From choosing a platform and payment gateway to shipping, GST and your first marketing plan — what to get right in year one.
Launching an online store has never been easier. Running one profitably takes planning. Here's what we walk new e-commerce founders through.
Pick the platform for the next two years, not the next two weeks
Shopify gets you selling fastest with minimal maintenance. WooCommerce offers more control over content and SEO. Custom builds make sense when your business model doesn't fit standard platforms. Choose based on catalogue size, budget and how much you want to manage yourself.
Get payments and compliance sorted early
- Integrate a gateway that supports UPI, cards and wallets.
- Register for GST and make sure invoices are generated correctly.
- Publish clear shipping, returns and refund policies — they build trust and reduce disputes.
Shipping that doesn't eat your margin
Aggregators make it easy to compare courier rates and automate labels. Decide early whether to offer free shipping, and build that cost into your pricing.
Your first marketing plan
- SEO: optimised product and category pages compound over time.
- Social media: build a community before you need it.
- Paid ads: test small, measure cost per order, scale what works.
- Retention: email and WhatsApp bring customers back for a fraction of the acquisition cost.
Measure what matters
Track conversion rate, average order value, cost per acquisition and repeat purchase rate. They tell you far more than visitor counts. If you're planning a store, see how we build e-commerce.
