How to Get Your First 10 Orders Online in India (Step by Step)

The first order is the hardest. Until you have it, you have no reviews, no proof and no idea whether your product, price and photos work. Many new sellers lose weeks building a perfect website or buying ads before a single person has said yes. The faster route is smaller: get ten real orders, learn from them and then grow. This is a practical plan you can follow with a phone and a small stock.

Step 1: Choose one product that is easy to say yes to

Do not start with a catalogue of fifty items. Start with one product, or at most three similar ones. A good first product has these qualities:

• Low price. Items under about Rs 500 are easier to buy on impulse, so friends and family need less convincing.
• Solves a small daily problem. Cleaning, storage, kitchen and car items are understood in one photo.
• Light and sturdy. It should not break in transit or cost a lot to ship.
• Not a branded copy. Stay with generic products you can describe honestly.

Our guide to the best wholesale products and the wholesale products list with real prices show what is selling now and how to compare margins.

Step 2: Test the product yourself

Order one sample piece. At WholesaleOye the 1 pc sample ships free, so the test costs you only the product. Use it for a few days. Take photos and a short video of it working. Write down what you like, what could go wrong and what a buyer will ask. A seller who has used the product writes a better listing and answers questions with confidence.

Step 3: Work out your price before you promote

Add your product cost, GST, shipping, packing and a small allowance for returns. Whatever is left is your profit. If it is too thin, change the product or the price. The reselling profit example walks through this with real numbers.

Step 4: Make a simple, honest offer

Write a short message you can send to anyone: what the product is, the price, the main benefit, and how delivery works. Add two clear photos and one short video. Keep it honest. If the item is a generic product, say so. Do not claim brand names or results you cannot back up.

Step 5: Ask 30 to 50 people you know

Your first buyers are usually in your own circle: family, friends, neighbours, former colleagues, college groups and local community groups. Send the offer personally, not as a mass forward. A personal message gets a reply far more often than a group blast. Ask two questions: would you buy this, and who do you know who might need it? Treat every “no” as information about price, product or message.

A realistic expectation is that a small share of the people you message will buy. If you ask 40 people and 4 buy, you have 4 orders, and the referrals from those buyers can give you the rest. If nobody buys, change one thing at a time: the product, the price or the message.

Step 6: Use the channels where buyers already are

This video shows how to sell on Instagram, one of the easiest places to find your first buyers.

Step 7: Deliver well and ask for a photo

Pack properly, ship fast and send tracking. When the product arrives, ask the buyer for a photo or a short review. A real photo from a buyer is worth more than any stock image. It also gives you proof for your next ten orders. Also ask a simple question: “Who else do you know who needs this?” Referrals are the cheapest way to grow.

Step 8: Write down what you learn

After ten orders, review them. Which message got replies? Which photo got questions? What did people ask before buying? Did anyone return the product, and why? These notes become your listing text and your next restock decision.

Common mistakes in the first 10 orders

1. Buying a large stock before anyone has said yes.
2. Spending on ads with weak photos and no proof.
3. Promising delivery times you cannot keep.
4. Ignoring packing, which leads to damaged products and returns.
5. Not asking buyers for referrals.
6. Copying a competitor’s price without checking your own costs.

A simple 14-day plan

• Days 1 to 3: choose a product, order a sample, work out your price.
• Days 4 to 5: take photos and a short video, write your offer.
• Days 6 to 10: message 30 to 50 people personally, reply quickly, take orders.
• Days 11 to 14: deliver, collect photos and referrals, and review what you learned.

What to expect: a realistic timeline

Seller guides give very different timelines, and many are written by platforms or service providers that want you to sign up. Amazon India, for example, says on its own seller page that most new sellers make their first sale within about four weeks. That is a platform average, not a promise, and it depends on category, price and listing quality. Selling to people you know is usually faster because trust is already there. Use this as a planning guide:

Copy-and-use message templates

A personal message beats a forwarded flyer. Replace the brackets and send each message to one person, not a group.

First message to a friend or contact

Hi [Name], I have started selling online. It [one clear benefit, for example “cleans bathroom corners without bending”]. Price is Rs [price] with delivery. Here is a 20-second video. Do you or someone you know need one?

