General
What Is Dropshipping & How Do You Get Started?
Understanding dropshipping and steps to launch your own online business
May 2, 2024
16 min read
Dropshipping is a low-risk order fulfillment option for individuals or companies who want to sell products online. The main difference between a dropshipping business and traditional retailers is that, when a customer purchases a product, all responsibilities, including order processing and shipping, are outsourced to a third-party supplier.
While the process of dropshipping has changed the way entrepreneurs approach e-commerce, the business’s success often depends on choosing the right supplier. The best dropship suppliers provide quality products, on-time delivery, and excellent customer service, which are key to building a profitable online store.
As of 2024, approximately 283 million people in the U.S. shop online, or about 85 percent of the population. With more people turning to e-commerce sites than ever, dropshipping has emerged as one of the most popular business models due to its low startup costs and high profit margins.
In addition, around 24 percent of online retailers have adopted dropshipping as their primary method of fulfilling orders. However, the key to remaining competitive lies in finding the best dropshipper to fit your needs and the needs of your customers.
Here’s what you need to prioritise when considering dropshipping suppliers for your online store:
One of the most important factors to consider when choosing dropship suppliers is the variety and quality of their products. A supplier with a large inventory makes it easier to cater to a wide range of shoppers.
However, you need more than good product selection. Make sure the supplier provides high-quality products, as this will directly affect your brand’s reputation and customer satisfaction. Choose companies that offer product samples, so you can verify the quality before adding products to your website.
Quick turnaround times are essential for maintaining customer satisfaction and loyalty. Extended shipping times and delays can lead to negative feedback and lost business. When searching for the top dropshipping suppliers, be sure to check their shipping times and costs.
For U.S.-based dropshipping companies, the average shipping times are 2 to 5 business days. Additionally, be sure to check if they offer order tracking, which can help both you and your customers monitor orders.
Like any business, e-commerce companies can’t survive without focusing on excellent customer service. Look for dropshippers with a dedicated support team, which can make a difference when trying to resolve issues for your customer quickly.
To evaluate customer service, test how fast the supplier responds and how willing they are to assist with product defects, returns, and other order discrepancies. Ask questions like, “Do you offer returns?” and “What is your return policy?” Check online for positive and negative customer service reviews and note patterns.
Using technology to automate business practices can help you grow as a company and ensure efficient operations. Your chosen supplier should offer technologies that work with your e-commerce platform, including real-time inventory updates, order automation, and easy product uploads. The easier it is to integrate the dropshipper with your site, the more you can focus on marketing and growing your company.
Be sure to consider the supplier’s pricing structure. Your costs will directly affect your profit margin, which should be between 15 and 20 percent for dropshipping businesses. Generally, if you can sell products at 10 percent above wholesale prices, you can maintain a healthy profit margin. Also, inquire about hidden fees, such as membership costs, order processing fees, and minimum order requirements.
Before searching for dropshippers, be sure you understand the difference between dropshipping vendors and dropshipping wholesalers.
Dropshipping vendors offer a specific product line catering to a distinct niche, such as clothing, household items, or sporting goods.
Dropshipping wholesalers allow you to purchase goods in bulk, either directly from the manufacturer or the distributor. From there, you’ll store the goods and resell them to customers through online stores.
If you aren’t interested in managing an inventory of goods, it’s best to search for dropshipping vendors. The following dropship supplier directory provides information on 21 suppliers that ship worldwide.
Tradelle is a fully automated fulfillment solution, product research tool, and dropshipping wholesalers. Not only do they assist with choosing products, but they also help streamline and simplify your entire dropshipping store. Their sourcing team purchases products directly from Chinese manufacturers, guaranteeing the best possible price, quality, and processing time. Additionally, as a UK-based company, they provide fantastic support.
Key Features: The site offers thousands of products, all backed by sales data and validated by their research team. Their product catalog is broad, covering a variety of niches. It also integrates seamlessly with Shopify through their direct Shopify integration. There are no minimum order quantities, and they can automatically fulfill and ship orders. Parcel tracking information is available for all orders and is automatically forwarded to both Shopify and the customer.
Pros: The order processing is completely automated. They provide accurate order tracking, proper invoicing for businesses, and can handle returns as well. All major credit cards are accepted for their fulfillment service, with funds being automatically deducted once the customer has paid.
Cons: The products are all shipped from China. While express carriers are always chosen, delivery times of 5-10 business days are the average. As of right now, they don’t offer branding or package customization, which can be an issue for more experienced dropshippers.
