How to Sell on ONDC
At a glance
Cost
Free
Timeline
2-8 weeks
Difficulty
Advanced
ONDC (Open Network for Digital Commerce) is a Government of India initiative to build open digital commerce infrastructure. Unlike Amazon or Flipkart, ONDC is not one company-owned marketplace — it is an open protocol that lets buyers and sellers connect through multiple interoperable apps. Your listings can surface across many buyer apps (for example Paytm, PhonePe, Magicpin, and others that join the network), and you can get a QR code to promote your ONDC store offline.
Why should sellers join ONDC?
Key takeaway
No single-platform lock-in
Often lower take-rates
Government backing
Multi-app visibility
Two Seller Archetypes on ONDC
Inventory Seller Node (ISN)
Most commonYou sell your own inventory. Typical for brands and retailers with stock under their control. Simpler setup, direct fulfillment.
Marketplace Seller Node (MSN)
AdvancedYou aggregate other sellers (marketplace operator model). More complex compliance, tech integration, and operational overhead.
Not Technical? Use a Seller App
Skip the API work entirely. Use ONDC-compatible apps like Mystore or SellerSetu — they handle onboarding and connectivity for you.
What do you need to start selling on ONDC?
ONDC Seller Preparation Checklist
- Legal business identity (GSTIN for taxable goods is standard)
- Bank account for settlements
- Product data: titles, images, GTIN/SKU, inventory positions
- If integrating directly: technical owner for APIs and testing
- If not technical: choice of certified seller app or ONDC Sahayak support
Step-by-Step: Participant Onboarding (Direct Path)
- 1
Sign up on the ONDC Participant Portal
Register at portal.ondc.org and review seller-relevant participant categories.
- 2
Attend onboarding webinars
Join scheduled sessions on roles, compliance, and ISN vs MSN technical expectations.
- 3
Select role and domain
Declare your network role (inventory-led seller, marketplace, etc.) and product domain (e.g. grocery, fashion).
- 4
API integration
Implement ONDC APIs in-house or via a certified partner—cover catalog, inventory, orders, and fulfilment.
- 5
Testing
Finish sandbox and pre-prod testing with network validators; resolve issues before live traffic.
- 6
Go-live
Launch production, track orders across buyer apps, and promote your store QR offline—plan 2-8 weeks end-to-end depending on integration maturity.
Small Sellers Without In-House Tech
ONDC Sahayak — Free Guided Help
Call the government helpline for step-by-step onboarding assistance. They can connect you with certified seller apps (Mystore, SellerSetu) that handle all the technical work.
Call +91-8130935050Official Resources
- ONDC — Main site — ondc.org
- ONDC Participant Portal — portal.ondc.org
- ONDC Sahayak (helpline) — +91-8130935050
Frequently Asked Questions
Government schemes you may qualify for
Based on this guide, these schemes could benefit your business.
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