How to Become a Flipkart Seller: Complete Step-by-Step Guide, Documents, Listings & FAQs (2025)

Overview: This article is your exhaustive guide to selling on Flipkart in 2025. It covers who can sell, required documents, the exact signup flow, product listing best practices (single & bulk), fulfillment options (FBF vs Self-Ship), packaging rules, fees and taxes, performance metrics, templates (invoice, brand authorization), a trademark certificate template and more. Copy–paste this HTML into Blogger's HTML view for a ready-to-publish post — replace every REPLACE_WITH_* with your real values.

Why sell on Flipkart?

Flipkart offers huge consumer reach and a mature logistics network. For many sellers, the marketplace offers a faster route to scale compared to building an independent website. Key benefits include:

• Large monthly active user base and search traffic on the platform.
• Fulfilment services (Flipkart Fulfilment/Ekart) which simplify shipping and returns.
• Seasonal campaigns & platform promotions that boost visibility.
• Seller Hub with analytics, dispute resolution and bulk tools.

Note: Flipkart provides the platform and traffic — sales success depends on your product-market fit, listing quality, pricing and fulfilment. Prioritize good images, accurate descriptions, and on-time fulfilment.

Who can sell on Flipkart?

Anyone legally registered to do business in India can typically register as a Flipkart seller:

• Individual / Sole Proprietor — fastest to start; use your personal PAN and address.
• Partnership Firm — requires partnership deed and partner PANs as needed.
• LLP / Private Limited Company — for larger operations or to separate personal liability.
• NRI / Foreign Entities — may require an Indian entity or local compliance; check Flipkart’s current policy.

Complete list of documents (deep dive)

Below are the documents you'll need for a smooth onboarding. Keep high-quality scans ready (PDF/JPG) — blurry or cropped documents are the most common reason for verification delays.

PAN Card

Why: PAN links your tax identity and is used for TCS reporting and payouts.

Upload: Front side color scan. For companies upload company PAN; for proprietors upload proprietor PAN.

Identity Proof (KYC)

Options: Aadhaar, Passport, Voter ID, Driving Licence. For companies, KYC of authorized signatory is required.

Bank Proof

Acceptable: Cancelled cheque with printed name, or recent bank statement (PDF) showing account holder name, account number and IFSC.

Important: Bank account name must match the business or proprietor name on PAN/GST.

Business Registration

Depends on: Type of entity — Certificate of Incorporation for companies, Partnership Deed for partnerships, Shop & Establishment/MSME/Udyam registrations where applicable.

GST Registration Certificate (GSTIN)

Why: Marketplaces require GSTIN for taxable supplies; TCS is reported against your PAN/GSTIN. If you are selling only exempt goods, consult a tax advisor before skipping GST registration.

Address Proof

Utility bill, rent agreement, municipal tax receipt, etc., matching the pickup/business address you provide.

Category-specific licences

Regulated categories require additional approvals — examples:

• FSSAI for food & edible products.
• Drug license for pharmaceuticals.
• BIS certificates for certain electronics or safety-labeled products.
• Import/Export Code (IEC) if importing products.

Brand & authenticity docs

If you sell branded products, keep brand authorization letters, invoices from authorized distributors, and trademark certificates. Marketplaces may ask for these to verify authenticity.

Pro tip: Maintain a single folder with labeled scanned files (PAN.pdf, GST.pdf, Bank-Statement.pdf, ShopAct.pdf, BrandAuth.pdf) to speed up re-uploads and audits.

Scanning & upload best practices

• Scan at 300 DPI, save as PDF or high-quality JPG/PNG.
• Keep file size within uploader limits (typically 2–5 MB). Compress if needed but avoid lossy compression that blurs text.
• Avoid cropping important numbers (PAN, GSTIN, account number).
• For bank statements, ensure the page shows account holder name, account number and IFSC clearly.

Step-by-step Flipkart registration walkthrough

The following mirrors the typical flow on seller.flipkart.com. Field names can change; use this as a practical guide.

Step 1 — Account setup

1. Visit seller.flipkart.com → Click Start Selling.
2. Enter email & mobile — verify both via OTP.
3. Create a secure password and proceed to Business Profile.

Step 2 — Business profile

• Choose Business Type (Individual / Proprietor / Partnership / Company).
• Enter Business Name, PAN and GSTIN (if applicable).
• Upload PAN & GST Certificate scans.

Step 3 — Address & pickup

• Provide business & pickup addresses (these are used for courier pickups).
• Upload address proof if requested.

Step 4 — Bank & settlement

• Provide bank account details — account name, number, IFSC.
• Upload cancelled cheque or bank statement PDF.

Step 5 — Contact person & KYC

• Add authorized contact person: name, email, mobile.
• Upload ID proof of authorized signatory (Aadhaar/Passport).

