Supplement Dropshipping: A Beginner’s Guide for 2024

If you want to start dropshipping and are interested in health, you may be considering dropshipping supplements.

In recent years, more people have become health-conscious and look for ways to increase their energy or improve their overall well-being.

This has created a huge demand for supplements like vitamins, protein powders, and natural extracts.

In this article, we’ll explain everything you need to know about starting a supplement dropshipping business!

By the end, you’ll have a better idea of how to start and whether this business model is even right for you.

Let's start!

Why is supplement dropshipping different from normal dropshipping?

At first, you might think dropshipping supplements is just like dropshipping any other product.

However, there are some important differences that you should be aware of.

One of the biggest differences is the strict regulations around selling supplements.

Since supplements are things that people consume, there are higher health and safety standards compared to, say, selling clothes or home decor.

For example, in many countries, the supplement industry is regulated by government agencies like the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) in the US.

This means that your supplements must meet certain quality standards.

The products should be made in clean, certified factories (often called GMP-certified, which stands for “Good Manufacturing Practice”), and the ingredients must be clearly listed on the label:

You also need to be careful with health claims.

You can’t just say a supplement will "cure" or "heal" anything unless it’s been proven and approved by health authorities.

Then there's the challenge of building trust.

Because supplements affect people’s health, customers are usually more cautious when buying them.

They want to ensure that the products they buy are safe, effective, and made from quality ingredients.

It's much different from, say, dropshipping a pair of sunglasses, where the biggest worry is style or fit.

With supplements, people care about what they’re putting inside their bodies. So, you’ll have to do a bit more work to convince customers that your products are worth trying.

Plus, unlike other dropshipping products where small quality differences may go unnoticed, with supplements, quality is everything.

Customers will probably notice if the product doesn’t work as expected or, worse, if it causes side effects.

That means you have to be extra careful about choosing reliable suppliers who follow all the necessary safety guidelines.

Should you dropship supplements or vitamins?

As supplements and vitamins are quite different from typical dropshipping products like dog toys, gadgets, or home decor, you might be wondering if it's even the right choice.

Well, let's talk about the positives first:

Pros of dropshipping supplements

If you've ever walked into a health store or browsed online marketplaces, you've likely been overwhelmed by all the different supplements and vitamins on sale.

And there's a reason for that.

The demand for dietary supplements and vitamins is massive and only growing!

In 2023, the North American dietary supplements market was valued at around $53 billion:

Not only that, but surveys have found that over half of US adults include some form of dietary supplement in their routine.

And when customers find a product that works for them, they're likely to return month after month.

This means that one of the biggest advantages of selling supplements is that they're consumed regularly and need replenishing.

You could even think about implementing a (discounted) subscription model to promote recurring purchases!

The dropshipping part of supplement dropshipping also offers advantages, such as quickly being able to catch up on new trends.

Is there a sudden surge in the popularity of a particular vitamin or a newfound superfood?

If so, you can add it to your product catalog very quickly.

And you can even easily switch your offers based on different seasons of the year.

For example, you might focus on selling Vitamin D in winter or immune boosters during flu season!

Cons of dropshipping supplements

The other side of the story is that there are multiple challenges you may face when dropshipping supplements.

For one, supplements and vitamins are often subject to strict regulations that vary by country.

Mislabeling or selling products with unapproved ingredients can result in hefty fines or legal issues.

The same goes for when a customer experiences health issues due to your product.

They might hold you responsible, even if the fault lies with your supplier.

With supplement dropshipping, you are forced to rely on your supplier.

When customers purchase supplements or vitamins, they expect consistency in quality.

And since you're not manufacturing the products, maintaining consistent product quality is out of your control.

Your reputation is in the hands of your suppliers, and one bad batch of products or a few unhappy customers can damage your brand's reputation significantly!

Not to mention, without directly being responsible for the products, it can be hard to guarantee topics concerning sustainability, ethical sourcing, or cruelty-free testing of your supplements.

So, should you do it?

If the idea of dealing with regulations or building customer trust around health products feels overwhelming, you might wonder if it’s better to stick with more typical dropshipping products.

At the same time, it really depends on your goals.

Traditional dropshipping products are a better fit if you’re looking for a low-risk, easier-to-manage option.

With these products, you don’t have to worry as much about legal compliance or ingredient safety, and the barrier to entry is lower.

