We’ve created this list based on our experience with dropshipping. All of the ideas are those we found while researching for our own stores.

We looked at the market, demand, competition, potential profit, and longevity. 

All of the ideas are suitable for both beginners and dropshipping experts.

Hopefully, you can find the right idea to help you create a successful dropshipping business.

Let’s get started.

120+ Dropshipping Business Ideas

We have 11 dropshipping niche ideas and several product ideas within each niche. 

We’ll explain why we chose each niche in-depth. But if you don’t have time to read the entire article, here is an overview.

1. Print-on-Demand - Best for Beginners
2. Clothing and Shoes - Best for US Sellers
3. Hair and Beauty
4. Fitness and Exercise 
5. Travel
6. Jewelry
7. Pets - Best for Dropshipping on Amazon
8. Health
9. Party Supplies
10. Eco-Friendly - Best for UK Sellers
11. Home and Kitchen

1. Print on Demand - Best for Beginners

What is Print on Demand for Dropshipping?

Print-on-demand is when you print your own designs onto products.

Print-on-demand services, like Printful and Printify, make dropshipping print-on-demand products easy. They offer a huge catalog with tons of different products. You can upload your designs, and Printful and Printify will generate product images that you can use on your Shopify site.

Both services integrate with Shopify, so as soon as a customer places an order, the service will automatically print and fulfill your orders. 

The hardest part of print-on-demand is coming up with product designs that will generate interest and sales.  

Why Is Print on Demand a Good Dropshipping Business Idea?

The global print-on-demand market was valued at over 6 billion in 2022. It is also expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 25.8% from 2023 to 2030 [1]. 

This growth is thought to be due to the consumer's rising interest in personalized and custom-made products. It also suggests it could be a great time to dropship print-on-demand products.

Print-on-Demand Dropshipping Business Ideas:

1. T-Shirts
2. Sweatshirts
3. Blankets
4. Mugs
5. Tote Bags
6. Notebooks
7. Phone Cases
8. Socks
9. Pillows
10. Tumbler
11. Posters
12. Candles

2. Clothing and Shoes - Best for US Sellers

Why Is Clothing and Shoes a Good Dropshipping Business Idea?

Fashion clothing, shoes, and accessories are one of the biggest e-commerce industries. 

The fashion industry accounts for approximately 23% of total online retail sales in the United States. By 2027, the online fashion sector is expected to generate over 300 billion dollars in sales [2].

Clothing and Shoes Dropshipping Store Ideas

There is a huge variety of products within the clothing and shoe niche. This gives you several routes you could take. 

You could build a fast fashion store with a huge range of products. Or you could build a store around a specific product, like an activewear brand or a store that only sells kid’s shoes.

Alternatively, you could build a sustainable and eco-friendly fashion store. You can consider the materials, worker conditions, and production and delivery location.

Clothing and Shoes Dropshipping Business Ideas:

13. Leggings
14. Slides
15. Swimwear
16. Mens Activewear
17. Womens Boots
18. Knitted Sweaters
19. Lightweight Jackets
20. Chunky Sneakers
21. Cycling Shoes
22. Kids Shoes
23. Mountain Boots

If you’re looking for a clothing supplier, we have a list of ten of the best clothing suppliers. 

If it’s shoes you’re interested in selling, check out our article Dropshipping Shoe Products. It includes everything you need to know, including other product ideas, products to avoid, risks, suppliers, and successful dropshipping shoe stores that you can get tons of inspiration from.

3. Hair and Beauty

Why Is Hair and Beauty a Good Dropshipping Business Idea?

The cosmetic industry saw growth of over 15 percent compared to the previous year.

Skincare, haircare, and makeup were the leading categories in the cosmetic global market [3].

Hair and beauty products are increasing in popularity. This is thought to be due to self-care and wellness becoming more important to consumers. 

The growth and popularity all suggest it could be a good dropshipping business idea.

Hair and Beauty Dropshipping Store Ideas

The location you sell can determine the type of store you create. 

