More shoppers in Patna and across Bihar now buy online, and not only from big marketplaces. Local brands selling sweets, sarees, handicrafts, Madhubani art, Makhana, spices, furniture and electronics are building their own online stores to reach customers in Bihar and across India.
If you are planning an e-commerce website, this guide walks through the key decisions so you spend money on the right things.
Marketplace or your own website?
Amazon, Flipkart and Meesho give you instant access to buyers, but they charge commission, control the customer relationship and change rules often. Your own website gives you control over pricing, branding and customer data, and you keep more margin. Most successful sellers do both: marketplaces for reach, their own website for loyal and repeat customers.
Must-have features of an e-commerce website
- Product catalogue: categories, filters, variants such as size and colour, and good photos.
- Fast, mobile-first design: most of your buyers will be on phones, often on slow connections.
- Cart and simple checkout: guest checkout, saved addresses and as few steps as possible.
- Payments: UPI, cards, net banking and wallets through a payment gateway.
- Cash on delivery: still important for many buyers, ideally with COD limits or confirmation to reduce fake orders.
- Shipping integration: automatic courier booking, tracking numbers and pincode serviceability checks.
- GST invoices: correct tax calculation and downloadable invoices.
- Admin panel: manage products, orders, stock, coupons and customers without a developer.
- Notifications: order confirmations on SMS, email and WhatsApp.
Features that help you grow
- Coupons, combos and festive offers.
- Abandoned cart reminders on WhatsApp or email.
- Customer reviews and ratings.
- Wishlist and recently viewed products.
- Multiple languages, especially Hindi.
- A companion mobile app once you have repeat customers.
Choosing a platform
Shopify and similar hosted platforms
Quick to launch with ready themes. You pay a monthly fee plus app charges, and deep customisation can be limited.
WooCommerce (WordPress)
Flexible and widely used. Needs good hosting, regular updates and security care.
Custom e-commerce development
Built around your exact business: B2B pricing, multiple sellers, custom delivery rules, special product options or integration with your billing software. Higher upfront cost but no platform restrictions and you own everything.
What affects cost?
The main cost factors are the number of products and categories, design work, payment and shipping integrations, custom features such as multi-vendor or B2B pricing, and whether you also want a mobile app. Do not forget running costs: hosting, domain, SSL, payment gateway fees, courier charges, and marketing.
Step-by-step launch plan
- Prepare products: clear photos, titles, descriptions, prices, GST rates and weights.
- Complete business basics: GST registration (where required), a current bank account and return and refund policies.
- Choose payments and shipping: payment gateway account and a courier aggregator that covers your target pincodes.
- Build and test: place test orders on different phones, payment methods and pincodes.
- Add legal pages: privacy policy, terms, shipping, refund and contact pages, which payment gateways also require.
- Launch and market: Google Shopping, Instagram, Facebook ads, WhatsApp and SEO.
Common mistakes
- Poor product photos taken in bad lighting.
- A slow website overloaded with plugins and sliders.
- No clear delivery time and return policy, which kills trust.
- Unlimited cash on delivery leading to high return-to-origin costs.
- Expecting sales without any marketing budget.
Marketing your online store
A website alone does not bring buyers. Plan for SEO on category and product pages, Google Shopping ads, Instagram and Facebook ads, influencer collaborations and WhatsApp broadcasts to past customers. Givni's digital marketing team and e-commerce services can manage this for you, including marketplace accounts.
Start your online store with Givni
Givni is an e-commerce development agency in Patna. We build online stores, connect payments and shipping, and help you market them. Get a free quote or call 98359 42411.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need GST to sell online?
Rules differ for marketplaces and your own website, and depend on what and where you sell. Check with your CA before launch.
How long does it take to build an online store?
A store on a ready platform can launch in a couple of weeks. Custom builds take longer depending on features.
Can I manage the website myself?
Yes. A good admin panel lets you add products, manage orders and run offers without coding.
Should I offer cash on delivery?
COD increases orders in many categories, but use limits and order confirmation to control returns.
