Launching an online store is exciting — but a surprising number of stores go live with gaps that quietly cost sales in the first weeks: a shipping rule that doesn't match reality, a missing return policy that makes buyers hesitate, a checkout that isn't tested on mobile. Here's the checklist we run through with every e-commerce client before flipping a store live.
Product pages
- Every product has clear, honest descriptions — not just a specification list, but what the product actually solves for the buyer.
- Multiple product images from different angles, and zoom-enabled where possible.
- Accurate stock status, so customers aren't ordering something unavailable.
- Pricing is clearly displayed, including whether tax and shipping are included or added at checkout.
Payments
- A payment gateway that supports the methods your customers actually use — UPI, cards, and net banking, at minimum, for the Indian market.
- Test transactions completed successfully on both desktop and mobile before launch, not just in the payment gateway's test mode.
- Clear confirmation and receipt emails sent automatically after a successful order.
Shipping and fulfillment
- Shipping rates that reflect your real courier costs — flat-rate shipping that's too low will quietly eat your margins on heavier orders.
- Clearly stated delivery timelines, including for different pin codes or regions if delivery time varies significantly.
- A process for what happens after an order comes in — who packs it, who books the courier, and by when.
Policies customers look for before buying
Buyers who don't know your brand look for these before entering their card details — their absence is a common, avoidable reason for cart abandonment:
- Return and refund policy, stated in plain language.
- Shipping policy, including timelines and any regions you don't currently deliver to.
- Privacy policy and terms and conditions — both a trust signal and, in many cases, a requirement from payment gateways.
- A visible, working contact method — phone, email, or WhatsApp — not just a contact form that may go unanswered.
Mobile experience
The majority of e-commerce traffic in India is mobile. Before launch, physically place an order on your own site using a phone — from browsing, to cart, to checkout, to payment. If any step feels clunky to you, it will cost you customers.
Basic SEO, done before launch
- Every product and category page has a unique title and meta description.
- Product images have descriptive file names and alt text.
- URLs are clean and readable (e.g.
/products/product-name, not a string of numbers and codes).
Analytics and tracking
- Analytics installed before launch, not added weeks later — you'll want data from day one to understand what's working.
- Conversion tracking set up so you know which marketing efforts are actually driving sales.
Don't launch quietly and hope
Once the checklist above is clear, plan your launch actively — an announcement to your existing customer base, a social media push, and if the budget allows, a small paid campaign to get early traffic and reviews flowing. The first few weeks of real customer behavior will also show you what to refine next.
Need help getting a store launch-ready? Our e-commerce development team builds and audits stores against exactly this checklist before going live.