How to start a
COD business
in Sri Lanka
Cash on Delivery is how most Sri Lankans shop online. This guide walks you through everything — what COD is, who can do it, how couriers work, and how to get started today.
100% free guide · In Sinhala & English · 4 video lessons
Cash on Delivery (COD) means the customer pays for the product only when it is physically delivered to their door. No online payment required. The courier collects the cash and transfers it to the seller.
Customers pay only after seeing and receiving the product. No risk of online scams or lost payments.
Reach customers who don't have bank cards or don't trust online payments. COD opens up the entire island.
You don't collect cash directly. The courier company handles collection and remits the amount to you on a scheduled cycle.
You don't need a bank merchant account or payment gateway to sell online. Anyone can start with COD.
Anyone selling online in Sri Lanka
can start a COD business
You don't need a registered company, a large budget, or technical knowledge. If you have a product and a phone, you can start.
Selling clothes, shoes, accessories on Facebook or Instagram? COD is how your customers want to pay.
Ayurvedic products, supplements, beauty — COD builds trust with first-time buyers who want to see before paying.
Kitchenware, décor, electronics accessories. Customers buying these prefer cash at the door.
Homemade foods, spices, pickles. COD makes same-day or next-day delivery simple and trusted.
Just starting? COD removes the payment setup barrier entirely. Start selling this week.
Already getting orders via Facebook, Instagram or WhatsApp? COD scales that without complicated systems.
How a COD business
actually works
From getting an order to receiving the cash — here's the full picture.
Customer sees your product on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, or your self-order link and sends you an order with their delivery address and phone number.
Via WhatsApp, Facebook, or Self-Order FormPack the product securely and print the waybill — a shipping label with the customer's address, your contact details, and the COD amount to be collected.
Storemate auto-generates branded waybillsYou hand the parcel to the courier (or they pick up from your address). The courier delivers island-wide. Koombiyo, Domex, TransEx, FDE and others cover all districts.
Island-wide delivery — Colombo to JaffnaWhen the customer receives the parcel, they pay the courier in cash. The courier records the collection. No payment terminal needed on your side.
The courier company remits the collected COD amount to your bank account on a weekly or bi-weekly cycle (varies by courier). Minus the delivery fee.
Weekly remittance to your bank accountLearn from these
4 step-by-step videos
Explained in Sinhala by the Storemate team — everything from what COD is to how to register with a courier.
Want the full course? Watch all 16 lessons free →
Ready to manage your
COD orders with Storemate?
Storemate is built for Sri Lankan COD sellers. Auto-sync orders, print waybills, track deliveries, and manage returns — all in one place. Free to start.
No card needed · Full setup by our team · Built from the experience of 30,000+ Sri Lankan sellers