How Many Products Should You Launch your business with?

Starting your online store is exciting. You’ve picked your industry, niche, and maybe sourced your products so now you’re ready to go live.

But then comes the big question every new business owner faces: How many products should I launch with?

The number of products to launch with depends on your capital,  business type, how well you’ve planned your launch, and how ready you are to manage those products.

But don’t worry, we’ll break it down with examples from businesses just like yours.

3 Questions you need to ask yourself first:

1. What are you selling?

Different industries need different strategies. A ready-to-wear fashion brand might need multiple sizes and styles. A food vendor might only need a few bestsellers to get started.

2. Can you manage the volume?

If you start with 30 products, can you fulfill orders for all of them without delays? Can you restock quickly if demand spikes?

3. Are you testing or launching full-scale?

If this is your soft launch, a smaller product range makes sense. If you’re launching with a bang, you might want a fuller collection.

Here’s a Guide by Business Type:

Clothing & Ready-to-Wear (RTW)

• Start With: 5–12 products
• Why: You want variety (tops, dresses, two-pieces) but not too much to handle sizing issues, photos, and inventory.
• Example: Launch with 2 best-selling kaftans, 2 dresses, 2 co-ords, and 1 statement piece.
• Pro Tip: Upload the same outfit in different colors as different product variations.

Jewelry Brands

• Start With: 10–15 pieces
• Why: Jewelry is small, easy to photograph, and often doesn’t require sizing, so it’s okay to start with more.
• Example: 5 earrings, 3 bracelets, 4 necklaces, 2 rings.
• Pro Tip: Highlight what makes each item unique (material, origin, cultural inspiration).

Food Vendors

• Start With: 3–6 dishes/snacks
• Why: Food requires tight inventory management. Too many dishes can lead to waste and stress.
• Example: If you sell small chops, start with samosas, puff-puff, spring rolls, and one combo tray.
• Pro Tip: Group variations into meal combos (e.g. "Party Pack", "Lunch Special").

Footwear

• Start With: 5–10 styles
• Why: Footwear needs size variations, so keep the style count manageable.
• Example: Start with 3 slippers, 2 sandals, 2 sneakers, and 1 signature piece.
• Pro Tip: Use your product descriptions to explain sizing or fit.

Bags & Accessories

• Start With: 5–12 pieces
• Why: You want to show variety without looking scattered.
• Example: 3 mini bags, 3 totes, 2 crossbodies, 2 accessories like scarves or purse charms.
• Pro Tip: Highlight bags with the most appeal as your "best sellers".

Don’t Be Fooled by Big Brands, It’s tempting to look at popular Instagram stores with 100+ products and think you need to do the same. But remember, most of those businesses have full teams while you’re likely starting solo or with a small team. Focus on doing a few things well instead of many things poorly.

Here’s An Action Plan For You To Decide Your Launch Number

1. Pick 3–5 core categories.A fashion brand can choose: Tops, bottoms, dresses, accessories, footwear A Jewelry brand can choose: Earrings, Necklaces, Bracelets, Rings, Anklets
2. Choose 2–5 products per category.That gives you 10 to 25 products total
3. Test and track.Watch what sells, what customers ask about, and what gets clicks or saves.
4. Add more over time.Plan a content or product drop calendar—e.g. add 2 new items every week or biweekly.

Starting Small Doesn’t Mean Playing Small

Some merchants processing the highest amount of orders on Catlog have only 3 products. What they do differently is promote their store consistently, use clear product info and share their store link everyday.

Your success isn’t tied to the number of products you launch with. It’s about how well you sell what you have.

What If You Have Many Products Already?

If you’re a vendor with a big collection, great! Just don’t drop them all at once. Group them into themes and launch in batches:

• Week 1: Everyday pieces
• Week 2: Party/statement styles
• Week 3: New arrivals or pre-orders

This gives you fresh content to post and keeps your store looking active.

Final Thoughts

There’s no magic number, but if you’re starting your online store, 10 to 20 products is a solid range. Choose your best-sellers, focus on quality images and clear descriptions, and promote your store like it owes you money.

And the good news? With Catlog, you can upload unlimited products when you subscribe to the Business Plus plan. That means you can grow at your own pace, test what works, and keep your store fresh without limits.

Ready to launch smart? Your store is just a click away. Let’s go!