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Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho and Myntra bring ready buyers, but each works differently. Which one pays best depends on your product, your price and how much work you can put into listings and ads. Here is how to choose, and the mistakes to avoid.
Which platform earns the most?
There is no single winner. Low-price products often do well on Meesho, branded and mid-range products on Amazon and Flipkart, and fashion on Myntra. Moumita compares them here:
Five mistakes sellers make in sale season
Wrong pricing, poor stock planning, weak images, ignoring returns and no ad control are the common ones.
Amazon ads and rank
Spending on ads without a good listing can burn money and still leave your product with no rank.
Meesho: pricing with a calculator
Know your real profit before you list.
Listing on Myntra
Where to get products for marketplaces
Buy a sample piece first, check the product against the photos, and sell only what you have tested. Start with our how to buy wholesale products in small quantity guide, and browse the wholesale products list.
Marketplace selling in seven steps
- Choose the marketplace. Use our Amazon vs Flipkart vs Meesho comparison.
- Prepare documents. PAN, bank account and GST or the small-seller route, see GST registration for online sellers and sell on Meesho without GST.
- Source and test the product. Order a sample, see how to source wholesale products.
- Create the listing. Use the listing checklist.
- Price with all costs. Use the net-profit worksheet in the marketplace comparison.
- Dispatch on time and pack well. Late dispatch and damage hurt account health.
- Track returns and ratings and fix causes, see how to reduce returns and RTO.
Pricing on a marketplace
Build your price backwards from what the buyer will pay: marketplace price, minus platform fees, shipping, ads, returns allowance and GST effect, minus product cost, gives your profit. If you want a fixed profit, add all costs to your cost and check the price against competitors. If you cannot match the market price at a profit, change the product rather than lowering margin.
Ads and ranking
- Organic ranking depends on sales, ratings, availability and listing quality.
- Marketplace ads can increase visibility, but start only after the listing converts.
- Check cost per order against profit per order every week.
Sale season preparation
Platform sale events now begin earlier than festival dates. In 2026 Flipkart’s Big Billion Days began on 9 October, according to YourStory. Prepare stock, listings and delivery capacity beforehand, using the festival stock planning calendar.
Account health checklist
| Area | Do |
|---|---|
| Dispatch | Ship within the time promised |
| Cancellations | Only list stock you have |
| Ratings | Reply and fix quality causes |
| Policy | Follow category and brand rules |
| Returns | Inspect and process quickly |
Beyond marketplaces
Do not depend on only one channel. Build direct customers on WhatsApp and Instagram so that marketplace changes do not stop your business.
What to prepare for each marketplace (check current requirements)
| Item | Meesho | Amazon | Flipkart |
|---|---|---|---|
| Identity and PAN | Required | Required | Required |
| Bank account | Required | Required | Required |
| GST | GST number, or an enrolment ID for some small sellers under conditions | Generally required for goods | Generally required for goods |
| Product photos and details | Required | Required, quality rules apply | Required, image checks apply |
| Brand or category approval | Some categories | Some brands and categories | Some brands and categories |
Documents and rules change. Open each seller portal and read the current list before you start. Having your PAN, bank details and a few good photos ready speeds up signup.
Fulfilment: ship yourself or use the platform
| Option | How it works | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-ship | You pack and hand over to the courier | Beginners with small volume | Dispatch deadlines and packing quality |
| Platform fulfilment | You send stock to the platform’s warehouse | Sellers with steady, fast-moving products | Storage and handling fees, stock planning, eligibility rules |
Start with self-ship. Look at platform fulfilment only after a product sells steadily, and read the current fee structure.
Content that gets a listing approved and noticed
- Clear title with product type and key feature.
- Photos that follow the platform’s image guide.
- Accurate size, weight, material and pack contents.
- Mandatory declarations for packaged goods.
- No claims you cannot prove and no competitor brand names.
The listing checklist covers each point.
