How CartWhizz works: from signup to your first order

You create a CartWhizz store in three short signup steps. After that you set it up from your admin panel in this order: theme and branding, products, payments, shipping, taxes, policies and your domain. Place a test order and the store is ready to share. Most sellers spend more time on product photos and descriptions than on the platform itself.

Step 1: Create your store

Go to cartwhizz.com/start. Signup has three steps, all on one screen:

1. Enter your email address. A phone number is optional.
2. Type in the 6-digit code we email you. We verify every store owner's email before a store is created.
3. Choose a store name and a strong password, and check the store address. The default theme is shown, and you can change it.

If you tick Add demo data, the store starts with sample products, categories and content from the theme's demo store. It's a quick way to see what a finished store looks like, and you can delete the samples later. The store is built while you wait, usually in a minute or two, and you can open your admin straight away. The 7-day free trial needs no card.

Step 2: Choose your look

CartWhizz themes are made for particular kinds of shops: electronics, fashion, grocery, organic products, furniture, wellness and automotive. Pick the one closest to yours and make it your own:

• Upload your logo and set your brand colours and fonts.
• Use the layout editor to add, remove and reorder blocks such as banners, product rows, category grids and videos.
• Edit the menu, the footer and the pages every store needs: About, Contact, Shipping, Returns, Privacy and Terms.

Check each change on your phone as well as your computer, because most Indian shoppers will see your store on a phone first.

Step 3: Add your products

Add products one at a time from Products, or in bulk with a CSV file from Product Import/Export. For each product, fill in:

• Name, price and an optional list price (shown as the "was" price).
• Photos, and short videos if you have them.
• SKU, stock quantity and HSN code.
• Categories and brand.
• Variations such as size and colour, if the product comes in options.
• A page title and meta description for search engines. The Generate button fills these in for you to edit.

On the product page, Write with CartWhizz AI drafts a description from the product name and details. Read and edit what it writes every time. You know your product better than it does.

Step 4: Set up payments

Under Payments, connect the gateway you have an account with. CartWhizz works with Razorpay, PayU, PhonePe, Paytm and CCAvenue for UPI, cards and net banking, and with Stripe and PayPal for international cards. You'll need your gateway's API keys, which you get once you finish the gateway's own KYC.

You can also offer cash on delivery, with a minimum and maximum order value, and bank transfer. Gateway charges go to your gateway, not to CartWhizz.

Step 5: Set up shipping

Create your shipping methods and the areas they cover, with rates by weight or order value and free shipping above an amount you choose. If you use a courier aggregator such as Shiprocket, connect it in the shipping carriers settings. Stores with a physical location can offer pickup as well.

Step 6: Taxes and invoices

Add your business address in your store settings and your GSTIN in the GST settings. Give each product its HSN code and the right tax rate. CartWhizz then charges CGST and SGST to buyers in your state and IGST to buyers in other states, and prints each tax on the invoice. If you need an extra store tax, the Taxes page can apply it to all products, chosen categories, chosen brands or only the products you pick. Have your CA check the setup once anyway.

Step 7: Connect your domain

Your store works straight away on its free cartwhizz.com address. To use your own domain, open Domains, enter it, and add the DNS records we show you at your domain provider. CartWhizz checks the records automatically. When they are right and your request is approved, it issues a free SSL certificate and switches your domain on, usually within minutes. The certificate renews by itself.

Step 8: Test, then launch

1. Place a test order with each payment method, then cancel or refund it.
2. Check the order email, the invoice and the order in your admin.
3. Open your store on a phone and try the menu, search, product pages and checkout.
4. If someone helps you, add staff accounts so each person has their own login.
5. Share your store link with your first customers.

Our 25-point launch checklist covers the details.

Step 9: Your first order

A new order shows up in Orders, and you get an email about it. From the order you can print the invoice, update the status, ship it and add the tracking number so the customer knows where it is. The dashboard shows your sales, and the CartWhizz AI assistant in your admin can answer questions about your store as you go.

What happens when the trial ends

We email you 7, 3 and 1 days before the trial ends. On the last day you add your billing details, and your first invoice is issued for your plan's first month. CartWhizz pricing explained sets out exactly what you pay.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to set up a CartWhizz store?

Creating the store takes a few minutes. If your products, photos and policies are ready, you can often finish setup the same day.

Can I change my theme later?

Yes. You can switch themes and keep editing your layout from your admin at any time.

Do I need a payment gateway before I start?

No. Build your store first and connect a gateway once your gateway account is approved. Cash on delivery works without one.

Can I import my products from a spreadsheet?

Yes. Product Import/Export takes CSV and XML files, lets you match your columns to CartWhizz fields, and shows a test-import preview. See moving your store to CartWhizz.

Want to build yours? Start your free trial.