Your neighbourhood customers already order groceries, medicines and clothes on their phones. That doesn't mean the local shop loses; it means the shop that is easiest to order from wins. You already have what online-only players spend crores to build: trust, a location close to customers and staff who know them by name. This guide shows how to start selling online without a big budget.
Your options for selling online
| Option | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Your own online store (linked to billing) | Regular and local customers; your brand; orders flow into billing and stock | You need to promote the link yourself |
| Chat-based ordering | Very small shops; personal service | Orders get lost in chats; manual entry into billing |
| Marketplaces and quick-commerce apps | Reaching new customers fast | Commissions, platform rules, the customer belongs to the platform |
| ONDC network apps | Being discoverable across buyer apps | Onboarding through a seller app; logistics and catalogue quality matter |
Most shops do best with their own store for regulars, plus one marketplace or network channel for discovery once they are comfortable. ONDC, the government-backed open network, had about 2.06 lakh merchants transacting by 31 December 2025, according to PIB.
Step-by-step: launch in a week
Day 1–2: Build your catalogue
Start with the 50 to 100 items your regulars buy most. Use clear photos (a phone photo on a plain background works), the exact name with brand, pack size or variant, and the correct price. Accuracy beats volume.
Day 3: Decide service rules
- Delivery area (for example a 3 km radius) and any minimum order value.
- Delivery charges, delivery slots and pickup option.
- How you'll collect payment: on delivery or in advance, by cash or UPI to your own account.
- Who in the shop handles online orders, and by what time.
Day 4: Set up your store
If your billing software includes an online store, publish your selected items there so prices and items come from the same system you bill from. Test by placing an order yourself.
Day 5–7: Tell your customers
- Message your store link to regular customers personally.
- Put a QR code of the link on the counter, shop board, bills and carry bags.
- Share it in local society or community groups where allowed.
- Ask your first customers for feedback and fix issues quickly.
Running online orders smoothly
- Confirm quickly. Acknowledge every order within minutes during shop hours.
- Keep items in stock or hide them. Nothing breaks trust faster than items that show online but are unavailable.
- Bill exactly what you deliver. Substitute only with the customer's consent, and adjust the bill.
- Pack carefully and include the bill in the bag.
- Track a few numbers: orders per week, average order value, repeat customers and cancellations.
GST and legal points to know
- Own store: sales through your own website or store are taxed like counter sales. Issue a GST invoice (or bill of supply under composition) for every order.
- Marketplaces: e-commerce operators collect TCS under Section 52 of the CGST Act (0.5% since July 2024) on sales made through them, and selling through them has its own registration rules. Check with your CA before you start.
- Food businesses: keep your FSSAI registration or licence details current and display them where required.
- Medicines: online sale of drugs is regulated; list only OTC and wellness products unless you have taken advice.
- Pre-packaged goods: show the details required under Legal Metrology rules, like MRP and net quantity, for items you list.
How VelBooks helps
The VelBooks online store lives in the same app as your billing, inventory and order management. Showcase your products, share your store link, and process online orders next to your counter sales. It is included in every plan, and you can try it free for 30 days.
Sources
This article is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; check the official sources above or consult your tax adviser.