eCommerce Courses in South Africa: Insaka's Online Training (2026)
Updated October 2026
If you are looking for an eCommerce course in South Africa, Insaka eCommerce Academy offers two levels of premium training and a range of free courses. eCommerce Next Level is our flagship programme for starting, growing and scaling an online store, from R697 a month. Next Level Platinum adds a pre-built Shopify store, live group coaching and lifetime access. If you are not ready to invest yet, our free mini courses will help you take your first steps.
Enrolment for our premium programmes usually only opens during a launch. As a reader of this page, you can use the links below to get access now.
Quick answer: which course is right for you?
Brand new and want a done-for-you head start? Choose Next Level Platinum. Starting out or already selling and want ongoing training, coaching and community? Choose eCommerce Next Level. Not ready to invest yet? Start with our free courses further down this page.
The main differences are explained in the comparison further down this page.
Why learn eCommerce with Insaka?
Insaka is a South African eCommerce academy built around South African conditions: local payment gateways, couriers, Takealot, Amazon.co.za, SARS and the realities of selling to South African shoppers. Most international courses do not cover these, and they are often where new sellers get stuck.
All our training is led by Warrick Kernes, who has been selling online since 2008. Insaka's credentials include:
- More than 100,000 South Africans helped to start and grow online businesses
- Over R130 million in personal online sales
- Founder of Action Gear, winner of 1st place at the SA eCommerce Awards in 2015
- Named Shopify's Top eCommerce Educator in 2021
- Lectures MBA students at WITS Business School
- Board member of the eCommerce Forum of Africa
- Host of South Africa's largest eCommerce Facebook group, with more than 43,000 members
eCommerce Next Level: our flagship programme
eCommerce Next Level is a complete online programme that takes you from your first idea to a growing, profitable online business. It suits complete beginners, people whose first attempt at selling online did not work out and store owners who want more sales.
What's inside
The core training follows the five-level Success Path. A short quiz tells you which level to start on, so you never waste time on things you already know.
- Foundations for Success: product research, finding suppliers, importing and dropshipping
- Building Your Online Store: Shopify and WordPress, payments and order fulfilment
- Improving Your Website: conversion rate, returns, fraud, abandoned carts and AI for customer service
- Growing Your Online Sales: Meta and Google ads, SEO, email marketing, Takealot, Amazon and seasonal campaigns
- Scaling Your Business: finances and tax, funding, automation, inventory and building a business you could sell
The library holds more than 450 training videos, and new lessons are added every month.
Ongoing coaching and support
- Live monthly "Ask Me Anything" group coaching calls with Warrick
- A new expert training session every month, with members voting on topics
- A monthly bite-sized challenge to keep you taking action
- Regular Amazon training for South African sellers
- A members-only VIP community to ask questions and share wins
- Discounts and offers from South African eCommerce partners
Price and guarantee
eCommerce Next Level starts from R697 a month, with no contract. You can also pay annually or once-off for lifetime access, and these options include a private one-on-one coaching session with Warrick. Every option comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Next Level Platinum: the fast track
Next Level Platinum includes everything in eCommerce Next Level, plus extra help to get your store live and selling faster. It is designed for people who want a head start rather than building everything from scratch.
What Platinum adds
- A pre-built Shopify store loaded with products, which you can customise with your own branding, images and products
- Five weeks of live VIP group coaching with weekly Q&A and feedback
- Lifetime access to the training, bonuses and community
- The Amazon Growth Network, a community and training for South African Amazon sellers
- Two live "Ask Me Anything" calls with Warrick every month
For the most personal support, Platinum PLUS adds ten private 60-minute one-on-one coaching sessions with Warrick.
Price and guarantee
Next Level Platinum is R19,997 once-off or 12 payments of R1,897. Platinum PLUS is R49,997 once-off. You will also need a Shopify subscription to run your store. Platinum comes with a 30-day no-questions-asked refund, plus an extended guarantee for up to a year if you can show you implemented the training without positive results. See the full terms on the sales page.
Next Level vs Next Level Platinum
| Feature | Next Level | Platinum |
|---|---|---|
| Five-level Success Path training | Yes | Yes |
| New lessons every month | Yes | Yes |
| Live group coaching with Warrick | Monthly | Twice a month, plus 5 weeks of VIP coaching |
| Members-only VIP community | Yes | Yes |
| Pre-built Shopify store | No | Yes |
| Amazon Growth Network | Amazon training | Yes |
| Access | Monthly, annual or lifetime | Lifetime |
| Price | From R697 a month | R19,997 once-off or 12 x R1,897 |
| Money-back guarantee | 30 days | 30 days, plus extended guarantee |
The key differences
- Your store: with Next Level, you build your own store using the training. With Platinum, you get a pre-built Shopify store loaded with products that you customise and launch.
