18 Things to Know About Dropshipping Before You Start (2024)

Are you thinking about starting a dropshipping business? Or maybe you're already dropshipping but aren't sure if you're on the right track?

Perfect! You're in the right place.

In this article, I'll cover 18 things to know before starting dropshipping. I'm confident you'll discover something new today.

I've put this together because there's a wealth of information out there about dropshipping, and it can get overwhelming. With this guide, you'll know exactly where to start and what's most important to understand before diving in. Yes, it's a detailed read, but I promise—it's worth your time!

1. There is more than just dropshipping with AliExpress

Let’s start with this common misconception: a lot of people new to dropshipping think AliExpress is the only option. But is it? Absolutely not!

But is it? Absolutely not!

While AliExpress is popular, there are so many other options available to you!

If you're not keen on dropship from China, don’t worry—you have alternatives. For starters, did you know that AliExpress allows you to select different countries for shipping? (Source)

You can avoid long shipping times by choosing suppliers that ship from countries closer to your market.

Better yet, platforms like Spocket and Syncee connect you with suppliers based in the US and Europe, which can significantly cut down on shipping times.

This is especially great if fast delivery is a priority for your customers.

If you’re wondering about other alternatives, check out these useful resources:

• 15 Alternatives to Dropshipping With AliExpress in 2024!
• How to Have a Fast Delivery Time When Dropshipping in 2024?

2. If you do want to dropship with AliExpress, then pay attention to this

Still interested in starting or continuing with AliExpress dropshipping? That’s perfectly fine!

However, there are a few key things you need to keep in mind to ensure success with this platform.

First, understand the mindset you’ll need when dropshipping with AliExpress. Be aware of the upsides and downsides, such as longer shipping times or the availability of trending products.

You’ll also want to familiarize yourself with AliExpress Connection apps, which can automate and streamline the process of sourcing and managing products from AliExpress.

If you’re serious about succeeding with AliExpress, I’ve written a complete guide for beginners. Check it out: AliExpress Dropshipping: A 20-Step Getting Started Guide (2024)!

3. Learn from the best by studying successful stores

Do you know why looking at dropshipping examples, for example, stores, Facebook Ads, product descriptions, and so on, is a great idea?

In one word—inspiration!

Seeing how others operate gives you insights into what to know about dropshipping as you develop your own strategies.

By exploring successful examples, you can get a sense of what works and what doesn’t. It’s like having a blueprint to guide you.

I suggest you take a look at some of my dropshipping example lists:

• 18 Winning Dropshipping Product Examples
• 23 Awesome Shopify Dropshipping Store Examples
• The 12 Best Dropshipping Store Examples in the US (2024)
• The 17 Top Dropshipping Store Examples (Get Inspired Now)
• 5 Bad Dropshipping Store Examples & What They Can Improve
• 12 Branded Dropshipping Store Examples (Inspiration in 2024)

Just remember, while inspiration is key, originality is crucial—don’t simply copy everything you see. Make it your own!

4. Build a brand, not a one-day scam store

Another important point in things to know about dropshipping is the importance of building a brand.

Branding helps create a long-term ecommerce business rather than a quick cash grab.

Branding doesn’t just help with long-term growth—it also boosts the chances of customers returning to your store.

When you develop a strong brand, you’re creating a sense of trust and loyalty that a typical 'one-day scam store' simply can’t offer.

The opportunity to create a branded dropshipping store is huge in 2024 because many people aren’t willing to invest the necessary time and effort

If you're serious about learning more about branded dropshipping, here are a few articles worth exploring:

• Branded Dropshipping: What Is It & How to Start (6 Tips)
• 10 Great Ecommerce Brand Store Examples (2024) | Inspiration
• 12 Branded Dropshipping Store Examples (Inspiration in 2024)

5. Put your customers first

Your customers should always be your top priority—treat them like royalty.

Why? Let me show you exactly what happens when you don’t put your customers first:

Here’s another example from a general dropshipping store, Shopolis.

And one more from HYGO Shop, a dropshipping store that faced similar issues.

These examples clearly show how neglecting your customers can bring down your entire dropshipping business. Your customers hold the power to make or break your store’s reputation.

So, how do you keep your customers happy?

• Prioritize customer service. Always try to be as polite and understanding as possible when you reply to a customer with questions or demands.
• Focus on what your customers want. Spend your time building a store that prioritizes what your customers want—not just what benefits your bottom line.
• Deliver on promises. Make sure your product quality and shipping times meet expectations.

Sounds simple, right?

