Have you ever thought about building up your business with a low budget? Many people did not start their business because they do not have the initial investment, which is a shame.

With online shopping becoming more popular, dropshipping is a way to seize the opportunity with a low budget.

Dropshipping means you sell products that you do not actually hold in a warehouse, it can be a great opportunity to make a decent amount of money with little time and money invested.

This post tells you everything you need to know about starting dropshipping with no money.

Is dropshipping worth it?

We believe that this is the first and the most concerning question when you think about dropshipping business. People often have different opinions about it, because it is very up to your expectations.

The dropshipping market seems promising currently, and the size is expected to reach $434.98 billion by 2025.

If you wish to earn a not-bad amount of money by starting your dropshipping business as your side job, dropshipping is totally worth it.

The reason why it can be a great part-time job is that it does not require a lot of time compared to managing a conventional online store. You don’t need to worry about the inventory, which normally takes a lot of time.

However, if your goal is to earn a lot of money with little effort and in a very short amount of time, dropshipping is definitely not the right path for you.

Even though managing your dropshipping business takes less effort and time than managing a conventional online store, you are still expected to invest money, time, and effort.

Additionally, the competition in the dropshipping market is incredibly intense. Therefore, you really need to make extra effort to stand out.

7 steps to start a dropshipping business with no money

1. Conduct product research

Most people start their dropshipping business with no upfront investment at all and the very first step to begin the adventure is to find the products you sell. You need to know how to conduct high-quality product research. 

Identifying profitable products for a dropshipping business is different to selling your own products on an e-commerce platform. The definition of a perfect product for a dropshipping business is having high demands and low competition.

Generally, it is difficult to strike a balance between these two factors, but if you manage you find a product that meets this specific requirement, you are halfway to success.

There are many well-practiced methods for conducting product research for your dropshipping business. 

•  Find the Best Sellers on Your Supplier’s Website: Normally, you can see the showcase on the suppliers’ websites, telling the best-selling item. Some dropshipping suppliers also disclose the quantity of the items they sell and the competition index. 

•  AutoDS Winning Products Hub: AutoDS provides a curated list of winning products in almost all categories, which can definitely save a lot of time for you.

•  Google Lens: Google Lens can identify a product with images, and it will help you to find similar products available online. What’s even clever is that Google Lens can show you the demand for that product at the same time. 

2. Select a reliable dropshipping supplier

There is another crucial part of the dropshipping business, which is finding a reliable dropshipping supplier.

Many people neglect the fact that finding a reliable dropshipping supplier is as important as finding profitable products. 

If you think what a supplier does is only sending the product to the customer, you are wrong.

Actually, they are your business partner that takes charge of inventory stocking, packing and shipping, which means your store’s reputation is directly affected by the supplier’s work. Therefore, it is significantly important to find yourself a reliable supplier.

There is a checklist that you may find helpful in selecting suitable suppliers for your business.

•  Policy heck: It is necessary to check the supplier’s policies about shipping time, payment and return. The best situation would be you find a supplier who commits to the same standard as your business.

•  Wide Product Range: It is a smart choice to select a supplier that covers a wide product range. in this way, you can sell more types of products while managing a small number of suppliers.

•  Positive Feedback: Customers’ feedback always tells you the truth about the supplier. Based on the reviews left by their customers, you can quickly grasp an idea about the reliability and product quality.

3. Set up the dropshipping store

When it comes to the best ecommerce platform to start your dropshipping business, Shopify dropshipping takes the chequered flag.

Shopify offers easy setup, customizable designs, secure payments, and robust analytics for online businesses. Its scalability, app integration, and 24/7 support make it a powerful e-commerce platform for entrepreneurs.

Besides, Shopify offers a 3-day free trial with $1/month for the next three months.

During the free trial period, you can access almost all the functionality on the website. You can explore the integrated tools and built-in features to customize your online store.

After the free trial period, you only need to pay $1 to experience three Shopify plans including the Basic, the Shopify and the Advanced for 3 months.

If you have a large online business, you are recommended to subscribe to the Shopify Plus plan.

Shopify Plus is the most expensive and the most advanced plan offered by Shopify. The plus plan is for complex businesses as it costs $2,300 per month on a 3-year term.

You have all the features mentioned above and you can have up to 200 inventory locations, 50 selling markets and 200 Shopify POS Pro locations. Apart from those, you can even start your wholesale business on Shopify.

As the monthly subscription fees suggest, Shopify Plus is not designed for small and medium businesses, instead, it targets large and complex businesses.

No matter what size business you’re running, Shopify is your best bet!

