# How to start dropshipping – guide for beginners The world of **online marketing** is known to be in constant flux. Countless people are on the lookout daily for products and/or ways to sell them online. One such way is called **dropshipping**. In short, this [eCommerce model](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/online-marketing/online-sales/e-commerce/ "E-Commerce") is an online business whereby goods for sale are not stocked by the actual seller. Instead, the seller is merely a link between the customer and the supplier, the **product manufacturer, or a wholesaler**. The following explains how to become a dropshipper and what you need to bear in mind. ## Product sales without stock: pros and cons If you’re toying with the idea of starting your own dropshipping business, it’s worth considering the advantages and disadvantages. One of the biggest advantages of the business model is that as a dropshipper, you don't have to worry about **purchasing your goods or storing them**. Moreover, you are not tied to a single place – the Internet opens up the entire world as your business location (so long as you have a working Wi-Fi connection). Aside from the countless positive aspects, take note of the risks of dropshipping. As a dropshipper you are **reliant on a supplier** and **take responsibility** if product-related errors occur. In the following, we compiled an overview of the main advantages and disadvantages of dropshipping. More details are also available in our article [“What is dropshipping?”](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/online-marketing/online-sales/what-is-dropshipping/ "What is dropshipping?"):
Pros Cons
Easy entry into eCommerce No direct contact with customers
Not required to purchase goods Dependent on the reliability of the wholesaler or manufacturer
Zero costs to stock and store goods Full responsibility for shipping and product defects
No/lower insurance premiums Delivery delays when manufacturer runs out of stock
Increasing sales through product diversity Complicated shipping process when customers buy products from different sources
Location-independent working thanks to the Internet
--- ### Note The term “**dropshipper**” tends to be used in two different ways. On the one hand, it refers to a supplier who is involved in storing and shipping products, and on the other hand, it can refer to the **operator of a dropshipping business** who does not have to deal with storage. In this article, we refer to the latter. --- ## Choosing the right dropshipping product If after weighing the **pros and cons**, you’ve decided to start a dropshipping business there are important questions that need answering right from the get-go: What products will you offer and which are best suited to being [sold through your webstore](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/online-marketing/online-sales/distributing-goods-in-e-commerce/ "Distributing goods in e-commerce")? Choosing a **profitable business idea** is not always easy, because many offers tend to be available across numerous other stores and demand is influenced by many factors. Trends vary, prices fluctuate, seasons come and go. For this reason, before starting a dropshipping business, it’s best to thoroughly **research** the right merchandise. Social networks like Pinterest, eCommerce sites and Amazon's bestseller lists, and online services like Google Trends will show you which products sell like hot cakes. From home furnishings to technical accessories to fashion and accessories – the selection of sale categories is huge. [The best dropshipping products](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/online-marketing/online-sales/best-products-for-dropshipping/ "Best products for dropshipping") tend to be useful, rare, or cheap ones. Ideally, you can sell **niche items** (legally compliant ones) that are popular, but aren’t in heavy competition with other online stores. Product groups that achieve the highest sales figures in the dropshipping business include interior design items, health and beauty products, and jewelry. In contrast, there are plenty of products that are **not suited for dropshipping**. These include, for example, items that are large or bulky and/or fragile, items that are not allowed to be advertised or sold and products that appeal to mass tastes and are therefore available everywhere. ## The right partner on your side Once you’ve discovered your perfect product niche, you’ll want to find the **right partner for your online business** who will be responsible for the storage and delivery of your products. As already mentioned, choosing your supplier is one of the most important decisions you will make because the products ordered through your [newly launched online store](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/startup/get-started/setting-up-an-online-store-the-basics/ "Start an online store - basics") will be delivered by them. A reliable and well-known supplier ensures that customers are satisfied and **respond positively** to your business. Other aspects to recognize a good provider by are a wide range of goods, high-quality products, and short shipping times. AliExpress and DHgate are among [the best dropshipping providers](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/online-marketing/online-sales/dropshipping-providers/ "Dropshipping providers") worldwide. ## How to start your dropshipping business Launching a dropshipping business requires investment of time and money. A budding dropshipper should budget for the registration of a domain, a subscription to an eCommerce software and possibly payments for staff or advertising measures. The latter tend to be the most expensive. Once you’ve planned your budget, you can select from several options to start your online store and dropshipping business. If you don't want to buy an existing web store, you can start your business from scratch. This will require **configuration of an eCommerce platform** which is easy enough using one of [the best WooCommerce dropshipping plugins](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/online-marketing/online-sales/dropshipping-plugins/ "Dropshipping Plugins"), for example. --- ### Tip All beginnings are hard, but it doesn’t need to be that way. Budding dropshippers can use [Managed Hosting for WordPress](https://www.ionos.ca/hosting/managed-wordpress "Hosting for WordPress from IONOS") to create their website and simply connect to [WordPress WooCommerce](https://www.ionos.ca/ecommerce-solutions/woocommerce-hosting "Hosting for WooCommerce from IONOS") for their eCommerce needs. The plugin for creating your online store is suitable for beginners. --- ## Advertise your dropshipping business There is a reason why dropshippers **put most of their funds** into promotion. When [selling products online](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/online-marketing/online-sales/how-to-sell-online/ "How to sell online") it is crucial that you build and **continuously promote your store's (web) presence**. In the past, stationary stores relied on flyers, TV commercials, and time-honored word-of-mouth advertising. Today, the Internet provides business owners with a wide range of options for [getting their website out there](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/online-marketing/search-engine-marketing/promote-your-website/ "Promote your website"). One of them is [social media marketing](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/online-marketing/social-media/successful-social-media-marketing/ "Successful social media marketing"). Platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, etc. can be useful to promote your dropshipping business. Apps like **Instagram** are particularly suitable for [product photography](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/online-marketing/online-sales/product-photography-for-your-online-store/ "Product photography for your online store") to picture your products in the perfect light. Another strategy to increase the exposure of your online store involves **linking it to a larger eCommerce platform**. There are several good reasons why you may want to do so. First of all, it increases your chances of sales, because the majority of Internet users are drawn to marketplaces by popular online retailers such as Amazon and eBay when searching for a product. Furthermore, Amazon provides an **advertising platform** that you can use to promote items in search results. Not to mention that reviews are valuable to fine-tune the development and improvement of your store. The bottom line is that the **(digital) exchange of information** with customers has always been a vital element of conducting business. The Internet enables global communication at a much larger and time-independent scale. In addition to exchanges via social media, customer service, messenger services and chatbots, for example, offer the opportunity for direct dialog with customers. And those who prefer indirect contact can make use of newsletters, podcasts, and blogs. --- ### Tip There are various options to communicate with customers. A [business ](https://www.ionos.ca/office-solutions/create-an-email-address "Email address with own domain from IONOS")email that matches the [domain](https://www.ionos.ca/domains/domain-names "Register your domain with IONOS") of your choice should be part of the package. Online web forms and live chats for direct dialog can make your business more appealing. --- This is a markdown version of: [https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/online-marketing/online-sales/how-to-start-dropshipping/](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/online-marketing/online-sales/how-to-start-dropshipping/) for AI/LLM consumption.