What is Dropshipping? What You Need to Know Before Getting Started
If you are looking for an online business opportunity, you have probably come across dropshipping. Dropshipping is an online business model that offers high returns for aspiring e-commerce entrepreneurs. Dropshipping can be started with a small amount of start-up capital and sweat equity.
Once you begin to see success, you can scale up by devoting more resources to advertising and brand building. But how does dropshipping work, and why should you choose this model to realize your entrepreneurial dreams?
Before we go any further, it is important to know the answer to the question, "What is dropshipping?
What is dropshipping?
Dropshipping is a type of retail fulfillment method for online stores in which merchants purchase goods from third-party suppliers in response to customer orders, instead of stocking them in a warehouse. The products are then dispatched straight to the consumer. With this method, the merchant does not have to handle the merchandise directly. This is a familiar term.
For retail store managers, this is a virtually hassle-free process when it comes to shipping and order fulfillment. The seller does not have to stock merchandise, order large quantities of inventory, or physically fulfill orders at all. Instead, a third-party supplier ships the goods on behalf of the seller.
Dropshipping is ideal for entrepreneurs because it does not require as much operating capital as the traditional retail model to operate a store. There is no need to open a physical store, hire employees, light the lights, pay overhead, and stock merchandise. Instead, they set up an online store and sell wholesale from suppliers who already have the goods and warehouse space.
If you are interested in traditional e-commerce, sign up for Handshake, a wholesale marketplace built by Shopify that connects you with thousands of U.S.-based suppliers.
What is a Dropshipper?
A dropshipper is a manufacturer or supplier that manages inventory for a retail merchant and ships orders to its customers.
The retailer is primarily responsible for driving traffic to the store and acquiring customers by processing their orders, meaning you effectively become the middleman. However, by raising the price of the products you sell, you get the lion's share of the profits. It is a simple business model, yet extremely rewarding.
Dropshipping has a low barrier to entry and requires little capital to start up, which is why millions of entrepreneurs have entered the business. That's probably why you're interested. And the best news of all. With dropshipping, you can build a long-term sustainable business right from your laptop.
Of course, this business strategy has both advantages and disadvantages. Reviewing the disadvantages of dropshipping is crucial before beginning an online store. Once you understand the pros and cons of drop shipping, you can easily learn how to do drop shipping effectively.
Advantages of Dropshipping
1. dropshipping businesses are easy to set up
You do not need any business experience to start a dropshipping business. If you take the time to learn the basics, you can get your business up and running quickly and then learn as you go.
Dropshipping is easy to start, with lower initial costs than other retail business models. For example, you don't need a warehouse to store your products or a team to support you. You don't have to worry about purchasing or shipping. It is surprisingly hassle-free, especially once you get started.
All of this means you can start your business today. In fact, you can have everything up and running within hours.
However, you do need some basic knowledge and the right tools and resources, which is why we created this guide. By the time you finish reading this guide, you will have the knowledge you need to start a dropshipping business.
2. dropshipping is scalable
Scaling up does not require any major changes to your business model at all. The larger you scale, the more you will need to focus on sales and marketing, but your day-to-day operations will remain largely the same as you process more orders.
The advantage of dropshipping is that infrastructure costs do not skyrocket as the scale increases. This allows more money to be allocated to the marketing aspect of the business. The more you focus on promoting your business and providing a great customer experience, the better off you will be.
3. dropshipping does not require an office
Dropshipping does not require a high level of investment, as the business can be run from a laptop. The biggest expense is advertising, but this is a budget that can be increased as much as you want once your store gets going. As your business grows, costs can remain fairly low. Especially when compared to traditional business expenses.
4. drop shipping is flexible
This is one of the biggest advantages. You are your own employer and have the authority to choose your own rules. Dropshipping is one of the most flexible careers anyone can aspire to.
You can work from home as long as you have a laptop and work at your convenience. This is perfect for entrepreneurs who desire a business that works for them. You can work at your own pace. In return, you can set your own pace.
