Get GST-ready and compliant
Register, get GST-ready across states, and clear the licenses you need to sell.
4 steps to get you moving, each with a resource worth your time and more waiting underneath
Think of this as a friendly starting line, not the last word. Each step gives you the gist, then a resource worth your time from founders who've been there. There's always more underneath, more questions and more resources, whenever you feel like digging in.
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1
Registering your business
The right entity to sell and to raise.
I'm just starting out, should I register as a proprietorship, LLP, or private limited company?The gist For a solo maker testing demand with no funding plans, a proprietorship (just a current account + GST) is the fastest way to start billing legally, you can always convert later. The moment you want a payment gateway in a company's name, plan to raise from angels/VCs, or bring on a co-founder, move to a Private Limited Company since it's the only structure that can issue equity shares; an LLP sits in between with lighter compliance but you can't easily raise a priced equity round in one. Most D2C brands that scale past a few crore in revenue end up Pvt Ltd anyway, so if you're even 60% sure you'll raise money, just start there and save yourself a conversion later.
LLP vs Private Limited Company in India: Which Is Best for Your Startup in 2025? AidByLaw A clean side-by-side that goes past the textbook comparison to the practical trigger, if you plan to raise equity or need a payment gateway's company-only KYC, this spells out exactly why LLP won't work. -
2
GST registration & basics
Get GST-ready before your first online sale.
Do I need a GST number before I make my very first sale, or can that wait?The gist If you're planning to sell on any marketplace (Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, Nykaa, quick-commerce), GST is mandatory from order one, there's no turnover exemption. On your own Shopify/WooCommerce store you technically get the standard threshold (roughly Rs 40 lakh for goods, Rs 20 lakh for services, lower in a few special-category states, confirm the current figure), but almost every serious D2C founder registers voluntarily anyway because payment gateways, courier aggregators, and input tax credit all expect a GSTIN. Treat 'no GST yet' as a hobby-scale-only option, not a real growth strategy.
The E-commerce & D2C GST Guide (2026): Registration, TCS & Refund Wins ITRnGST Written specifically for D2C sellers rather than generic taxpayers, it walks through the exact mistakes that block a first Amazon or Shopify sale: picking the wrong registration reason, PAN name mismatches, and FBA warehouse traps. -
3
GST across states & e-commerce
Place of supply, TCS, and selling pan-India cleanly.
Do I actually need a GST registration to sell online, or can I start without one?The gist If you sell through any marketplace (Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, Nykaa, quick-commerce), GST is compulsory from your very first order with no turnover exemption. On your own Shopify/Woo store you technically get the normal small-business threshold (around Rs 40 lakh for goods / Rs 20 lakh for services, which changes, so confirm the current number with your CA), but nearly every serious D2C brand registers voluntarily on day one to claim input credit and because gateways and courier aggregators expect a GSTIN.
How to Sell Online Without GST Number in India? Razorpay Honestly answers the very first question every bootstrapped founder asks, including the narrow legitimate cases where you can delay registration and why most sellers shouldn't. -
4
Product licenses & certifications
FSSAI, cosmetics, BIS, drug, legal-metrology, get legal to sell.
I'm selling packaged food/snacks online, what FSSAI license do I need, and does my turnover matter?The gist Selling online almost always pushes you into the Central FSSAI License bracket regardless of turnover, because e-commerce/multi-state sale is treated as automatically qualifying, the usual Basic (up to Rs 12 lakh) / State (Rs 12 lakh-20 crore) / Central (above Rs 20 crore or multi-state/import-export) turnover ladder gets overridden once you're listed online. You'll also need a separate license per warehouse or fulfilment centre you actually store stock in, so factor that into your 3PL choice. File on FoSCoS (FSSAI's own portal), don't sell your first packet before the license number is live, because marketplaces and inspectors both check for it.
FSSAI License For Ecommerce, Amazon, Flipkart & Online Food Sellers 2026 Legal4Sure Directly addresses the online-seller angle that generic FSSAI guides skip, why marketplace/multi-state sale pushes you to a Central License regardless of your actual turnover.
