Launching an online store in India is easier than ever — but a store that actually sells needs more than a product grid. Here is what to plan, from platform to checkout.
1. Choose the right platform
- Shopify — easiest to run, hosting and security handled, monthly subscription and app costs. Great for D2C brands that want to move fast.
- WooCommerce — runs on WordPress, no platform fee, very flexible, needs good hosting and maintenance.
- Custom-built — best for unusual pricing, B2B ordering, marketplaces or deep integrations, at a higher upfront cost.
Pick based on your catalogue size, budget, technical comfort and how unique your requirements are. You can read our detailed Shopify vs WooCommerce comparison.
2. Set up payments Indian customers trust
- UPI should be front and centre — it is how a large share of Indian shoppers prefer to pay.
- Add cards, net banking and wallets through a gateway like Razorpay, PhonePe, Paytm or Cashfree.
- Cash on Delivery still matters in many categories. Consider rules like COD limits or a small COD fee to reduce returns.
3. Plan shipping and returns early
- Use a shipping aggregator to compare couriers and print labels automatically.
- Show delivery estimates on product pages.
- Write a clear, fair return policy and link it near the "Buy" button.
- Send order, dispatch and delivery updates on WhatsApp or SMS.
4. Get GST and invoices right
Configure tax rates per product category and generate proper GST invoices automatically. Your accountant will thank you, and B2B customers often require it.
5. Design product pages that sell
Product pages do most of the selling. Include:
- Several high-quality photos and, where possible, a short video
- Clear price, offers and delivery information
- Size guides, specifications and materials
- Genuine reviews and ratings
- A prominent "Add to cart" button that stays visible on mobile
6. Make checkout effortless
- Allow guest checkout.
- Ask only for information you need.
- Auto-fill city and state from the PIN code.
- Show trust signals: secure payment badges, return policy, contact number.
7. Speed and mobile first
Most shoppers browse on phones. Compress images, avoid app overload, and test the full purchase journey on a mid-range Android phone.
8. Bring traffic and bring people back
- SEO for category and product pages
- Google Shopping and Meta catalogue ads
- Abandoned cart reminders by email or WhatsApp
- Offers for repeat customers
9. Measure and improve
Track conversion rate, average order value, cart abandonment and return rate. Small improvements in each add up to big gains in revenue.
Ready to start?
Our e-commerce team builds Shopify, WooCommerce and custom stores with Indian payments, shipping and GST set up correctly from day one. See our pricing for starting packages.
AithinkX Team
Designers, developers and marketers at AithinkX Technologies, Jaipur. We write about what we build every day — websites, apps, SEO and automation for growing businesses.