Despite the current uncertainty in the Indian e-commerce sector, there is a boom in this sector, which is occurring due to the rising internet penetration and the proliferation of smartphone users which has led to a change in habits of consumers. It has consequently led to a huge demand for solid and stable logistics and supply chain solutions. Leading this revolution is Ekart the burly logistics subsidiary of Flipkart that has become a prime player in bridging the gap between business and consumers across the length and breadth of the country. With a market that is expected to expand at an annual 15-20 percent rate each year and record revenues of about 385 billion within the next few years, the idea of looking into an Ekart franchise would make a good business.

Ekart, with its daily handling of more than 6 million packages shipped and its last-mile network which is available to 98% of Indian postal codes and with more than 50 million cubic feet of warehouse space and a fleet of 7,000 trucks, is an operation that covers a lot of ground. The article is an insight into the details of opening an Ekart franchise and gives a detailed idea of the Ekart Franchise Cost to be incurred, the models to be followed, and the probability of achieving success.

About the Brand

Category	Details
Founded	2009 by Flipkart
Core Function	Logistics & supply chain arm of Flipkart; also serves 3rd-party clients
Recent Milestones	– Joined ONDC (2025) – Serving IKEA last-mile delivery (2025)
Scale (2025)	– 6 million+ packages/day – 7,000+ delivery vehicles – 50M+ ft³ warehouse
Coverage	98% of Indian pincodes (3,800+)
Client Base	Flipkart, Myntra, IKEA, MSMEs, D2C brands
Franchise Program	– Over 1,000 franchise partners – Fee: ₹₹25,000–5 lakh – Franchise Cost- Up to ₹50,00,000 – 15–25% ROI
Financial Growth (2021–25)	– 10× revenue growth – 50× customer base growth – Profitability achieved
Strategic Focus	Tech-driven logistics, ONDC integration, MSME support, franchise expansion

Ekart, the home-grown and in-house logistics and supply chain of Flipkart- the e-commerce giant of India. It was mainly involved in ensuring that the Flipkart and Myntra orders are delivered efficiently and smoothly. At the same time, Ekart has also achieved much more than perfecting the art of e-commerce logistics itself, over the years the vertical has diversified its services to cover the needs of an array of external clients among which there are various retail and direct to consumer brands.

This operational strategy has changed Ekart into an autonomous, profitable logistic powerhouse with end to end supply chain solutions. It is currently the largest 4PL (Fourth-Party Logistics) supply chain company in India, and has also gained a reputation as a reliable supply chain company in terms of fast deliveries and excellent technology and network coverage.

Ekart has a wide variety of services like B2C Express (last-mile delivery of e-commerce), B2B Express (PTL/FTL solutions), warehousing, 4PL solutions, and even document delivery facilities to financial institutions, which demonstrates a very comprehensive nature and well-developed infrastructure running underneath.

USP (Unique Selling Proposition)

Ekart success and its increasing popularity as a franchise opportunity are based on a number of Unique Selling Propositions:

• Good Brand Association: Ekart, as the entity owned by Flipkart, has instant brand recognition and credibility among the Indian consumers and business. This credibility is a strong point in that it saves a lot of effort that is needed by new franchisees to acquire a presence and win customers.
• Wide Network and Reach: Ekart has a wide network of 15000+ pincodes (and a last-mile network of 98% Indian postal codes), 70+ fulfillment centers, 80+ sortation centers, and 3500 delivery hubs, Ekart provides unmatched reach, particularly in urban and semi-urban locations. This wide infrastructure gives a good base to the franchisee to work in a clearly defined and high volume area.
• Technological Expertise: Ekart uses advanced technology to track the orders and manage the shipment, optimize routes and manage inventories. Accessibility of these advanced tools to franchisees makes the operations and efficiency easy.
• Comprehensive Support System: Ekart offers a wide range of training and continuous support to its franchisees in the terms of operations and technical support. This involves the instructions they give on how to organize the physical area, how to handle the personnel and how to streamline the delivery procedures so that the franchisees are in a good position to go ahead.
• Multiple Revenue Streams: In addition to the normal parcel delivery business, Ekart has a wide range of services such as reverse logistics (product returns), B2B solutions, and document delivery, which can be utilized by franchisees as additional sources of income, which also leads to a higher profitability.
• Scalability: Ekart franchise model is scalable. As their business grows, franchisees can add more delivery vehicles, serve a broader area, hire more employees, or even convert to a larger hub facility.