- Coaching: Next Level includes a monthly live group call with Warrick. Platinum adds a second monthly call and five weeks of VIP group coaching with weekly Q&A and feedback.
- Amazon support: Next Level includes Amazon training. Platinum adds the Amazon Growth Network community for South African Amazon sellers.
- Access: Next Level can be monthly, annual or lifetime. Platinum is always lifetime access.
- Guarantee: both have a 30-day money-back guarantee. Platinum adds an extended guarantee of up to a year for students who implement the training.
- One-on-one coaching: Next Level's annual and lifetime options include one private session with Warrick. Platinum PLUS includes ten.
Which should you choose?
| Choose Next Level if you... | Choose Platinum if you... |
|---|---|
| Want to learn at your own pace and build your store yourself | Want a ready-made store so you can start selling sooner |
| Already have a store and want to grow it | Are new to eCommerce and want more hands-on coaching |
| Prefer a lower monthly cost with no contract | Prefer a once-off investment with lifetime access |
What our students say
Insaka is rated 5 stars on HelloPeter. Here is what some of our members have said:
"This is without a doubt the best investment I have EVER made in my life."
Karin Van Riet
"I followed it step by step and within 3 days my site was up and ready!"
Nalisha Pillay
"To say this is life changing for our business is an understatement!"
Andrea Evans-Leverton
"I've received FAR more value than what I paid for!"
Kia Jadwat
Start with Next Level Platinum
Not ready for VIP training yet? Start with our free courses
If you are still exploring, these free courses will help you get started. They are short, practical and written for South African sellers.
| Free course | What you'll learn | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Validate Your Business Idea | How to test whether your online business idea is worth pursuing | Anyone with an idea |
| 5 Steps to Launching Your Online Store | The five steps to start selling online in South Africa | Complete beginners |
| Sell a Lot on Takealot | How to open a seller account and grow sales on Takealot | Marketplace sellers |
| How to Import Products into SA | The import process, customs and costs | Sellers sourcing overseas |
| 3 Steps to Kickstart Your Amazon Success | How to get started selling on Amazon South Africa | Amazon sellers |
You can also find free eBooks, a suppliers list and tools on our free eCommerce resources page, and ask questions in our free Insaka eCommerce Community on Facebook.
When you are ready to go further, eCommerce Next Level picks up where the free courses stop.
What to look for in an eCommerce course
Before you pay for any eCommerce course, check that it ticks these boxes. Our programmes were built around them.
- South African content: local payment gateways, couriers, marketplaces and tax rules, not just US examples
- A proven teacher: someone who has built and run profitable online stores, not only taught about them
- Ongoing updates: platforms such as Shopify, Takealot and Meta change constantly, so the training needs to keep up
- Live support: coaching calls and a community where you can ask questions about your own store
- A clear path: step-by-step training that tells you what to do next, rather than a pile of videos
- A guarantee: a money-back guarantee shows the course provider stands behind their training
- Real reviews: feedback from named students on independent sites
Frequently asked questions
Are there free eCommerce courses in South Africa?
Yes. Insaka offers free courses on validating your business idea, launching an online store, selling on Takealot, importing products and selling on Amazon. They are listed above.
How much does an eCommerce course cost in South Africa?
Prices vary widely. Insaka's eCommerce Next Level starts from R697 a month, and Next Level Platinum is R19,997 once-off or 12 payments of R1,897. Our introductory courses are free.
Can complete beginners join eCommerce Next Level?
Yes. The Success Path starts with the foundations, and a short quiz shows you where to begin. Many members join with no experience of selling online.
Do I need to use Shopify?
eCommerce Next Level covers both Shopify and WordPress, as well as marketplaces such as Takealot and Amazon. Next Level Platinum includes a pre-built Shopify store, so you will need a Shopify subscription to run it.
Is there a money-back guarantee?
Yes. Both programmes include a 30-day money-back guarantee. Next Level Platinum also has an extended guarantee for students who implement the training. See the terms on each sales page.
Why is enrolment sometimes closed?
We usually open enrolment during a launch, so we can welcome and support each new group properly. The links on this page give you access outside a launch.
Ready to start your online business?
Whether you are taking your first step or growing an existing store, the right training saves you time, money and costly mistakes. Choose the option that fits where you are today.
Not ready yet? Browse our free courses.
Written or reviewed by Warrick Kernes, founder of Insaka eCommerce Academy and Shopify's 2021 Top Education Partner worldwide, based on 15+ years of selling online in South Africa.
