Why You Need a Launch Checklist
Most Indian D2C brands launch with critical gaps:
- GST not registered → can’t sell on marketplaces
- No return policy → customer complaints and legal risk
- No email flows set up → losing 15-20% of revenue from day one
- Wrong shipping partner → slow delivery, high RTO
- No analytics → can’t measure what’s working
This checklist prevents those gaps. Work through it before your launch date.
Section 1: Legal & Compliance (10 Points)
- ☐ Register your business (Pvt Ltd, LLP, or Proprietorship)
- ☐ Get GST registration
- ☐ Register trademark (brand name + logo) — apply now, it takes 12-18 months
- ☐ Get FSSAI license (if selling food products)
- ☐ Draft Terms & Conditions for your website
- ☐ Draft Privacy Policy (DPDP Act compliant)
- ☐ Draft Return & Refund Policy
- ☐ Draft Shipping Policy with estimated delivery times
- ☐ Set up business bank account
- ☐ Register for MSME/Udyam (unlocks government schemes and easier credit)
Section 2: Product & Pricing (8 Points)
- ☐ Final product photography (minimum 5 angles + lifestyle shot per product)
- ☐ Product descriptions written (features, benefits, materials, dimensions)
- ☐ Pricing finalized with unit economics calculated (use our unit economics guide)
- ☐ Size chart created (if applicable) with measurements in inches AND cm
- ☐ Packaging designed and ordered (branded boxes, tissue paper, thank you card)
- ☐ HSN codes assigned to all products (correct GST classification)
- ☐ Inventory stocked (minimum 30 days of projected demand)
- ☐ Quality check process documented (what to check before shipping each order)
Section 3: Website Setup (12 Points)
- ☐ Shopify store set up (or WooCommerce if preferred)
- ☐ Custom domain connected (yourbrand.com)
- ☐ SSL certificate active (https://)
- ☐ All products listed with images, descriptions, and pricing
- ☐ Homepage designed with clear value proposition and CTA
- ☐ Mobile responsiveness tested on a mid-range Android phone
- ☐ Checkout flow tested end-to-end (place a test order yourself)
- ☐ Payment gateway connected (Razorpay recommended for starters)
- ☐ UPI enabled and set as default payment method
- ☐ COD enabled with OTP verification
- ☐ Page speed under 3 seconds on mobile (test with Google PageSpeed Insights)
- ☐ Contact page with WhatsApp link, email, and phone number
Section 4: Marketing Setup (10 Points)
- ☐ Meta (Facebook/Instagram) Business account created
- ☐ Meta Pixel installed on website + Conversions API connected
- ☐ Google Analytics 4 installed with ecommerce events configured
- ☐ Google Ads account created + Google Tag installed
- ☐ WhatsApp Business set up with automated welcome message
- ☐ Email marketing tool connected (Klaviyo or Omnisend)
- ☐ Welcome email flow created (3-email sequence)
- ☐ Abandoned cart email/WhatsApp flow created
- ☐ 10 initial ad creatives ready (mix of video and static)
- ☐ UTM parameters standardized for all marketing links
Section 5: Logistics & Operations (10 Points)
- ☐ Shipping partner selected (Shiprocket or Delhivery for starters)
- ☐ Shipping rates configured (free above threshold + flat rate below)
- ☐ Return process defined (how customer initiates, who picks up, refund timeline)
- ☐ Warehouse/storage space organized (even if it’s a room in your home)
- ☐ Packaging materials stocked (boxes, bubble wrap, tape, labels)
- ☐ Label printer set up (or handwritten labels for first 50 orders)
- ☐ Order notification flow: customer places order → you get notified → pick-pack-ship
- ☐ Test order shipped to yourself — verify packaging quality, delivery time, tracking accuracy
- ☐ Customer support channel defined (WhatsApp, email, or both)
- ☐ Returns handling process: receive return → QC check → restock or write off → process refund
Ready to Launch?
Work through this checklist over 2-4 weeks. Don’t rush to launch with gaps — a poor first impression is hard to recover from.
At Growww Tech, we help D2C brands launch right — from website setup to marketing strategy to operations. Let’s plan your launch.
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