Do Dropshipping

Dropshipping Checklist

Not sure whether dropshipping is right for you or where to begin? This checklist shows what the process actually involves before you commit.

Start with the early steps to understand the business model and the work involved. You'll also see the main costs and risks before spending money.

If dropshipping still makes sense for you, follow the remaining steps in order.

Start the checklist
Download as PDF

24 Steps to Start Dropshipping

Still deciding? Start with the first few steps before paying for a platform, supplier, or tool.

1. Learning the basics
2. Legal, tax, and financial risks
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
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. Setting up your store pages and policies
14. Preparing your first products
15. Setting up payments and checkout
16. Marketing
17. Getting your first sales
18. Setting up customer service
19. Learning from real store examples
20. Managing your business
21. Optimizing your store
22. Email marketing
23. Feeling stuck? Start here
24. Growing beyond your first sales

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, email subscriber

Step 1. Learning the basics

Before you build anything, learn how dropshipping works and set realistic expectations.

Step 2. Legal, tax, and financial risks

Understand the legal, tax, and financial responsibilities before you spend money or start selling.

Selling to customers in the US?

Check how current tariff and import changes could affect your margins. Check your tariff risk

Step 3. Where are you going to sell?

Choose where you want to sell before you build your store. Compare ecommerce platforms with marketplaces and website-free options to find the route that fits you best.

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. Prefer to explore products before choosing a store type? Complete Step 5 first, then return here.

Step 5. Product research

Now research products that fit your store type and target market. Stay flexible: a strong product opportunity may lead you to adjust your niche.

Looking for a less crowded opportunity?

Learn how to identify unmet demand before choosing your products. Find gaps in the ecommerce market

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 you build your store, choose a name and secure the basics that make it feel professional.

Considering a premade store instead?

Read what to check before buying one. Compare premade store options

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

Next, find a supplier that fits your products and target market. It also needs to work with your budget. Not sure where to look? Use our free supplier directory to filter suppliers by location, niche, and budget.

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 placing customer orders, test the supplier and confirm how payments, communication, and order handling will work.

Step 12. Branding your store

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

Step 13. Setting up your store pages and policies

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

Step 14. Preparing your first products

If you're just beginning, focus on a small number of products. Improve the pages and pricing first. Then strengthen the descriptions and images before adding more.

Step 15. Setting up payments and checkout

Before you launch, set up checkout and choose payment methods that fit your market. Also understand why providers may place holds or restrict an account.

Step 16. Marketing

Next comes one of the most important parts: marketing your store and products. If you're not sure how to start, read our beginner's guide to marketing for dropshipping.

Step 17. Getting your first sales

Getting your first sale can take time. The guides below will help you find and fix the most common problems.

Step 18. 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 19. Learning from real store examples

Real examples can show you what strong stores do well and where weaker stores go wrong. Use the guides below for ideas, then explore our Inspiration Hub for more.

Step 20. Managing your business

Once orders start coming in, you need reliable systems. Use these guides to manage quality and inventory while reducing manual work.

Need software recommendations?

Compare tools for running and improving your store. View our recommended dropshipping tools

Step 21. Optimizing your store

Let's continue by optimizing your store even more. Use this step to find the problems that make visitors leave without buying. Check your store experience, product pages, speed, and conversion flow.

Step 22. Email marketing

Set up email capture before you start driving serious traffic, so you can follow up with visitors who leave without buying. Our beginner's guide to email marketing shows you how to get started.

Step 23. Feeling stuck? Start here

If you still feel stuck after working through the steps above, start with the guides below.

Step 24. Growing beyond your first sales

Once you have consistent sales, use these guides to improve what is working and decide how to expand.

Did this checklist help you?

Tell us what you found useful. Your feedback helps us improve and helps other readers know what to expect from Do Dropshipping.

Share Your Experience
Read what other readers are saying
Logo of Do Dropshipping

Do Dropshipping helps you understand how dropshipping really works and decide if it’s right for you. If it is, we’ll help you move forward with practical guides, supplier research, and tools for product research and ecommerce.

Contact

contact@dodropshipping.com

Address: Keurenplein 4 (A7484) 1069 CD, Amsterdam (NL)

Follow

Instagram Pinterest Facebook X-twitter Threads

Company

Resources

As Featured On

Companies Do Dropshipping is featured on
Trustpilot
247+ reader stories

Copyright © 2018 – 2026 Do Dropshipping. All Rights Reserved.

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.

By using this site, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and acknowledge that actions you take based on our content are your responsibility. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Do Dropshipping is not liable for any direct or indirect issues arising from how you use the information here.

This is the official website of Do Dropshipping and reflects our personal views and experiences.

Affiliate Disclosure: Some links on this site are affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase.

Site Editor: Richard