Dropshipping is also adaptable in the sense that you have a lot of freedom in making decisions that fit you. You can easily list new products at any time and adjust your strategy on the fly. And with vacation time, you can automate everything and generate passive income while you are away. You get the idea; there are countless opportunities.
5. managing dropshipping is simpler
Because you don't need to hire people or rent a warehouse to manage things, dropshipping is hassle-free. Once you have your suppliers, all you have to do is manage your online store.
Disadvantages of Dropshipping
1. dropshipping has narrow profit margins
One of the disadvantages of dropshipping is that initially, you should expect a small profit margin. This does not mean that you will not be able to make a profit, but you should be aware that product margins may be low in niche areas.
This issue is especially problematic when dropshipping in an ultra-competitive niche. competition for the attention of customers may make it difficult to earn the desired profit. However, if you choose the right niche market and target the right customers, you are more likely to earn greater profits. In niches where there is little competition, profit margins can be higher, but at some point sales may come to a head. Therefore, the success of many dropshipping stores depends on highly optimized advertising to generate a large volume of sales.
2. dropshipping can complicate order processing
Dropshipping looks simple. The customer places an order, the store processes it, and the supplier delivers. And for the most part, it is easy.
However, if you are sourcing products from multiple suppliers, you may run into some problems. If each supplier uses a different shipping method, this can create problems for both you and your customers. Shipping costs can be expensive, especially if you ship multiple products, depending on your shipping setup.
Different suppliers will also have different processing and billing mechanisms. The need to manage supplier interactions can sometimes be tricky.
3. drop shipping is uncontrollable
The disadvantage of dropshipping is that you have no control over certain aspects of the dropshipping process, such as purchasing products, processing orders, and shipping. Therefore, you can only hope that your business partners will make everything work correctly and seamlessly. Some entrepreneurs may not like this lack of control, but it is usually not a problem.
It just means that when something goes wrong, it can be difficult to manage. Supplier problems can sometimes cause customer retention issues, but proper damage control can mitigate that and minimize customer churn.
4. dropshipping makes customer service more difficult
This is another problem that occurs when an order goes bad or a supplier goes bankrupt. Since you are only the store owner and do not have much control, it can be difficult to organize orders and provide customer support.
The most unfortunate disadvantage of dropshipping is that you are the one who has to take responsibility when a customer has a complaint. If there is a problem with your supplier, you could face problems even if you have done everything correctly. That said, taking responsibility on behalf of your suppliers and absorbing mistakes is part of your business model, so don't sweat it.
Is dropshipping right for you?
Dropshipping is not for everyone. It is also not a get-rich-quick scheme. However, it can be an exciting endeavor, as long as you understand that there are good and bad things about it. Nevertheless, it is understandable to have the following concerns
- I don't know if I'll have enough time to start a business.
- I don't want to lose my job in the office.
- If I invest a lot of time and money in dropshipping and it doesn't work out, what then?.......
It is natural to have such fears when you decide to start a business, but don't let them get the best of you. If you think dropshipping might be a way for you to make more money and enjoy newfound freedom, take the plunge.
Is dropshipping profitable?
There are many different ways to start and grow a dropshipping business. Our entrepreneurial stories showcase how some merchants have started dropshipping businesses to make a few hundred dollars a month, while others have launched multiple six-figure stores. whether you start dropshipping as an introduction to e-commerce or make it a business model that will last forever. It's critical to comprehend how dropshipping can be successful.
Dropshipping as a Side Business
What are some of the most attractive aspects of dropshipping? It is perfect for a side business because it can be set up quickly and is adaptable. Many entrepreneurs choose dropshipping as a side business while still having a day job that provides a steady income. In other words, they can pursue their entrepreneurial dreams without sacrificing their day job.
The number one concern here is that your employer will prevent you from working a second job, but believe it or not, many companies do not mind you working a second job. Ask about the company's policy on side hustles and review non-compete agreements to make sure you're in the clear. You also want to make sure there are no conflicts of interest. But once everything checks out, you are good to go.
