How to start a D2C brand in India: a step-by-step guide
By Ravinthiran Partheepan and Subasree Ravinthiran · · 6 min read
A direct-to-consumer (D2C) brand sells straight to customers through its own channels instead of only through other retailers. Here is a practical path for a first-time founder in India.
1. Pick a customer and a niche
Decide who you are selling to and what problem you solve. A narrow niche, such as handloom kurtas or herbal hair care, is easier to market than 'everything'.
2. Choose your products
Start with a small range. White-label products let you launch without a factory, and you can learn which items sell before investing further.
3. Build your brand
Choose a name, logo, colours and packaging. Write a short story about who you are and why customers should care.
4. Open your store and payments
Your store should accept the payment methods Indian customers expect, especially UPI, cards, net banking and wallets. Connect your own domain if you have one.
5. Add your policies
Publish privacy, terms, returns and shipping policies. They build trust and are expected by customers and payment providers.
6. Sort out shipping
Compare courier rates for each order, print labels and give customers tracking. Branded packaging makes the first unboxing memorable.
7. Create content and post consistently
Plan what to post and when across Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Threads. Consistency matters more than perfection.
8. Learn from your first orders
Watch which products sell, which posts bring visitors, and what customers ask. Use that to decide what to reorder, improve or drop.
Check licensing and labelling rules for your category before you sell. They vary by product type.
Doing this with Brandmade.click
Brandmade.click packages these steps: choose products, customise your brand, set up your store with domain, pricing, policies and payments, then go live with shipping and support. Plans start at ₹149 a month.