How to sell clothes online in Ghana

"Ladies' clothes" is hard to remember. "Office dresses in plus sizes" or "kids' church wear" is easy to recommend to a friend, and most of your sales will come from people telling other people.

A size 12 from one country isn't a size 12 from another, and wrong sizes are what cause most exchange arguments. Measure each piece flat, in inches, and put it in the post: bust, waist, hips and length for dresses and tops, waist and length for trousers.

Add up what each piece actually cost you: the item, transport to fetch it, packaging, the data to post it, and something for pieces that won't sell. Only then add your profit.

An example: a dress costs GH₵ 90, and transport and packaging add GH₵ 10. If 1 piece in 10 doesn't sell, each sold piece has to carry about GH₵ 11 more. Your real cost is near GH₵ 111, so selling at GH₵ 120 leaves you only about GH₵ 9.

• For anything going far or made specially, take the full amount or a deposit first.
• Confirm a MoMo payment in your own MoMo balance or statement. A screenshot or a forwarded message is not proof.
• When someone pays in parts, write down each payment on the day it comes, with the balance left.

Riders work within a city, and VIP and STC bus parcels work between regions. Agree the fee before you send, get a landmark as well as an area name, and keep the waybill number until the buyer has the parcel.

Decide your exchange rule now, and put it in your bio and on every receipt. Most trouble comes from a rule the buyer first hears about after there's a problem.

You can start selling before registering, but a registered name helps once you want a merchant account or bigger customers. Business names are registered with the Office of the Registrar of Companies. Fees change, so check its site for what's current.