Why Invest in the Ekart Franchise?

The idea of investing in an Ekart franchise cost is quite appealing due to a number of strong reasons, especially regarding the contemporary situation on the Indian market:

• Thriving E-commerce Market: The e-commerce industry in India has been on an exponential rise and this has a direct relation with the steady and growing need of effective logistics services. With more companies shifting online and consumers adopting online shopping, the demand of last-mile delivery partners such as Ekart will only increase.
• Proven and Established Business Model: Ekart provides a very successful business model that is tested and tried. The franchisees do not have to start everything afresh; they can use the processes, brand name, and operational experience of Ekart.
• Reduced Risk as compared to Independent Ventures: Establishing an independent logistics company may be full of difficulties, such as network establishment, trust creation and technology developing. A franchise helps to avoid most of these risks by offering an already established structure and ongoing assistance.
• Financial Viability: Although it will need investment, the profit potential and the rate of return on investment (ROI) are deemed to be good compared to most other franchising opportunities. Having various sources of revenue and growing volumes in the delivery, franchisees may obtain a decent profit margin.
• Training and Support: As far as training and support of franchisees is concerned, Ekart is keen on the success of its franchisees and has elaborate training programs and continuous support. This hand holding strategy is priceless to the new entrepreneurs who need to go through the logistics industry to understand it.
• The role in the Digital India Vision: Ekart franchisees contribute to the Digital India vision by enabling the nation to become more empowered through efficient e-commerce deliveries, helping businesses and consumers in India grow and become more digitized.
• Logistics Sector Durability: The logistics sector, especially the last mile delivery has been found to be resilient even when there were changes in the economy. Its dependence on e-commerce has seen it become a core service, which means that there is always demand in franchise operations.

Understanding the Ekart Franchise Model

Ekart has different franchise models that are based on investment capabilities, operating size, and entrepreneurial ambitions. All the models are accompanied by certain requirements as of description, profile of the ideal franchisee, investment, space required, and key activities.

Standard Franchise Model – The All-in-One Logistics Hub

This model is a complete logistic center, and it deals with a wider scope of operations such as pick up, sorting, and delivery of merchandise in a specific geographical zone. It is a mini-sortation center, which allows efficient movement of goods.

• Suitable to: Entrepreneurs who have a moderate investment potential, and have a keen interest in end-to-end logistics management. The model is applicable in case of individuals or groups capable of managing a team, controlling several processes, and controlling a large number of shipments per day.
• Investment: The approximate Ekart Franchise cost of a Standard Franchise Model is 1-2 Lakhs according to some of the sources, but the total cost of setting up may vary between 10-50 Lakhs depending upon scale and location. This consists of franchise fee, setup cost, initial working capital and other miscellaneous costs.
• Space Requirement: It needs a physical space of around 400-600 square feet. The space should be able to fit office functions, sorting centers, and racks to store the parcels.

Delivery Partner Model – Focused on Last-Mile Delivery

This model is mainly concentrated on the last-mile delivery part, but here the franchisee will have the responsibility of delivering the parcels at a bigger Ekart hub or sortation center to the end customer. It is a leaner process that focuses on effective and prompt doorstep delivery.

• Best suited: Individuals or small groups with less investment capability and who are keen on delivering operations efficiently. The model will fit well with individuals who may already possess a vehicle and a small group of delivery staff and are interested in taking advantage of Ekart network to have regular work.
• Investment: The Ekart Franchise cost of investment in a Delivery Partner Model is on the lower side, between 50000-1 Lakh. This mainly includes low start-up expenses, vehicle expenses, and start-up working capital of staff.
• Space Requirement: It does not require a lot of space, mainly the parking space of the vehicles and a small office space, should there be any. The activities are mostly field oriented.

Hub & Spoke Model – For Scaling Up

Hub & Spoke Model is intended to support operations of a greater scale with a central facility (the hub) overseeing a network of smaller facilities (the spokes) (delivery points or smaller franchisee operations). The hub is a sorting and distribution point of a larger geographical scope, and the shipments are fed to its satellite spokes.

