How to Sell Online in India in 2026: Step-by-Step Guide

Do you consider selling online in India? Perhaps you are a beautiful hand crafter, you have a great idea of a product, or you are just looking to make some extra money at home. And you are, you have chosen the best time!  

Online selling, also known as e-commerce as some call it, is increasing rapidly in our country. It may sound large and complex but I can assure you that anyone can learn it.  The first thing to do is to take a little picture of the size of this. In the recent past, it was only individuals in major cities who used to shop online. Not anymore. Nowadays, smaller cities, Tier 2 and Tier 3, make up more than 60 percent of all online orders in India! That’s a massive change. It implies that the customers are in every corner of the country with awaiting products.  

As of 2025, India’s online shopping industry is booming, valued at over $125 billion and projected to reach $345 billion by 2030. With 270+ million active online shoppers, the growth is fueled by widespread smartphone use, increased internet penetration, and rising e-commerce adoption in Tier II and III cities. What’s driving all this? You, me, and everyone we know. India has more than 125 million new shoppers going online each year and millions more are also joining.  

It is not just a fad, but it is the new business model. And the best part? You can join it, and that too, at the comfort of your own living room.  

This is the guide to you, the amateur. Simple and everyday language will be used to walk through everything. No complex language, no intimidating business language. A simple conversation of how you can begin your own online selling business.  

Let’s get started, shall we?  

Why Sell Online in India?  

You may be asking yourself, “Is it worth the bother? Why not simply do local shopping?  

Selling online, well, that is like having a shop but with super powers. We can have a look at why it is such a big opportunity.  

The Market is Massive and Expanding.  

The market is huge as we have seen in the numbers. But what is that to you?  

Consider that you have opened a small store in your neighbourhood. You are able to sell to the passers by. Perhaps a hundred a day, but that is all.  

But suppose you have your shop on the internet. You are not only selling to your block. You are selling to the entire India. Your product can be in front of hundreds of millions of people. Delhi can purchase your earrings that are handmade in Chennai. A villager in Punjab can have your Kerala special spices ordered.  

There is no longer any need to be limited to your small shop. That is how strong the Indian e-commerce market is.  

Benefits (The Good Stuff)  

The benefits of online selling are really amazing, particularly to a novice.  

• Low Start-up Fees: You do not have to rent a costly store and have electricity and staff to open it. You can begin at your house with only the smartphone and an internet connection.  

• Your Shop is Open 24/7: Your online shop is never asleep. At 2 AM, a customer is able to make an order and you are asleep fast. And even when you are not busy working, your business is making money on your behalf.  

• Contact Crores of Customers: This is what we have just discussed. Your location does not constrain you. Your customers are all around.  

• Simple to operate: The majority of marketplaces (we will see them) provide you with an easy-to-use dashboard. It is a kind of a control panel that indicates to you what you ordered, what you paid, and the number of people who are viewing your products.  

• Earn Money With Minimal Effort: You do not need to worry about working with cash. Customer money is transferred into your bank account by means of secure online payment.  

Challenges (The Not-So-Good Stuff)  

Now, let’s be honest. It’s not all easy. As with any new adventure there are setbacks. However, the good thing is that all of them can be controlled.  

• Too Much Competition: Since it is simple to begin with, a good number of individuals are doing it. In case you choose to sell blue t-shirts, you will discover that there are thousands of other individuals selling blue t-shirts. The secret is to discover what is special about your product.  

• Shipping (Logistics): It may sound difficult to get your product to the home of the customer. What if it breaks? What if it gets lost? Fortunately, this is an issue that is resolved. We will discuss services that are able to do all this on your behalf.  

• Returns Management: This is a large one. In some cases, the customer does not like the item, or it is in the incorrect size. They will want to return it. This is an aspect of online business. It only takes a readiness to it and a clear-cut policy.  

• Being Noticed (Marketing): It is not enough to make your product available online so that people can find it. You must know how to have your product appear when people are searching it. This is easier than it sounds!  

Never be afraid of the challenges. All of the successful sellers that you would see today were just at your point, with these exact questions.

How to Sell Online in India : Step-by-Step Guide 2026

Okay, let’s get practical. You feel enthusiastic and desire to begin. What do you have to do first? We can only slice it into small manageable sections.  

1. Decide What to Sell  

This is the question of the greatest importance. There are three categories of things that you can sell online:  

Physical Products: These are those products that are touchable and can be mailed.  

• Products: clothing, jewelry, home-made soaps, spices, electronic products, books, children products, home decor.  

Think: Do you have a hobby? Is it possible to make anything special? Would you be able to purchase something in a local market (e.g. Jaipur blankets or Kolhapuri chappals) and resell it to a greater number of people?  

