Shopify & D2C Selling
A starter guide to Direct to Consumer selling, when it makes sense to build your own website alongside marketplaces, and what it actually takes to launch on Shopify in India.
What is D2C and when does it make sense
Direct to Consumer (D2C) means selling through your own website instead of, or alongside, marketplaces. It starts to make sense once you have enough repeat customers or brand recognition to justify owning the full buying experience, since a website gives you control over pricing, customer data and how the brand is presented that a marketplace listing never fully allows.
What you need to launch a Shopify store
- A registered business entity and GST number, since you will be invoicing customers directly.
- A Shopify plan and a theme suited to your category (footwear and apparel have strong free and paid options in the Shopify theme store).
- A payment gateway (Razorpay, Cashfree, or Shopify Payments where available) connected and tested.
- Product photography and descriptions, ideally reused and adapted from your marketplace listings.
- A shipping and returns policy page, plus a courier or 3PL integration for order fulfillment.
Shopify plans and typical launch costs
| Cost item | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Shopify monthly plan | Entry plans start under ₹2,000/month, check Shopify's current India pricing |
| Theme | Free to ~₹8,000 one-time for a premium theme |
| Domain | ~₹800 to ₹1,500/year |
| Payment gateway | Usually no setup fee, per-transaction fee of roughly 2% on card payments |
Platform pricing changes over time, always confirm current numbers directly with Shopify and your chosen payment gateway before budgeting.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need my own website if I already sell on marketplaces?
Not immediately, but it becomes valuable once you have enough repeat customers to benefit from owning the relationship, since marketplaces control pricing, customer data and the buying experience. A D2C website also lets you run your own offers and build a brand that is not interchangeable with every other seller in the category.
What does it cost to launch a basic Shopify store in India?
Shopify's own plans start at a modest monthly fee, on top of that budget for a theme, payment gateway setup, and initial product photography. A simple, well-executed store can launch on a modest budget, the bigger cost driver over time is usually marketing spend to bring in traffic, not the platform itself.
What is Jynzi?
Jynzi is an ecommerce strategy, consulting, and AI tools company built for Indian D2C brands and marketplace sellers. Alongside free tools like this one, we help sellers launch, manage, and grow across Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra, Ajio, and their own website, combining hands on consulting with practical AI powered tools.
Can I get help launching my ecommerce business?
Yes. Jynzi's consulting team offers end to end support for launching an ecommerce business, from choosing the right structure and getting your registrations sorted, to building your website, listing on marketplaces, and managing your store as you grow. Book a free consultation below and we will map out exactly what you need.
Need help launching your ecommerce business?
We provide end to end ecommerce launch, website, and marketplace listing and management services, so you can grow seamlessly across every channel. Book a free consultation and we will map out your next steps together.