On the other hand, if you’re willing to put in the extra effort, supplements and vitamins can offer higher profit margins and long-term customer loyalty.

The health and wellness industry is huge, and once customers trust you, they’re likely to stick around for a long time!

Where to find reliable supplement dropshipping suppliers?

One of the most important steps of supplement dropshipping is finding reliable suppliers.

Unlike some other dropshipping products, where a low-quality item might just lead to returns or bad reviews, poor-quality supplements could lead to health issues for your customers.

So, here is a table of the best supplement dropshipping suppliers:

Supplier	Location	Pricing
Supliful	US	$0 / $49 / $349 per month
OK Capsule	US	Free (Minimum 4,000 yearly orders.)
HoneyComm	US	$147 / $197 / $297 per month
Nutribl	UK	£2.75 for one item and £0.75 per additional item
Spocket	US + EU	$40 / $60 / $100 / $299 per month
Syncee	Worldwide	$29 / $49 / $99 per month
Power Body	UK	Free
SMPNutra	US	3PL fulfillment fees (more info)

As you can see, Supliful is one of the top choices:

Supliful is a dropshipping supplier for white label supplements.

In other words, it allows you to dropship supplements under your own brand name.

Yep, you read that right! Your very own brand, without starting from scratch:

What’s super cool about Supliful is that they offer a wide range of products, from vitamins to proteins, and even some fun stuff like personalized coffee.

And one of the biggest benefits of Supliful is that they have a Shopify app:

They ensure these products don't just have catchy labels but are genuinely high-quality and safe. All Supliful manufacturers are GMP-certified.

Besides, there is also a Supliful liability insurance program that protects you from various things that can go wrong while supplement dropshipping:

When it comes to pricing, Supliful offers three main pricing plans: Free, Starter, and Creator:

• The Free plan is excellent to try out Supliful. You can start dropshipping supplements with no upfront costs!
• The Starter plan ($49 per month) includes everything in the Free plan, plus up to 15% discounts on products and some other advantages.
• The Creator plan ($349 per month) is for established brands or influencers. In addition to inheriting all features from the Starter plan, you get a dedicated account manager.

Full review: Supliful Review: Everything They Don’t Tell You! (2024)

OK Capsule is another dropshipping supplier specializing in supplements and vitamins:

This company was founded by a doctor who wanted to bring quality, transparency, and effectiveness back to the supplement industry.

They wanted to end the 'one-bottle-fits-all' approach and prevent forcing consumers to choose from endless numbers of bottles with little understanding of which brands could be trusted or which supplements might yield results.

In our view, the most unique thing about OK Capsule is its product packaging.

They offer these eco-friendly 'packs' customized according to your brand:

That's right, you can create unique vitamin packs (both in contents and dosage) tailored to the needs of your target audience.

You can even customize the packaging with your customer's names, like saying, 'Here is your Weight Management Pack, Alex':

OK Capsule has a state-of-the-art facility in Nevada equipped with all the necessary technology to create private label personalized supplements, and they carefully screen and test ingredients to ensure quality, transparency, and ethical harvesting.

Last but not least, they offer a Shopify app or an API connection you can use to connect your store.

Sounds amazing, right?

But here come the not-so-amazing things.

OK Capsule has some partnership requirements that make it difficult for beginners to get in:

• You must place at least 4,000 orders per year.
• You must place a deposit to start.
• You can only ship to the continental US.

If you (plan to) meet these requirements, you can get started with OK Capsule here!

Legal and regulatory considerations

When you’re dropshipping supplements, it's super important to understand the legal and regulatory side of things.

As mentioned earlier, supplements are more heavily regulated than other items you might dropship.

1. FDA regulations (for the US Market)

If you’re selling supplements in the US, you need to make sure that your products follow FDA (Food and Drug Administration) regulations.

The FDA doesn’t “approve” supplements the way they do for drugs, but they do have rules that you and your suppliers need to follow:

Here are some important points:

• Labeling. The label on the supplement must be clear and accurate. It should list all the ingredients, the amount of each, and any warnings or suggested usage instructions.
• Health claims. You need to be careful about what you say in your product descriptions or marketing. You cannot claim that a supplement “cures” or “prevents” any specific diseases unless there’s scientific proof, and it’s approved by the FDA. Stick to general health benefits that are backed by research.
• Good manufacturing practice (GMP). As mentioned earlier, you’ll want to make sure your supplier follows GMP standards.

