Selling online in Kenya isn't just "put products on a site." You need four systems working together: checkout, inventory, order notifications and SEO. Skip one and you either lose sales, oversell stock, or get zero traffic. Here's exactly what each needs — works whether you're on Shopify, WooCommerce or custom.
The 4 systems
1. Checkout in <60s on cheap phone
Your customer is on a boda or in a matatu on 3G. If checkout takes more than 60 seconds or asks for more than phone + amount + delivery zone, you lose them. Use native Daraja wiring (Till + Paybill + cards/PayPal) — not a plugin that breaks on WordPress updates. Test: can a customer finish with one hand while standing? Till vs Paybill →
2. Stock that subtracts itself
Every sale drops inventory automatically. Low-stock alert at 5 items left. Without this you oversell on WhatsApp, promise delivery, then refund with shame and lose the customer forever. Your system should show current stock on every product page — customers trust transparent sellers.
3. Orders ping WhatsApp instantly
Items + amount + delivery zone + customer phone — pushed to your WhatsApp the second payment lands. No dashboard babysitting, no "let me check" delays. You see it, you pack it, you ship it. Speed to first reply is the #1 predictor of whether a customer completes purchase.
4. Pages Google can find
Each product and category page targets one buyer phrase Kenyans actually type. "Ankara dresses Nairobi delivery" not "Beautiful ankara collection." Titles, descriptions, images — all optimised. See our SEO guide for the 30-day version.
Margin math (do this before stocking anything)
Most new stores price by "what others charge" without calculating their actual margin. One sale example:
Selling price = KES 2,500
M-Pesa fee (use calculator) = ~33
Delivery you pay (boda/fargo) = 300
Packaging = 50
Your cost price = 1,800
You keep: KES 317 per sale (12.7% margin)
Is 317 enough to cover Instagram ads, returns, and your time? Probably not. Skip the fee math and your "margin" is fantasy — the calculator takes 10 seconds.
→ Open calculator and punch your real pricesRule of thumb: if your margin after all costs is under 25%, you need to either raise price, find a cheaper supplier, or sell volume. The calculator makes this real in seconds.
Launch checklist — copy this
- ☐ 10 products shot on phone (clear photos, white background or lifestyle, price + weight visible)
- ☐ Delivery fee + zones written (Nairobi same-day, upcountry 1–3 days, pickup free)
- ☐ Paybill & Till active, tested KES 10 in and out — confirm both land in your account
- ☐ WhatsApp order template + labels set up (New → Paid → Shipped → Done)
- ☐ Returns policy clear: "7 days, unworn, tags on, refund via M-Pesa"
- ☐ Google Business Profile active with your store address and WhatsApp number
- ☐ First 5 product pages live with buyer-keyword titles (not "new collection")
Platform pick: Shopify = fastest to start but monthly fees add up. WooCommerce = cheapest long-run, you own everything. Custom (Orbit Master 49,999) = you own checkout + speed + no plugin tax. Pick by margin, not hype.
Where Orbit fits
Master (49,999) ships all 4 systems in 2 weeks with training. Or just steal the checklist above and DIY. Chat your products →