• Suitable to: Professionals in the field of logistics or entrepreneurs who have large capital and a plan to make a large expansion. This model requires good managerial skills, ability to lead a bigger team and thorough knowledge of logistics network optimization.
• Investment: The Hub & Spoke Model investment is quite high with an investment of 2-5 Lakhs on the franchise side and costs may be even higher as it requires infrastructure. This involves major infrastructure works, integration of technology and increased workforce.
• Space Requirements: The central hub usually requires a large space of 1000+ square feet that will give it enough space to sort, store and even have administrative offices. The spokes would require less space.

Ekart Franchise Cost in India

The overall expense of setting up an Ekart logistics franchise may differ widely, between about 10 Lakhs to 50 Lakhs, depending on the model of the franchise, level of operation and the location requirements. It is important that the aspiring franchisees know how these costs are apportioned.

The approximate Ekart Franchise cost in general are as follows:

• Franchise Fee: It is a one time fee to gain the right to use the Ekart brand name, operating system and support network. Though not necessarily stated publicly, certain sources indicate a security deposit of between 50,000 Rs. and 5 Lakh based on diff. models.

Franchise Model	Franchise Fee (INR)	Security Deposit (INR)
Delivery Partner Model	₹25,000 – ₹50,000	₹50,000 – ₹1,00,000
Standard Franchise	₹1,00,000 – ₹2,00,000	₹1,00,000 – ₹3,00,000
Hub & Spoke Model	₹2,00,000 – ₹5,00,000	₹2,00,000 – ₹5,00,000

• Infrastructure and Facility Costs:
  • Deposit- Rent/Lease: Normally 3-6 months rent of the selected premises (office, sorting area, warehouse). This could be very broad depending on the location (metro/ Tier 2/3 cities).
  • Interior Modifications: Expenses relating to the tailoring of the premises to suit Ekart in terms of operational requirements, i.e. establishing sorting zones, storage space, and office arrangement.
  • Office Setup: Furniture, computers, printers, scanners, barcode scanners and other necessary office equipment.
  • Warehouse/Storage Space: This includes rent or installation of a small warehouse to use in storing packages of those models that need temporary storage.

Item	Estimated Cost (INR)
Space Lease/Deposit	₹1,00,000 – ₹5,00,000
Interior Setup	₹50,000 – ₹2,00,000
Furniture & Fixtures	₹30,000 – ₹1,00,000
Warehouse Equipment	₹50,000 – ₹1,50,000

• Equipment Costs:
  • Auto: Buying or renting delivery vehicles (two/four-wheelers) based on the amount of delivery and territory.
  • Handheld Devices: Smart phones or dedicated delivery staff tracking, proof of delivery and communication devices.
  • Safety Equipment: Helmets, safety vests and so on.

Item	Estimated Cost (INR)
Delivery Vehicles	₹50,000 – ₹5,00,000
Handheld Devices	₹10,000 – ₹50,000
IT Setup (PCs, Printers)	₹25,000 – ₹75,000
Software Licenses	₹10,000 – ₹25,000 (annually)

• Technology and Software: Ekart offers the main software, but using and maintaining technological tools may come with annual costs.
• Working Capital: This is necessary in day to day operations including:
  • Staffing Costs: Delivery personnel salaries and benefits, administrative personnel salaries and benefits and possibly sorting personnel salaries and benefits. This is a recurring cost of operation.
  • Fuel and Maintenance: Periodic costs of running the vehicle.
  • Utilities: Power, internet, and so on.
  • Packaging Materials: In case of need in special services.
  • Contingency Fund: To meet any unexpected cost.

Expense Type	Monthly Cost (INR)
Staff Salaries	₹50,000 – ₹2,00,000
Fuel & Vehicle Maintenance	₹30,000 – ₹1,00,000
Utilities & Internet	₹5,000 – ₹20,000
Packaging & Misc.	₹10,000 – ₹30,000

• Marketing and Promotion: Although the brand of Ekart offers a great level of visibility, part of the local marketing may be required to spread awareness within the given area of operation. This may be a yearly Ekart Franchise cost.
• Legal and Licensing Fees: The expenses that relate to the registration of the business, acquisition of the required licenses and legal documentation.

