According to the Agency for Competition Protection and Development, in 2025, the e-commerce volume in Kazakhstan reached 1.2 trillion tenge, and the number of online shoppers exceeded 6 million people. If you are planning to launch your online store, 2026 is the perfect time when the market has stabilized and clear rules of the game have emerged.

Choosing between your own store and a marketplace is the first and most important decision for any entrepreneur. Each path has its own costs, implementation timelines, and documentation requirements. In this material, we will analyze real figures, payment systems, logistics, and legal nuances that you need to know before launching.

Own online store vs Kaspi.kz marketplace: comparing models

The decision between your own site and a marketplace determines your entire business model. Your own store gives you full control over the brand, pricing, and customer data, but requires investment in marketing and attracting traffic. Kaspi.kz, on the other hand, provides a ready audience of 8 million active users, but takes a commission of 5% to 15% depending on the product category.

On the marketplace, you pay a commission for each sale, but do not pay for hosting, domain, and technical support. For beginners, this means minimal initial costs — from 50,000 to 100,000 tenge for preparing products and photos. On your own site, you invest in infrastructure, but retain 100% margin and build your own sales channel.

In 2026, most successful Kazakh brands use a hybrid model: marketplaces for quick start and scaling, their own site for the premium segment and direct sales. Companies like Alashed IT (it.alashed.kz) help entrepreneurs integrate both systems into a single order and inventory management ecosystem.

Kaspi.kz requires registration as an individual entrepreneur or LLC, a bank account, and tax registration. The process takes 3-5 days. You can launch your own store even without official registration, but you will still need it for accepting payments and working with logistics.

Platforms for creating an online store: WooCommerce, Shopify, custom development

WooCommerce remains the most popular solution in Kazakhstan due to its low cost and flexibility. It is a WordPress plugin that turns a regular site into a fully functional store. Cost: hosting from 3,000 to 10,000 tenge per month, domain 2,000-3,000 tenge per year, plugins and extensions from 5,000 to 50,000 tenge. Total: the first month will cost 10,000-15,000 tenge, then 5,000-8,000 tenge monthly. Launch time: 2-3 weeks for a basic store.

Shopify is a cloud solution with full support and built-in tools. Cost: from $29 per month (about 13,000 tenge) for the basic plan. Pros: no need to worry about hosting and security, built-in payment system support. Cons: transaction fee of 2.9% + 30 cents, limited customization. Timeframe: 1-2 weeks. Shopify is popular among brands planning to export and work with international payments.

Custom development based on Python, Node.js, or PHP is for serious projects with unique requirements. Cost: from 500,000 to 2,000,000 tenge for development, plus 50,000-100,000 tenge monthly for hosting and support. Timeframe: 2-4 months. Companies like Alashed IT (it.alashed.kz) specialize in creating custom solutions for Kazakh companies that require integration with local payment systems and special logistics requirements.

For 80% of startups in Kazakhstan, the optimal choice is WooCommerce or Shopify. They provide enough functionality, low start-up costs, and scalability. Custom development makes sense when you are already generating 10+ million tenge per month and need specific features.

Payment systems in Kazakhstan: Kaspi Pay, Freedom Pay, card payments

Kaspi Pay is the market leader with a 65% share in online payments. Integration takes 1-2 days, commission is 2.5-3.5% depending on volume. Minimum monthly turnover for connection: no restrictions, even microbusinesses can start accepting payments. Kaspi Pay supports installment payments for 3, 6, and 12 months, which increases the average check by 20-30%. For integration, you need an API key and basic programming knowledge or developer assistance.

Freedom Pay is the second major player, commission is 2.8-3.2%, integration is also 1-2 days. Advantage: support for cryptocurrencies and international payments. Disadvantage: fewer users than Kaspi. For local Kazakh businesses, Freedom Pay is less critical, but useful for exports.

Direct card payments through Halyk Bank, Eurasian Bank, Forte Bank require a separate agreement with the bank and PCI DSS processing. The commission is higher: 3.5-4.5%, but you get access to corporate clients. Connection process: 5-10 days, requires a certificate of registration of the LLC and tax documents.