Digital Products: These are goods that are downloaded by people and no shipping is required.  

• Examples: E-books, study notes, music files, art prints, web templates, video courses.  

Think: Do you know anything in a subject? Are you able to make a useful guide (such as a PDF of a 10-day Yoga Plan)? Are you one of the teachers who are able to sell your notes?  

Services: It is also possible to sell your skills and time.  

• Example: Articles writing, graphic designing, online tutoring, astrology readings, online marketing.  

Think: What are you good at? Is there a talent you can assist people in?  

Advice to the beginner: Begin with one thing. Do not attempt to sell 50 varieties of products in the first day. Choose individually or two products you are familiar with and you love them.  

2. Verify Desire of People to your Product (Validation)  

It is not very technical, it is very simple. It only says: Will anybody purchase this?  

Test it out first before you spend lots of money purchasing 100 units.  

• Question Friends and Family: Caution. Your mom will never cease telling you that your idea is brilliant. Test them, ask, would you pay an amount of money on this?  

• Marketplace search: Visit Amazon or Flipkart and search the product you are going to sell. Are other people selling it? Is their performance in terms of reviews satisfactory? That is a good sign. It implies that it is already being sold to people.  

• Monitor Social Media: Find Facebook or Instagram accounts regarding your product. Are people talking about it?  

• Small Steps: Attempt to produce or purchase only 5 or 10 pieces. List them for sale. When they sell fast, then you have a winner! Otherwise, you have not lost much and could experiment with another idea.  

3. The Legal Stuff (Needless to Fret, It’s Easy)  

This section frightens the majority of them but it is now easier. The biggest news you will hear is that of GST (Goods and Services Tax).  

What is GST? Consider it to be one tax which the government levies on practically all goods and services.  

Is having a GST number required to sell online?  

• Ethics:The Old Rule (and on most platforms): Yes. In case you have sold on either Amazon or Flipkart, you require a GST number since day one regardless of the quantity you sold. It is so because you are selling inter-state (between states).  
• The NEW, Friendlier-to-Beginners Rule: It has been simplified by the government and certain platforms.  

In the event your sales amount to less than 40 lakhs of goods or 20 lakhs services per year, you may not require a GST number provided you sell only within your own state.  

• Such platforms as Meesho: Meesho was the first. It allows you to begin selling without a GST number provided that you only sell to the customers within your own state. As soon as you receive an order in another state, they will request you to receive a GST number.  
• My informal suggestion: When making your first steps, I would recommend a platform such as Meesho, which does not demand the use of GST when selling products within the state. See if you like it. After getting regular orders and wishing to expand, the next logical step would be to acquire a GST number. You can apply either online or to an accountant in the vicinity.  

You will also need:  

• A PAN Card (you most likely have already).  
• A Bank Account (it should be a current account to your business, but a savings account will do to begin with).  

4. Establishing Payments and Shipping.  

Payments: This is the least difficult! They collect the funds of the customer when you are selling on a marketplace (such as Amazon, Flipkart, or Meesho).

They receive UPI, credit cards and even cash on delivery (COD). Once they have subtracted their little fee (commission), they send the money straight to your bank account. There is no need to install anything complex.  

Shipping (Logistics): There are two options that you have.  

Marketplace Incorporates It: Amazon (Fulfilled by Amazon (FBA)) and Flipkart (Flipkart Fulfilled). You ship your products to their warehouse in large quantities. Once an order is received they pack and ship it. This is extremely simple, yet it is a little more expensive.  

You Handle It (Self-Ship): The customer receives the order, and then you pack the product at home. Thereafter you put it on a courier service. You can collaborate with the local courier or employ shipping aggregators such as Shiprocket or NimbusPost. The services are excellent to start with, as they are affiliated with numerous courier companies (such as Delhivery, Blue Dart) and offer reasonable prices.

5. Your Home-Based Setup

You don’t need a fancy office. The following is the basic home set up:

• Some clean corner: a mini-desk or a clean table. That’s your workspace.
• Storage- a small shelf or plastic tub to store your products safely and in order.
• Packaging: You will require wrapping paper (like a bubble wrap), tape and plain boxes or polybags. They are available online in low quantities.
• A printer: It assists you in printing shipping labels. In case you do not have one, you can always have printouts at a local store, but a basic laser printer will make life easier.

And that’s it! you possess the product, the legal fundamentals and a little room at home. Now you are then prepared to make a choice of where to sell.

Indian Online Marketplaces Top List.

Marketplace is simply an online mall. It is an online store where numerous vendors establish their stores and numerous buyers purchase. This is the ideal starting point to the beginners since the customers are already there.

