1. Quiz
  2. Your result
  3. Your plan
  4. Your guide

Step-by-step guide

Bulk buying for your group or stokvel: from one price list to your first pre-paid order

Organise bulk orders of groceries and household goods for a group, workplace or stokvel, and earn a small, honest handling fee. There is no published South African margin data for this, so this guide gives you a pricing method, the food safety rule on repacking, money rules for groups, scripts and a 14-day plan to your first pre-paid order.

  • 25 lessons
  • 5 modules
  • About 2 hours
  • First lesson free

Is this guide for you?

Good fit if

  • People trust you with money in your group, church, workplace or street.
  • You can get to a wholesaler and have a way to transport goods.
  • You are organised and keep records.

Think twice if

  • You want to buy stock before people have paid. That is how you get stuck with goods.
  • You plan to repack loose food without the right certificate.
  • You don't want to share your records openly with the group.

Honest expectations

  • A first pre-paid order can happen within two weeks if your group already exists.
  • There is no published South African margin data for informal bulk-buying groups. Your fee must be small enough that members still save, so income is modest.
  • Trust is everything. One missing rand can end the group.

What is inside

  1. Module 1

    Is this right for you?

    What it involves, who pays, and honest expectations.

    1. How bulk buying for a group worksFree · 5 min
    2. Honest expectations4 min (in the full guide)
  2. Module 2

    Set up and price

    What you need and what to charge.

    1. Your startup kit, costs and skills5 min (in the full guide)
    2. Set up step by step: ready for your first order6 min (in the full guide)
    3. Pricing method: no published data, so work it out5 min (in the full guide)
    4. Your numbers: a worked example in rands5 min (in the full guide)
  3. Module 3

    Your first week

    The first steps, in order.

    1. Your first week, step by step6 min (in the full guide)
    2. Week one, step 2: Write simple rules: order cut-off, payment first, collection day3 min (in the full guide)
    3. Week one, step 3: Share a price list in your group or workplace3 min (in the full guide)
    4. Finding your first members: who to ask5 min (in the full guide)
    5. Your 14-day first-order playbook6 min (in the full guide)
    6. Messages to copy: your first customers5 min (in the full guide)
  4. Module 4

    Your first month

    A routine that brings in customers.

    1. Your first 30 days: build a routine4 min (in the full guide)
    2. Month one, task 1: Run your first pre-paid order3 min (in the full guide)
    3. Month one, task 2: Keep a record of every rand in and out and share it with the group3 min (in the full guide)
    4. Month one, task 3: Ask what people want added3 min (in the full guide)
    5. Common mistakes with group buying4 min (in the full guide)
  5. Module 5

    Months two and three

    Repeat what works, grow and stay safe.

    1. Days 31 to 90: repeat what works and grow4 min (in the full guide)
    2. Months two and three, task 1: Offer a regular monthly order day3 min (in the full guide)
    3. Months two and three, task 2: Approach two spaza shops to buy from you3 min (in the full guide)
    4. Months two and three, task 3: Plan festive season hampers early3 min (in the full guide)
    5. Free resources to fill your skill gaps4 min (in the full guide)
    6. Handling group money safely and spotting scams4 min (in the full guide)
    7. Tax: what to put aside, with worked examples6 min (in the full guide)
    8. Risks, rules, tax and staying safe5 min (in the full guide)

What it costs to start

ItemCostNote
Transport to the wholesaler (example)R0 to R500Paid from the order money once members have paid. Get a quote first.
Wholesaler card or registration (optional)R0Some cash-and-carry stores ask you to register. Check with yours.

Try it before you buy

Lesson one is free. If it helps, the whole guide is R149 once-off.

Start the free lesson

Reviewed 26 October 2026 by the Earn Path team. Next review due 26 April 2027.