Follow-up after two days with no reply

Hi [Name], just checking in. I have a few pieces ready to ship this week. If it is not useful for you, no problem. Would you tell me why, so I can improve?

After delivery

Hi [Name], your should have reached you. Did it work as expected? If you are happy, a photo or one line of feedback would help me a lot. And if you know anyone who needs it, I will send them the same price.

The follow-up question “why not?” is the most valuable line in the plan. People tell you whether the price, the product or the message is the problem.

A worked example: 40 messages to 4 orders

This is an illustration with assumed numbers, not a benchmark. You send a personal message to 40 contacts. Twenty read it and 8 reply. Four place an order. Those four buyers each get a follow-up and two refer a friend, giving two more orders. After 14 days you have six orders and clear feedback on price and photos. If you had sent a group forward to 400 people and got silence, you would have learned almost nothing.

Pricing your first orders without hurting your margin

• Do not price below your cost just to get an order. Work out cost, GST, shipping, packing and a returns allowance first, as shown in our profit example.
• Offer value, not a discount. A small bundle (two pieces for a slightly better price) lifts the order value without destroying margin.
• Keep your price consistent for the first ten orders so you can see whether the price works.

Documents and accounts to have ready before you go on a marketplace

Marketplaces ask for identity and business details. Most sellers need a PAN, a bank account in the business or proprietor name and, in most cases, GST registration. Some very small sellers may use a lighter route on certain platforms, see GST registration for online sellers. Having documents ready can save days at signup. Rules differ by platform, so read each seller page.

Track your first orders: a simple sheet

Review the sheet after ten orders. The “source” column tells you which channel to repeat and the “feedback” column tells you what to fix in your listing.

If you have no orders after 14 days

Build trust when nobody knows you yet

• Show the real product, real packing and real delivery proof.
• State delivery time, return rule and payment options up front.
• Give a bill. A seller who gives a bill looks more reliable.
• Reply within an hour during the day. Speed is a trust signal.
• Share the first customer photos in your stories and status.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get my first order online?

Start with people you know. Send a personal offer with a clear price, photo and delivery details. Then ask each buyer for a referral.

How long does it take to get the first 10 orders?

It varies a lot. With a good product and consistent follow-up, many sellers reach ten orders within a few weeks. There is no fixed timeline.

Do I need a website to get my first orders?

No. You can start with WhatsApp, Instagram or a marketplace account. A website can come later.

Should I run ads for the first orders?

Usually not. Test with your own network first so you know the product, price and message work before you pay for traffic.

How much stock should I buy for the first orders?

As little as possible. Order a single sample piece, then a small quantity once you have real orders.

What if nobody buys?

Change one variable at a time: the product, the price or the message. Ask people why they did not buy.

Is it better to start on a marketplace or with my own network?

Start with your network to prove the product and price quickly, then add a marketplace once you have photos, feedback and a clear margin.

Can I get my first order from Instagram?

Yes, but it usually takes steady posting for a few weeks. Combine Instagram with direct messages to speed it up, see how to sell on Instagram.

What is a good first product?

A low-priced, light product that solves a small everyday problem and has a clear gap between cost and selling price. Our wholesale products list shows real prices.

Should I offer cash on delivery for my first orders?

COD can help new buyers trust you, but it can raise RTO. Confirm each COD order before dispatch, see how to reduce returns and RTO.

Sources and further reading

• Amazon India: how to start selling on Amazon (new seller guidance)
• Flipkart Seller Hub: sell online
• Registerkaro: how to sell on the internet in India (documents)

Keep reading

• Product listing checklist for online sellers
• How to start a reselling business with a small budget
• How to buy wholesale products in small quantity

Last updated: 12 November 2026.

Written by WholesaleOye Team

WholesaleOye is an online wholesale market for sellers, shop owners and new resellers in India. Our mission is to make wholesale simple and low risk: buy in small quantity, start with a single sample piece, and grow as your customers re-order. Our vision is to be the place small businesses trust to source direct from importers and manufacturers at the best price, with GST bills, doorstep delivery to 25000+ pincodes and an easy 5-day return policy.