Zendrop is a dropshipping company based in Austin, Texas. Because the company’s headquarters are in the United States, U.S. shipping times tend to be much quicker than international shipping. Buyers can choose from a diverse range of products, including electronics, fashion, home and garden, health and beauty, and toys. Many of the products are sourced from China, but there’s also a mix of products from the U.S.
Key Features: Zendrop can help locate specific products not found within their catalog, which can be extremely helpful for niche markets. They offer customer packaging and private labeling, advanced analytics, and reporting. Plus, the site integrates well with most major e-commerce platforms. Several membership plans are available, including free and multiple paid plans with advanced features.
Pros: The site offers email and live chat support, with high-tier plans receiving faster response times. Zendrop has partnerships with suppliers who offer exclusive deals and discounts to users, helping businesses save on costs.
Cons: Products from U.S. suppliers are generally more expensive than those from China. The number of products is limited in comparison to other dropshippers.
AutoDS is an automated dropshipping app that helps streamline and simplify dropshipping for your company. While they don’t have an inventory and don’t sell products, the app can help you locate dropshipping products and find private suppliers based on your niche.
Key Features: AutoDS lets you compare more than 8 million trending products from global suppliers and add them instantly to your store in just one click.It also helps you build your online store, automate orders, track shipping, and handle returns easily. You also have the option to print and market custom products, such as t-shirts and hats.
Pros: AutoDS automates the entire order fulfilment process and allows you to monitor and update prices and stock levels. The app also adjusts prices on your products based on market trends to help maximise profit margins. With AutoDS, you have access to a wide range of suppliers, including larger retailers such as Walmart and Amazon.
Cons: Subscription plans can be expensive, especially for small businesses. The site has a steep learning curve to fully understand and utilise all the features and automation tools. Communication with suppliers is provided through AutoDS, which can lead to delays.
Unlike other dropshipping companies, Spocket focuses mostly on sourcing products from suppliers within the U.S. and Europe, which often leads to higher product quality and more reliable shipping times. The company offers a curated product selection, which features unique, high-quality items distinct from their competitors.
Key Features: The company’s product line includes fashion and accessories, home and garden, beauty and personal care, electronics and gadgets, pet products, automotive accessories, and tools. You must create an account to use the site and choose from multiple levels of memberships, depending on the features you need. Returns and refunds are based on each supplier’s policies.
Pros: Ideal for new e-commerce sites and beginners,Spocket handles the entire order fulfillment process from product sourcing to shipping. You can order product samples before adding them to your store. Shipping within the U.S. and Europe takes 2 to 7 business days, and the company provides order tracking.
Cons: Product costs tend to be higher than competitors, and premium membership fees can be expensive for small businesses. Because the company focuses on the U.S. and Europe, it might not be ideal for companies catering to Asian markets or customers in other areas.
CJDropshipping is a dropshipping platform based in China that offers hundreds of thousands of products for global resellers. The site integrates well with platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce, making it easy to automate everything from product fulfillment to inventory tracking.
Key Features: There are no setup fees or monthly membership fees for new customers and no minimum order requirements, making it ideal for small businesses and startups. The company offers videos or in-person training to help get you started.
Pros: The platform is intuitive and easy to use, ideal for new online stores.Product packaging may be customised to fit your brand.Shipping is free within the United States.Shipments from U.S. warehouses take 2 to 7 days to arrive, and they offer a variety of shipping options, including USPS, DHL, and their own CJPacket service.
Cons: Freight shipping can be expensive if you’re shipping large items, and overall prices can be higher than other dropshipping companies.
With its main headquarters location in Shenzhen, China, HyperSKU provides easy access to a wide variety of suppliers and manufacturers. Product lines include electronics, fashion and accessories, home and garden, health and beauty, toys, and sports equipment.
The company offers three levels of membership: the free Basic Plan, the Pro Plan, and the Enterprise Plan. After signing up and integrating your website, HyperSKU takes care of the rest, from automatically pulling and synchronising data on products and orders to automating the listing process.
Key Features: The site has a network of manufacturers and suppliers, ensuring competitive prices. While more expensive, the Enterprise plan gives you access to a dedicated account manager who does everything from locating the best suppliers for your business to handling your marketing strategy.
Pros: The company offers a wide range of products and multiple shipping options with tracking. The site integrates well with popular e-commerce platforms and provides numerous tools to streamline ordering processes.
Cons: Standard shipping times can vary and may take several weeks. There’s also a potential for variations in product quality depending on which suppliers you use.The site charges a fee for premium features, which may be out of reach for startups.
