Step by step
- Choose what to sellPick one product or service that matches your skill, budget and time, such as homemade food, resale fashion or a service.
- Test demandOffer it to ten people at a real price and note who buys and what they say.
- Work out your priceAdd all costs per unit, including packaging, travel and your time, then add a margin and compare with the market.
- Take good photosShoot in daylight on a plain background and write a short description with price and size.
- Create your online shopSet up a free shop link with your products and an easy way to order on WhatsApp.
- Share and promotePost on WhatsApp Status, Instagram and allowed groups, and ask early buyers to share your link.
- Take orders and get paidConfirm each order in writing, collect UPI or cash and verify payments in your own app.
- Check registrationsReview GST, FSSAI and local licence rules for your product on official portals or with a CA.
Step 1: Choose what to sell
Start with something you understand. It could be food you cook well, products you can source from a wholesale market, crafts you make or a service like tuition or design. A clear, narrow start, such as homemade millet snacks or cotton kurtis, is easier to explain than a shop that sells everything.
Ask yourself three questions: can I supply this reliably, will people near me or online pay for it, and can I deliver it without damage? If the answer to all three is yes, it is a good first product.
Avoid products that are hard for a beginner, such as items that spoil quickly over long distances, very costly electronics or anything that needs special licences you do not yet have.
Step 2: Test demand and work out costs
Before spending on stock, make a small batch or buy a few pieces and offer them to ten people at a real price. Note who buys, what they ask and what they say about price, size and quality.
Write down your full cost per unit: material or purchase price, packaging, gas or electricity, travel and a fair value for your time. Add a margin you are comfortable with and compare with similar sellers. Example only: if one jar costs you ₹180 in total, a price around ₹250 may work if the market accepts it.
Step 3: Get online without a big website
You do not need to hire a developer. Most new sellers start with three things: the free WhatsApp Business app, an Instagram professional account and a simple online shop link with photos and prices.
Take product photos near a window in daylight on a plain background. Write a short description with size, quantity, price and delivery areas. Then put all products on one shop page so buyers can browse without asking for a price list.
ShopShare lets you create a free shop in under a minute with your own link like yourname.shopshare.in. Each product has an Order on WhatsApp button, and you can show MRP with percent off or mark cash on delivery where you offer it.
Step 4: Promote your shop
Share your shop link in your WhatsApp profile, Instagram bio and Status. Post one to three Status updates a day and two or three reels a week. In society and community groups, follow the rules and post only where selling is allowed.
Ask your first customers for honest feedback and permission to share it. Real reviews build trust faster than any ad. Being listed on a local marketplace like ShopShare Market also helps nearby buyers who do not know you yet find your shop.
Step 5: Orders, payments and delivery
When someone orders, repeat the details in one message: item, quantity, price, delivery charge, total, address, date and payment method. Ask them to reply OK.
Collect payment by UPI or cash. Always check the credit in your own bank or UPI app before delivering, and never trust a screenshot alone. For custom or large orders, take full or part advance.
For delivery, use fixed slots for nearby orders, hyperlocal apps within the city and India Post or couriers for other cities. Pack well and tell buyers the delivery charge before they confirm.
After each order, send a short thank-you and ask how it was. Repeat customers are the easiest to sell to, so remember their preferences and let them know when new stock arrives.
Step 6: Check registrations as you grow
Registration needs depend on what you sell and how much. Home food businesses generally need FSSAI registration, which you can check on foscos.fssai.gov.in. GST is generally needed once turnover crosses a threshold or in some special cases, explained on gst.gov.in. Udyam registration on udyamregistration.gov.in is free and optional.
Rules change and can vary by state, so this is not legal advice. Keep records of every sale and speak to a chartered accountant before you reach any threshold.
Separate your money early. A separate bank account or UPI ID for the business, plus a simple monthly record of sales and costs, will make tax questions and growth decisions much easier later.