Below is a list of a basic table of the largest and most successful marketplaces in India as a new seller.

Marketplace	Type/Category	Key Features & Focus	Estimated Users (2025)
Amazon India	Multi-category / Horizontal	Electronics, fashion, groceries, Prime delivery	150M+
Flipkart	Multi-category / Horizontal	General retail, electronics, fashion	120M+
Meesho	Social commerce / Value segment	Reseller-focused, small business-friendly	80M+
Myntra	Fashion & Lifestyle	Clothing, accessories, premium brands	60M+
Snapdeal	Multi-category / Value segment	Budget-friendly products, general merchandise	50M+
Pepperfry	Furniture & Home Décor	Online furniture & interior décor	25M+
IndiaMART	B2B Marketplace	Connects suppliers & manufacturers	10M+ (business users)
Quikr	Classifieds + Marketplace	Used goods, services, rentals, jobs	40M+
Luxepolis	Luxury & Pre-owned Goods	Fashion, watches, accessories	5M+
Limeroad	Fashion & Artisans	Curated fashion, local artisans	15M+

My advice:

• You are a complete beginner and simply want to experiment with selling: then start with Meesho or Shopsy. Local sellers are offered 0% commission and no GST. This is an indication that there is nothing to lose.
• In case serious and have GST: begin with Flipkart (where the commission is zero and the items are less than 1000) and Amazon. This is where you are able to develop a big, long term business.

How to Sell Online Free/ Low cost.

What about a good idea that you lack finances? No problem. Investment is not merely money nowadays; now it is time, time, your creativity.

These are how to begin selling using almost zero dollars.

1. Free-of-charge Marketplaces (Meesho, Shopsy)

We just talked about these. They are referred to as zero-investment since:

• No listing charges: It is 0 to list your product.
• 0% commission: They do not collect any commission off of your sale. You are the price setter and pocket all the money. (Ads and shipping are a different business; they are profitable.)
• No shop rent: Your shop is free.
• You do not spend money until you have a sale on packaging and the product.

2. The Social Media Selling (The New “Kirana” Store).

It is the freestanding and the strongest way to begin. You work on platforms that you are familiar with.

• Instagram Shops: In case you have an Instagram account of your products, you may turn it into a Shop. You are able to tag your products on photos. When one clicks the tag, he or she would see the price and a purchase link. It is professional and easy. You must have it linked to a Facebook Business page and a list of your products, that is a catalog.
• Facebook Marketplace: This is similar to an online flea market or mela. It is part of Facebook. You can post your product, particularly used products, furniture, or local crafts and people around you can view it. It is free.
• WhatsApp Business: Must‑have. It is a free app. Within WhatsApp, you have an opportunity to use a catalog of your products. As a customer contacts you, you can send them your entire catalog. They are able to choose something and you are able to manage the order directly in the chat. It is effective with people who bake at home, local services and small batches of craft makers.

3. The No-Stock Models: Dropshipping and Print-on-demand.

It is an excellent idea for beginners. It allows you to sell the products that you do not possess or hold in inventory.

Print‑on‑Demand (POD):

When you are an artist or funny, how does that work? You are collaborating with a POD site. You put your design on a t-shirt, coffee mug or a poster. Then you advertise the product on your social media. Once a customer makes a purchase, the order will be sent to the POD company.

They put your design on a single mug, wrap-up and deliver it directly to the customer; your name is on it. They sell you the mug and shipping and you get the rest. Result: You never bought a mug. You have no stock and no risk. India Platforms: Printrove, Qikink, TeeShopper.

Dropshipping:

Similar. You locate a supplier such as a shoe wholesaler. You are selling their shoes in your online store. A customer purchases a pair of shoes off of you at 1,000 INR. You put the order to your supplier and pay them the wholesale price (say, ₹700).

The supplier then wraps up the shoes and delivers it to your customer. Outcome: You have made 300 rupees without even having to touch the product. Issue: The most difficult aspect is to find good and reliable suppliers in India. POD or social media selling is easier to begin with.

A Guide to Stepping into the World for Total Beginners: How to Sell Online in India as a Beginner

Let’s put it all together. The following is a 8- step trip that you can take.

Step 1: Pick Your Product / Niche

We discussed this. Begin where you are certain. A niche is nothing more than a certain category.

• Bad Niche: “Clothes” (too broad)
• Good Niche: Handblock print cotton kurtis (handmade and very specific)
• Good Niche: “Leather-bound individual diaries.
• Good Niche: Sugar-free home made sweets with diabetics.
• The further you are the more likely to find the first customers.