DSers is a popular dropshipping company based in Hong Kong designed to integrate with AliExpress. DSer’s tools make it easy to locate reputable sellers, build your inventory base, import and manage your products, and manage multiple stores in a single location. Sellers must create an account to access all the features, and you can choose several levels, including a free plan for beginners and startups.
Key Features: Payments must be made at the time of the order, but DSers accepts multiple payment methods, including major credit cards. Domestic shipments take 7 to 15 business days, while international shipments range from 15 to 30 days. DSers allow you to manage multiple stores and provide bulk order processing for high-volume sellers.
Pros: Pros include access to a wide range of products, full automation, multiple store management, cost and profit analysis tools, and the ability to locate the best suppliers based on price, shipping speed, and reliability.
Cons: The site has a high learning curve, which may make it a poor choice for beginners. Premium features can be expensive, and shipping products can sometimes take a month or longer.
Sellvia is a dropshipping platform featuring a curated list of products with proven track records of success. The site offers a free e-commerce academy to help get new retailers started. Sellvia features fully automated processes, marketing assistance, and one-on-one support. Premium tools include assistance with social media marketing.
Key Features: Sellvia offers step-by-step guidance when setting up an online store for the first time. It integrates well with WordPress, and the site provides a free trial, so you can try it before you buy. Basic websites are also free to use, which is ideal for those starting on their reselling journey.
Pros: The site offers fast shipping times with most orders arriving between 2 to 7 business days. The company provides excellent customer service, and the site is easy to use, even for beginners.
Cons: Drawbacks include high subscription costs and limited product ranges. International shipping takes up to 30 days.
Importify is a powerful product sourcing and importing tool designed for e-commerce entrepreneurs. It simplifies the process of finding and adding products to your online store from various suppliers and marketplaces. Importify supports multiple e-commerce platforms and offers features to streamline product research, importing, and customization.
Key Features:
Pros:
Cons:
Importify serves as a comprehensive solution for e-commerce store owners looking to efficiently populate and manage their product catalogs. By offering a wide range of sourcing options and powerful customization tools, it enables entrepreneurs to quickly scale their online stores with diverse product offerings. While it does require an investment in terms of cost and learning time, the potential to streamline product sourcing and importing processes makes Importify a valuable tool for many e commerce businesses aiming to expand their product range and improve operational efficiency.
SourcinBox is a dropshipping agency based in China that integrates with Shopify and WooCommerce stores, sources products, and fulfills orders. With SourcinBox’s custom sourcing service, you can locate specific products not listed in their catalog, which can be especially useful for niche sellers.
Key Features: This dropshipper provides bulk order management, which is ideal for B2B suppliers. Their customer support is available through email and live chat. They also have a comprehensive support center, which makes it easier to find a resolution to order discrepancies.
Pros: The agent offers a large selection of products across multiple categories.E-commerce stores can establish brand identity with custom packaging and private label options. All products go through extensive quality control and pre-shipment inspections to ensure your customers are satisfied.
Cons: Shipping times vary but typically take 15 to 30 business days. Advanced features, such as optional faster shipping times, can be expensive. Beginners may require assistance understanding and utilising all the features and automation tools, and the quality of the products tends to vary from one supplier to another.
AliExpress is a Chinese e-commerce site similar to eBay or Amazon. The site doesn’t sell products directly to consumers and businesses. Instead, independent small businesses and manufacturers worldwide list and sell merchandise directly to consumers. Because Chinese manufacturers can purchase raw materials at competitive prices, AliExpress’s cost of goods tends to be much lower than that of its competitors.
Key Features: The site offers over one million products, from clothing and shoes to pet supplies and home improvement. It also integrates well with e-commerce software programs, allowing you to streamline ordering processes. There are no minimum order quantities, and the site doesn’t charge membership or subscription fees.
Pros: AliExpress accepts multiple payment methods, including Alipay, PayPal, Western Union, WebMoney, bank transfers, debit cards, Mastercard, Visa, and American Express. AliExpress also offers buyer protection on all purchases, and shipping is free.
Cons: The site sells knock-off brands, so you must be careful when selling to your consumers. Standard shipping for most products takes 15 to 45 business days, while premium takes 7 to 15 days. The U.S. inventory is limited. However, products sold and shipped within the continental U.S. take considerably less time with 2-to-8-day shipping. Customer service can be non-existent.
Alibaba is a massive online marketplace that connects mostly manufacturers and wholesalers with buyers from around the world. The site is primarily used to find distinct products for dropshipping or wholesaling.
Key Features: Account registration is required to access Alibaba’s services. You can choose from multiple membership plans, and the site supports popular payment methods. Product selection ranges from electronics and home and garden to fashion and health and beauty.Order fulfillment is managed by individual suppliers.
