Self-employed E-tailer
Sells products and services to customers through an online store, sourcing them from producers and earning through commission on sales.
Overview
As a self-employed E-Tailer you will be a retailer that sells products and services to customers using an online store. E-tailers do not need to own or rent physical shops, although some choose to do so. A producer distributes a product to an e-tailer, which then offers it for sale to its customers on its website. Individuals in this position work for himself/herself to earn income instead of working for an employer that pays a salary/wage. To manage all this you learn about licence requirements, legal policies, cost of procurement of products and services, and understand the risk involved. They also learn to read and write data sheets, and understand customer feedback. They also learn the how, what and why a product is being sold in the market. They earn through the commission of sales in the ecommerce platform.
Where they work
- Will work from own office on an e-commerce platform. It is mainly entrepreneurial work.
Work environment
You will work from your own establishment as and when there is a necessity to work. The work is mainly online and it involves a lot of coordination between the supply chain, service producers, banks and customers.
Opportunities for work exist for differently abled in this field.
Skills and interests
This career might suit you if…
- You have excellent communication skills
- You are comfortable using computers
- You like working in a team
- You can solve problems if necessary
Eligibility and education roadmap
Please check the duration of the course during enrolment. NSQF course levels, entry requirements and availability change — verify with the training provider.
- 1Minimum qualification: after completing class 10 and being minimum 18 years old you can enrol for a National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) Level 4 Self-employed E-Tailer course.
Forms, exams and applications
Exam names above are as printed in the source card. Application windows, eligibility and syllabi change — always check the official notification for current dates.
Where to apply
This list of institutes is indicative only.
Government institutes
- Dr. DY Patil University, Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Chitkara University, Rajpura, Punjab
- Mizoram University, Aizawl, Mizoram
These institute lists are indicative examples from the source card, not a ranked or complete directory. Always verify accreditation on the institute's official website.
Career outcomes
Growth path
- 1Assistant e-tailer
- 2E-tailer
- 3Manager, e-store
Related careers to explore
Retail Store Operations Assistant
Handles customers and day-to-day sales activities in a departmental store or hypermarket, and receives, processes and shelves goods.
Showroom Hostess/Host
First point of contact for customers in a showroom, handling the front office, resolving queries and coordinating between the showroom and customer requests.
Student action plan
What you can do this month
- Read this whole roadmap and note any subjects, exams or institutes you don't recognise yet.
- Talk to a teacher or school counsellor about how your current subjects connect to Any Stream.
- Look for a school club, competition or online course related to analysing.
- Shortlist 2–3 institutes from the list above and check their official website for current admission details.
- Save this career and compare it with 1–2 others you're considering.
Example from the field
Jabong.com — Jabong.com is the one-stop shop for all fashion and lifestyle needs for customers in India. Jabong's offerings include a wide assortment of fashion and lifestyle brands across categories such as apparel, accessories, footwear, home and living, sportswear and many more. On Jabong.com a consumer can also compare across brands, styles, colours and pricing. Jabong.com delivers within 48 hours in the top 10 cities; for other cities it could vary from one to three days. Jabong.com has fashion stylists who are there to guide its consumers on their prospective purchase. The company was formed towards the end of 2011, and the website went live at the beginning of 2012.
SourceThis profile is shared for training/educational purposes only, as printed in the source card.
Sources and update notice
- Career card source: Exploring Career Paths with Career Cards, Volume 2, printed page 989 (NCERT / UNICEF India / PSSCIVE Bhopal, First Edition, April 2025).
- Income source: https://www.ambitionbox.com/profile/e-commerce-executive-salary
- Last reviewed on this site: 2026-08-21
This card's example from the field profiles a company (Jabong.com) rather than an individual self-employed e-tailer, and Dr. DY Patil University and Chitkara University, listed under government institutes, are private universities.
Eligibility, fees, exam patterns and admissions change often. Always verify current details on official institute, exam-body or government websites before making decisions.