Are you looking to do online business but don't know where to start? Want to try selling at home with a small capital, but still worry about which products to choose, which channels to sell on and how to get the first order?

The following article by Sapo will be a "starter guide" specifically for those who are new to online business. You will be guided step by step from choosing an idea, setting up a sales channel (Facebook, TikTok Shop, Shopee, Website ...) to how to manage and optimize profits. With just a phone and a clear plan, you can completely create a sustainable source of income from selling online at home.

1. What is online business?

Online business is a form of selling over the Internet, where all buying and selling transactions take place online and goods are delivered to customers. With just a phone or computer with an internet connection, you can start selling online anytime, anywhere.

Online sales become inevitable

Online sales become inevitable

Online business activities are increasingly popular, expressed through many different channels such as:

Selling on social networks (Facebook, Instagram, Zalo ...)

Selling through a private website

Selling on e-commerce platforms such as Shopee, Tiktok Shop, Tiki, Lazada.

Thanks to the development of the Internet and smartphones, online business has become a popular trend, helping many people achieve a stable income from several million to several tens of millions of VND per month.

Outstanding advantages of online business

Proactive in time and work, not constrained

Diverse sources of goods, easy to find and update according to trends

Simple business model, easy to start

Low investment costs, no need to rent premises

Wide customer base, easy to expand thanks to the digital environment

Opportunity to create high income if you know how to take advantage of the right channels and strategies

2. Why do we say that online business opportunities are increasingly expanding?

Online business is not simply a new form of sales but has become the choice of millions of individuals and businesses. Whether you are a beginner or have been selling online for a long time, the opportunities in this field are still extremely open - even bigger than ever.

The latest figures show:

As of April 2025, Vietnam had about 104.7 million mobile broadband Internet subscribers, an increase of more than 14% over the same period last year. Data from the Ministry of Science and Technology shows that Internet access via smartphones is increasingly popular, reflecting the trend of consumers shifting strongly to the digital environment for studying, working, shopping and entertainment.

According to Metric, in 2024, the Vietnamese e-commerce market will record an average total spending of about VND 873.6 billion per day, with annual sales reaching VND 318,900 billion, an increase of 37.4% compared to 2023.

According to forecasts from Google and Temasek, by 2025, the size of the Vietnamese e-commerce market could reach 57 billion USD, among the fastest growing in Southeast Asia.

The growing number of internet users is an opportunity for successful business

The growing number of internet users is an opportunity for successful business

With increasingly complete technology infrastructure, online shopping habits have become an inevitable trend. Today's consumers not only look for cheap products but also care about speed, convenience and personalized shopping experiences.

Therefore, this is the golden time for you to start or expand your online business. With just a smartphone and the right mindset, you can:

Sell on social networks (Facebook, TikTok, Instagram...)

Livestream directly to close orders

Open a booth on an e-commerce platform (Shopee, Lazada, TikTok Shop...)

Build a personal brand for sustainable business in the digital environment.

3. Steps to do online business for beginners

Step 1: Determine the right idea and product

Choose products based on market demand, import ability and personal strengths. Newcomers should start with products that are easy to sell, low capital, and quick to turn around such as fashion, cosmetics, accessories, household appliances...

Learn the steps to do business for beginners

Learn the steps to do business for beginners

Step 2: Research customers and competitors

Find out the target customer group: who they are, their age, their online behavior, and which channels they like to shop on. At the same time, you need to analyze your competitors to learn how they sell, and find the difference that helps you stand out.

Step 3: Choose and set up the right sales channel

To start, you can choose one or a combination of the following sales channels:

Facebook and social networks: Create a Fanpage, post regularly, join groups and take advantage of livestreams to reach customers quickly. This online sales channel has the advantage of being easy to start with low costs. Besides, it also has certain limitations such as depending heavily on algorithms and being highly competitive.

E-commerce platforms (Shopee, Lazada, Tiki, TikTok Shop): Register an account, create a booth, post products with images and attractive descriptions. This sales channel has the advantage of having a huge number of customers and easy to create orders. The limitation of this sales channel is price competition,