Pros: The site provides a vast number of suppliers and also offers bulk purchasing. Alibaba’s trade assurance provides an extra layer of protection for all transactions, and all suppliers are verified. Express shipping times take 3 to 7 days.
Cons: Normal shipping can take months. The site requires minimum order quantities, and product quality varies from one supplier to another. Language barriers and business practices may make customer service issues difficult to resolve.
Doba is a dropshipping platform that connects online retailers with hundreds of reliable sellers across various categories. These include electronics, fashion and apparel, home and garden, automotive, pet products, and toys. Shipping times can vary and depend heavily on the specific retailer. All orders include tracking information for both sellers and customers.
Key Features: Doba allows you to export product data directly to your online store, making it easy to list new products. The site offers a centralised management system to track orders from start to finish. In addition, market research tools help retailers identify trending products and make informed decisions about products they sell.
Pros: Doba helps new e-commerce sites locate the best products for their business. Inventory alerts help you identify when product supply is low to prevent overselling. The site integrates with major e-commerce platforms, such as Shopify and WooCommerce.
Cons: Product prices are often high, making it difficult to compete with larger companies, such as Amazon and Walmart. There are limited customisation features, and it can take weeks to get customer support.
Printify is a print-on-demand dropshipping company that allows customers to create unique items for their buyers and sell them without holding inventory. Printify handles everything from production to packing and shipping, making it a popular choice for new companies selling custom products.
Key Features: Sign-up is free; however, registration is required. Printify offers a free plan with basic features, while the premium plan includes discounted products and access to faster processing times.
Pros: Retailers may order product samples to check quality and accuracy before offering them to customers. Members receive bulk discounts, and the site provides many educational resources to get new sellers started.
Cons: Shipping and processing times can take up to 30 days for special items. Sellers have limited control over order fulfillment, and there are design limitations for custom products. The premium plan can be expensive for startups.
SaleHoo is a wholesale and dropshipping directory that connects e-commerce businesses and verified suppliers with a huge database of suppliers and products. The site provides market research tools, allowing sellers to choose trending, profitable products. Registration is required, and a one-time fee or an annual subscription plan is required for lifetime or long-term access.
Key Features: SaleHoo requires seller verification to ensure legitimacy. The company offers product resourcing tools that help business owners find and evaluate products. Training resources, including webinars and customer support, help new users navigate the dropshipping process.
Pros: The site offers a free trial, allowing entrepreneurs to try the service before committing.Domestic shipping takes 3 to 7 business days, and tracking is provided by suppliers.
Cons: Subscription costs can be expensive for those on a budget. SaleHoo doesn’t directly integrate with e-commerce platforms, and supplier communication is limited.
Kimmy Shop is one of the most popular dropshipping companies for toys, games, puzzles, and luggage. The company is based in Canada, with warehouses in New York and Canada, and sells primarily to resellers throughout North America. The company handles the entire fulfillment process, such as packaging and shipping.
Key Features: Kimmy Shop does not allow companies to resell on marketplaces like Amazon, Etsy, and eBay. Shipping is free for all products; however, the site charges a monthly subscription fee. Domestic shipping times are 5 to 10 business days. International shipping takes 10 to 30 business days.
Pros: Kimmy Shop offers samples for most products, so you can try them before listing. The site integrates with most existing e-commerce platforms and offers customer support and help with returns.
Cons: International shipping can take months. The site is relatively unknown compared to other dropshippers.
Wholesale2b is a dropshipping platform based in the U.S. that provides access to a vast catalog of products from various suppliers. Unlike other dropshipping companies, Wholesale2b is a directory of suppliers with tools and services to help e-commerce businesses get started.
Key Features: Account registration is required, and several subscription plans are available. The basic plan offers access to the product catalog and standard dropshipping features. The premium plan provides support and advanced automation capabilities. Support is available for multiple platforms and marketplaces, including stand-alone stores.
Pros: Most products ship quickly and arrive between 5 to 7 business days. Products include apparel, electronics, home goods, toys and hobbies, automotive, and health and beauty. The site offers a free trial period, so you can try the features before committing.
Cons: Subscription costs and extra fees can add up, making it an impractical choice for beginners. Product availability depends on the supplier and can vary. Shipping times may be up to 30 days. The site also offers limited customisation.
Crov is a dropshipping wholesale center based in California that connects retailers to more than 35,000 products in 20 trending categories from U.S.-based wholesalers. The site offers both paid and free plans and handles everything from order fulfillment to customer service.