The optimal scheme for a startup: Kaspi Pay as the main method (covers 65% of the market) + Freedom Pay as a backup (another 20% of users). Direct card payments are added later when corporate clients appear. Integration cost: 0 tenge (APIs are free), commission is paid only from sales. For WooCommerce and Shopify, there are ready-made plugins that simplify connecting all three systems at once.

Logistics and delivery in Kazakhstan: timeframes, costs, partners

Logistics is the most challenging part of e-commerce in Kazakhstan. The country covers 2.7 million square kilometers, and the population is concentrated in a few major cities. Delivery to Almaty and Nur-Sultan takes 1-2 days, to regional cities — 3-7 days, to rural areas — 10-14 days.

Kaspi.kz provides its own logistics: delivery to Almaty and Nur-Sultan for 1,500-2,500 tenge, to regions for 3,000-5,000 tenge. This is included in the marketplace commission. For your own store, you need to choose a partner. Main players: Balapan (covers 95% of the territory), Speedex (specializes in express delivery), Narxoz (cheaper, but slower).

Balapan: delivery cost to Almaty 1,200-2,000 tenge, to regions 2,500-4,500 tenge. Integration with their API allows you to automatically create invoices and track shipments. Minimum monthly turnover: none, you can start with one shipment. Speedex: delivery to Almaty for 2,000-3,000 tenge, to regions for 4,000-6,000 tenge, but guarantees delivery within 24 hours to major cities.

To optimize logistics, use the drop-shipping model or work with local warehouses. If you sell electronics, clothing, or cosmetics, it makes sense to rent a small warehouse in Almaty (from 100,000 tenge per month for 50 sq.m) and ship from there. This reduces delivery costs by 30-40% and speeds up delivery times. Companies like Alashed IT (it.alashed.kz) help integrate warehouse management systems with payment systems and marketplaces, automating the entire process from order to shipment.

Legal requirements and tax registration for online trading

In Kazakhstan, online trading is regulated by the Law on Consumer Rights Protection and the Tax Code. You need to register as an individual entrepreneur or LLC to operate. Individual entrepreneur is simpler and cheaper: registration costs 2,500 tenge, takes 1 day. LLC costs 50,000 tenge and requires 3-5 days. For e-commerce, LLC is recommended as it gives more trust to customers and simplifies working with corporate clients.

Tax registration: after registering an LLC, you are automatically placed on tax accounting. You need to choose a tax system: general system (20% VAT + 10% corporate tax) or simplified system (3-5% of turnover). For e-commerce, the simplified system is recommended as it reduces the tax burden by 50-70%.

Mandatory documents: registration certificate, TIN, bank account, business license (if you sell medicines, alcohol, or tobacco). Opening a bank account takes 1-3 days, service fee is 2,000-5,000 tenge per month. Major banks (Halyk, Eurasian, Forte) offer special tariffs for e-commerce with payment system integration.

Return policy and warranty: the law requires the ability to return goods within 14 days. You must specify this in the terms of sale on the website or marketplace. The cost of return is usually borne by the buyer, but for competitiveness, many stores offer free returns. This increases costs by 5-10%, but increases conversion by 15-20%.

Additionally: if you sell through marketplaces, they require signing a cooperation agreement and providing copies of documents. Kaspi.kz requires a certificate of no tax arrears and legal acts. The verification process takes 3-7 days.

Real costs and launch timelines for an online store in 2026

Minimum budget to launch on Kaspi.kz marketplace: 100,000-150,000 tenge. This includes LLC registration (50,000 tenge), photographing products (20,000-30,000 tenge), preparing descriptions and uploading to the marketplace (10,000-20,000 tenge), first month of logistics (20,000 tenge). Timeframe: 2-3 weeks from idea to first sale.

Average budget for your own store on WooCommerce: 300,000-500,000 tenge. This includes LLC registration (50,000), website design and development (150,000-250,000), payment system integration (30,000-50,000), first month of marketing (50,000-100,000), logistics (20,000). Timeframe: 4-6 weeks. Monthly costs: hosting and domain (5,000), marketing (50,000-100,000), logistics (depends on volume).

