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Dropshipping Checklist

This checklist is great for you if you're not sure where to start or if your head's spinning from all the information that is available in our free articles.
All of the guides are sorted, so it will be easier and faster for you to build or continue with your own dropshipping store; step-by-step!
Build your dropshipping store now!

24 Steps to Start Dropshipping

1. Learning the basics
2. Legal and tax rules
3. Where are you going to sell?
4. What kind of store are you going to open?
5. Product research
6. Target audience research
7. The basics of your store
Step 8. Using AI for your dropshipping store
9. Getting a dropshipping supplier
10. Sourcing your products differently
11. Working with a dropshipping supplier
12. Branding your store
13. Making your store even better
14. Making 1-3 products perfect to start with
15. Marketing
16. Getting your first sales
17. Setting up customer service
18. Not sure yet how to get started?
19. Handling your business
20. Receiving payments
21. Optimizing your store
22. Setting up your email marketing
23. Still can't start or continue? Read this
24. The next level

I am SO thankful to have found this guide / website. It has been super helpful, as everything else out there is thousands of dollars from 'guru' drop-shippers who are all saying the same basic things.”

- Kate 👍 via Email

Step 1. Learning the basics

Before you start your dropshipping store, it's a good idea to put your mindset right and learn the basics.

Step 2. Legal and tax rules

Learn about the laws and taxes for dropshipping businesses and manage your finances right!

Step 3. Where are you going to sell?

It's important to know where you're going to sell. Plus, don't forget to check out our premade dropshipping stores article in case you were wondering about that.

Step 4. What kind of store are you going to open?

Now that you know where you're going to sell, let's figure out what kind of online store you're going to open. If you're interested in doing product research first to see what's out there, then you can do step four first.

Step 5. Product research

Did you figure out what kind of store you're going to open? Great! Let's start with the product research. Don't forget that you can always change your type/niche again if you find something different while doing product research.

Step 6. Target audience research

It's important to know who your target audience is going to be. For example, where is your target audience located? If you know this, it will be easier to pick suppliers later on.

Step 7. The basics of your store

Before opening your store and finding a supplier, let's do a few more basic things first. Like getting a name and logo for your store!

Step 8. Using AI for your dropshipping store

By now, you've probably heard about all those AI tools like ChatGPT and Midjourney, but how can they help run your dropshipping store? Check out the articles below to learn more!

Step 9. Getting a dropshipping supplier

Let's continue building your dropshipping store by finding a supplier (or suppliers) that will fit with you and your business needs. We also have a few big lists of local dropshipping suppliers (for example, in the UK), which you can find here.

Step 10. Sourcing your products differently

Not everyone wants to source their products the same way. Here are a few great options for you!

Step 11. Working with a dropshipping supplier

Before working with any dropshipping supplier, it's good to read these articles here so you know what to expect.

Step 12. Branding your store

Let's continue making your store better! Don't forget that this is an ongoing progress. It's not something you do for a few hours in the beginning and forget about it.

Step 13. Making your store even better

Next up is doing things like setting up your standard pages (for example, a refund policy and a shipping policy).

Step 14. Making 1-3 products perfect to start with

If you're just beginning, don't split your attention between too many products. Start with optimizing a few products and move and improve from there.

Step 15. Marketing

Let's move on to the most important part; marketing your store and products! If you're not sure how to start, read our beginner's guide to marketing for dropshipping.

Step 16. Getting your first sales

The first sale is always something magical, so don't forget to check out these two articles here.

Step 17. Setting up customer service

Set up a system to deal with customer questions, complaints, and returns quickly and effectively. This keeps your customers satisfied and builds trust in your business.

Step 18. Not sure yet how to get started?

It's not always easy to get started. That's why we have created a lot of articles with real examples that will hopefully inspire you to get started! And if you're looking for more inspirational articles, check out this category page here.

Step 19. Handling your business

These articles will guide you further on how to best handle your dropshipping business.

Step 20. Receiving payments

Ready to receive payments from your customers? For this step, let's go over what popular payment methods are out there and how not to get banned by them.

Step 21. Optimizing your store

Let's continue by optimizing your store even more. Here you will decrease the chance of people leaving (meaning: these people will not buy anything) by checking things like your store's loading time and grammar.

Step 22. Setting up your email marketing

As you might have read in our beginner's guide to marketing for dropshipping, email marketing is not for everyone directly, but it's still a great idea to get it set up from the start so you won't lose any email subscribers.

Step 23. Still can't start or continue? Read this

If, after following all these 20 steps above, you still have trouble starting or continuing with your dropshipping store, then take a look at the articles below. Plus, don't forget that you can always contact us here!

Step 24. The next level

Ready to take your dropshipping store to the next level? Take a look at the articles below.

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Do Dropshipping is your go-to blog for everything dropshipping. Discover vetted suppliers, product research, and step-by-step guides to launch and grow an online ecommerce store.

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Disclaimer: The content on Do Dropshipping is intended to inform, inspire, and guide your ecommerce journey. We research carefully and aim to keep information accurate and current, but it is not legal, financial, tax, or professional advice and may not fit your exact situation.

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