For example, in the US, studies have shown that hair products with benefits might see increasing demand. This is thought to be due to lifestyle changes and stress causing hair health problems [4]. And the UK has an increasing demand for natural, organic, and vegan products [5]. 

You can use location-specific information to create a store that is likely to succeed.

We also recommend looking at country and state rules and regulations for hair and beauty products. Many hair and beauty products include chemicals and require certificates, specific labeling, and testing to be sold, so make sure to check this out before selling.

Hair and Beauty Dropshipping Business Ideas:

24. Heatless Curling Rod
25. Wig Cap
26. Scalp Massager Shampoo Brush
27. Hair Towel Wrap
28. Wig Grip
29. Heat Resistant Gloves
30. Hair Extensions
31. Dermaplaning Facial Tool
32. Makeup Remover Face Cloths
33. Jade Roller
34. Travel Perfume Refill
35. Eyelash Applicator
36. Silk Bonnet for Sleeping

We have individual articles on Dropshipping Hair Products and Dropshipping Beauty Products. The articles include tons of information, including supplier recommendations, product ideas, and more information on dropshipping hair and beauty in different countries. 

4. Fitness and Exercise

Why Is Fitness and Exercise a Good Dropshipping Business Idea?

The fitness and exercise industry is booming, and the market is expected to see continuous growth. 

By 2027, the revenue in the sports equipment industry is expected to amount to 204.48 billion USD [6]. 

There is also a huge rise in the popularity of fitness influencers on social media. Influencers, as the name suggests, can influence users to buy products, which might help increase the already booming industry. 

Fitness and Exercise Dropshipping Store Ideas

The fitness and exercise market has a huge range of products, giving you endless store choices. It also makes it easy to expand your store and test new products.

We recommend targeting your products at consumers rather than gyms. This is because the products are usually smaller and lighter, making them cheap to ship.

You could focus your store on a specific demographic, sport, or activity. 

Here are a few store examples:

• A yoga store with yoga mats, workout wear designed for yoga, non-slip socks, etc.
• A store designed to help people with fitness-related injuries, like knee braces, soothing gel, rehabilitation equipment, etc.
• Playground gym equipment for kids, like outdoor game equipment, etc.

Fitness and Exercise Dropshipping Business Ideas:

37. Resistance Bands
38. Yoga Mat Bag or Holder
39. Travel Gym Set
40. Push-Up Bars
41. Empty Punch Bag
42. Knee Pads
43. Hand Wraps
44. Yoga Bands
45. Sport Specific Socks (e.g., Running Socks, Yoga Socks, etc.)
46. Balance Board
47. Sauna Vest
48. Knee Brace
49. Back Support
50. Thigh Master

If you want to learn more, we have tons more information on Dropshipping Fitness Products and Dropshipping Yoga Products. You can find more product ideas, products to avoid, and so much more.

5. Travel

Why Is Travel a Good Dropshipping Business Idea?

Travel is a versatile niche with products that can easily fit into other categories. This means that your products aren’t necessarily restricted to only travel customers. So you can target your products to a wider audience. 

The online travel industry is also expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 10.58% between 2021 and 2027 [7]. This growth suggests it could be a profitable and long-term dropshipping business.

Travel Dropshipping Store Ideas

The location you sell in might vary the travel products you sell.

For example, Europe is home to some of the top global business travel destinations. It was the region with the second-highest amount of business tourism spending worldwide. So, if you’re selling in Europe, you could consider a business travel store.

In the US, domestic tourism is more popular than international, and road trips are the most common method of travel. So, if you’re selling in the US, you could consider selling products designed for road trips and domestic travel.

Travel Dropshipping Business Ideas:

51. Packing Cubes
52. Folding and Light-Up Mirror
53. Electronic Travel Case
54. Phone or Tablet Holder
55. Airline Approved Backpack
56. Compact Umbrella
57. Shoe Bag
58. Passport Cover
59. Travel Makeup Brush Set
60. Cord Organizer
61. Luggage Scale
62. Suitcase Accessories (e.g., Luggage Strap, Cup Holder)

If the travel niche is one you want to explore further, we have an article on Dropshipping Travel Products that includes everything you need to know. 

