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  4. Your guide

Step-by-step guide

Reselling LPG gas cylinders and paraffin: your step-by-step start

Sell refilled LPG cooking-gas cylinders and paraffin to neighbours, buying from a licensed distributor and storing them safely.

  • 19 lessons
  • 5 modules
  • About 1 hour
  • First lesson free

Is this guide for you?

Good fit if

  • Careful, reliable people with a safe, ventilated storage space and transport to collect stock.

Think twice if

  • You need money within the next two weeks: first income usually takes about 30 days.
  • You have no way to get to customers or move your kit.
  • You cannot put about R2 000 into getting started.

Honest expectations

  • First income usually takes about 30 days.
  • Part time, most people earn a modest top-up from this. Treat bigger numbers you see online with care.
  • The main risk to plan for: fire and explosion: store cylinders upright, outdoors or in a ventilated space away from flames and electrics.

What is inside

  1. Module 1

    Is this right for you?

    What it involves, who pays, and honest expectations.

    1. How reselling LPG gas cylinders and paraffin 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. Pricing and getting paid5 min (in the full guide)
    3. 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: Check your storage area against the distributor's safety guidance3 min (in the full guide)
    3. Week one, step 3: Buy a fire extinguisher and put up no-smoking signs3 min (in the full guide)
    4. Finding your first customers: who to message5 min (in the full guide)
    5. 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: Start with a small stock of the most common cylinder size3 min (in the full guide)
    3. Month one, task 2: Keep a record of sales and empties returned3 min (in the full guide)
    4. Month one, task 3: Offer delivery to regular customers3 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: Add paraffin only if you can store it safely and sell it in proper containers3 min (in the full guide)
    3. Months two and three, task 2: Supply one or two spaza shops3 min (in the full guide)
    4. Getting paid safely and spotting scams4 min (in the full guide)
    5. Risks, rules, tax and staying safe5 min (in the full guide)

What it costs to start

R2 000 to R10 000 to get started, from our research

What you will use:

  • Fire extinguisher
  • Ventilated storage cage
  • Signage
  • Sales book
  • Trolley

Prices change and differ by area, so check two places near you before you buy.

Try it before you buy

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

Start the free lesson

Reviewed 24 October 2026 by the Earn Path team. Next review due 24 October 2027.