Setting up a Shopify store in India means offering trusted payment options, planning cash on delivery carefully, configuring GST and invoices, pricing shipping so you do not lose money and publishing clear return policies before launch.
Shopify makes it easy to build a store, but running one in India involves local details that a template does not solve: which payment methods your customers expect, how to handle cash on delivery, how to produce GST invoices and how to price shipping across a large country.
This guide walks through the decisions to make before launch, so that your first week of orders is calm instead of chaotic.
Payments: offer what Indian shoppers trust
Indian shoppers use UPI, cards, net banking, wallets and cash on delivery. A store that offers only cards loses a lot of buyers. Many Indian payment gateways provide ways to connect to Shopify, and the right choice depends on fees, settlement time, supported methods and support quality, so compare a few before committing.
If you plan to sell abroad as well, check that your chosen gateway supports international cards and the currencies you want. Some businesses use one gateway for India and another for overseas orders.
- Compare transaction fees, settlement speed and support
- Offer UPI prominently, because many customers prefer it
- Test every payment method with a real small order before launch
- Decide how you will handle failed or pending payments
- Add clear messages when a payment fails, so customers do not give up
Cash on delivery: useful, but plan for it
Cash on delivery increases conversions for many Indian categories, but it also increases returns and refused parcels. Many stores reduce the risk by confirming COD orders by phone or message before dispatch, by limiting COD to certain pin codes or order values, or by offering a small discount for prepaid orders.
Decide your COD policy before launch and state it clearly on the product and checkout pages.
- Confirm COD orders before shipping
- Consider limits by pin code or order value
- Encourage prepaid orders with clear benefits
- Track return rates for COD and prepaid separately
GST and invoices
If you are registered for GST, your store needs to show tax correctly and produce compliant invoices. Decide whether your prices are shown including GST, as is common for consumers in India, and make sure that the checkout and invoice show the tax breakdown. You will also need your GSTIN on invoices and a way to generate them for each order.
Tax rules depend on your business and your products, so confirm the setup with your accountant before launch. We configure the store to match what they advise.
- Show whether prices include GST
- Collect GSTIN from business customers if you sell B2B
- Generate invoices automatically where possible
- Keep order data exportable for your accountant
Shipping: price it so you do not lose money
Shipping is where many new stores lose margin. Courier aggregators offer rates by weight and zone, and your customers will see those costs at checkout. Decide whether to charge actual rates, flat rates or free shipping above a threshold.
Weigh and measure your products, including packaging, and test rates for a few distant pin codes before launch. Surprises are expensive.
- Record accurate weights and dimensions
- Test rates for nearby and distant pin codes
- Decide on free-shipping thresholds using your margins
- Set realistic delivery estimates, and update them for festivals
Returns and customer service
Write a clear return and refund policy, and link it from product pages and the footer. State who pays for return shipping, how long customers have and how refunds are issued. Set up order confirmation and shipping update emails or messages so customers do not need to ask where their order is.
Launch checklist
Before launch, place test orders for each payment method, check emails and invoices, confirm shipping rates, read your policies and test the store on a phone. Then launch quietly to a small audience first, fix what you find, and only then promote widely.
Key takeaways
- Offer UPI, cards and wallets your customers trust
- Plan cash on delivery rules to limit returns and losses
- Set up GST correctly and generate compliant invoices
- Test a real order before you announce the launch
Common questions
Which payment gateways work with Shopify in India?
Several Indian gateways are supported. Availability and fees change, so check current options with Shopify and the gateway.
How should I set shipping rates?
Base them on weight, zone and carrier costs, and decide whether to absorb or pass on part of the cost.
Do I need to charge GST?
It depends on your registration and turnover. Confirm requirements with your accountant.
Keep reading
- Shopify, WooCommerce or Magento for an Indian Online Store?
- Landing Page Mistakes That Waste Your Ad Spend
Where we help
- Online stores for fashion and retail
- Get a free review of your website
- Areas we serve: Dombivli, Thane, Mumbai and more
- Free GST calculator
Thinking of Selling Online?
Planning a Shopify store for India or for overseas buyers? We can set it up and test it end to end. Tell us what you sell. We will recommend the right platform and next steps.