You do not need to devote a lot of time or effort to dropshipping. In other words, there is a good chance that you can work on it without any problems. Won't my side hustle go wrong? No, that is not true. You can spend only a couple of hours each day on your dropshipping business and still be successful.
However, it is important to know your limits. If you regularly work overtime at your day job and struggle to find time to fulfill important daily responsibilities, you may not be able to give your dropshipping business the attention it needs. There are not a lot of things that dropshipping requires, but you do need to set aside time in your day.
In many cases, it requires some creative time management and scheduling. Many dropshipping retailers juggle their day job with a second job; you don't have to sleep for three hours or skip meals. You just need to develop a schedule that works for you and stick to it.
Use dropshipping as a full-time e-commerce business
One of the benefits of dropshipping is flexibility. You can scale your business as large or as small as you want. Many dropshippers do dropshipping as a side business, but it can also be a viable career path. You can be a full-time dropshipping retailer if you want to.
When you have enough customers and sales, you can go from part-time to full-time dropshipping. Best of all, you can achieve this at the pace you want.
Of course, there is more work involved, but it is well worth it. Once you know how to do dropshipping effectively, you won't have to worry about unstable income. An established dropshipping e-commerce business runs like clockwork and can even feel like a passive income earner.
And because it doesn't take up a lot of your time, you can even work a second job while working as a dropshipping salesperson. There are no limits.
You may still be skeptical about making dropshipping your job. But there are thousands of success stories of entrepreneurs who started right where you are. You don't need a business degree or millions of dollars to make a living in dropshipping.
The Dropshipping Process
Now that we have explained what dropshipping is, let's move on to how it works. Here we will walk you through the entire dropshipping process step-by-step and look at what the customer experiences (and why it is important).
As you can see, the retailer is only one piece of the puzzle. Successful dropshipping depends on multiple stakeholders working together in sync. It is divided into three fundamental phases.
Assume manufacturer A makes water bottles. After the bottles come off the production line, they are sold in bulk to suppliers and wholesalers, who in turn resell the bottles to retailers.
The retailer looks for suppliers that carry a particular type of product. The retailer and supplier then enter into a contract to work together.
A little note here. You can buy directly from the manufacturer, but it is often much easier to buy from the supplier.
Therefore, while it may seem easier to buy directly from the manufacturer, it is in your best interest to buy from the supplier (and to be able to accommodate some price increases).
Suppliers often specialize in a particular niche, making it easy to find the type of product you need.
Suppliers and wholesalers do not sell directly to the average consumer; that is the job of the retailer. The retailer is the last point of contact between the product and the customer.
Retailers provide an online store for consumers to purchase products. The wholesaler markups the product, then the retailer marks it up even more to establish the final price. The "markup" refers to setting a price that covers the cost of the product and brings in a profit.
That is all. This is the entire dropshipping process from start to finish. It is a simple, yet very important concept in business.
Later in this guide, we will discuss how to start a dropshipping retail business. In other words, you will learn how to become a business that purchases products from wholesalers and sells them to consumers. This means selling through eBay or your own website with an online store.
Now that you know how dropshipping is a process, let's consider what it means for the customer.
Dropshipping and the Customer Experience.
You've bought products online hundreds of times before, but you probably haven't thought about the experience. It's something consumers take for granted. As a customer, you don't have to think about it, but as a retailer, you absolutely should.
Retailers can learn a lot by thinking about the ideal customer experience when ordering in-store. This should be obvious, but if there are snags in the customer experience, you could be in trouble as a retailer. It is important to know what the buyer expects.
Assume you have a business called Fancy Water Bottles, a website called FancyWaterBottles Dot com, and a wholesaler called Water Bottles Worldwide. The ordering process from the customer's point of view would look something like this
- Customer A orders a water bottle from FancyWaterBottles Dot com and immediately receives an email confirmation of purchase.