6. Jewelry

Why Is Jewelry a Good Dropshipping Business Idea?

The worldwide jewelry market is expected to grow annually at a compound annual growth rate of 3.68% [8].

In 2023, it is estimated that around 88% of sales in the jewelry segment will be non-luxury. This means that the majority of consumers are buying cheaper costume jewelry, which is perfect for dropshipping. 

Jewelry is also known to have a pretty high markup, leaving you with a considerable profit.

Jewelry Dropshipping Store Ideas

You could create a store that targets different events, price points, and demographics. 

For example, you could create a store that sells products designed as wedding favors. You could sell jewelry that says ‘Bridesmaid,’ ‘Maid of Honor,’ or ‘Flower Girl.’ You could sell the jewelry with a variety of cards that have thank you messages or friendship messages. 

Cards and notes with the jewelry can help set your store apart from others and increase your sales.

Customers are often more likely to spend money on sentimental pieces, which could help increase your profit margin.

Jewelry Dropshipping Business Ideas:

63. Fidget Ring or Anxiety Jewelry
64. Zodiac and Star Sign Jewelry
65. Bridesmaid and Maid of Honor Gifts
66. Jewelry Making Kit
67. Travel Jewelry Case
68. Jewelry Tray

We have an article about Dropshipping Jewelry that includes products you should avoid, how to find a reliable supplier, jewelry Shopify stores that we learned from, and much more.

7. Pets - Best for Dropshipping on Amazon

Why Is Pets a Good Dropshipping Business Idea?

The pet industry is huge, with almost 40% of all households in the US owning one or more dogs and over 25% owning cats [9].

Studies show that since the pandemic, there has been an increase in online sales of pet food and supplies [10]. Amazon is also the largest retailer for online pet products [11].

This suggests that there is potential to create a successful dropshipping pet store.

Pet Dropshipping Store Ideas

The pet niche is competitive, so we recommend choosing a smaller sector of the pet industry.

This could be a specific breed, pet age (e.g., puppies, kittens, seniors), or product.

For example, you could choose to create a puppy dropshipping store. 

The store could sell products for birth, like a whelping box, washable pee pads, feeding nipple bottles, soft collars, and everything else needed.

You could also create bundles of puppy kits for new owners. The bundle could include a collar, small toy, blanket, pee pads, etc.

Pet Dropshipping Business Ideas:

69. Grooming Gloves
70. Finger Toothbrush for Dogs
71. Indestructible Dog Toys
72. Washable Puppy Pee Pads
73. Reusable Dog Nappies
74. Warming Cat Bed
75. Pet Hair Remover Tool
76. Whelping Supplies
77. Soft Muzzle
78. Ear Cleaning Wipes
79. Cat Window Bed
80. Air Tag Collar Attachment
81. Cat and Dog Halloween Costumes

If you want to go ahead with dropshipping pet products, check out our list of the Best Pet Dropshipping Suppliers. You can use the list to find the perfect supplier for your pet store. 

8. Health

Why Are Health Products a Good Dropshipping Business Idea?

The healthcare market is expected to increase at an annual growth rate of 10.4% between 2023 and 2027 [12]. 

This includes all over-the-counter pharmaceutical products, nutrition food, supplements, and other medical products. 

Health products also have a high repurchase rate as many of the products are consumable. 

This means that products like supplements, food, and vitamins are emptied or used. Once they run out, customers will return to buy from you again.

Retaining customers is far cheaper than acquiring new customers. Studies have shown that acquiring new customers can cost around five times more than retaining customers [13].

Health Dropshipping Store Ideas

A vitamin and supplement business could be a successful dropshipping store idea, as vitamins and supplements are continually increasing in sales and popularity. The market is expected to increase at a compound annual growth rate of 6.9% between 2021 and 2026. 

Vitamins and supplements are also consumable, which, as we’ve just seen, is an easy way to increase your repurchase rate and retain your customers. 

Tablets and capsules are also small and light, making them cheap to ship.