Step 2: Research and Validate

Go to Meesho, Flipkart and Amazon. Find your niche product.

• Who is the top seller?
• What prices are they setting?
• What do bad reviews say? This is a goldmine. When they say that the color fades, then you should not do that. It assists you to discover your unique selling point.

Step 3: Choose Your Marketplace(s)

Do not attempt to be everywhere at the same time.

• Option A (Least Difficult to get started): Only begin with Meesho or Shopsy. It is free, has zero commission and you can start without GST in case you are selling locally.  
• Option B (Bigger Scale): Prepare your GST number, bank account and PAN. Next sign up with Amazon and Flipkart.  

It is always possible to begin with A and proceed to B at a later stage.

Step 4: Open and create your seller account.  

This is a one‑time process. Each platform (e.g. sell.amazon.in or supplier.meesho.com) will take you to the corresponding Seller site.  

They will ask you for:  

• Mobile number, email (OTP verification):  
• Your address (for pickup)  
• Bank account information (so that you can get paid)  
• Your PAN card  
• Your GST number (where there is a requirement in the platform)  

Follow the on‑screen steps. It is similar to registering a new email account only with more information.

Step 5: Develop Your Product Listings.  

The page of your product is called a listing. Here is where you make an attempt to sell it to the customer. It has three main parts.  

• Images: The most significant ones are these ones. You don’t need a fancy camera. A smartphone works fine. Use natural and bright light, close to a window.  
  Have a plain, clean background (a plain sheet of white cloth or a plain wall). Take photos from all angles.  
  Demonstrate the product in action (e.g. in case a necklace is sold, demonstrate it on a human being).   Do not employ blurry, dark and messy photos.  
  
• Title: Should be descriptive. Add such words that people will be searching.  Bad title: “Beautiful Kurti”  Decent title: Women Jaipuri Cotton Block Print Straight Kurti (Red, Large).  
  
• Description and Bullet points: Discuss the advantages.  
  
  •  What is it made of?  
  • What are the dimensions (size)?  
  • How do you use it?  
  • What makes it special? (e.g., made by local craftsmen, all-cotton, etc.)  
    
• Pricing: Consider your competitors (Step 2). Sell your product at similar numbers. Do not forget the price of the product, the packaging, the fees in the marketplace (unless none), and your profit.

Step 6: Establish Payments and Logistics.  

We talked about this before. Within your seller dashboard you will result in making the following choices . Here, the key differences are logistics which can be either the warehouse offered by the marketplace (similar to FBA) or self-packed and shipped (Self-Ship).  

• Advanced hint: Start with Self-Ship or Easy-Ship (where the courier of the marketplace only has to collect it in your place). It gives you more control.  
• Payments: This is also configured when you enter your bank account. The marketplace will display your payment cycle (e.g. Payments made every 7 days).

Step 7: Launch, Promote and Manage Orders.  

You are alive! Your product is now for sale.  

• Process Orders: Once an order receives an order, you will receive an email and an alert in your seller app. 
   
  • Accept the order.  
  • Print the shipping label.  
  • Wrap your product in a bag or a box.  
  • Stick the label on top.  
  • Give it to the pickup agent once they come.  

• Promote: Don’t just wait. Tell people! Post the link to your product on the status of WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook. Tell friends and family. The initial sales will probably be to the people you are familiar with.  
• Question and Answer: The customer can do this at the questions and answers section of your product page. Quickly respond to them in a polite manner. Good customer service is key.

Step 8: The 10 Most Basic Amateur Hacking Mistakes (and How to Steer Clear of Them)  

• Mistake: Bad photos.  
• Fix: Take an hour to take clean and bright pictures. It is worth it.  
• Mistake: Bad packaging.  
• Fix: Pay a little more extra rupees on good bubble wrap. A broken product results in a huge loss and negative review.
• Watch This: Your key Numbers.  

Don’t get lost in data. The three objects that you watch are:  

• Sales: What is the number of orders that you receive?  
• Conversion Rate: This is a percentage. When 100 people viewed your product and 2 people purchased it, then your conversion rate is 2. This number will increase in case your photos and price are good.  
• Reviews: What are they saying? The first 10 reviews are highly valuable. Listen to them!

What in case you sell something that is very specific? Like art or old clothes? It may not be the most appropriate marketplace such as Amazon is a big marketplace. These are some of the special niche platforms.

Marketing Your Online Store

Marketing is a mere fancy word of letting people know you are there.

