Starting an Online Store in India: Shopify vs Custom Build vs Yenetch Ecomm

For most first-time sellers in India, a hosted store platform is the right start, because it keeps upfront cost low and gets you live in days. Shopify is a strong global option with a large app ecosystem, but costs add up through apps, transaction fees and themes. A custom build gives full control and suits brands with unusual catalogues or checkout needs, but it takes months and a larger budget. An India-focused platform such as Yenetch Ecomm, starting from ₹1,499 a month on its launch offer with zero transaction fees, sits between the two for sellers who want local payment and shipping features without assembling a stack of apps. The right choice depends on your stage, catalogue and how much you want to own.

The three routes at a glance

Shopify

A hosted, subscription-based platform used worldwide. You pick a theme, add products, connect a payment gateway and go live. Most extra features, such as reviews, COD controls, WhatsApp notifications or advanced discounts, come from third-party apps with their own monthly fees, often priced in dollars.

Custom build

A store developed specifically for your business, on an open-source platform such as WooCommerce or Magento, or fully custom code. You own everything and can build any workflow, but you also own hosting, security, updates and every future change.

Yenetch Ecomm

A hosted store platform built for Indian sellers, with AI product intelligence, fast checkout and no transaction fees on top of your payment gateway charges. It aims to cover common Indian requirements without a long list of add-on apps.

Fees, flexibility and time to launch compared

Figures below are typical ranges based on public pricing patterns and common market rates. Always check current pricing on each platform before deciding.

What first-time sellers should prioritise

If you are testing a product or moving from Instagram and WhatsApp orders to a proper store, speed and simplicity matter more than flexibility. Focus on these essentials:

• Indian payments: UPI, cards, net banking and wallets through a reliable gateway.
• Cash on delivery controls: the ability to limit COD by pin code or order value, and to confirm COD orders before shipping to reduce returns.
• Shipping integration: automatic label creation and tracking through courier aggregators.
• GST-compliant invoices generated with every order.
• Mobile-first checkout with as few steps as possible.
• Order notifications on WhatsApp, which Indian customers read far more reliably than email.

Keep the monthly cost of software low until orders are steady. It is easy to spend more on apps than you earn in early months.

What growing D2C brands should prioritise

Once you have consistent orders, the priorities shift from launching to optimising margin and repeat purchase.

1. Total cost of the stack: add up platform fees, apps, transaction fees and payment charges as a percentage of revenue.
2. Data ownership: make sure you can export customers, orders and products at any time.
3. Performance: store speed on mobile directly affects conversion from ads.
4. Integrations: ERP, accounting, marketplaces and warehouse systems become important with volume.
5. Unique workflows: subscriptions, B2B wholesale pricing, product customisation or multi-warehouse inventory may push you towards custom development.

When a custom build is worth it

Custom development makes sense when your business model does not fit a standard store: configurable products, complex pricing rules, dealer and retail channels on one platform, or deep integration with manufacturing systems. It also makes sense when platform and app fees at your volume clearly exceed the cost of building and maintaining your own. For most sellers below that point, a hosted platform is the more efficient choice.

Costs beyond the platform

Whichever route you choose, the platform fee is only one line in your monthly costs. Budget for these as well:

• Payment gateway charges: typically around 2 percent per transaction for most methods, with some variation by gateway and payment type.
• Shipping and COD fees: courier rates by weight and zone, plus a COD handling charge and the cost of return-to-origin orders.
• Packaging and, for fragile items, insurance.
• Marketing: most new stores need paid ads or influencer activity to get their first orders.

Model these per order before launch so your pricing leaves a real margin.

A simple launch checklist

• Register a domain in your company's name.
• Prepare clean product photos, titles, descriptions, HSN codes and weights.
• Write shipping, return, refund and privacy policies; payment gateways require them.
• Complete gateway KYC early, as approval can take several days.
• Place test orders using each payment method, including COD and a refund.
• Set up analytics and ad pixels before you spend on marketing.

You can see plans and features on the Yenetch Ecomm page. If your store needs custom features or integrations, our e-commerce development team builds on custom stacks too, and Studio AI helps with catalogue images.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need GST registration to start an online store in India?

In most cases, yes. Sellers supplying goods through e-commerce generally need GST registration regardless of turnover, although rules have been relaxed for some small sellers in specific cases. Confirm your situation with a CA before launch.

Can I move from Shopify to another platform later?

Yes. Products, customers and orders can usually be exported as CSV files and imported elsewhere. Plan URL redirects carefully so you do not lose search rankings.

Should I sell on marketplaces or my own store first?

Marketplaces bring ready traffic but charge commissions and control the customer relationship. Many brands use both: marketplaces for reach and their own store for margin and repeat customers.