The boom of Albanian virtual businesses

2025-06-21 08:45:00, Ekonomi CNA

At a time when the internet has shifted the physical boundaries of commerce, more and more Albanians are building careers and incomes through virtual businesses. With minimal investment, but with digital knowledge and creativity, they are earning from dropshipping, online courses, digital marketing and more.

In a simple apartment, on the fourth floor of a building without an elevator in Tirana, a 26-year-old Albanian entrepreneur wakes up early.

Before opening the window that overlooks a bustling alley with small shops, she turns on her laptop and logs into her Shopify control panel, the platform that allows her to run her virtual business from the corner of her living room.

She carefully checks the orders that have arrived overnight: 7 customers from Germany and Austria have purchased home decor products, scented candles, oddly shaped mirrors, neutral-colored pillows, and metal bookends, all in a minimalist style.

She has never seen the products she sells up close; they are stored in a warehouse in Istanbul and transported directly to buyers by a partner logistics company. Her profit comes from the percentage between the supply price and the final price paid by the consumer. All without physically touching any items and without leaving her home.

Last month's income exceeded 800 euros, an amount that under traditional circumstances in Albania would require a month of grueling work in the sales sector or call center. But she is no longer part of that reality.

Instead, she is part of a new generation of Albanians who are embracing more flexible and innovative forms of entrepreneurship: from dropshipping, to freelance services, selling on Etsy, or managing content on social networks for various clients, local or international.

In fact, this is not a special story anymore in 2025. It is an example of the silent transformation taking place in a small Balkan country, where for decades unemployment, emigration and the informal economy have been the only means of survival.

Today, Albania is witnessing a silent reorientation towards the digital economy, driven by free access to the internet, a young and technologically-savvy population, as well as the intensive use of foreign languages, especially English, which opens the doors to global platforms such as Shopify, Amazon, Fiverr or TikTok Shop.

For many young people, success is no longer measured by a job contract in public administration or a position in a local company. It is now measured by the number of international orders, the low costs of advertising on Facebook Ads, and the growth of followers on Instagram or TikTok.

This new openness to virtual entrepreneurship, which once seemed like an experiment, is turning into a serious alternative to the traditional job market, a path that does not require friends in politics, but enough knowledge to build a website, analyze data, and attract consumers via screen.

Model

One of the innovative virtual business models that is gaining ground in Albania is "Doll'App", a platform created by entrepreneur Aneida Bajraktari.

Conceived as a virtual marketplace for used clothing, "Doll'App" gives anyone the opportunity to sell clothing they no longer use, without the need for a physical store or large initial investments.

With an easy-to-use interface and a focus on sustainable consumption practices, this app shows how technology is changing the way we do business and how we conceive of ownership.

“'Doll'App' operates on a model that combines social entrepreneurship with digital solutions, giving users the opportunity to earn income from their existing wardrobe. This approach not only encourages product reuse and reduces overconsumption, but also creates a new community of virtual sellers and buyers.

"In essence, it is an illustration of how virtual businesses can be created with minimal investment, but with great economic and social impact, especially in emerging markets like Albania," says Ms. Bajraktari.

The problems in Albania, according to her, include legal frameworks, because laws have not yet been adapted to new and innovative business models, such as in this specific case, virtual businesses.

"This includes several sectors, e.g. online courses in various disciplines, but to be licensed for these courses, you must have a physical location that meets the conditions for such a sector. So there is room for interpretation if you have controls from Taxes or other structures", - concludes Ms. Bajraktari.

From dropshipping to online training

While dropshipping remains the gateway to online entrepreneurship, other forms of business are rapidly developing. Albanians offer creative services such as graphic design, translations or social media management to international clients through platforms like Fiverr and Upwork.

An increasingly visible trend is that of digital educators: individuals who sell courses or training online: in the fields of fitness, digital marketing, language learning, or personal development.

Combining influence on social media (mainly TikTok and Instagram) with educational products has given many young people a passive source of income.

Another growing form of virtual entrepreneurship is the sale of online courses, a model that is increasingly spreading in Albania.

From graphic design, programming, social media management, digital marketing, and even softer topics like personal motivation or financial education – individuals are creating educational content and selling it through platforms like Teachable, Udemy, Gumroad, or even personal websites and social networks. This model does not require warehouses, logistics, or a large staff, but specific knowledge, credibility, and the ability to communicate clearly with the audience.

Many online course creators are self-employed who have built a community on Instagram, TikTok, or LinkedIn, and then monetized their audience through paid content.