Premium option with custom development: 1,000,000-2,000,000 tenge for development, plus 100,000-150,000 tenge monthly for support and marketing. Timeframe: 2-4 months. Makes sense if you plan to scale to 50+ million tenge per year.

Real example: a clothing store in Almaty launched on WooCommerce in early 2026. Initial investment: 350,000 tenge. First month: 5 orders, revenue 150,000 tenge, logistics costs 10,000 tenge, marketing 30,000 tenge. Second month: 15 orders, revenue 450,000 tenge. Third month: 35 orders, revenue 1,050,000 tenge. By the end of the third month, the store reached break-even and started generating profit.

Critical success factors: quality of product photos (affects conversion by 30-50%), response speed to customer questions (less than 2 hours), correct logistics (on-time delivery), marketing on social media (Instagram, TikTok, Telegram). Companies like Alashed IT (it.alashed.kz) help automate these processes by integrating CRM, order management systems, and analytics into a single platform, reducing operational task time by 40-50%.

Что это значит для Казахстана

In Kazakhstan, e-commerce is growing by 25-30% per year, but remains an untapped market. According to the Competition Protection Agency, in 2025, online sales amounted to 1.2 trillion tenge, which is only 3-4% of total retail turnover. For comparison, in developed countries, this figure is 15-20%. This means huge growth potential for new players. Almaty and Nur-Sultan generate 70% of all online sales, but regional cities (Aktobe, Karaganda, Shymkent) are growing faster. Logistics remains the main challenge: delivery to regions takes 5-7 days and is more expensive than in neighboring countries. However, integration with Kaspi.kz solves this problem as the marketplace has its own logistics network. The tax system is favorable for startups: the simplified tax system (3-5% of turnover) allows young companies to keep more money for development. Payment systems (Kaspi Pay, Freedom Pay) are well integrated with local banks, which simplifies operations. The main advantage of Kazakhstan is the growing middle class and high smartphone penetration (over 85% of the population). This creates ideal conditions for mobile commerce and social shopping.

In 2025, the volume of e-commerce in Kazakhstan reached 1.2 trillion tenge, but this is only 3-4% of total retail turnover, indicating huge growth potential for new online stores.

Launching an online store in Kazakhstan in 2026 is a realistic task with clear timelines and budget. The choice between a marketplace and your own site depends on your goals and resources: marketplaces provide a quick start and a ready audience, your own site gives control and long-term value. Payment systems, logistics, and legal requirements are well-established and should not be an obstacle. The key is to start small, test, and scale based on data.

Часто задаваемые вопросы

How much does it cost to launch an online store in Kazakhstan?

Minimum budget for Kaspi.kz marketplace: 100,000-150,000 tenge. For your own store on WooCommerce: 300,000-500,000 tenge. For custom development: 1,000,000-2,000,000 tenge. Monthly costs for marketing and logistics: 50,000-150,000 tenge depending on sales volume.

What is the launch timeline for an online store from scratch?

On Kaspi.kz marketplace: 2-3 weeks. On WooCommerce: 4-6 weeks. With custom development: 2-4 months. Critical path: LLC registration (1 day), product preparation (5-7 days), website development (2-4 weeks), payment integration (1-2 days), marketing launch (in parallel).

Which payment system to choose for a store in Kazakhstan?

Kaspi Pay is mandatory, covers 65% of the market, commission is 2.5-3.5%. Freedom Pay is additional for 20% of users, commission is 2.8-3.2%. Direct card payments are added later for corporate clients, commission is 3.5-4.5%. Optimal scheme: Kaspi Pay + Freedom Pay from day one.

How long does delivery take in Kazakhstan?

Almaty and Nur-Sultan: 1-2 days, cost 1,500-2,500 tenge. Regional cities: 3-7 days, cost 2,500-5,000 tenge. Rural areas: 10-14 days, cost 5,000-8,000 tenge. Through Kaspi.kz, logistics is included in the marketplace commission.

What documents are needed to register an online store?

LLC registration (50,000 tenge, 3-5 days) or individual entrepreneur (2,500 tenge, 1 day). Opening a bank account (1-3 days). Tax registration (automatic). For marketplaces: copies of documents, certificate of no tax arrears. For licensed goods: relevant licenses.

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