However, there are a few risks to be aware of when creating a health store. These are the following:

• Ad restrictions - Facebook prohibits campaigns that suggest there is a perfect body type, showing health conditions, and more. Before launching your store, make sure you can advertise it freely.
• Licenses and regulations - Many ingestible products are subject to regulations and require a certificate or license to be sold. 

If you want to create a health store but also want to avoid products with as many restrictions, consider a health tracking diary or stress relief color book.

Health Dropshipping Business Ideas:

82. Healing Bracelets
83. Supplements
84. Vitamins
85. Health Tracking Diary 
86. BMI Scales
87. Migraine Head Wrap
88. Stress Relief Coloring Book
89. Red Light Therapy Device

If you want to explore the health niche in more depth, we have an article on Dropshipping Health Products that includes tons of useful information. The article analyzes the niche to help you decide if it’s the right niche for you. It also has product recommendations and a list of products we’d avoid.

9. Party Supplies

Why Are Party Supplies a Good Dropshipping Business Idea?

Research shows that the global party supplies market is expected to grow substantially. It is estimated that it will generate a revenue of over $38 million by 2032 [14].

Party products are also usually bought and used for one event. A customer will usually return to buy new decorations for the next event. This is a great way to increase your customer retention rate and maximize your profits. 

Both of these factors suggest it could be a good dropshipping business idea.

Party Supply Dropshipping Store Ideas

You could sell any party supplies. However, we recommend that you sell products that aren’t seasonal. So, we would choose birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, engagements, baby showers, etc. Rather than Thanksgiving, Halloween, 4th of July, Christmas, Easter, etc. 

Seasonal products will cause your sales to peak and dip throughout the year. In contrast, the other celebrations happen year-round. This should mean that your sales remain steady throughout the year.

You could create bundles for these occasions. For example, a tableware bundle that includes plates, a tablecloth, cutlery, cups, etc., or a decorations bundle that includes balloons, bunting, banners, etc.

Each bundle could have several variations for different occasions and styles, such as floral birthdays, space-themed birthdays, etc.

Party Supply Dropshipping Business Ideas:

90. Kids Party Favors and Party Bags
91. Cake Toppers
92. Guest Books
93. Photo Booth Props
94. Bridesmaid Gifts
95. Party Decoration Bundles
96. Party Tableware Bundles
97. Gender Reveal Products
98. Back Drops
99. Party Lights

We have a full article on everything you need to know about Dropshipping Party Products. The article includes finding a reliable supplier, the pros and cons of the niche, and much more. 

10. Eco-Friendly Products

Why Are Eco-Friendly Products a Good Dropshipping Business Idea?

The world is evolving, and more and more people are aware of their impact on the environment.

Research has shown that 37% of consumers considered the environmental impact as a factor before purchasing a product. And 72% said they were actively buying more environmentally friendly products than they did five years ago [15]. 

The increase in awareness and demand suggests that eco-friendly products could be a good dropshipping business idea.

However, ensure that the products you are dropshipping are genuinely eco-friendly. We would consider the impact of the production methods, materials used, etc.

Eco-Friendly Dropshipping Store Ideas

There are tons of products that can be designed to be more eco-friendly. 

For example, an eco-friendly clothing store, an eco-friendly pet toy store, etc.

You could create these products using sustainable or recycled materials. 

Alternatively, you could create a store that sells products known to be more harmful to the environment and make them either reusable or more eco-friendly. 

This could include reusable makeup remover wipes, reusable sandwich bags, bamboo kitchen rolls, etc.

Eco-Friendly Dropshipping Business Ideas:

100. Bamboo Toilet Paper
101. Toothpaste Tablets
102. Reusable Makeup Remover Pads
103. Glass and Metal Straws
104. Eco-Friendly Clothing
105. Beeswax Wraps
106. Reusable Sandwich Bags
107. Compostable and Recyclable Party Cutlery
108. Ethical Tote Bags
109. Eco-Friendly Beauty Products 
110. “Grow Your Own” Gardening Supplies

If you’re interested in creating an eco-friendly dropshipping store, check out our Essential Guide to Dropshipping Eco-Friendly Products. The article covers successful eco-friendly stores that we learned from, risks of the niche, products to sell, and much more.