Well, it should be. But the truth is, many dropshippers overlook this, leading to those dreaded 1-star reviews and damaged reputations.

If you’ve realized how customer service is important, then I suggest reading the articles I linked to below:

• Customer Service for Dropshipping Stores – Complete Guide!
• Dropshipping Returns & Refunds: Everything You Need to Know

Keep in mind that the articles above are big, but they contain everything you need to know about that topic!

6. Your store name matters, so choose wisely

Why is choosing the right name for your dropshipping store so important?

Simply put, your store's name is its identity—just like your own name is to you.

It’s the first impression people will have, and if your marketing is on point, that name will stick in their minds.

Think about it: when I mention brands like Apple, LG, Chrome, or Amazon, you instantly know what I’m talking about, right?

That’s the power of having a memorable name for your store or service.

Your store name can become a key part of your brand's success.

If you want to learn how to pick the name for your dropshipping store, then I suggest reading 10 Tips to Choose the Best Name for Your Dropshipping Store

n it, I’ll also guide you on purchasing a domain name and creating a logo to match your brand identity.

7. Choose the right ecommerce platform

If you want to open a dropshipping store, then you can go with an all-in-one solution that includes hosting, like Shopify, or opt for a more customizable approach using WordPress with WooCommerce and host it yourself.

These are the two most popular options for dropshipping stores, each with its own set of upsides and downsides.

This choice is important because, without hosting, your dropshipping store can’t be online, and without that, you won’t be able to sell any products!

If you want to learn how to pick the best ecommerce platform for your store, then I suggest reading The 5 Best Ecommerce Platforms for Dropshipping in 2024.

But if you’re looking for my personal recommendation, I highly suggest Shopify. It's reliable, user-friendly, and ideal for dropshipping.

If you’re ready to try it out, you can get started with a free trial by clicking here to get a free 3-day trial + 1 month for $1!

8. A niche dropshipping store is nice, but you can also go for a general store

There are upsides and downsides to both having a general store and a niche dropshipping store.

One key tip I can give you is that if you decide to go niche, make sure it’s a niche you’re at least somewhat interested in.

A big reason why many people fail in dropshipping is that they pick a niche purely based on potential profit without considering whether they actually enjoy it.

They don’t think about the grind and the long hours it takes before seeing success—or even their first sale.

If you’re not interested in your niche, this period can feel like an uphill battle, and you might find yourself giving up simply because you’re bored.

For example, if you hate gardening, don’t pick gardening as your niche. It’ll make tasks like communicating with customers, creating blog posts, writing newsletters, or crafting compelling product descriptions much more difficult.

Your lack of interest will show, and it could hurt your chances of success.

If you're not sure which one to pick, then I suggest reading General vs. Niche vs. One-Product Dropshipping Store in 2024, where I break down all the pros and cons to help you make an informed decision.

And if you’ve already decided on a niche store, these articles will help you even further:

• How to Find the Best Niche for Dropshipping? (7 Methods)
• Top 10 Dropshipping Niches to Avoid as a Beginner in 2024
• How to Find out If a Dropshipping Niche Could Be Profitable in 2024?

9. Being unique is important

A major part of things to know when dropshipping is how to stand out from the crowd.

One of the biggest reasons people fail with their dropshipping store is because they’re not unique.

With so many people learning about dropshipping and starting their own stores, the competition is fierce.

Don’t believe me? Just take a look at Google Trends—dropshipping is more popular than ever.

This surge in popularity is largely due to the 'gurus' advertising dropshipping as an easy way to make money online.

But here’s the sad truth: most people don’t put real effort into their stores.

They open a store, import some products without making any changes, and then jump straight into advertising.

The result? A bunch of stores selling the same products, with the same images, the same descriptions, and even from the dropshipping suppliers.

Having the same product as others isn’t the issue—it’s using the same cookie-cutter approach that will hurt your chances of success.

If your store looks and feels like everyone else’s, why would customers choose you?

So, how can you be more unique and stand out from the crowd?

If you're ready to set yourself apart, I suggest reading the following article:

• Unique Dropshipping Store: 11 Amazing Tips to Create One

This article covers everything you need to know to differentiate your store and create something that truly stands out.

10. Master product research for free

Contrary to what most 'gurus' might tell you, you don’t need a product research tool to find winning products for your dropshipping store.

In case you don't know, product research is the process of figuring out which products are the best to sell—usually, these are products that are already selling well.

Now, I’m not saying that product research tools aren’t useful. They can definitely save you time and provide inspiration.

However, the downside is that most of these tools require a monthly subscription, which can be a burden, especially when you’re just starting out and may not have much money to spare.

