Shopify agency for brands selling in Guyana
Shopify stores for Guyanese brands serving a fast-growing home market and a large diaspora in New York, Toronto and London.
Shopify experts for Guyana brands
Guyana’s economy has grown rapidly since offshore oil production began in 2019, and Georgetown is full of new businesses, rising incomes and shoppers who increasingly expect to order online. Many still pay by cash on delivery or mobile money, and much of what they buy is shipped in from Miami and New York. Meanwhile, Guyanese communities abroad buy pepper sauce, cassareep, rum, gold jewellery and other tastes of home.
BOOST STAR Experts builds and grows Shopify stores for Guyanese brands selling at home and to the diaspora. We set up MMG, card gateways available to your business and cash on delivery, delivery in Georgetown and along the coast, and export storefronts for customers in the US, Canada and the UK. Then we support growth with SEO, social campaigns and email marketing.
Selling online in Guyana: what your store needs
MMG, cards and cash on delivery
Cash on delivery remains common in Guyana, and MMG mobile money is widely used to send and receive payments. Card use is growing, with local banks offering merchant services. International gateways may not serve Guyanese-registered businesses directly, so we confirm the options available to you and add clear instructions for manual payment methods.
VAT, customs and the GRA
VAT in Guyana is charged at 14% on most goods and services and is administered by the Guyana Revenue Authority. Imported stock carries customs duties, which affect pricing for retailers. Food exports to the US, Canada or the UK must meet those countries’ labelling and import rules, which matters for sauces and spices.
Coastal delivery and diaspora freight
Most people live along the coastal strip, so local couriers and motorbike riders can reach many customers within a day or two of Georgetown. Interior communities are far harder to serve. For exports, freight forwarders that already ship between Guyana, Miami and New York are often cheaper and more reliable than posting single parcels.
Diaspora buyers and celebrations
The Guyanese diaspora, centred in Queens, Toronto and London, is large and loyal to brands from home. Sales peak around Christmas, Diwali, Phagwah and Mashramani in February. Facebook and WhatsApp drive much of the conversation, and English is the language of business, making Guyana the only English-speaking country in South America.
Payments, delivery and compliance in Guyana
- Cash on delivery
- MMG mobile money
- Visa & Mastercard via local bank gateways
- Bank transfer
- International cards for diaspora orders
- Local couriers & motorbike riders
- Guyana Post Office Corporation
- DHL Express
- Freight forwarders via Miami & New York
- VAT (14%) via the GRA
- Customs duties on imported stock
- US, Canada & UK food import rules
- Carrier rules for alcohol shipments
Shopify agency services across Guyana
Working together
Guyana is 9.5 hours behind India. We meet at the start of your day, around 8 to 10 am in Georgetown, which is evening for us, then work through our day so finished tasks are waiting for you each morning.
Time zone: GYT (UTC−4, no daylight saving). Currency: GYD (G$, Guyanese dollar). Languages: English, Guyanese Creole.
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
Can Guyanese customers pay with MMG on Shopify?
Direct integrations are limited, so most stores use a manual MMG payment option: customers place the order, pay by MMG and the order is confirmed once payment arrives. We set up clear instructions and automatic confirmation messages, and add cards and cash on delivery alongside.
How do we ship to Guyanese customers in New York and Toronto?
For regular volumes, shipping stock in bulk with a freight forwarder to a partner in the US or Canada is fastest and cheapest. For smaller volumes, express couriers work. We set up shipping zones, prices in US and Canadian dollars and clear delivery estimates for each option.
Can we sell pepper sauce and cassareep abroad?
Yes, as long as labels and ingredients meet the destination country’s food rules. We build product pages with ingredients, allergens and storage information, and flag labelling issues we notice. Glass bottles need careful packaging, which we reflect in shipping rates and notes.
How do you set up delivery in Georgetown?
We create delivery zones for Georgetown and nearby coastal areas, add fees and time windows and collect a phone number and clear directions at checkout. Orders go to your riders or courier automatically, and customers receive updates by SMS or WhatsApp.
How do you work with Guyanese businesses across time zones?
We hold calls early in your morning, which is evening in India, and complete work during our day. You receive a written update before your day starts, and for launches or big sales we agree times in advance so someone is available.