- A few hours to a few days later, Customer A receives a notification that his order has been shipped. This notification includes tracking information so Customer A knows exactly where the package is in transit.
- Customer A receives a water bottle.
Until now, every time you have purchased something over the Internet, you have gone through a similar process. However, there are two important aspects to this experience.
First, it is simple. All the consumer needs to do is order and pay for the merchandise. Everything else, including order confirmation emails and tracking information, is handed to them on a silver platter.
And this brings us to the second point: convenience. Every aspect of the purchasing experience is extremely convenient. Online purchases can be completed in a matter of minutes, and customers are free to browse any retailer's site. Moreover, if done well, the customer does not have to interact with anyone. Minimal effort is required to achieve the goal of getting the product.
This experience is much like using a self-checkout system to buy a water bottle at a big-box store. It is a no-brainer process. This is a big reason people buy online in the first place. Therefore, your storefront must provide that same level of convenience to your customers.
Last but not least, customers do not need to know that there are other parties involved other than the retailer. Think about it. When you buy something online, think "I bought a water bottle from Fancy Water Bottles. You don't think about where the retailer purchased the item or who is shipping the order.
Thus, the dropshipping process is ideal from the customer's perspective. So what goes on behind the scenes of dropshipping?
Behind the Scenes of Dropshipping
This is what dropshipping looks like from the customer's perspective, but what goes on behind the scenes? Here is an overview.
- Customer A orders a water bottle from FancyWaterBottles Dot com and receives an email confirmation of processing. Let's say, for example, that the total came to $14.95.
- Fancy Water Bottles receives the same confirmation email along with Customer A's payment. This is usually accomplished by automated software that sends confirmations to both the buyer and seller.
- The order is forwarded to Water Bottles Worldwide by Fancy Water Bottles. Typically, a sales agent from Water Bottles Worldwide receives and executes the order. The retailer is then billed for the purchase.
- In this example, Water Bottles Worldwide charges $12.95 per water bottle. The retailer pays that amount and the difference is the retailer's profit. In this case, the retailer would earn a profit of $2.00.
- Water Bottles Worldwide packages the order. The wholesaler ships the product, but the package is addressed to Fancy Water Bottles and the name Fancy Water Bottles appears on the invoice and packing slip. (The wholesaler sends the invoice and tracking information to the retailer.
- The retailer sends the shipping information to the customer. This concludes the retailer's role in the ordering process.
- The customer receives the product and enjoys their water bottle.
This is the drop shipping process. You can see that the retailer, wholesaler, and manufacturer must work together perfectly. Thus, dropshipping can be a smooth business with minimal burden on all parties involved if the retailer, wholesaler, and manufacturer work well together.
One thing to emphasize here is that the retailer is only responsible for two steps: placing the order with the supplier and guiding the shipment to the consumer. Occasionally, they may have to take on other tasks, such as customer service, but if everything runs smoothly, these two steps are all that is needed to complete the process.
How to Get Started in Dropshipping
Dropshipping may sound like a complicated puzzle, but once you learn how to do it, it is a smooth process for everyone involved. As a dropshipping seller, you can do everything remotely and never touch a single product.
Remember, you don't need business experience to open a dropshipping store. It certainly helps, but it is not necessary. Many budding entrepreneurs don't pursue their dreams because they think they need an MBA or years of experience. However, that is not the case. One of the advantages of dropshipping is that you can learn how to dropship as you go.
Additionally, there are many resources available to make dropshipping easier. Even if you have no business experience at all, you can easily make a profit. But it is well worth it.
In summary: What is dropshipping in 2022?
The question "What is dropshipping?" and all of the important queries you ought to be posing before starting have been answered. Now it's your turn to roll up your sleeves, embrace the learning curve, and immerse yourself in dropshipping.
You may start small at first, fearing uncertainty and failure, but all successful entrepreneurs start out the same. Make a strategic plan, assess your business opportunity and costs, and make your dream a reality.