11. Home and Kitchen

Why Is Home and Kitchen a Good Dropshipping Business Idea?

Home and kitchen products are a necessity in most countries, meaning they have constant demand from lots of customers. This gives you a large audience to target with your products.

There is also a rise in home and design influencers. These accounts are encouraging users to spend on creating a beautiful home that works for them. 

The large audience and increase in interest in home and design suggest that home and kitchen products could be a good dropshipping business idea.

Home and Kitchen Dropshipping Store Ideas

The home and kitchen niche can be saturated, so you will need to find a way to stand out from your competition.

For example, you could create a store that sells realistic-looking fake plants. Your store could sell unique planter pots and a variety of fake plants. 

The demand for houseplants increased during 2019 and 2020, with 66% of Americans owning a houseplant. However, the average houseplant owner has killed, on average, seven plants [16]. This suggests that realistic but fake house plants could be a good solution.

Home and Kitchen Dropshipping Business Ideas:

111. Boba Straws
112. Small Planters
113. Bath Caddy Tray
114. Wall Prints
115. Washable Rugs
116. Folding Laundry Basket
117. Faux or Fake Plants
118. Digital Scales
119. Vegetable Slicer
120. Measuring Spoons and Cups
121. Gold Cutlery
122. Bamboo Utensils
123. Food Storage
124. Fridge Organization
125. Travel Tumbler

The kitchen niche is huge. So, we created an article with everything you need to know about Dropshipping Kitchen Products. The article covers the pros and cons of the niche, product recommendations, products to avoid, supplier recommendations, and much more.

How to Find Dropshipping Business Ideas 

There are several ways to search and find business ideas. 

Our favorite way is using a product research tool, as it provides real data, allowing you to make informed decisions about the ideas you launch. 

But if you don’t want to use a research tool, you can also find ideas on social media and online marketplaces.

For a deeper dive into finding the right product or idea for dropshipping, check out this article on How to Do Product Research.

Product Research Tool

A product research tool is the easiest and most accurate way to find business ideas.

A research tool can uncover secrets from other sellers to determine whether or not a product is successful. 

There are tons of tools available, and each one will reveal different information. There are tools that spy on Amazon, AliExpress, eBay, ads, Shopify, and more.

For dropshipping, we recommend a tool that lets you spy on Shopify stores. 

Dropship is a Shopify spy tool. It uncovers Shopify store sales, revenue, ads, apps, products, creation date, theme, social channels, and much more. It includes several tools, including the following:

• Product Database - Search for a specific store or use the filters to find stores and products that fit your criteria.

• Sales Tracker - Save any potential winning product ideas and stores for later by adding them to your tracker. You can then easily analyze the store over time. 
• Competitor Research - Search for your competition by keyword. You can then work out how to beat them.

• Portfolio - Let Dropship do the research for you. Every week, they drop up to 40 products that have the potential to be a winner. 
• Top Stores and Products - Every 24 hours, Dropship reveals the top-performing stores and products. You can check out the list for inspiration from top sellers.

• Chrome Extension - Analyze Shopify stores as you browse. Spy on the store's sales, revenue, and much more.

We think Dropship is the best product research tool, but we’re a bit biased! If Dropship isn’t right for you, there are several other tools available. Some of our favorites are the following: 

• AliExpress Dropshipping Center (DS Center)
• Dropship Spy
• Koala Inspector

We have an article on the Best Dropshipping Product Research Tools that goes into depth on each one so you can find the right one for you.

Social Media (Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok) 

TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook can provide so much information to help you find winning business ideas.

These platforms allow you to find your potential customers and work out what they want and need.

There are tons of ways to use social media for product research. But these are some of our favorite ways:

• Facebook Groups - Find groups that are relevant to your target market, ideas, or niche. You can see what conversations are happening between members to give you ideas. We also recommend joining the groups and asking questions to gather real feedback on your ideas.

• Search Bar - Enter popular hashtags, like AmazonFinds, into TikTok or Instagram, and it will show you product ideas. You can also search for keywords related to your business. You can then scroll through the content to find inspiration and ideas for your store.