Price strategy and price wars
- Know your floor price, the price where net profit is zero.
- Set your price above the floor with a margin you can defend.
- Do not follow every competitor price drop. Some sellers sell below cost to clear stock.
- Differentiate with bundles, better photos or faster dispatch.
- Review prices weekly in the first months.
Advertising framework
| Stage | Action |
|---|---|
| Before ads | Check that the listing converts organically and returns are low |
| Start | Small daily budget on a few products with the best margin |
| Measure | Compare cost per order with net profit per order |
| Scale | Raise budget gradually on products that are profitable after ads |
| Stop | Pause products that lose money after a fair test |
Checklist before a big sale event
- Stock for the sale and a buffer, only for products that already sell.
- Listings reviewed and images checked.
- Packing material and courier slots arranged.
- Support replies prepared.
- Cash ready for reorders, since payouts come after delivery.
Handling returns and claims
- Photograph packing and the product before dispatch.
- Check returned parcels the same day and record the condition.
- Raise claims within the platform’s time limits when the return is wrong or damaged.
- Track return reasons and fix the listing or product.
When marketplace selling starts to work: what to track
| Metric | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Orders per day | Demand |
| Net profit per order | Whether the model is healthy |
| Dispatch on time | Account health |
| Return rate | Product and listing quality |
| Rating | Customer experience |
Marketplace myths
| Myth | Reality |
|---|---|
| Zero commission means zero cost | Shipping, ads, returns and payment-related charges still apply |
| More listings means more sales | Fewer, stronger listings usually perform better for small sellers |
| The cheapest price gets all the sales | Ratings, delivery and listing quality matter |
| Ads fix a weak listing | Ads multiply what the listing already does |
| Registration is the hard part | The hard part is steady profit after returns and fees |
Glossary for marketplace sellers
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Referral or commission fee | A percentage the platform charges on each sale, which may be zero for some categories or price bands |
| Closing or fixed fee | A flat fee per order or per item |
| Fulfilment | Storing, packing and shipping orders |
| Settlement | The payout of sales money to your bank after delivery |
| TCS | Tax collected at source by the platform from registered sellers |
| Account health | Performance measures such as cancellations, delays and ratings |
| A+ content | Enhanced product descriptions on Amazon |
A first marketplace month in numbers
Illustration with assumed numbers. You list 5 products and sell 30 orders in the first month at an average price of Rs 299, giving about Rs 8,970 in sales. After product cost, shipping, fees and returns your net profit is Rs 60 an order, which is Rs 1,800. That is small, but you now have photos, reviews, a return rate and a clear view of which products to cut. In month two you drop the two worst products, improve photos and aim for 60 orders. That is how marketplace selling builds up: steady learning, not instant results.
Frequently asked questions
Which marketplace is best for new sellers in India?
Many new sellers start with Meesho for low-price products or Amazon and Flipkart for wider categories. Test one platform well before you add another.
Do I need a GST number to sell on marketplaces?
Rules differ by platform and category and change over time. Read our GST guide and check the platform’s current seller requirements.
Why are my marketplace sales low?
Usually it is the price, the photos or the listing title. Fix those before you spend on ads.
Which is easiest for a beginner, Amazon, Flipkart or Meesho?
Meesho is often considered the simplest signup, but each has trade-offs. See our comparison.
Can I sell on multiple marketplaces?
Yes, once your first one runs well and your stock is under control.
Do I need GST to sell on a marketplace?
Generally yes for goods, with a small-seller exemption route under conditions. See our GST guide.
Sources and further reading
Written by Moumita Biswas
Co-Founder, WholesaleOye
Moumita Biswas is a Co-Founder of WholesaleOye and Co-Founder and COO of ZaaYega, based in Bengaluru. An eCommerce entrepreneur since 2012, she helps small retailers, wholesalers and SMEs sell products online across marketplaces. She also teaches sellers through Zaayega Academy and the Zaayega Seller Gyan YouTube channel.
