Oct 2026)
- [WooCommerce pricing](https://woocommerce.com/pricing/), WooCommerce (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- [PKNIC](https://pknic.net.pk/), PKNIC (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- [COD dropshipping in Pakistan](https://www.markaz.app/blog-post/cod-dropshipping-in-pakistan), Markaz (accessed 18 Oct 2026)
- [Who Pays Delivery Charges in Dropshipping?](https://www.markaz.app/blog-post/who-pays-delivery-charges-in-dropshipping-pakistan), Markaz (accessed 18 Oct 2026)
- [What are the Fees and Taxes for Selling on Etsy?](https://help.etsy.com/hc/en-us/articles/115014483627-What-are-the-Fees-and-Taxes-for-Selling-on-Etsy), Etsy (accessed 15 Oct 2026)
- [What are Payment Processing Fees for Selling on Etsy?](https://help.etsy.com/hc/en-us/articles/115015628847-What-are-Payment-Processing-Fees-for-Selling-on-Etsy), Etsy (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- [How Do I Use a Payoneer Account With Etsy Payments?](https://help.etsy.com/hc/en-us/articles/16999319005207-How-Do-I-Use-a-Payoneer-Account-With-Etsy-Payments), Etsy (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- [Amazon selling plans and fees](https://sell.amazon.com/pricing), Amazon (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- [Amazon seller registration guide](https://sell.amazon.com/sell/registration-guide), Amazon (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- [Supported countries and currencies for disbursement](https://sellercentral.amazon.com/help/hub/reference/external/G200497780), Amazon (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- [Selling fees for managed payments sellers](https://export.ebay.com/en/fees-regulations-policies/seller-fees/selling-fees-for-managed-payments-sellers/), eBay (accessed 17 Oct 2026)
- [eBay is managing payments](https://export.ebay.com/en/fees-regulations-policies/transactions/ebay-is-managing-payments/), eBay (accessed 17 Oct 2026)
- [How Fiverr works for freelancers](https://help.fiverr.com/hc/en-us/articles/34069565843985-How-Fiverr-works-for-freelancers), Fiverr (accessed 20 Oct 2026)
- [Withdrawing your earnings & managing payout methods](https://help.fiverr.com/hc/en-us/articles/360010530058-Withdrawing-your-earnings-managing-payout-methods), Fiverr (accessed 20 Oct 2026)
- [Learn about the Freelancer Service Fee](https://support.upwork.com/hc/en-us/articles/211062538-Learn-about-the-Freelancer-Service-Fee), Upwork (accessed 20 Oct 2026)
- [Understanding and using Connects](https://support.upwork.com/hc/en-us/articles/211062898-Understanding-and-using-Connects), Upwork (accessed 20 Oct 2026)
- [How to get paid on Upwork](https://support.upwork.com/hc/en-us/articles/211060918-How-to-get-paid-on-Upwork), Upwork (accessed 20 Oct 2026)
- [What are the fees, limits, and timing of Direct to Local Bank payments?](https://support.upwork.com/hc/en-us/articles/211060578-What-are-the-fees-limits-and-timing-of-Direct-to-Local-Bank-payments), Upwork (accessed 20 Oct 2026)
- [Supported countries for Shops on Facebook and Instagram (Internet Archive copy, 17 Sep 2026)](https://www.facebook.com/business/help/549256849084694), Meta (accessed 20 Oct 2026)
- [TikTok commerce (last updated July 2025)](https://ads.tiktok.com/help/article/tiktok-commerce?lang=en), TikTok For Business (accessed 20 Oct 2026)
- [Raast P2P](https://www.sbp.org.pk/dfs/Raast-P2P.html), State Bank of Pakistan (accessed 15 Oct 2026)
- [E-commerce: Economy, Overnight, Retail COD](https://pk.leopardscourier.com/business/ecommerce-economy), Leopards Courier (accessed 19 Oct 2026)
- [PayPal Global: List of Countries and Currencies](https://www.paypal.com/us/webapps/mpp/country-worldwide), PayPal (accessed 16 Oct 2026)
- [Global availability](https://stripe.com/global), Stripe (accessed 16 Oct 2026)
- [Withholding Tax Rates Card, Tax Year 2027](https://download1.fbr.gov.pk/Docs/202681113864992WithholdingTaxRatesCard2027.pdf), FBR (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- [Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 (amended up to Finance Act 2026)](https://download1.fbr.gov.pk/Docs/2026724177725705IncomeTaxOrdinanace2001.pdf), FBR (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- [Sales Tax Act, 1990 (updated up to 30 June 2026)](https://download1.fbr.gov.pk/Docs/20267171373418951SalesTaxAct1990updatedupto30.06.2026.pdf), FBR (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- [Online marketplaces and couriers barred from serving unregistered sellers](https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/2025/09/03/online-marketplaces-and-couriers-barred-from-serving-unregistered-sellers), Profit (accessed 8 Oct 2026)