• Influencers - Look at influencers in your niche and see which products they are promoting or using for ideas.

Marketplaces (Amazon, eBay, Etsy, and AliExpress) 

Marketplaces sell similar products to those we can dropship. So, they are a great place to take inspiration from. 

The most common marketplaces we use to get business ideas are Amazon, eBay, Etsy, and AliExpress. 

There are lots of different methods you can use to find winning business ideas on these marketplaces, but these are some of our most used:

• Autocomplete Search Bar - Start entering a product name and look at the suggestions the search bar recommends. The search bar will show popular products for that marketplace. You can look through the suggestions and keep entering letters to narrow down your search.

• Sort By - You can select different ways to sort search results. AliExpress allows you to search by the number of orders placed. This allows you to find the most popular suppliers and products. Amazon allows you to sort by the newest product launches. This can show you new and trending products that could give you inspiration for your store.

• Best Sellers or Popular Now Sections - Most marketplaces have a ‘Best Sellers,’ ‘Hot Now,’ or ‘Most Popular’ section. You can look at these sections to find products that have demand and are actively selling to find winning ideas.

If you want to find other ways to find winning products on AliExpress, eBay, and Amazon, we have individual articles for each marketplace. This will give you marketplace-specific research tips and tool recommendations.

Personal Knowledge and Gaps in the Market

Your own experiences can give you some of the best business ideas.

For example, let’s say you’re looking for a specific type of water bottle but can’t find it anywhere online that ships to your country. Instantly, you have a product that you know doesn’t have competition in your market. 

And the likelihood is that if you’re looking for that product, then so are other people, which gives you demand. 

Products that you have knowledge of can also give you an edge over your competition. This is because you are the target market. So you can properly test the products, create converting copy, and market your products effectively.

What to Consider When Choosing a Dropshipping Business Idea 

When looking for a dropshipping business idea, we always think about whether the product has demand, the amount of competition, and potential profit. 

We want a product with low competition, high demand, and at least a 20% profit margin. 

These factors can help you decide if the product is worth going for and if it has the potential to be a winner.

1. Profit 

You need to make a profit to sustain your business. And each product you launch should be profitable.

The profit margin you aim for will depend on your business. We aim for around 20%, but this is flexible depending on the product type. 

You can estimate your profit margin before you launch your product. You can do this with the following calculation:

• Supplier product cost + shipping cost = Total cost

• Selling price - Total cost = Profit

For example, let’s say you buy your product for $5, and it costs $2 to ship it. This gives a total cost of $7. 

You could then sell the product for $9. This would give you a profit of $2 per piece.

However, you will also need to consider the cost of acquiring the sale. This would include any ads and marketing expenses. 

You will also need to think about your fixed costs, like the Shopify subscription, business running costs, and insurance. 

If you want more information on How to Price Your Products, check out our article. It includes pricing strategies, what to consider when pricing, calculating prices, testing prices, and much more.

2. Demand

The demand is the number of customers that want your product. 

We always want a product with a high demand, as otherwise, we would make no sales.

You can check the demand for your product in a few ways. The most accurate way we’ve found is using a product research tool, like Dropship, and checking your competition's sales.

If your competition is making a high volume of sales, then the likelihood is that the product is in demand. 

3. Competition 

Think about how competitive the product you’ve found is. Ideally, you want low competition.

It’s almost impossible to compete with big and established brands as a dropshipper. 

You also don’t want the market to be oversaturated, as your store will get lost among the masses.

This can make it hard to stand out and win sales, as customers will go to either the brands they recognize, those who rank better than you, or those with more reviews. 

We always look for products with less competition. And competition we can beat.

For example, there might be a few other sellers. But the photos of their products don’t effectively display the product, or there are bad reviews that complain about the quality.

Instantly, you’ve found a way to beat your competitors by ensuring your product is high quality and has professional photos.

You can find your competition in a variety of ways, like searching Google and looking on marketplaces like Amazon.

Alternatively, Dropship makes it super easy to find your competition with its Competitor Research tool. 

