How do you compare no-commission store builders with WhatsApp order automation?
Compare four costs: the monthly platform fee, the payment gateway fee on online payments, the courier charge on each parcel, and the cost of returns. "No commission" removes only the percentage that some platforms take from each sale. A plan with a flat monthly fee can still cost more in total than another plan once shipping and returns are added.
The right comparison uses your own numbers. Pull your orders for the last three months, work out the monthly average, and add up each option's costs at that volume.
HOD Media is a hosted store builder for small businesses in India. It takes no commission on sales and charges no per-order fee. You can cancel any time.
What does "zero commission" leave out?
Zero commission means the platform does not take a percentage of your sales. Three costs remain:
- Payment gateway fees. Razorpay, PayU, Cashfree and similar gateways charge a fee on each online payment. The store builder does not set that fee, because the money passes through the gateway.
- COD handling and remittance. Couriers charge for each Cash on Delivery (COD) shipment, and the money reaches you after delivery, sometimes several days later.
- Return to origin (RTO). When a parcel is refused or the customer cannot be reached, you usually pay for the trip out and the trip back. RTO is often the largest hidden cost for a small store. Check your RTO rate for the last 30 days before you choose a plan.
What does "WhatsApp order automation" mean?
The phrase covers three different things:
- A WhatsApp checkout button. The customer adds items to a cart, and WhatsApp opens with a pre-filled message. There is no payment on the site and no order record. You collect payment yourself.
- Automatic order messages. The customer pays on your store, and the platform sends WhatsApp and email updates such as "order placed" and "order shipped".
- A full ordering bot. The whole order happens inside WhatsApp. WhatsApp Business Platform charges for these conversations separately from the store builder.
Ask a platform which of the three it means before you compare prices.
HOD Media sends WhatsApp order updates and abandoned-cart reminders. Messages can come from the store's own WhatsApp number, or from HOD's shared number signed with the store's name. Email order updates are included.
What does HOD Media include?
- A store on your own custom domain, with SSL included.
- Cash on Delivery, plus online payments through Razorpay, PayU or Cashfree.
- Shipping rates by pincode, and around 20 courier partners to choose from.
- GST handling for CGST, SGST and IGST, and GST invoices once you add your GSTIN. No GST number is needed to start.
- Discount codes, abandoned-cart reminders and order emails.
- Cancel any time, and export your data.
How do you compare two options with your own numbers?
- Pull your orders for the last three months and work out the monthly average.
- For a per-order fee, multiply the fee by that monthly average.
- For a monthly fee, use the plan's flat amount.
- Add the gateway fee on prepaid orders and the courier charge on COD orders.
- Add the RTO losses from the last 30 days.
- Compare the totals, then check the features you need, such as GST invoices and courier choice.
What should you ask any platform before you sign up?
- Which WhatsApp features are included, and who pays for WhatsApp messages?
- Is GST invoicing included, or is it extra?
- Can I use my own domain without upgrading?
- Can I export my products, customers and orders?
- How do I cancel, and what happens to my data?