D2C Launch Checklist — 50-Point Indian Brand Template

Why I Built This Launch Checklist

In the launches I’ve run at Growww Tech, I keep seeing Indian D2C brands go live with the same critical gaps:

• No GST registration → I’ve seen this alone block a brand from marketplaces
• No return policy → I’ve had founders call me over the complaints and legal risk this creates
• No email flows set up → in my experience, that’s 15-20% of revenue gone from day one
• Wrong shipping partner → slow delivery, high RTO
• No analytics → I can’t tell you what’s working without it

I built this checklist to close exactly those gaps. My team and I run it on every brand we launch — work through it before your launch date.

Section 1: Legal & Compliance (10 Points)

1. ☐ Register your business (Pvt Ltd, LLP, or Proprietorship)
2. ☐ Get GST registration
3. ☐ Register trademark (brand name + logo) — I tell every founder to apply now, it takes 12-18 months
4. ☐ Get FSSAI license (if selling food products)
5. ☐ Draft Terms & Conditions for your website
6. ☐ Draft Privacy Policy (DPDP Act compliant)
7. ☐ Draft Return & Refund Policy
8. ☐ Draft Shipping Policy with estimated delivery times
9. ☐ Set up business bank account
10. ☐ Register for MSME/Udyam — I make every brand do this, it opens up government schemes and easier credit

Section 2: Product & Pricing (8 Points)

1. ☐ Final product photography (minimum 5 angles + lifestyle shot per product)
2. ☐ Product descriptions written (features, benefits, materials, dimensions)
3. ☐ Pricing finalized with unit economics calculated (I always point founders to our unit economics guide)
4. ☐ Size chart created (if applicable) with measurements in inches AND cm
5. ☐ Packaging designed and ordered (branded boxes, tissue paper, thank you card)
6. ☐ HSN codes assigned to all products (correct GST classification)
7. ☐ Inventory stocked (minimum 30 days of projected demand)
8. ☐ Quality check process documented (what to check before shipping each order)

Section 3: Website Setup (12 Points)

1. ☐ Shopify store set up (or WooCommerce if preferred — my team builds on Shopify, but this checklist works either way)
2. ☐ Custom domain connected (yourbrand.com)
3. ☐ SSL certificate active (https://)
4. ☐ All products listed with images, descriptions, and pricing
5. ☐ Homepage designed with clear value proposition and CTA
6. ☐ Mobile responsiveness tested on a mid-range Android phone
7. ☐ Checkout flow tested end-to-end — I make every founder place a test order themselves before we go live
8. ☐ Payment gateway connected (e.g. Razorpay, PhonePe, Easebuzz, or Cashfree)
9. ☐ UPI enabled and set as default payment method
10. ☐ COD enabled with OTP verification
11. ☐ Page speed under 3 seconds on mobile (test with Google PageSpeed Insights)
12. ☐ Contact page with WhatsApp link, email, and phone number

Section 4: Marketing Setup (10 Points)

1. ☐ Meta (Facebook/Instagram) Business account created
2. ☐ Meta Pixel installed on website + Conversions API connected
3. ☐ Google Analytics 4 installed with ecommerce events configured
4. ☐ Google Ads account created + Google Tag installed
5. ☐ WhatsApp Business set up with automated welcome message
6. ☐ Email marketing tool connected (Klaviyo or Omnisend)
7. ☐ Welcome email flow created (3-email sequence — the first thing I check when a launch underperforms)
8. ☐ Abandoned cart email/WhatsApp flow created
9. ☐ 10 initial ad creatives ready (mix of video and static)
10. ☐ UTM parameters standardized for all marketing links

Section 5: Logistics & Operations (10 Points)

1. ☐ Shipping partner selected (Shiprocket or Delhivery for starters)
2. ☐ Shipping rates configured (free above threshold + flat rate below)
3. ☐ Return process defined (how customer initiates, who picks up, refund timeline)
4. ☐ Warehouse/storage space organized (even if it’s a room in your home)
5. ☐ Packaging materials stocked (boxes, bubble wrap, tape, labels)
6. ☐ Label printer set up (or handwritten labels for first 50 orders)
7. ☐ Order notification flow: customer places order → you get notified → pick-pack-ship
8. ☐ Test order shipped to yourself — I never let a brand skip this: verify packaging quality, delivery time, tracking accuracy
9. ☐ Customer support channel defined (WhatsApp, email, or both)
10. ☐ Returns handling process: receive return → QC check → restock or write off → process refund

Ready to Launch?

I tell every founder to work through this checklist over 2-4 weeks. Don’t rush the launch with gaps — a poor first impression is hard to recover from, and I’ve watched it happen.

At Growww Tech, my team and I help D2C brands launch right — from website setup to marketing strategy to operations. Let’s plan your launch.

Related reading:

• How to Get Your First 100 Orders
• D2C Unit Economics Guide
• Best Shopify Apps for Indian Stores