Key Features: The site integrates with popular e-commerce platforms and provides order automation to help streamline operations.Domestic shipping takes 5 to 10 business days, while international shipping can take up to 30 days depending on the destination and carrying method.
Pros: Retailers may order samples to evaluate quality before listing items. Order tracking makes it easy to monitor shipment statuses.
Cons: Costs and plan details vary and can be expensive.Product quality can be inconsistent, and customer service can be nonexistent.
Based in Greenfield, Indiana, BryBelly is a small wholesale and dropshipping company providing access to a variety of products across multiple categories. Products include toys and games, home goods, sports and outdoors, health and beauty, office supplies, and party goods. Registration is required, but the site doesn’t charge subscription fees.
Key Features: Costs are based on a pay-per-order basis without subscription fees, which may be attractive if you’re starting and looking to avoid ongoing costs. BryBelly handles the fulfillment process, including packaging, shipping, and customer service.
Pros: Ship times are fast, and the company offers discounts for wholesale purchases.
Cons: The catalog is limited due to the company’s size. In addition, fewer customisation options are available for product listings and branding compared to other dropshippers. Product availability also varies, leading to stockouts and delays in order fulfillment.
With access to over 10 million products, Modalyst is a dropshipping and print-on-demand platform for online stores and businesses. Most major e-commerce platforms have a corresponding Modalyst app, making it easy to learn and manage everything from inventory choice to customer service. Modalyst is ideal for businesses of all sizes and at all stages of ownership.
Key Features: Modalyst utilises a B2B model, focusing on delivering premium products quickly to sellers in Europe, the U.S., and other countries. Because many suppliers are brands, they understand the importance of delivering high-quality products to consumers.
Pros: The products tend to be of higher quality than other dropshippers. Products come from Europe and the U.S., which helps reduce shipping costs and times. Modalyst automates the entire dropshipping process, including listing, inventory control, shipping, and order tracking.
Cons: Payment is required at the time of sale and is not entirely automated. When a customer pays, you must log in to the site and pay for the order before it gets shipped. This can be problematic once your site gets busy and you start making multiple sales daily.
National Dropshippers is a U.S.-based dropshipping platform that focuses only on domestic suppliers. The company strives to make it easier for startups and new e-commerce sites to get started by offering a broad selection of products and quick order fulfillment times. Users must create an account to get started, and the site operates on a pay-per-order basis.
Key Features: The site sells a diverse array of products from clothes and shoes to electronics and seasonal products, such as Christmas trees and decorations. Multiple shipping options are available, which typically takes 3 to 7 business days with some items arriving much sooner.
Pros: The site is user-friendly and easy to set up. It includes tools that assist product management, inventory, and order tracking.
Cons: International shipping is limited, and the quality of products may vary depending on the supplier. Product availability can fluctuate, leading to delays in order delivery.
Footwear US is a dropshipping company focusing on shoes and related items. The site offers access to high-quality footwear and efficient order fulfillment services. New customers must register and create an account before beginning. All sales are charged on a pay-per-order basis, so you purchase items as you sell them. Payments are made at the same time as the order.
Key Features: The site caters specifically to the footwear niche. They offer all sizes, from children’s shoes to orthopedic and wide-width styles.The site is fully automated and provides multiple shipping options. Ship times take 3 to 7 days for domestic orders and up to 30 business days for international transactions.
Pros: The company offers several trials, allowing new customers to check quality and shipping times before scaling up. Footwear US integrates with most existing e-commerce platforms for smooth operation and management.
Cons: Limited product range. Quality depends on the suppliers. International shipping can be extremely slow.
Dropshipping is extremely competitive and requires innovative strategies to stay ahead of the competition. One way to do that is by using a private agent. Private agents operate as intermediaries between dropshipping companies and suppliers and often establish steady business relationships with reliable suppliers. Private agents handle everything, including locating the best products, ensuring the products maintain specific standards, and taking over any other tasks required by a dropshipper.
Some advantages of using a private agent include:
Despite the advantages, private agents cut into your profits, and relying on an agent to handle your inventory and processes means you have less direct control over the sourcing and logistics.
You can find private agents through industry referrals, online dropshipping platforms, tradeshows, professional associations, networking, and social media.
With so many dropshippers out there, choosing the best can be a tricky task but an important one. Before making the final decision, be sure to evaluate companies based on product variety, shipping times, technology and platform tools, integration capabilities, and customer support.
Tradelle can enhance your ecommerce business with product research tools and full store automation, allowing you to focus your attention on marketing and growing your business. Find the best, most profitable products to sell and stay up-to-date with the latest trends. Sign up for a free 7-day trial and learn how to manage your dropshippping business effectively.
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