A typical example is someone with several years of experience in the field of graphic design who offers a course for beginners, selling it through the link in the bio. The profits can be significant, especially when the course is sold repeatedly without additional production costs.

This model is known as the “scalable digital product”: built once, content can be sold endlessly, at any hour of the day, in any country in the world.

Renato Civili is one of the Albanian trainers who offers courses in the field of digital marketing, using both social networks, where he shares short content and practical advice, as well as special platforms like Udemy, where he offers more structured and in-depth courses.

Diversifying channels allows him to reach different audiences: from those who prefer flexible and informal learning on social networks, to those who seek more organized and content-rich training on platforms like Udemy.

This approach also reflects the Albanian market's need for different digital education tools, depending on the level and requirements of users.

However, there are challenges here too: lack of quality standards, lack of valid certifications, and consumer suspicion of unaccredited content. Often, many courses are created purely for profit rather than real value.

An accountant who works with such online trainers says that income from courses is difficult to monitor, because most payments are made via PayPal and are not declared, due to a lack of fiscal knowledge or willingness to formalize. “There are individuals who earn thousands of euros per month from courses, but they have no tax status in Albania,” she says.

The Albanian state still does not have a specific mechanism to guide and support this new category of digital self-employed. Many of these trainers are young people who operate entirely informally, even though they are part of a rapidly growing economy.

Other models

Within the framework of the development of virtual businesses in Albania, another example is "Stampisti" created by Elena Velaj, a young mother who decided to give a different direction to her career through the "print on demand" model.

The idea was born as an attempt to create something unique in the market, after the difficulties of returning to work after giving birth. By taking over the stamping process herself, Elena challenged herself, building a brand that focuses on personalization and quality, at a time when unique and personalized products are increasingly sought after.

While the technology required for such a business may sound like a hefty investment, Velaj started with basic equipment: two presses of different sizes, a flex cutter, and a DTF printer. She emphasizes that success doesn't necessarily depend on the latest technology, but on passion and dedication to the work.

This approach makes the “print on demand” model not only affordable, but also scalable for young people who want to build a creative and digital business with limited means. “Stampisti” operates as a sustainable business model, with great potential to grow beyond Albanian borders.

Elena believes that the demand for personalized products exists in every market and that Albania can be a solid base to develop this type of entrepreneurship, especially in the B2C format.

Social media presence has been key to expanding the clientele, as platforms like Instagram serve as a virtual showcase for products, but also as a direct communication channel with the customer. Growth, she says, comes gradually, but is sustainable and exponential when supported by authenticity.

Success is not guaranteed.

Engaging in virtual entrepreneurship may seem like a simple path to financial independence, but it is not without significant challenges and risks.

One of the most widespread models, dropshipping, for example, relies heavily on Facebook advertising, a channel that has become increasingly costly and unsustainable over time.

Entrepreneurs who start without a solid marketing plan often face low returns on investment and immediate losses. Many of these new operators lack customer service experience, which leads to negative reviews and reduced brand credibility, and they often face supply chain and logistics failures.

Another problematic aspect is the lack of good legal and tax regulation for this new form of business. While profits from digital platforms and online sales are growing, the Albanian tax system is not yet adapted to monitor and collect taxes efficiently.

According to an accountant who manages the finances of several influencers and online sellers, "the income exists, but it is often not declared."

This is due to a lack of knowledge about legal obligations, but also because many of these businesses are registered on international platforms, outside the direct control of the Albanian tax administration. As a result, an environment is created where informal activities flourish, while competition becomes unequal towards enterprises operating within the legal framework.

According to data from accounting experts, the problem lies not only in tax evasion, but also in the lack of financial education and formalized structure.

"Many young people open an Instagram page and start selling personalized or imported products, without knowing when the need arises to register as a tax subject, or how to issue an electronic invoice," says accountant Etleva Treska.

According to her, to guarantee sustainable and long-term development of these virtual enterprises, it is essential to create clear guidance and support mechanisms from the state, including simple guidelines on fiscalization, education programs, and special platforms for recording and monitoring digital sales.

"Only in this way can a virtual economy be built that truly contributes to the growth of public revenues and the development of new Albanian entrepreneurship," she concludes.

The most common virtual business models in Albania

Dropshipping – a business model where the store sells products without having them in stock, but orders them directly from the supplier who ships them to the customer.

Online courses – individuals offering expertise in various fields.

Digital services – graphic design, social media, translations, programming.

Print-on-demand – t-shirts, posters, personalized products./ Monitor Magazine