How to sell a product online for free? Best Ways to Sell Online

An e-commerce platform is a great way to sell your products online, regardless of location. It is not just a place to list your products and accept payments. It is much more than that. You can generate a large customer base, understand their expectations and requirements, and have complete control over the business by using online platforms to sell products. You can control your marketing, brand, quality, and payment process for the products.

There are several top e-commerce platforms, hosted and self-hosted, which help you sell your products online. People often wonder where to sell online and how to sell online. We will discuss both of these aspects here. This article will guide you on the top e-commerce platforms that can help you sell online. Some of the platforms also allow users to sell products for free, without any registration fee in the beginning.

How to Sell On Online Platforms?

Want to know how to sell things online? Follow the steps to sell online on the most popular e-commerce platforms, as mentioned below:

1. Amazon

Amazon is the top e-commerce platform to sell products online. It was founded by Jeff Bezos with the idea to start an online bookstore. However, it evolved as the best online platform to sell products. You can sell all types of products, like kitchen appliances, décor, wallpapers, accessories, electronic items, grocery items, sports accessories, tech devices, general merchandise, clothes, shoes, mobiles, laptops, home and kitchen items, etc.

To sell on Amazon, you have to register and create an Amazon account using your email address. Add details like PAN card, GST details, business address, bank account, etc. There is no entry fee to register, but Amazon charges INR 75 per item sold and other charges depending on the product type and price.

2. Flipkart

Another popular e-commerce platform is Flipkart. It is a Bangalore-based startup founded by Sachin Bansal and Benny Bansal. You can sell all types of products, from electronics and tech gadgets to home décor items and kitchen appliances. You will have to set up an account on Flipkart. It requires a GST number, PAN details, bank details, business PAN, and one genuine product to sell. The registration is free. Further deductions are dependent on the type of product, ranging between 5 and 25%.

3. Snapdeal

Snapdeal is a selling platform that allows small businesses to list products and sell online. Again, you can sell all types of products on Snapdeal, like accessories, fashion apparel, tech products, home and kitchen items, handmade products, etc. You have to be an authorised seller in India to sell your products on Snapdeal. The registration is free. Snapdeal charges between 0 and 26% of the fee on the sale of products.

4. Myntra

Myntra is the biggest fashion e-commerce platform in India. You can sell fashion merchandise, shoes, bags, and other fashion accessories on the platform. Myntra only allows business entities to sell on their platform. An individual cannot sell the products on Myntra. You can register on the platform by creating an account.

5. Paytm

Paytm is an e-commerce payment system and platform where you can sell your products. Similar to Amazon and Snapdeal, it allows you to sell a wide variety of products online. The registration is free of cost with an 18% marketplace commission. The platform also charges a 2.7% payment gateway commission.

6. Pepperfry

Pepperfry is an Indian marketplace to sell furniture and related products. The platform was launched in 2012 by Ambareesh Murty and Ashish Shah. It is a top e-commerce platform for furniture. You can sell furniture, home décor items, accessories, kitchen appliances, homemade furniture accessories, etc. You can register by creating an account like with other platforms. The commission varies depending on the product.

7. LimeRoad

LimeRoad is a fashion marketplace. You can sell all kinds of fashion items, accessories, shoes, bags, men’s and women’s clothing items, and similar products in the category. You can register on LimeRoad by creating an account. It requires bank details, address proof, product listing, PAN card, etc.

8. Firstcry

Another famous e-commerce platform to sell your products is Firstcry. It is a popular platform where you can sell kids fashion apparel and accessories. You can sell kids’ fashion items, clothes, shoes, and bags. The registration process is free. The commissions depend on the price and sale of the products.

9. Meesho

Meesho is a platform that allows individuals and small businesses to take their sales online. You can sell fashion, lifestyle, clothes, shoes, accessories, and handicraft accessories on the social platform. The registration is a one-step process and requires company details, PAN number, GSTIN, and Aadhaar card details. The registration is free, but the commissions are based on the sale of products.

10. Shopclues

The last e-commerce platform we will look at is Shopclues. You can sell all types of products on the platform, like home and kitchen items, electronic devices, fashion and clothing items, sports equipment and fitness products, etc. Shopclues allows registered sellers to sell their products. The registration is free like many other e-commerce platforms. The marketplace commissions are dependent on the sales.

Conclusion

E-commerce platforms enable individuals and businesses to sell their products online to increase their reach and profits. If you are looking to sell your products online, read about the top e-commerce platforms and the steps required to register and sell on the different platforms mentioned in the article. There are various e-commerce platforms like Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra, Firstcry, Meesho, Paytm, and Pepperfry in India that you can access to sell products online.

Also Read:

1) Which are Some Good Small Businesses to Start in Chandigarh?
2) 11 Manufacturing Business Ideas In India that Guarantee a Profit
3) 5 ways to ensure the health and safety of the workplace
4) 7 Most Profitable & Best Small Rural Business Ideas for Village Youths

Stay updated with new business ideas & business tips with OkCredit blogs in English, Hindi, Malayalam, Marathi & more!
Download OkCredit now & get rid of your bookkeeping hassles.
OkCredit is 100% Made in India.

FAQs

Q. What is the cheapest platform to sell online?

Ans. The cheapest e-commerce platform to sell your product is Amazon. Amazon has gained mass popularity because of the world-class service provided to customers. It is one of the reasons many businesses and individuals sell their products on Amazon. The commission rates are low compared to other e-commerce platforms. You can also sell your products on Flipkart, Snapdeal, Myntra, etc. These platforms also charge moderate commissions depending on the sales of products.

Q. What are the disadvantages of selling online?

Ans. There are always pros and cons to any business. The disadvantage of selling online or using e-commerce platforms are as follows:

High competition
Lack of shop assistants
Lack of confidence
Lack of physical contact
Delivery time and shipping costs
High commission rates
Time-consuming process

Q. Which is better: online selling or physical/offline selling?

Ans. Selling physically/in person is easier compared to selling online. Selling in person allows you to build trust with your customers, and you can convince them to buy your products. Selling online is tricky. There are several similar products that customers can find online and choose from based on their preferences.

However, selling online allows you to reach a large number of customers and gives you nationwide reach. Both of these modes have their pros and cons based on the type of business. Some businesses find online selling more suitable for their business structure, while others prefer selling in person.