Step 6 — Categories & approvals

Select product categories you plan to sell. For each regulated category, keep relevant licenses ready (FSSAI, drug license etc.). If selling branded items as reseller, upload brand authorization & purchase invoices.

Step 7 — Accept terms & verification

1. Read and accept Flipkart's seller agreement and policies.
2. Flipkart may call or email for verification — respond promptly to expedite approval.

After verification you will get access to Seller Hub and can start adding product listings.

Product listing — single & bulk (full details)

Flipkart supports single product listings via forms and bulk uploads through CSV/Excel templates. Below are field-level explanations and best practices.

Essential product fields

• SKU (Seller SKU): Unique code for each variant (e.g., BS-TSHIRT-BLK-M-001).
• Title: Brand + Product + Variant + Key feature (keep keywords early).
• Brand: Official brand name; for unbranded products use 'Generic' or your brand name.
• MRP & Selling Price: MRP is printed on the product; selling price should not exceed MRP.
• HSN & GST Rate: Correct HSN code and tax rate are crucial to avoid GST mismatches.
• Stock/Inventory: Units available; update frequently (automate if possible).
• Dimensions & Weight: Length, breadth, height (cm) and weight (g/kg) — used for shipping charges.
• Images: 4–8 images recommended (main white-background + lifestyle + closeups + label/ingredients).
• Description & Bullets: SEO-friendly short bullets and a longer HTML-capable description for details.

Image guidelines

• Main image: white/light background, product centered, no extra text or watermarks.
• Resolution: minimum 500×500 px, 1000×1000 recommended for zoom functionality.
• Avoid heavy editing; ensure accurate color representation to reduce returns.

SEO-friendly title example

BeepShip Men’s Slim Fit Cotton T-Shirt - Black, M | Breathable & Lightweight

Bulk Upload — CSV sample & tips

Flipkart provides official bulk templates. Below is a simplified sample to help prepare data. Use Flipkart's template to ensure field names match exactly.

SKU,Brand,Title,MRP,SellingPrice,HSN,GSTRate,Stock,Weight(g),Length(cm),Breadth(cm),Height(cm),ImageURLs,Color,Size,Barcode,Description,Bullets
BS-TSHIRT-BLK-M-001,BeepShip,"BeepShip Men's Slim Fit Cotton T-Shirt - Black - M",799,499,6109,5,120,200,30,25,2,https://beeepship.blogspot.com/s2025/09/img1.jpg|https://beeepship.blogspot.com/s2025/09/img2.jpg,Black,M,8901234567890,"Premium cotton tee...","100% cotton|Slim fit|Machine wash cold"

Note: ImageURLs may be pipe-separated or comma-separated depending on Flipkart's template — always map columns to the official sample CSV in Seller Hub.

Fulfilment: FBF vs Self-Ship (detailed comparison)

Fulfilment by Flipkart (FBF)

Process: Send inventory to Flipkart fulfilment centres; Flipkart handles storage, packing, shipping and returns.

• Faster deliveries, higher visibility and Prime-like badges on listings.
• Costs: storage, pick & pack, long-term storage fees for slow-moving stock.
• Requires adherence to labelling and packing rules; inventory sent must be accurately declared.

Self-Ship

Process: You pack and hand orders to courier partners; manage returns and pickup schedules.

• Greater control over packaging and courier selection.
• Potentially lower costs for heavy/bulky items where FC storage is expensive.
• Must meet Flipkart's SLA for shipping; poor performance affects metrics.

Which to choose?

FBF is ideal for scale and fast-moving consumer goods. Self-Ship suits large, bulky or tailor-made items. Many sellers use a hybrid approach.

Packaging & labelling rules

• Use sturdy boxes and protective material; include invoice if required.
• Affix Flipkart/FBR/FBF labels and seller SKU barcodes exactly as instructed.
• For perishable goods, include batch number, MFG & EXP dates, and storage instructions.

Fees, commissions & taxes

Flipkart charges a category-wise commission and other fees. Review Seller Hub for exact percentages. Components include:

• Marketplace commission (percentage based on category).
• Shipping/Logistics fees (FBF or self-ship costs).
• Payment processing & reverse logistics costs.
• TCS (Tax Collected at Source) reporting — Flipkart deducts TCS on payouts under GST rules.

Fees change periodically — always check the official Fees & Commission page in Seller Hub before listing to calculate margins.

Orders, returns & settlements

• Monitor new orders in Seller Hub; accept or auto-accept as per your setting.
• Ship within SLA; late shipments hurt seller metrics.
• Returns processed per Flipkart policy — FBF handles reverse logistics, Self-Ship requires seller action.
• Settlements are paid after deductions (commission, shipping, refunds, TCS). Reconcile statements monthly.

