E-Commerce Business Setup
Registrations, tax positions and policy documents needed to sell online under your own brand.
Setting up to sell online under your own brand involves more than building a website. The registrations, tax positions and policy documents that make the operation lawful are what determine whether payment gateways will onboard you and whether the tax position holds up later.
The requirements differ from those of an offline business in ways that catch first-time sellers out, and the most significant is GST — supplying goods through an e-commerce operator makes registration compulsory regardless of turnover.
Charges on enquiry
This service is quoted case by case, because the work depends on your documents, the authority involved and the timeline you need. Send us a short note and we will confirm the professional charges and the government fees in writing before starting.
What the setup involves
- Choosing the entity structure, since a payment gateway will contract with the entity rather than with you personally
- GST registration, compulsory for goods sold through a marketplace regardless of turnover
- Trademark application for the brand, which brand-gated categories require
- FSSAI licence for any food product
- Barcodes for retail product categories
- Bank account in the entity name for settlement
- Website policies — terms, privacy, shipping, returns and refunds
The policy documents are a gateway requirement
Payment gateways will not onboard a site that lacks clear terms of service, a privacy policy, and stated shipping, return and refund terms with contact details. It is part of their own compliance rather than a formality.
Those documents also carry legal weight in a consumer dispute. Consumer protection rules for e-commerce require specific disclosures, and a policy copied from another site frequently does not match what your business actually does, which is worse than having none.
Own website or marketplace
Selling through a marketplace gives you traffic and a fulfilment network but takes a commission, exposes you to return rates you do not control, and puts the customer relationship with the platform.
Your own site keeps the margin and the customer data but requires you to generate the traffic and handle payments, logistics and returns yourself. Most sellers do both, and the tax and reconciliation work differs between the two channels.
Where the tax position gets missed
- Tax collected at source by marketplaces must be reconciled to your ledger each period
- Returns must be accounted for by credit note with the GST adjusted, not merely netted off receipts
- A GSTIN is needed in each state you supply from, including marketplace fulfilment centres
- Place of supply rules determine whether IGST or CGST and SGST apply on each order
- Digital or downloadable products carry their own place of supply treatment
How we handle it
- 1 Choosing the structure We establish which entity form suits the channel mix and the gateway you intend to use.
- 2 Registrations GST registration is obtained, along with FSSAI, barcodes or a trademark application as your category requires.
- 3 Policy documents Terms, privacy, shipping and refund policies are drafted to reflect what your business actually does.
- 4 Gateway and marketplace onboarding Payment gateway and marketplace applications are prepared with the verification documents.
- 5 Tax setup Place of supply treatment and the tax collected at source reconciliation process are set up.
- 6 Compliance cycle GST returns are set up to reconcile marketplace settlements and own-site sales each period.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need GST to sell online?
For goods sold through a marketplace, yes, regardless of turnover. The threshold exemption does not apply, which surprises most first-time sellers.
Can I copy policies from another site?
It is a poor idea. Consumer protection rules require specific disclosures, and a copied policy usually does not match what your business does — which is worse in a dispute than having none.
Do I need a trademark before selling?
For generic goods, no. For your own brand in a gated marketplace category, a registration or at least a pending application is generally required before you can list.
Marketplace or my own website?
Marketplaces bring traffic but take commission and own the customer relationship. Your own site keeps margin and data but you generate the traffic. Most sellers do both, and the tax treatment differs.
What about returns?
They must be accounted for by credit note with the GST adjusted, not simply netted off receipts. Sellers who net them off overstate turnover and pay tax on sales that were reversed.
What is not included. Government fees, statutory charges, stamp duty, court and registry fees, digital signature costs and any third-party professional charges are separate and payable at actuals. GST applies on professional fees where indicated. Prices shown are indicative and may change without notice; we confirm the total in writing before any work begins — see our terms on pricing.
Talk to us about E-Commerce Business Setup
Share your requirement and our team will confirm the documents needed, the exact charges and a realistic timeline — usually the same working day.
- Expert document checking before submission
- Regular status updates on WhatsApp
- Transparent professional charges
- Assistance in Marathi & English
Request This Service
More in Business Registration & Incorporation
Have a Legal or Documentation Need?
Talk to our experts today. Transparent pricing, fast processing and dedicated support.