Franchise Model	Total Estimated Investment (INR)
Delivery Partner Model	₹2,00,000 – ₹5,00,000
Standard Franchise	₹10,00,000 – ₹25,00,000
Hub & Spoke Model	₹25,00,000 – ₹50,00,000+

Profitability & ROI: The Potential for Success

An Ekart franchise has a huge potential of profits and has a good investment-to-return ratio as compared to most of the other franchising opportunities. As a franchisee of Ekart, the major sources of revenues are:

• Delivery Commissions: Commissions gained on each delivery are the primary source of revenues. The size of payment is directly associated with the volume of delivery.
• Reverse Logistics Fees: Since product returns are high in e-commerce, reverse logistics (the process of picking up and processing returns) can be a considerable source of profits.
• Value-Added Services: There may be a possibility to earn via services such as cash-on-delivery collection, express delivery or special handling of particular goods, depending on the model.

According to the market information and analysis, an Ekart franchise operation has the potential of attaining:

• Potential Monthly Revenue: between 5 Lakhs and 20 Lakhs (depending on model and efficiency of operation).
• Costs per Month: 1 Lakh to 5 Lakhs.
• Profit Margin: It is usually 15-20 percent per transaction.

The majority of Ekart franchisees should be able to hit the break-even point within 6-10 months of running the business as long as there is proper management and ongoing operations. Its ROI is usually healthy and thus it is a good business venture to any entrepreneur in search of a stable and growing business.

Factors Influencing ROI

The profitability and ROI of an Ekart franchise may be affected considerably by several factors:

• Location: The most important thing is to have a strategic choice of location. Densely populated regions, with a high penetration of e-commerce, and a high accessibility rate tend to provide a better profitability and delivery volume.
• Volume of Delivery: Increased revenue is directly proportional to the increased volumes of shipment on a daily basis. An effective route planning and on-time deliveries are key to maximizing this.
• Operational Efficiency: Efficient operations, optimal use of resources (vehicles, staff) and cost management leads to increase in profitability.
• Customer Satisfaction: Offering quality service, making customer deliveries on time, and receiving customer queries with precision will result in good word-of-mouth and maintenance of business.
• Team Management: An efficient, motivated and well-trained delivery team is also very essential to achieve consistent performance and customer satisfaction.
• Local Competition: The nature of competition and service differentiation will allow the attraction and retention of customers.
• Economic Conditions: Wide economic trends and consumer spending levels may also affect the e-commerce levels and, in turn, the franchise profitability.

Eligibility Criteria

Although the criteria might be particular, as a rule, in order to be considered as an Ekart franchise partner, the potential partners must fulfill the following requirements:

• Financial Capability: Show the required amount of capital to make the initial investment, and the working capital to carry on operations during the first few months. This is in terms of investment capital and sources of funds (personal savings, loans, investors).
• Business Acumen: Have general knowledge in the business operations, management and financial planning.
• Entrepreneurial Spirit: The ability to work hard, learn and have a strong desire to achieve success and to be loyal to the Ekart brand and the standards of operations.
• Local Market Knowledge: Knowledge of the area where the proposed operation is to be carried out including the geographical peculiarities, population density, and competition.
• Infrastructure: Capacity to make arrangements of the necessary physical space (office, sorting area, warehouse) according to the selected franchise model.
• Manpower: Ability to hire and handle a group of delivery staff and administrative personnel.
• Legal Compliance: Readiness to observe all the legal and regulatory requirements of doing business in India.
• Age: The applicant must normally be over 18 years of age.

How to Apply for the Ekart Franchise

Applying to an Ekart franchise cost is usually a process that may include the following steps:

• Preliminary Expression of Interest: Ekart does not explicitly mention offering franchises on their official site, which states that they are not offering franchise opportunities at the moment, but direct contact is the preferred method of enquiry when it comes to possible partnerships, but historical information and other third-party sources do point to a possible avenue of partnership. When you are interested, it is recommended to visit the page of the official Ekart Logistics site (ekartlogistics.in) in the Partners section or search any new information about the franchise opportunities. Others indicate that an email should be sent to their corporate/partnership team (e.g. hulk-central-team@flipkart.com, but this is probably no longer current). In your enquiry, please provide your name, contact information, name of the city/pincode where you want to operate, and other information about your financial strength and current infrastructure.
• Submission of Application Form: In case of availability of opportunities, you will most probably be given an official Ekart franchise application form. This application will take a lot of details concerning your background, your financial situation, the proposed location and your business plan.
• Documentation: Gather all the documents required, and they usually include:
  • Aadhar Card, PAN Card
  • Address Proof (Utility bills, rental agreement)
  • Financial records (Bank statements, Proof of funds, income tax returns)
  • Property Papers (to prove ownership of the proposed business space, or lease)
  • Business Registration Documents (in case of already registered)
  • Any other records as may be required by Ekart.
• Due Diligence and Evaluation: Ekart will go through your application and will carry out a due diligence exercise. This can include a background check, financial analysis and the assessment of your planned area of operation.
• Meeting and Discussion: Once your application reaches the shortlisting stage, Ekart representatives will call you to have a meeting to discuss the franchise opportunity in details, answer any questions and lay out your business plan.
• Agreement and Training: With the successful evaluation, and agreement, a franchise agreement will be signed. After this, you will go through a detailed training as given by Ekart including operational processes, use of technology and customer service guidelines.
• Installation and Kickstart: Once the training is over and the infrastructure is set up as per the specifications of Ekart, you are ready to start as a certified Ekart franchise.

Benefits of an Ekart Franchise

As a franchisee of Ekart, a lot of benefits can be acquired that can go a long way in making an entrepreneur successful:

• Brand Credibility and Trust: Ride on the high reputation and trust of the Flipkart and Ekart brands and now have an upper hand in the market.
• Qualified Business Model: Availability of a successful and tested business model which reduces trial and error.
• Wide Network and Reach: Take advantage of Ekart with its wide logistics network, which offers steady supply of business and a huge customer base.
• Technological Advancement: Leverage on Ekart advanced logistics technology to track, manage and optimize operations.
• Extensive Training and Support: Get thorough training on all the facets of the business and constant operational and technical support by Ekart.
• Multiple Revenue Streams: Chance to gain income on other services besides standard parcel delivery, such as reverse logistics and B2B solutions.
• Scalability and Growth Potential: The model can be scaled up as the business expands, in terms of scale of operations to number of locations.
• Less Marketing Overhead: Local marketing may be a good thing but since Ekart has strong brand recognition, a lot of brand-building will not be necessary.
• Value Addition to the E-commerce Ecosystem: Be a key contributor to the fast growing digital economy in India.

Conclusion

The Indian logistics industry, which is under the onslaught of the ever-growing e-commerce, offers a rich soil to entrepreneurial activities. In this dynamic environment, Ekart franchise is a very interesting offer and is often considered among the Best Courier Franchise Opportunities in India. Ekart presents the aspiring entrepreneurs with a powerful combination of a strong brand identity, network of operations, superior technological infrastructure, and support system. Although the initial investment will depend on the model and the level at which one operates, it is a good business with profitability potential and a good return on investment.

Nevertheless, potential franchisees need to be careful about taking this opportunity. The proper knowledge of the breakdown of investment, a wise choice of the franchise model, and the location, and an efficient approach to business are essential. As well, it is important to be careful of fraudulent offers to protect the investment. Collaborating with a market leader such as Ekart, an entrepreneur will be able to take advantage of the enormous growth potential of the India logistics sector, help transform the country with digitalization, and establish a sustainable and profitable business of their own. The Ekart franchise cost is not only the investment into the delivery business, but it is the investment in the future of e-commerce and supply chain excellence in India.

FAQs

How much does an Ekart franchise cost to open?

The franchise fee and security deposit is model dependent and usually between 50,000-5 Lakhs, with the total setup cost being as high as 10 Lakhs to 50 Lakhs plus depending on the size and the model taken (Delivery Partner, Standard, or Hub & Spoke).

What will be my profit on an Ekart franchise?

The possible revenue potential per month is between 5 Lakhs to 20 Lakhs with an average profit margin of 15-20 percent per transaction. 

What are the key tasks of an Ekart franchise?

Duties and responsibilities are as follows: control of pick and deliveries, sorting of shipments (in case of some models), control of delivery staff, cash on delivery, customer satisfaction, and efficiency in operations.

Are Ekart franchises a good investment in India?

Yes as due to the high potential of the e-commerce market, the good brand, large network, technology, and the forecasted growth of the logistics sector.