Seller performance & penalties

Key metrics: Order Defect Rate (ODR), Cancellation Rate, Late Shipment Rate, Return Rate. Maintain low defect and cancellation rates by stocking accurately, shipping on time and keeping product descriptions precise.

Prohibited & restricted items

Do not list banned or restricted items: counterfeit goods, illegal drugs, firearms, certain chemicals, protected wildlife, or items requiring special approvals without valid certificates. Always check the latest prohibited list on Seller Hub.

Marketing & growth tips

• Use Flipkart Ads & Promotions to boost visibility for new SKUs.
• Participate in platform sale events with sufficient inventory.
• Optimize titles and bullets for search; include key attributes.
• Encourage genuine reviews by delivering on quality and service.

Templates & downloadable samples

Brand Authorization Letter (sample)

Date: DD/MM/YYYY To Whom It May Concern, This is to certify that [BRAND NAME], having its registered office at [BRAND ADDRESS], authorizes [RESELLER / DISTRIBUTOR NAME] (GSTIN: [GSTIN]) to sell genuine [BRAND NAME] branded products through online marketplaces including Flipkart. Authorized reseller: [RESELLER NAME] Period of authorization: [FROM DATE] to [TO DATE] Signed by: [BRAND AUTHORISED SIGNATORY] Name: ______________________ Designation: __________________ Contact: _____________________

Sample Tax Invoice (simple format)

TAX INVOICE Seller: [Your Business Name] Address: [Full address] GSTIN: [Your GSTIN] Invoice No: INV-YYYYMMDD-001 Date: DD/MM/YYYY Buyer: [Customer Name] Shipping Address: [Customer Shipping Address] Items: 1) Product Name | Qty | MRP | Selling Price | Tax% | Total ----------------------------------------------------------------- Subtotal: Rs.XXXX CGST: Rs.XXX SGST/IGST: Rs.XXX Round Off: Rs.XX Grand Total: Rs.XXXX Note: Keep a digital copy and include the invoice inside the parcel if required by Flipkart policy.

Trademark Certificate (Brand Ownership) - ready HTML (printable)

<!-- Trademark Certificate HTML --> <!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="hi"> <head> <meta charset="utf-8" /> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width,initial-scale=1" /> <title>Trademark Certificate / Brand Ownership Certificate</title> </head> <body> <h2>TRADEMARK CERTIFICATE / ब्रांड ओनरशिप सर्टिफिकेट</h2> <p>Trademark: REPLACE_WITH_BRAND_NAME</p> <p>Registration No: REPLACE_WITH_TRADEMARK_REG_NO</p> <p>Class: REPLACE_WITH_CLASS_NUMBER</p> <p>Owner: REPLACE_WITH_OWNER_NAME</p> <p>Valid Till: REPLACE_WITH_VALIDITY_DATE</p> </body> </html>

Packaging examples & fragile handling

Use appropriate cushioning, correct box sizes, and clear external labeling (fragile, this side up). Double-box high-value or fragile items and include return invoice copies if required by the policy.

Common onboarding issues & fixes

• Document rejected: Re-scan at higher resolution; ensure full document is visible.
• Bank mismatch: Ensure bank account holder name matches PAN/GST registration.
• GST mismatch: Enter exact GSTIN and ensure certificate matches business name.
• Image upload errors: Reduce image size, convert to JPG, or use the Blogger image uploader and paste the resulting URL in bulk CSV.

Full FAQ

How long before my listing goes live?

Single listings often go live within hours after approval; some categories or brand-verified listings require manual review and may take longer.

How are refunds handled?

Refunds follow Flipkart policy. For FBF, Flipkart handles reverses; for Self-Ship, you process returns per the marketplace rules. Returns may affect settlement amounts.

How to update inventory in bulk?

Use the bulk upload/update templates in Seller Hub or connect via API / third-party inventory tools for real-time sync.

Final checklist before sending inventory to Flipkart (FBF)

• SKU labels printed & affixed per Flipkart's instructions
• Boxes weighed and dimensions recorded
• Batch numbers & expiry dates included for consumables
• Return invoice included inside each parcel if required
• Images & listings live and validated against packed items

Sample support email (use if verification stalls)

Subject: Document Verification Assistance — Seller ID: REPLACE_WITH_YOUR_SELLER_ID Hello Flipkart Seller Support Team, My seller account (Email: REPLACE_WITH_YOUR_EMAIL, Mobile: REPLACE_WITH_YOUR_MOBILE) is currently under verification. I have uploaded the following documents: - PAN: uploaded - Aadhaar: uploaded - Bank proof: uploaded - GST certificate: uploaded Could you please confirm if anything else is required to complete KYC and activate the account? My preferred contact number is REPLACE_WITH_NUMBER. Regards, [Your Name]

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Last updated: 10 September 2025 | Author: Dhirendra Kumar | Blog: BeepShip (beeepship.blogspot.com)