How to set delivery fees for your online store in Ghana

The simplest way to set delivery fees in Ghana is a flat fee for your main delivery area, a higher fee or separate quote for far areas and other regions, and free delivery once an order goes above a set amount. Show the fee before checkout, never as a surprise, and make sure every fee covers what your rider or courier actually charges you.

Delivery is where many online stores quietly lose money, and where many buyers abandon their cart. Getting it right helps both.

1. Know what delivery really costs you

Before setting a fee, find out:

What your rider charges per trip within your area, and for far areas.
What bus station waybills or couriers charge for other regions.
How much packaging costs per order.
How often deliveries fail (wasted trips cost money too).

Your delivery fee should at least cover the average real cost.

2. Choose a model

Free delivery (built into prices)

Good for: small, light products with healthy margins.
Watch out: your margin must carry the cost on every order.

Flat fee

One fee for every order in your main area, for example "GH₵ 30 anywhere in Accra".
Good for: simple, easy to understand.
Watch out: far areas may cost you more than the fee.

Area-based fees

Different fees for zones: your town, nearby towns, the rest of the region, other regions.
Good for: stores delivering widely.
Watch out: more to explain. Keep zones simple.

Free above a minimum

"Free delivery on orders over GH₵ 400."
Good for: raising your average order. Buyers add an item to reach the minimum.

Pickup

Free pickup from your shop or a pickup point, for buyers who prefer it.

Most stores combine a flat fee, a free-delivery minimum and pickup.

3. Worked example

Your rider charges GH₵ 25 within the city and GH₵ 40 to the outskirts. Your average order is GH₵ 220 with a 40% margin.

Set a flat GH₵ 30 delivery fee: covers city trips, almost covers outskirts.
Offer free delivery above GH₵ 350: an order of GH₵ 350 makes about GH₵ 140 profit, so a GH₵ 40 delivery is affordable.
For other regions, charge the waybill cost plus packaging, quoted on WhatsApp or as a separate option.

4. Set it up on Paylead

Open Store settings.
Turn on the delivery fee and enter your fee.
Add a free delivery amount if you want one.
Turn on pay on delivery if you offer it. See cash on delivery in Ghana.

Buyers see the delivery fee at checkout before they pay, along with the total.

For far areas you don't want to price in advance, add a line to your product pages ("Outside Greater Accra? We'll send your delivery cost on WhatsApp") and send a payment link for the difference.

5. Show delivery clearly

Surprise fees are a top reason for abandoned carts.

Put your delivery fee and areas on every product page and in your bio.
Say the delivery time: "Same day in Accra if you order before 12pm. 1 to 3 days elsewhere."
Mention free delivery wherever it applies: "Free delivery over GH₵ 350".

Buyers who leave anyway get reminded: Paylead texts cart reminders after an hour and again after a day. See how to recover abandoned carts.

6. Pay on delivery and delivery fees

Failed pay-on-delivery orders cost you the trip. Protect yourself:

Ask for the delivery fee up front for new buyers, with a payment link.
Confirm the order by phone before the rider leaves.
See how to reduce failed deliveries.

7. Review your fees

Fuel prices and rider charges change. Check every few months whether your fee still covers your costs, and adjust.

Frequently asked questions

Should I offer free delivery?

Only if your margin can carry it. "Free delivery above a set amount" is often better: it raises order size and protects your profit.

How do I deliver outside my city?

Use bus station waybills or a courier, and charge the cost plus packaging. See how to manage deliveries with waybills and tracking.

What if the buyer refuses to pay the delivery fee?

Explain it clearly before checkout, offer pickup as an alternative, and use free delivery above a minimum as an incentive.

Open your store free →