Know how to start an online business in Kerala: Detailed guide here!

Are you planning to open an online business in Kerala?
Would you like to learn how to start an online business in Kerala?
Are you trying to figure out what type of business you should start?

If yes, here’s all you need to know about the procedure. As Kerala offers numerous online business opportunities, we will help you in making the right choice.

First, let's look at why online business in Kerala is a great idea.

Advantages of Setting up an Online Business in Kerala:

1. Growing Market Demand

Kerala is the fastest growing market in the e-commerce sector and a consumer state as well. An increasing percentage of young people, a growing internet penetration, and relatively better economic performance are factors that make it relevant.

2. Growing Investment Opportunity

Increasing digital literacy has led to new investments in e-commerce companies, levelling the playing field for new players to enter and churning out innovative techniques that disrupt the old ways of working.

3. Opportunities for Growth

India's FDI policies have helped Kerala's start-up ecosystem be a success. Initiatives made by the state government, such as Kerala Startup Mission, along with rising internet usage, are being driven by companies like Jio.

How to set up an Online Business in Kerala?

1. Develop an E-commerce Business Model

The first step to start an online business is designing and planning an e-commerce business model. The business model must be drafted in a manner that ensures that the details concerning the company's concept, market research, marketing plan, operations plan, and financial planning are all appropriately covered.

2. Select Product/Service to Sell Online

Choosing the product or service that you will be selling is one of the crucial steps. After identifying the product/service, the next step is to identify the platform where it will be sold. Selling online or in a marketplace is your best option. An interesting advantage of the latter is that it enables sellers to sell their products on multiple marketplaces, which makes it easier to start an e-commerce business. Ensure that you choose the most popular products before everything else.

3. Do Market Research

Do you have questions about market research? You need not worry, these steps will get you started:

Determine the type of product/service that you will offer
Find out how much demand there is for that product or service
Determine how many competitors there may be
Use personal visits or phone surveys as feasible to conduct customer surveys
Find out if there is an unmet need within the market.

By organising market information for the most popular online products in Kerala, it provides a framework for organising information about online sales.

4. Learn how Online Business Models Operate

As we continue our discussion regarding how to start an online business in Kerala, we need to identify the capital to be invested, apart from other costs involved in setting up the business.

In Kerala, the cost of starting an online business varies depending on the nature of the business. Kerala online businesses, however, tend to incur certain costs, generally:

Costs associated with marketing research
Charges for hosting your website
Online marketing services via email
Web design costs
Cost of manufacturing and assembling product
Cost of warehousing
Costs of logistics
Cost of traditional marketing
Taxes
Fees charged by accounting firms and financial institutions
Rental and utility costs
Salary and wages

To ensure a smooth workflow, make sure that you allocate sufficient funds.

Legally Establish Your E-Commerce Business

1. Decide how your online business will be structured?

You must follow legal formalities before you start an e-commerce business. Select the form of business entity you wish to operate, such as a sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability partnership (LLP), or company. Registering your company online has now become easier, thanks to the single window system introduced by the Kerala government.

2. Find out if your business needs a tax identification number

After you have decided on the structure of your business, you need to find out how to file your tax returns. Whether your business is incorporated or a partnership, you must file taxes and obtain a federal tax ID number. A limited period of tax exemption is offered by the state government for startup businesses. To conduct an online business, make sure that you have the right licenses and permits.

Getting your E-commerce website up and Running

1. Self-host or outsource the website

Content writing, parenting tips, and motivational thinking are some of the more simple forms of e-commerce businesses in Kerala that benefit from self-hosting. For people who are exclusively online, with an e-commerce business, it's necessary to hire a professional or outsource the hosting task to ensure a well-designed website. Self-hosting being a little more expensive than the former option, you should therefore set your budget accordingly.

2. Upload product and service information

Once the website hosting is near completion, jump on to publishing the relevant content:

Describes the fastest-selling products in Kerala in detail, with pictures
Differentiate yourself from your competition (company objective)
Biographical information about yourself and your business in e-commerce
You can also add a blog or any other content you wish
Define the payment gateway and the shopping cart to make it engaging

3. Improve your business website's SEO

Trading in the e-commerce business in Kerala will be incomplete without defining the SEO plan. Both on-page SEO and off-page SEO activities carry importance. It is part of learning how to start an online business in Kerala.

Make sure that you include relevant search terms that prospects would use. This can be accomplished using tools such as Google's Keyword Planner, SEMrush, etc.

On the website, you should have both internal and external links. Depending on the type of business you have, your external links should lead to authoritative sites like Wikipedia or other relevant websites.

4. Draft Marketing Strategy

After gathering, arranging, and putting everything in place, it is now time to act! The second thing you need to do is to let everyone know about your brand new e-commerce business.

Online business strategies should include the following elements:

Attractive design
Techniques used by advertisers
Sending emails to customers
Monetising websites
Web analytics and web traffic analysis
Online public relations
On- and off-page search engine optimisation
Marketing through social media

Tips:

Clients check out social media profiles of a business after visiting the website. Consequently, to make yourself appealing to your potential customers, make use of the following free resources:

2. Create a Facebook page

Ensure that you have an active Pinterest account (especially if you are in the fashion, travel or food industry). A video-based platform such as YouTube can also generate interest through audio-visual interaction. A strong presence on social media is more important than merely having a presence. Remember that it is important to keep your followers up to date with new product launches, sales, and any other important business information.

Another assured way to start making money from your online business in Kerala is to start running ads on the website. Get traffic to your website to start making money from AdSense.

4. Trial and Launch

It's time now to test your website for any loopholes and make sure that it works. Having sorted everything out, you will be able to get started in making money online in Kerala.

Make sure that your online business runs smoothly by not skipping any steps. Consider adding dropshipping business models to your online business model when you start your e-commerce business.

End Note

The competition in online business is high since it is easy to start, so if you want to succeed you must focus on creating a brand. Build an online business that has a unique personality and strict goals. Try to gain audience's trust and build loyalty. To reach your potential customers and achieve your goals, use digital marketing tools and learn how to start an online business in Kerala.

We hope that our detailed guide turned out to be useful for you. For more such informational content, keep visiting Ok Credit. You can also check out our app OKCredit, that can help you manage your transactions.

Also Read:

1) How to start Crane and Lifting Service?
2) How to start a commercial and industrial machinery rental business?
3) How To Start an Idol Making Business?
4) How to Start a Mobile Garage Service?

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FAQs

Q. How do I choose what products to sell?

Ans. For any online seller, this is the most difficult question. There is a lot of difficulty in identifying the hot seller that can provide you with high profits. Identifying killer products will require extensive research.

Q. Where should I sell my products? On marketplaces or in my own store?

Ans. Marketplaces are the best place to start. As soon as you have gained enough experience and sufficient knowledge, you should open your own business. Online stores and marketplaces give e-tailers the ability to sell products at once.

Q. Does GST apply to online sales?

Ans. GST numbers are required for all online sellers who sell taxable items. Sticking to the rules is important and you should not make a sale without following them. If you're caught, the penalties are harsh. You can't register as a seller in marketplaces without a GST number.

Q. Is it better to self-host or have a fully hosted online store?

Ans. You can opt for self-hosted solutions if you want more flexibility or you can choose fully hosted if you are a non-tech person.