You can search for your product by keyword, and it will find all of the other Shopify stores that sell your product. 

The Competitor Research tool makes it easy to analyze and track your competition so you can work out how to beat them.

4. Restrictions and Legalities 

Always check whether you can legally sell a product and if there are any restrictions around it. 

Look at the laws and guidance in the locations you’re selling. If you’re selling in the US, each state has different rules and regulations you need to adhere to. 

There are also countries where you cannot legally import and sell certain products. 

Other restrictions include infringing on trademarks, patents, and copyrights. 

You should also consider the advertising restrictions. For example, Facebook bans certain ads, including for sex toys, certain health products, online gambling, cryptocurrency services, drug and alcohol addiction treatment, and more.

If you can’t freely advertise your product, then it can be hard to generate sales.

We have an entire article on the legalities of dropshipping that goes into much more depth on the subject. We also recommend contacting a professional if you’re ever unsure about any potential restrictions and legal issues.

5. Longevity and Outlook 

Longevity and outlook will really depend on your business model and intentions.

You might want to start dropshipping to generate a quick buck. If this is the case, you can ignore this section.

However, if you want to create a brand or a sustainable dropshipping business, then you should consider the longevity of your ideas and the products you launch.

When you search for products, consider whether your product will still be in demand in a year, in five years, or even in 20 years. 

Finding products that have a longer lifespan is our preference, as we don’t want to continually find new products.

It allows us to establish ourselves as an authority in the niche and saves us tons of time.

What is the Dropshipping Model? 

The dropshipping model is when someone sells a product that they don’t own or have in stock.

It consists of three main parties. 

1. The seller (the person or company running the dropshipping store)
2. The customer (the person who purchases the product from the seller)
3. The supplier (the person or company who owns, creates, and sends the products)

The seller acts as a middleman between the supplier and the customer. 

A customer places an order with the seller. The seller takes payment.

The seller forwards the order to the supplier.

The supplier then packages and sends the order directly to the customer.

The seller pays the supplier for the product and shipping and keeps the profits.

Dropshipping is a relatively low-financial-risk business. You don’t need to invest in stock and only pay your supplier once you have taken payment from the customer.

How To Start Dropshipping

As we’ve seen, the dropshipping model is pretty simple. 

However, it can be overwhelming to start with. 

These are the five basic steps to help you start your own dropshipping business.

If you’re looking for more information on How to Start Dropshipping, we have an entire article with everything you need to know.

1. Find a Product

The first thing we recommend doing is finding a profitable product. 

In this article, we’ve been through several ways you can find a product, including the following:

• Product research tool
• Social media
• Marketplaces
• Personal knowledge and gaps in the market

We’ve also covered how to know if the product you’ve found is a winner by looking at the following factors:

• Profit
• Competition
• Demand
• Restrictions and legalities
• Longevity and business outlook

If you want more information on How to Do Product Research, check out this article with all of the details.

2. Find a Supplier

Once you’ve found the product you want to sell, you can start sourcing it. 

For this, we recommend AliExpress. 

You can enter the product name into the search bar and look through the suppliers available. 

Each supplier will have images, prices, shipping details, reviews, and a product description.

We recommend contacting several suppliers that stock the product you’re interested in. You can then compare them and their terms. Then, choose a few of the ones that you think are the best and request samples.

You can compare the samples and select the one that suits your business.

If you want more tips on What to Consider When Choosing a Dropshipping Supplier, this article has tips on choosing and working with a supplier.

3. Build a Dropshipping Store 

So, you’ve found your products and a supplier to source them from, but now you need a platform to sell them on.

We recommend using Shopify. Shopify is super easy to use, especially for a beginner.

The plans are affordable, and it allows you to accept payments securely. 

There are also tons of site templates available that can be easily customized with no coding knowledge. So you can create a professional-looking store with little effort.

Most dropshipping software will connect with Shopify, enabling you to streamline and automate your business. 

If you’re interested in using Shopify, there is currently a promotion that gives you three months of access for $1 per month, as well as $50 to use in the app store.  