• Marketplace SEO: The term SEO (Search Engine Optimization) implies assisting individuals in being discovered when they search. The most effective one is to employ an excellent Title (Step 5). Think like a customer. What is the search words you would use to locate your product? Use those words in your title.
• Marketplace Ads: Amazon, Flipkart and Meesho have their ad systems. A small fee (e.g., 100 rupees a day) will get your product to appear on the top of the search results. It is a good method of receiving your initial few sales and reviews.  
• Social Media: We have discussed this. Place product links on Instagram and Facebook. Compose a short, amusing video (a “Reel”) and show you packing an order. Human beings adore watching the behind-the-scenes.

Logistics, Shipping, and Fulfillment

This is the physical tracking of your package. Let’s simplify the terms.

1. Marketplace fulfillment (The Easy) way:

Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) or Flipkart Fulfilled Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) or Flipkart Fulfilled is the name of them.  

• How it works: You ship 100 of your products to the Amazon/Flipkart warehouse. Upon receiving an order, they select, arrange and deliver.
• Advantages: It is incredibly fast (as with Prime), you do not work, it is trusted by the customers.
• Cons: Costs more. You pay storage fees.

2. Harmony: Mark place Easy-Ship ( The “Balanced” Way):

• Name Amazon Easy-Ship or Flipkart Self-Ship (through their partners).  
• Principle of operation: You store the products in your house. An order comes. You pack it in your own box. The courier in the market place (such as the one employed by Amazon itself) arrives at your door and collects it.  
• Pros: You are in charge of your inventory. Cheaper than FBA.  
• Cons: You have to be picked up on a daily basis.

3. Self-Ship (The “Control” Way):

• Product packaging: You pack. You then reserve a courier yourself either through Shiprocket, NimbusPost or your local post.
• Advantages: You will find the lowest shipping rate. It is up to you to run the entire process.
• Cons: Most work for you. The package will get lost and your fault is expected.

Entry Level Recommendations: Model 2 (Easy-Ship). It offers the best compromise between low cost and convenience.

Payments, Accounting & Compliance.

That is a drag, but that is the way to earn a living and keep out of trouble!

• Payments: This, as we have just mentioned, is done by the market place. They will take money (Prepaid or COD) and transfer it to your bank account after 7-15 days (this is the payment cycle).

• Accounting (The Simple Way): We do not have to have a CA (Chartered Accountant) on day one. Simply maintain an excel sheet or a note book.
  • Column 1: Date
  • Column 2: Product Sold
  • Column 3: Selling Price (What the customer paid)
  • Column 4: Marketplace Fee
  • Column 5: Shipping Cost
  • Column 6: Your Product Cost (What it cost you to buy/ make)
  • Column 7: Your Profit (Column 3 – 4 – 5 – 6)
• This sheet will help you know whether you are really making money or not.
• Compliance (GST): You will be required to file your GST returns on a monthly basis in case you have GST number. It is here that you report to the government on the quantity that you sold and the amount of tax that you collected. On the first day, you can teach yourself to do this online but it is strongly suggested that you pay a small fee to a local accountant. They will do this on your behalf and ensure it is done well.  

Conclusion

That was a lot of information. I wish by dissecting it, it will be less frightening and more thrilling.

Online selling in India is not a get rich quick venture. It’s a real business. It is time-consuming, requires effort, and a desire to learn. You will make mistakes. Your initial listing may be appalling. The packaging of your first package may be of poor quality. That’s okay! Everyone does.

The secret is to just start!

You do not necessarily require a large investment. You don’t need a fancy degree. All you need is a product that you trust in and a smart phone.

Start with one product. Add it to a 0% commission product such as Meesho. Take a good photo. Make your first sale. Get the rush of filling that initial order.  

You can develop a brand, access clients nationwide and generate a new stream of revenue to yourself and your family, all at home. The opportunity is here. It is huge, and it is there waiting on you.

FAQs

Am I absolutely required to have GST number in order to commence?

No. You are not required to have a GST number to start on sites such as Meesho or Shopsy provided that you only sell to customers in your own state. You will need one once you are interested in selling all over India.  

What do I charge cash on delivery (COD) orders?

You don’t have to do anything! The delivery agent of the marketplace receives the cash of the customer. After that, the marketplace (Amazon or Flipkart) credits that amount to your account and transfers it to you in electronic form, similarly to a prepaid order.

What is the most readily saleable product?

You are passionate about it, it is lightweight, and it cannot be easily broken. A good place to begin with is handmade jewellery, small art prints, unique spices, or custom t-shirts (with Print-on-Demand).

Amazon or Flipkart? Which is better?

Both are fantastic. The new 0 percent commission on products below 1000 offered by Flipkart is quite appealing to new sellers. Amazon possesses a somewhat bigger number of customers. The best strategy? After securing your GST, list on both.