Amazon, Flipkart and Meesho.
Online marketplaces put your products in front of crores of shoppers across India. They can grow a small business fast, or eat your profits with fees and returns if you don't understand them. Today you'll learn how they work.
The main marketplaces
| Marketplace | Known for | Typical sellers |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | Wide range, fast delivery, many buyers | Brands, resellers, all categories |
| Flipkart | Huge Indian audience, big sale events | Electronics, fashion, home |
| Meesho | Low-price products, smaller towns, resellers | Budget fashion, home items |
| Others | Myntra and Ajio (fashion), Nykaa (beauty), JioMart, ONDC network | Category specialists |
What you usually need
- PAN, bank account and address proof.
- GSTIN for many categories (some small-seller exemptions exist now; check each marketplace's current rules).
- Product photos, descriptions and prices.
- Ability to pack and hand over orders to their pickup or deliver to their warehouse.
Understand the fees
A marketplace sale has several deductions. Example for a ₹500 kurta:
Selling price ₹500
Commission (example 12–20%) −₹75
Fixed/closing fee −₹20
Shipping fee −₹55
GST on fees −₹27
Amount you receive ~₹323
Product + packaging cost −₹220
Profit (before returns) ~₹103Then returns: in fashion, return rates can be high. Every return costs shipping both ways and sometimes damaged products. Always calculate profit after fees and expected returns. Fee rates vary by category and change often, so check each marketplace's current fee calculator.
Listing that sells
- Photos: white background main photo + lifestyle photos + size chart.
- Title: brand + product + key features ("Zaiqa Women's Cotton Kurta, Straight Fit, Navy, Size M").
- Bullets: material, size, care, what's included.
- Honest descriptions reduce returns.
- Reviews: deliver well and politely ask for reviews; never buy fake ones.
Your marketplace dashboard shows ₹50,000 in sales this month. What do you need to know before celebrating?
Sales minus all deductions and returns tells you the real profit.
Marketplaces can change fees or rules anytime. Use them for reach, but also build your own customers through Instagram, WhatsApp and a website.
What's often the biggest hidden cost in fashion e-commerce?
High return rates can wipe out profit if you don't plan for them.
Your task (25 min)
Pick one product and estimate its profit on one marketplace using the official fee calculator (most marketplaces publish one for sellers). Include an expected return rate. Is it worth listing at your current price?
Lesson 11 complete!
You understand how marketplaces work, their fees and requirements, listing basics and how to protect your profit. Next: selling offline and to shops.
Next: Selling offline and to shops →