But here’s a tip: many of these product research tools offer free trials or limited free accounts, so you can take advantage of them without spending a dime if you're working with a tight budget.

No need to pay anything then!

If you want to learn more about product research, then I suggest reading these articles:

• What Is a Winning Dropshipping Product? (+ Examples)
• How to Spot Trends for Product Research: 6 Great Tips (2024)
• 18 Winning Dropshipping Product Examples in 2024 (Inspiration)
• How to Find Winning Dropshipping Products (13 Research Methods)

And, if you're interested in product research tools, don’t miss my guide on The 13 Best Product Research Tools in 2024 (Free & Paid).

Want to learn how to do product research on specific platforms? I’ve got you covered! Check out these articles:

• How to Do Product Research on Pinterest (6 Great Tips)
• How Do You Do Product Research on Etsy? (7 Great Tips)
• How Do You Do Product Research on Instagram? (8 Great Tips)
• How Do You Do Product Research on Amazon? (4 Best Methods)
• How Do You Do Product Research on TikTok? (7 Great Methods)
• How Do You Do Product Research on YouTube? (6 Great Methods)

11. There are some products that are better to be avoided

One of the top things to know before dropshipping is that not all products are a good fit.

Whether it's due to legal restrictions, high return rates, or poor customer satisfaction, some products can cause more headaches than they’re worth.

To make things easier, I’ve created a simple guide that covers 13 products you should avoid when dropshipping. You can check it out here:

• 13 Products You Should Avoid Dropshipping | Be Careful!

12. Start small by focusing on a few products

When you're just starting out, I recommend importing five to 20 products into your dropshipping store, but only focus on one to three products at a time.

These are the products you'll be advertising first, so they need your full attention.

The rest of these products are there to make your store look alive and real!

The rest of the products? They’re there to give your store a more polished, alive, and trustworthy feel.

But your primary focus should be on perfecting those one to three products to ensure they perform well.

Want to dive deeper into this strategy?

If you're curious about how to make those one to three products stand out and why it's important not to spread yourself too thin in the beginning, I suggest checking out the following article:

• How Many Products Should You Have to Start Dropshipping?

13. Have money available to purchase the items

One common mistake dropshipping beginners make is assuming they’ll receive payment immediately after someone places an order in their store.

However, the timing of when you actually receive the money depends on the payment gateway you’re using.

For example, if you use Shopify Payments, then this is how long it will take before you get paid from Shopify:

You can read more about how to get paid with Shopify Payments here, including details for businesses based in Japan.

Plus, you can learn more on how to get paid in general when using a Shopify store in this article here.

With PayPal and Stripe, the funds typically show up in your account immediately, but transferring the money to your bank account might take a little longer.

Also, don’t forget that these payment gateways can put your account on hold if you’re getting a lot of refunds or customers who don’t receive their orders on time.

For tips on how to avoid getting banned by PayPal, check out:

• Using PayPal for Dropshipping: How to Not Get Banned in 2024

Another great tip regarding these payment gateways is to check how much fees they charge. You can find more information about the fees here.

But what to do if you need the money on your bank account?

So, what should you do if you need to purchase items before you receive the money in your account?

Don’t wait! You should always have money set aside to cover your orders.

You can use a credit card to pay your credit card debt after 30 days. This is usually more than enough time to receive the money!

Plus, many credit cards offer perks like cashback or travel miles on purchases, which can be an added bonus!

Alternatively, you can use a debit card and make sure you have enough funds loaded to cover your dropshipping orders. You can find more information about debit cards here.

14. There is more out there than just Facebook Ads

Many dropshippers believe that Facebook Ads are the number one (and maybe only) platform for advertising their store. But that’s simply not true!

There are plenty of other ways to advertise your dropshipping store beyond Facebook. Think about using Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat, and even Twitter.

Just make sure that your target audience is online on these platforms before you start advertising!

There are both paid and free options available for promoting your store across these platforms.

Now, I’m not saying Facebook Ads are bad—they can be incredibly effective for dropshipping. I just want to open your eyes to the many other possibilities out there!

If you're interested in exploring different advertising methods for your dropshipping store, check out these articles:

• 14 Ways to Advertise Your Dropshipping Store (No Facebook!)
• 8 Amazing Ways to Get Free Traffic to Your Dropshipping Store in 2024

And if you want to dive deeper into Facebook Ads, here are some helpful reads:

• 11 Facebook Ad Tips for Dropshipping Stores in 2024
• 13 Facebook Ad Beginner Mistakes & How To Avoid Them
• Facebook Ads for Dropshipping Stores: A Beginner’s Guide
• Why Are My Facebook Ads Not Converting? 11 Tips to Fix It!
• How To Quickly Test Products With Dropshipping (Save Money)

15. Be prepared to spend money to make money

Starting a dropshipping business means starting a real business, and like any business, it requires investment.

