E-commerce Onboarding
Amazon • Flipkart • JioMart — a practical guide for sellers to understand commission, shipping, other charges and payment cycles before you price a single product.
The goal is not to memorise every fee. The goal is to understand what gets deducted and price your product accordingly.
01 — Fundamentals
The 4 charges every seller should know
Marketplace fees look complicated because platforms use different names. At a basic level, every deduction falls into one of these four buckets.
Commission / Referral
A percentage or category-based fee linked to the sale.
Fixed / Closing Fee
A fixed amount that can depend on price slab, category or seller tier.
Shipping / Weight
A logistics charge influenced by weight, size, distance or fulfilment method.
Other Service Fees
Pick & pack, storage or inventory removal under fulfilment services.
Seller mindset: Selling Price ≠ Profit
Your product cost, marketplace deductions, logistics and target margin all need to be considered before deciding the final selling price.
02 — Platform
Amazon
Amazon charges vary with category, price, weight and the fulfilment service selected. The key idea is to separate marketplace fees from logistics and fulfilment costs.
Easy Ship — weight handling
| Program | 0–500 g | 500 g–1 kg | 1–2 kg | After 2 kg | After 5 kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premium & Advanced | ₹53 | ₹73 | ₹110 | ₹34/kg | ₹18/kg |
| Standard | ₹55 | ₹75 | ₹112 | ₹34/kg | ₹18/kg |
| Basic | ₹59 | ₹79 | ₹116 | ₹34/kg | ₹18/kg |
Fulfilment centre — additional charges
| Service | Charge shown | Simple meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Pick & Pack | ₹17/unit up to 1 kg; ₹5/additional kg up to 5 kg; ₹2/additional 5 kg. Heavy & Bulky: ₹26/unit. | Preparing the order for dispatch. |
| Storage | ₹50/cubic foot/month | Storing inventory in the fulfilment center. |
| Removal — Standard | ₹10/unit | Removing standard-size inventory. |
| Removal — Expedited | ₹30/unit | Faster inventory removal option. |
Takeaway: fulfilment choice + shipment weight can change your cost per order.
03 — Platform
Flipkart
Commission
| Rate | When | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 0% | Products below ₹1,000 | 0% commission regardless of category. |
| 0% | Fashion category | 0% commission across Fashion, including products above ₹1,000. |
Fixed / Closing fee by seller tier
| Seller tier | Fixed fee |
|---|---|
| Platinum | Base Rate − ₹15 up to ₹30 |
| Gold | Base Rate |
| Silver | Base Rate |
| Bronze | Base Rate + ₹10 |
Payment cycle
After successful delivery, payment can be received within as fast as 7 days, after applicable fees are deducted. Treat “up to 7 days” as the fastest stated timing — not a universal guarantee.
04 — Platform
JioMart
| Fee | What it means | What affects it |
|---|---|---|
| Commission | 1%–15% depending on product category; charged on order value excluding GST. | Product category |
| Fixed Fee | Charged per order and based on product price slab/category. | Price slab + category |
| Shipping Fee | Based on actual or volumetric weight, whichever is higher. Forward and possible reverse logistics may apply. | Weight + package size + delivery |
| Collection Fee | Currently zero for most categories, subject to policy updates. | Category + policy |
Actual weight
Light but compact
Volumetric weight
Large but lightweight
Never estimate shipping from product weight alone — if volumetric weight is higher, shipping is calculated on the higher figure.
05 — Cash flow
Payment cycle, made simple
Order
Customer places the order
Dispatch
Product is shipped
Delivery
Order is successfully delivered
Settlement
Applicable fees are deducted
Payout
Eligible amount is released
| Platform | Payment timing |
|---|---|
| Amazon | No specific payment-cycle number is stated; check current account terms. |
| Flipkart | Payment can be received within as fast as 7 days after successful delivery. |
| JioMart | No specific payment-cycle number is stated; check current account terms. |
06 — At a glance
Quick comparison
| Amazon | Flipkart | JioMart | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commission | Category/program dependent | 0% stated for products below ₹1,000; 0% stated for Fashion | 1%–15% depending on category |
| Fixed fee | May apply depending on service | Seller-tier based structure | Price slab / category based |
| Shipping | Weight / fulfilment dependent | Applicable marketplace & logistics charges | Actual or volumetric weight, whichever is higher |
| Other charges | Pick & pack, storage, removal (FC) | Depends on seller/order setup | Reverse logistics may apply |
| Payment timing | Check current account terms | Up to 7 days after successful delivery | Check current account terms |
The exact fee depends on the product, category, price, weight, fulfilment method and current marketplace policy.
07 — Profitability
How we explain your real margin
Client-facing script
“Your selling price is ₹1,000, but the marketplace may deduct different fees before settlement. So we first calculate your expected marketplace and logistics cost, then work backwards to protect your margin.”
This moves the conversation from “What is the commission?” to “What will I actually make per order?”
08 — Before you list
The seller checklist
01What is my selling price?
02What commission/referral fee applies to my category?
03Is there a fixed/closing fee?
04What will shipping/weight/fulfilment cost?
05Are there any other service or return-related charges?
06After all deductions, is my target margin still protected?
Price smart. Know your fees. Protect your margin.
Note: marketplace fees and policies can change. Always verify the current rate applicable to the seller account, category, fulfilment method and order before making a final pricing decision.
Ready to onboard your brand the right way?
We handle account setup, cataloguing, pricing strategy and fee-aware profitability planning across Amazon, Flipkart, JioMart and more.