Shopify agency for Salvadoran brands
Shopify stores for Salvadoran brands selling at home and to Salvadorans in the United States, with dollar pricing, local gateways and Spanish content.
Shopify experts for El Salvador brands
El Salvador uses the US dollar, which removes currency headaches for brands selling to the United States, where a large Salvadoran community lives. At home, online shopping is growing around San Salvador, with Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp as the main sales channels and cash on delivery still popular. Salvadoran specialty coffee, indigo-dyed textiles, hammocks, snacks and surf brands from the coast all have audiences abroad as well as locally.
BOOST STAR Experts builds and grows Shopify stores for Salvadoran brands from our team in India. Shopify Payments and Stripe do not serve businesses in El Salvador, so we use local gateways such as Wompi for cards, add cash on delivery and plan international payments for US customers. We build Spanish storefronts, local delivery and US shipping options, and run campaigns aimed at both local shoppers and the diaspora.
Selling online in El Salvador: what your store needs
Dollar payments and local gateways
Prices are in US dollars, and shoppers pay with Visa and Mastercard, bank transfers or cash on delivery. Local gateways such as Wompi and n1co process online card payments for Salvadoran businesses. Bitcoin has had legal status since 2021, but in practice most online shoppers still pay in dollars by card or cash.
IVA and consumer protection
IVA, the value added tax, is 13% and is normally included in prices shown to consumers. Online stores should follow the Consumer Protection Law, overseen by the Defensoría del Consumidor, with clear prices, terms, returns and warranty information. Businesses must also issue tax documents, and electronic invoicing is being rolled out.
Local couriers and US forwarding
Correos de El Salvador and private couriers such as C807 Xpress deliver domestic orders, with same-day or next-day delivery common in greater San Salvador. Many Salvadorans buy from US stores through casillero forwarding services. For diaspora sales, brands often ship in bulk to a US fulfilment partner and deliver locally from there.
WhatsApp selling and the diaspora
WhatsApp and Facebook are where most local buying conversations happen, and customers expect quick replies. Salvadorans in Los Angeles, Washington DC, Houston and New York buy coffee, snacks and gifts from home and send products to family. A Spanish store with clear US shipping and gifting options serves both groups.
Payments, delivery and compliance in El Salvador
- Visa & Mastercard via Wompi
- n1co
- Cash on delivery
- Bank transfer
- PayPal (for US buyers, via eligible entity)
- Correos de El Salvador
- C807 Xpress
- Local motorbike couriers
- US fulfilment partners
- DHL Express
- IVA (13%)
- Consumer Protection Law
- Electronic invoicing (DTE)
- US import rules for food
Shopify agency services across El Salvador
Working together
El Salvador is 11.5 hours behind India, so working days barely overlap. We offer calls early in your morning, which is our evening, and do most work while you sleep, so updates are waiting when you start.
Time zone: CST (UTC−6, no daylight saving). Currency: USD ($). 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
Which payment gateways work for Salvadoran Shopify stores?
Shopify Payments and Stripe are not available to businesses in El Salvador. Local gateways such as Wompi and n1co process Visa and Mastercard payments, and we connect the one that offers a suitable integration. Cash on delivery and bank transfer can be added as additional methods.
Can we sell to Salvadorans living in the United States?
Yes. Because El Salvador already uses the dollar, pricing is simple. The main questions are payments and shipping: many brands use a US fulfilment partner for fast delivery and check whether their gateway accepts US cards. Food products must also meet US import rules.
Can we accept Bitcoin?
It is possible through crypto payment apps that integrate with Shopify, and some Salvadoran shoppers and tourists use it. For most stores it works as an extra option rather than a main method, since the majority of online customers still pay by card or cash.
Can you set up WhatsApp ordering with Shopify?
Yes. We add a WhatsApp button for questions, send order confirmations and shipping updates through WhatsApp-connected apps and link your catalogue to Facebook and Instagram. Orders still go through Shopify so stock and customer data stay organised.
How do you work with an 11.5-hour time difference?
We offer calls early in your morning, which is our evening, and handle most work during your night. You start each day with a written update and a list of anything we need from you. Launches are planned so someone is online at the key time.