Please don’t fall into the trap of thinking you can start dropshipping with no money.

Sure, you can get started with free options like a free Shopify trial, for example), but sooner or later, you’ll need to spend money to grow and sustain your business.

This includes things like advertising, product costs, and website maintenance.

If you want a clearer understanding of the costs involved in starting a dropshipping store, I recommend reading

• How Much Does It Cost to Start Dropshipping in 2024?

16. A paid theme is not necessary but could increase your sales

Do you need a paid theme when you're starting with dropshipping?

No.

To put it simply, while you can purchase a paid theme, it's not essential when you're just starting out, especially if your budget is tight.

In the beginning, your money is better spent on growing your store and testing your products.

That means it’s wise to start with a free theme.

For instance, Dawn is an excellent free Shopify theme for beginners—it’s simple, functional, and gets the job done.

However, if your budget allows for it, investing in a paid theme can be a great way to increase your conversion rates (if you choose the right theme).

Paid themes often come with more customization options and can help make your store look more unique and professional—two key factors in avoiding the 'scammy one-day store' look.

If you're unsure whether to go with a free or paid theme, then I suggest reading my other article here.

And if you’ve decided to explore paid themes (or if you're curious about what’s available), check out The 10 Best Shopify Dropshipping Themes in 2024!

That article also contains the best free Shopify theme for when you're just beginning with dropshipping!

17. Don't give up if you got little or no sales

One of the biggest reasons people fail with dropshipping is because they give up too soon.

Some people give up early, some people after a long time (like a year), but most of the time, when people don't see any process, they give up.

If you’re in this stage where you’re not seeing the results you hoped for, my advice is simple: don’t give up.

There is so much that you can learn, and don't forget you're running an ecommerce store.

Remember, you're running a business—not just a dropshipping store. The same principles that apply to ecommerce apply to dropshipping, too.

Yes, your budget might not allow it anymore, but know that there are free ways to achieve what you think requires money. You’ll find more about this in:

• The Complete Guide: Can You Start Dropshipping Without Money in 2024?

You can pause your store and ads for a month to regroup and learn new things without burning through your budget.

During this time, reflect on your store—think about changes you can make to your design, products, product descriptions, and images. This pause could help you come back stronger.

If you really want to give up, then at least bring the things you learned from your dropshipping store into your new adventure!

For more insights into why people fail at dropshipping, check out the article I’ve linked below:

• 12 Reasons Why Most People Fail With Dropshipping in 2024!

18. You don't need a paid dropshipping course to learn dropshipping

If you’re new to dropshipping, you might think it’s a quick way to get rich or make easy money.

But let me be honest with you—those dreams are often fueled by so-called 'gurus' who promise overnight success.

And what do they all have in common? They’re selling expensive dropshipping courses!

You might think following their step-by-step guide will lead to instant riches, but please don’t fall for it. You don’t need to spend money on a course to learn how to succeed in dropshipping.

So, what should you do instead?

I recommend checking out my article Are Paid Dropshipping Courses Worth the Money in 2024?

In that article, I break down everything you need to know about these "gurus" and why they’re so focused on selling courses.

More importantly, I share valuable, free dropshipping courses that can help you learn dropshipping effectively without spending a dime.

Conclusion

And there you have it—everything you need to know about dropshipping as a beginner!

I hope this article has given you a clear understanding of the most important things to know before dropshipping. Remember, it’s a learning process, but with these dropshipping tips, you’re well on your way!

If you want to learn more about dropshipping, then don't forget to read my complete guides below:

• Shopify Dropshipping: A 20-Step Guide to Starting Your Store
• AliExpress Dropshipping: A 20-Step Getting Started Guide (2024)

And if you’re ready to get started with Shopify, you can get a free trial by clicking here to get a free 3-day trial + 1 month for $1!

Have any suggestions or questions? Feel free to drop a comment below.

Let me know if you learned something new today!

Good luck with your dropshipping store, and don't forget that success doesn't come overnight!

Want to learn more about dropshipping?

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

• What Is a Winning Dropshipping Product? (+ Examples)
• 13 Unique Dropshipping Products to Sell in Your Store (2024)
• Is Dropshipping Still Profitable Today in 2024? or Are You Too Late?

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