Starting an Online Store in India: The Complete Launch Checklist

Selling online lets a shop in Punjab reach customers across India. But a successful launch needs more than a nice-looking website. Use this checklist to make sure nothing is missed.

Business & legal

• GST registration (mandatory for most inter-state online sales).
• A current bank account in the business name.
• Clear policies: privacy, terms, shipping, refunds and cancellations — payment gateways ask for these.

Platform choice

WooCommerce suits most small and mid-size stores and gives you full ownership. Shopify is quick to launch with monthly fees. A custom build makes sense for multi-vendor marketplaces or unusual workflows.

Payments

• Integrate a gateway such as Razorpay, PayU or PhonePe for UPI, cards, net banking and wallets.
• Decide on Cash on Delivery — it boosts conversions but increases returns; consider a small COD fee.

Shipping

• Use an aggregator like Shiprocket or Delhivery for multiple couriers and pincode checks.
• Show delivery estimates on product pages.
• Plan packaging that survives long-distance transit.

Product pages that sell

• Clear photos from multiple angles on a clean background.
• Honest descriptions with size, material and care information.
• Reviews and Q&A to build trust.

Before you go live

1. Place test orders with every payment method.
2. Check emails and SMS notifications for each order status.
3. Test on low-end Android phones and slow connections.
4. Set up Google Analytics, Search Console and Meta Pixel.

Need help? Our team builds and launches complete e-commerce stores — from product upload to payment and courier integration — so you can focus on selling.