If you don’t want to use Shopify, these are some other platforms that you can dropship on:

• WooCommerce
• Wix
• BigCommerce
• Adobe Commerce (previously Magento)

4. Advertise Products and Generate Sales

It’s time to generate traffic to your site. And convert that traffic to paying customers.

The most common way to do this is to run ads on Facebook and Instagram. 

Dropship.io has a Facebook ad collector tool. The tool gathers ads as you browse, and you can save them. You can then analyze them, view the engagement, and get inspiration for your own ads. We have an article on Facebook ads if you want more information.

Other ways to advertise your products include the following:

• Influencer promoting
• TikTok ads
• Google ads
• Email marketing
• Your own social media page

5. Evaluate and Optimize the Store

After you’ve started running your ads and making sales, you can start analyzing your store. 

Start by analyzing the following:

• Ads - You can look at how your ads are converting and make any changes from your findings. 
• Store - Look at your store and see if there are any particular places where customers are leaving. We always ask ourselves the following questions:
• Is the checkout seamless? 
• Are there enough payment options?
• Could we change the language of our copy to increase conversions?
• Is the price competitive?
• Could we add an upsell offer to increase the cart value?
• Do the photos accurately represent the product?
• What’s the page load time? Are customers leaving before the pages load?
• Email Marketing - If you’re running email marketing campaigns, look at your metrics and improve or test different emails to improve your conversion rate. 

We recommend looking at the clickthrough, conversion, open, unsubscribe, and email sharing/forwarding rates.

• Returns and Refunds - Are customers returning your product or requesting refunds? If they are, find out why and how you can fix it.

• Reviews - You can learn so much from customers who genuinely use your products. Look at reviews and feedback.

Reviews have opened up entirely new markets for our products. We sold a product designed for pets. Then, a customer left a review that stated they used the product to help their plants. We then capitalize on this by advertising, promoting, and selling our product to gardeners.

If you want to learn from a dropshipping expert, we have an entire course with actionable steps to help you create a profitable dropshipping store. To join the course, you need a Dropship membership. We currently have a 7-day trial available, so you can watch the entire course for free!

How to Create a Dropshipping Business Plan 

Creating a dropshipping business plan can help you run and grow your business.

The business plan should keep you on track and provide structure to help you achieve your goals.

Your business plan should include the following:

• Executive Summary - Summarize the entire business plan into a short summary.
• Business Overview (including structure, objectives, any background information, etc.)
• Market and Product Analysis (including competitor research, market size, outlook, margins, pricing strategy, suppliers, potential product cost changes, etc.)
• Marketing Plan (including how and where you plan on advertising, budget, campaign details, etc.)
• Logistics and Operations (including how you find, buy, and sell products. It should include supplier fulfillment timeframe, shipping agents, payment terms, customer service, warranties, return process, etc.)
• Financial Plan (including initial investment, loans, salaries, expenses, and expected sales, profit, revenue, and return on investment, etc.)

Frequently Asked Questions 

What Is the Best Niche to Sell in Dropshipping? 

There is no best niche. It is more about the product within the niche.

That said, the best products we’ve found are in the home, pet, clothing, and hair and beauty niches.

What's the Best Dropshipping Business Idea for Beginners? 

Print-on-demand is an easy place to start for beginners. Both Printify and Printful connect with Shopify to make fulfillment easy.

However, there are tons of other great dropshipping business ideas for beginners. These include products within clothes, shoes, fitness, and pet supplies.

What Should I Start Selling When Dropshipping? 

You can sell anything as long as it doesn’t have restrictions or legal issues. 

Look for small products that are easy to source and ship, such as apparel, kitchen products, and office accessories.

What Type of Business Is Best for Dropshipping?

You can dropship the majority of products. The best products will have low competition and high demand.

Fashion, home goods, and electronic accessories can all have high margins.

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, this list of dropshipping business ideas has given you inspiration for your own store. 

If you want to find your own dropshipping products, check out the Dropship Product Database tool. You can use it for seven days with the free trial.

The Product Database tool can show you real Shopify store information, sales, and revenue. You can use this information to make data-driven decisions to help create a profitable dropshipping business.