Shopify agency for brands in the Dominican Republic
Shopify stores for Dominican brands: local card payments and cash on delivery at home, plus cacao, larimar, cigar and hair care products for customers abroad.
Shopify experts for Dominican Rep. brands
The Dominican Republic is the largest economy in the Caribbean and Central America region, and online shopping has grown quickly, led by Santo Domingo and Santiago. Many shoppers still buy from US stores through Miami mailbox couriers, so local brands must compete on speed, service and price. Abroad, Dominican cacao, coffee, rum, cigars, larimar jewellery and hair care products have strong followings, helped by large communities in New York, Puerto Rico and Spain.
BOOST STAR Experts builds and grows Shopify stores for Dominican brands at home and abroad. Shopify Payments is not available in the Dominican Republic, so we connect local and international gateways that suit your business, add cash on delivery where it helps and integrate local couriers. Then we focus on Spanish SEO, Meta and Google campaigns and export storefronts in English for customers in the United States and Europe.
Selling online in the Dominican Republic: what your store needs
Card gateways, transfers and cash
Credit and debit cards are the main online payment method, processed locally through acquirers such as Azul and CardNET. Bank transfers are common for higher-value orders, PayPal is familiar for international purchases and cash on delivery remains popular in cities. As Shopify Payments is not offered, we check which gateways connect to your store and pay out in pesos or dollars.
ITBIS, invoices and consumer law
The Dominican VAT, called ITBIS, has a standard rate of 18%, with some goods taxed at lower rates or exempt. Businesses issue tax receipts with NCF numbers, and electronic invoicing is being phased in. Law 358-05 protects consumers and is enforced by Pro Consumidor, while Law 172-13 covers personal data.
Couriers, mailboxes and the islands’ tourists
Local courier services and the national post, INPOSDOM, deliver domestic parcels, while DHL, FedEx and UPS handle international shipments. Miami mailbox couriers are widely used for imports, which sets expectations for delivery times and prices. Tourism centres such as Punta Cana create demand for gifts that visitors may later reorder online.
Social selling and diaspora demand
Instagram and WhatsApp are central to how Dominicans discover and buy from brands, with many small businesses selling mainly through direct messages. A brand store adds credibility and makes ordering easier. Diaspora customers in New York, Puerto Rico and Spain search for Dominican hair care, coffee, chocolate and gifts in both Spanish and English.
Payments, delivery and compliance in the Dominican Republic
- Credit & debit cards (via local acquirers)
- Bank transfer
- Cash on delivery
- PayPal
- Card payments in USD for export orders
- INPOSDOM (national post)
- Local courier services
- DHL Express
- FedEx
- UPS
- ITBIS (18%)
- NCF tax receipts & e-invoicing
- Consumer protection (Law 358-05)
- Personal data (Law 172-13)
Shopify agency services across the Dominican Republic
Industries we help in the Dominican Republic
Working together
The Dominican Republic is 9.5 hours behind India. Calls happen at the start of your day, when it is evening here, and our team works overnight from your point of view, leaving updates ready for your morning.
Time zone: AST (UTC−4, no daylight saving). Currency: DOP (RD$). Languages: Spanish.
How we work
Discovery call
We learn your goals, catalogue, tech stack and market, then agree what success looks like.
Audit & roadmap
A store, SEO and competitor audit turns into a prioritised roadmap with a timeline and fixed quote.
Design & build
UX, design and development in sprints, with a private preview store you review at every step.
Launch
QA across devices, redirects, tracking and a planned go-live with no downtime.
Grow
SEO, CRO and paid campaigns compound results month after month, with clear reporting.
Ongoing support
A dedicated team for fixes, new features and seasonal campaigns when you need them.
Frequently asked questions
Is Shopify Payments available in the Dominican Republic?
No. Dominican stores use third-party gateways. We look at local processors and international options that integrate with Shopify, compare fees, card support and payout currency and set up the right mix, with bank transfer and cash on delivery as manual methods where they make sense.
Can we sell Dominican hair care to customers in the US?
Yes. Dominican hair products have a loyal following in the United States. We build an English storefront with dollar pricing, ingredient and usage details and international shipping, or connect a US fulfilment partner so customers receive orders in a few days instead of weeks.
Can you set up cash on delivery in Santo Domingo?
Yes. We add cash on delivery as a payment option, limit it to areas your courier serves and confirm orders by WhatsApp before dispatch. This keeps refused deliveries low and gives first-time customers the confidence to order from a brand they have just discovered.
Can we sell larimar and amber jewellery online?
Yes. We build product pages with stone origin, grade, size and close-up photography, and add certificates where you provide them. Insured, tracked shipping suits higher-value pieces, and we can offer gift wrapping and personalised notes for customers buying from abroad.
How do you manage the time difference with the Dominican Republic?
India is 9.5 hours ahead, so we meet at the beginning of your day, which is our evening. Work continues while you sleep, and by morning you have changes on a staging store and a written list of anything that needs your input.