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Top 10 Online Businesses to Start in Cape Town

Looking to start an online business in Cape Town, South Africa? Here are 10 smart ideas that are in demand, and opportunities perfect for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Joseph Williams
2025-05-08
10 min read

Top 10 Online Businesses to Start in Cape Town, South Africa

Cape Town, South Africa is a good place to start an online business because growth in tourism and digital businesses. Here are 10 easy business ideas that work well here. Prices are in Rand. Each idea has a simple first step.

1. Eco-friendly fashion

Start a eco-friendly fashion to sell things people in Cape Town want. For example, sell handmade crafts or things made locally on Shopify or Etsy. Use Rand to set good prices. You could earn R50,000 - R500,000 annually with this business. This works well because growth in tourism and digital businesses. Try using social media to see what sells.

First Step: Look at SimilarWeb to see what other stores in Cape Town sell. Find things they don’t offer. Start a Shopify store for $29 a month and get it going in one week.

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2. Online tutoring services

Online tutoring services is an easy way to start in Cape Town. Find popular things like clothes or gadgets on Oberlo. Sell them on Facebook Marketplace. You don’t need to keep any products yourself. Just show them to local customers in Rand. You could earn R50,000 - R500,000 annually with this business.

First Step: Create an Instagram shop. Use Canva to make nice ads. Spend $10 a day on ads in Cape Town to see what people buy in two weeks.

3. Dropshipping home goods

Offer dropshipping home goods to teach people in Cape Town. You could teach languages or computer skills on Zoom or Teachable. Charge in Rand. You could earn R50,000 - R500,000 annually with this business. Many people in South Africa want to learn online.

First Step: Make a free 10-minute lesson on Udemy. Share it in Cape Town’s Facebook groups to find students in one month.

4. Digital marketing agencies

Start a digital marketing agencies business to sell popular things in South Africa. Get products like tech gadgets from Spocket. Sell them on local websites. Set prices in Rand to be cheaper than other stores. You could earn R50,000 - R500,000 annually with this business.

First Step: Use Google Trends to find popular products in Cape Town. Start a WooCommerce store with WordPress for $15 a month. List five products in two days.

Launch your business website in Cape Town

Launch your Cape Town business with a custom website for $999 at notjustbiz.com.

Get Started Now

5. Mobile app development

Offer mobile app development to help businesses in Cape Town get online. Use Hootsuite to plan your posts and Canva for pictures. It doesn’t cost much to start, and you can charge in Rand. You could earn R50,000 - R500,000 annually with this business.

First Step: Give a free checkup of their social media to businesses in Cape Town on LinkedIn. Use Hootsuite’s free plan to manage posts and find a customer in two weeks.

6. Virtual safari tours

Virtual safari tours is popular in Cape Town because growth in tourism and digital businesses. Sell your skills on Upwork or Fiverr to customers here and around the world. Use Rand for your prices. You could earn R50,000 - R500,000 annually with this business.

First Step: Make a website to show your work on Squarespace for $16 a month. Show three examples of your work. Offer your services to businesses in Cape Town on Upwork to get a job in 10 days.

7. Freelance graphic design

Start a freelance graphic design business to fit what people in Cape Town need. For example, sell things that are good for the environment or services online. Use Google Analytics to see what customers like. Set your prices in Rand. You could earn R50,000 - R500,000 annually with this business.

First Step: Make a survey with Google Forms to learn what customers in Cape Town want. Sell a test product on Etsy in one week.

8. Online craft sales

Offer online craft sales to give customers in Cape Town what they need. Make short videos on TikTok or Instagram to get noticed. Charge in Rand. You could earn R50,000 - R500,000 annually with this business.

First Step: Record a 15-second TikTok about your service. Use hashtags for Cape Town to get 1,000 views in one week and find customers.

Launch your business website in Cape Town

Launch your Cape Town business with a custom website for $999 at notjustbiz.com.

Get Started Now

9. Social media management

Start a social media management business to sell to the growing number of customers in Cape Town. Work with local delivery companies to ship things fast. Set your prices in Rand to keep them affordable. You could earn R50,000 - R500,000 annually with this business.

First Step: Call three local delivery companies in Cape Town to ask about their prices. Use ShipStation with a Shopify store ($9 a month) to start shipping in two days.

10. E-commerce for artisanal products

E-commerce for artisanal products is an easy and cheap idea for Cape Town. Make a website to show your work on Behance or Dribbble. Offer your services to local businesses in Rand. You could earn R50,000 - R500,000 annually with this business.

First Step: Set up a free Behance profile with three examples of your work. Send messages to startups in Cape Town on LinkedIn to get a customer in two weeks.

Start Your Cape Town Business Today

Choose a business that fits your skills and the needs of Cape Town. A website helps customers find you. At notjustbiz.com, we build custom websites for only $999 that work great everywhere. Follow the vat registration required for businesses rules to stay legal. Start now!

Ready to start your Cape Town business? Get a custom website for $999 plus a free 30-minute call with notjustbiz.com!

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Special offer: Sign up by July 30, 2025, for your free call!

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Joseph Williams

Joseph Williams

Business Strategist & Software Engineer

Joseph helps entrepreneurs launch and grow online businesses with practical strategies and technical expertise.

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