2. Other countries’ regulations

If you’re selling supplements internationally, it’s important to know that each country or region has its own set of rules.

For example, in the EU, supplements are regulated under the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

Compared to the US, they generally have even stricter guidelines on what ingredients can be used and what health claims can be made.

3. Health claims and advertising restrictions

Another big part of the legal side of selling supplements is how you advertise and talk about your products.

In many places, including the US and Europe, there are strict guidelines about what you can say.

You must avoid making false or exaggerated claims.

You can’t claim that your product is a “miracle cure” for anything.

For example, if you’re selling a vitamin C supplement, it’s fine to say it “supports immune health,” but you can’t say it “prevents the common cold.”

Instead, you should always base your health claims on scientific evidence.

If you say a supplement improves memory or boosts energy, make sure there’s research to back that up.

4. Liability and insurance

Even with the best intentions, things can sometimes go wrong.

That’s why liability insurance is a good idea when selling supplements.

This protects you in case someone claims that a product you sold caused them harm.

5. Refund and return policies

Many countries have consumer protection laws that require you to offer refunds or returns, especially for faulty products.

So, you always need to make sure your refund and return policies are clear and in line with local laws.

But for supplements, there’s an added layer since you might need to deal with customer complaints about how the product affected them personally.

Having a clear, customer-friendly policy can help you handle these situations.

5 Final tips for dropshipping supplements or vitamins

Starting a dropshipping store, especially in the supplements and vitamins sector, can be exciting.

However, to increase your chances of success, it's important to have a well-thought-out strategy.

So, here are some of our tips!

1. Thoroughly research suppliers and prioritize product quality

Before partnering with a supplier, thoroughly check their track record and reviews.

Remember, your brand's reputation is tied to the quality of the products you offer.

In 2017, the FDA inspected 656 dietary supplement production facilities and found violations in more than half of them, with the most common violation being the failure to establish 'purity, strength, or composition of their final product.'

2. Provide detailed product information

When buying consumables, customers want clarity.

The more they know, the more confident they'll feel about their purchase.

So, write detailed product descriptions, list out ingredients, and detail usage guidelines.

3. Stay informed on health trends

The health industry is dynamic. Superfoods, health routines, and supplements trend in and out.

Staying updated allows you to adjust your offerings and offer what's currently in high demand!

4. Focus on transparency and building trust

The supplement market is filled with ambiguous claims.

That gives you the opportunity to differentiate your brand by being transparent.

So, clearly state the source of your ingredients, provide certifications if available, and be open about manufacturing practices.

Buyers love it when a brand is authentic and honest!

5. Offer sample packs

Deciding to purchase a new supplement or vitamin can be a significant step for many people.

So, why not make it easy for them?

If you can offer sample packs, they can test the products before committing to a full purchase.

It will show that you have confidence in your product, plus improve your customer experience!

FAQs about supplement dropshipping

Here are some more FAQs about supplement dropshipping:

Summary

Before we go, we've created a quick summary of this article for you so you can easily remember it:

• Dropshipping supplements can be a good business idea because more people are focused on health these days.
• Supplements are different from other dropshipping products because they need to meet higher standards, like quality control and following strict regulations.
• Building trust with customers is essential, as they are more cautious about products that affect their health.
• A big plus is that supplements often lead to repeat purchases because customers restock products they like.
• Finding a reliable supplier is important for maintaining product quality.
• Make sure you understand FDA rules and international regulations when selling supplements.
• Starting a supplement dropshipping business takes more effort, but it can lead to loyal customers and higher profits over time.

Conclusion

You’ve made it to the end!

By now, you should have a solid understanding of what it takes to start a successful supplement dropshipping business.

Yes, it may take a lot of effort to get it right, but if you’re committed to providing high-quality products and excellent service, you can build a brand that customers trust and come back to again and again.

Good luck with everything!

Want to learn more about dropshipping?

Ready to move your dropshipping store to the next level? Check out the articles below:

• The 15 Best White Label Dropshipping Suppliers in 2024
• 13 Products You Should Avoid Dropshipping | Be Careful!
• Dropshipping Supplements in Europe (Can You Use Supliful?)

Plus, don’t forget to check out our in-depth guide on how to start dropshipping here!