4. Optimize your online store

Optimizing your Shopify dropshipping store involves several key steps:

Product Pages

Create compelling product pages by using high-resolution images that showcase your products from different angles.

Craft detailed and informative product descriptions that highlight key features, benefits, and use cases. Incorporate persuasive copywriting techniques to address customer pain points and encourage conversions.

SEO Optimization

Conduct keyword research to identify relevant search terms for your products and niche.

Optimize product titles, descriptions, and meta tags with these keywords to improve your store’s visibility in search engine results.

Utilize Shopify’s free SEO app SEOAnt to generate SEO-friendly URLs and implement schema markup for rich snippets.

Mobile Responsiveness

Prioritize mobile responsiveness by using a responsive Shopify theme that adjusts seamlessly to different screen sizes and resolutions.

Optimize your store’s layout, navigation, and button sizes for mobile devices to provide a smooth and intuitive browsing experience.

Test your store across various devices and browsers to ensure consistent functionality and appearance.

Social Proof

Leverage social proof elements such as customer reviews, ratings, and user-generated content to build credibility and trust with potential customers.

Display testimonials prominently on product pages and utilize social proof apps to showcase real-time activity, such as recent purchases and product reviews.

Encourage satisfied customers to share their experiences on social media platforms and engage with user-generated content to foster community and authenticity.

Multilingual & Multi-currency Support

Expand your store’s reach by offering multilingual support for customers from different regions.

Utilize Shopify’s free language app Langwill to translate your store’s content into multiple languages, ensuring seamless communication with international customers.

5. Run online marketing campaigns

Marketing campaigns are very important for a new online store. When you have a low budget, you need to be creative to maximize the results of your marketing campaigns.

Given that the competition in the dropshipping market is extremely intense every store seems to have the same quality.

Customers can not easily tell the difference between stores, which makes marketing campaigns extremely important. It is a great chance to stand out among other stores.

Running successful online marketing campaigns involves leveraging various channels to reach and engage your target audience effectively. Specific channels include:

1. Search Engine Marketing (SEM): Utilize platforms like Google Ads to display targeted ads to users actively searching for relevant keywords.
2. Social Media Advertising: Leverage the vast user bases of platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn to target specific demographics and interests with paid ads.
3. Email Marketing: Build and nurture relationships with leads and customers through personalized email campaigns, delivering valuable content, promotions, and updates.
4. Content Marketing: Create engaging and informative content such as blog posts, videos, and infographics to attract and engage your audience, driving traffic and conversions.
5. Influencer Marketing: Collaborate with influencers in your niche to promote your products or services to their engaged audiences, leveraging their credibility and reach.

6. Fulfill customer orders

One of the key customer satisfaction in the dropshipping business is order fulfillment. We need to think about what customers are concerned about the most when they purchase an item online.

Many believe the first factor that comes up is the delivery time. Appropriate waiting time builds up expectations, but a long waiting time will definitely destroy customer satisfaction.

There are many different methods to optimize order fulfillment.

The manual order fulfillment requires you to order the product from the supplier’s website to your buyer’s address when an order is made in your Shopify store. But you will have to manually update the tracking information when it is updated.

Most drop shippers usually choose the second method: following an automatic order fulfillment, which they can find many tools on the Shopify app store.

Automatic order fulfillment tools streamline the process without human involvement. For example, once an order is made, the tool will automatically forward that information to the supplier and make an order.

Dropshipman is a comprehensive dropshipping management platform designed to streamline and automate various aspects of running a dropshipping business.

It offers features such as product sourcing, order fulfillment, inventory management, and custom branding.

With Dropshipman, you can easily import products from Aliexpress and Temu, manage pricing and inventory levels, and track orders seamlessly.

7. Offer excellent customer support

Excellent customer service is the backbone of a successful business. It is the most straightforward and efficient way to attract new customers and retain the existing ones.

A loyal customer values much more than potential customers. 

As a sore owner, providing outstanding customer support is crucial for ensuring customer satisfaction and loyalty, which leads to repeat business and positive word-of-mouth.

Utilizing tools like WillDesk can streamline customer inquiries and issue resolution, making it easier to respond promptly and effectively to customer concerns.

By offering attentive and responsive support, you demonstrate care for your customers’ needs, build trust, and foster long-term relationships, ultimately contributing to the success and growth of your Shopify store.

4 tips to achieve success dropshipping with no money

Achieving success in dropshipping without initial capital requires strategic planning and resourcefulness. Here are four useful tips:

1. Leverage Free Platforms

Utilize free e-commerce platforms like Shopify’s free trial or WooCommerce to set up your store without upfront costs.

Take advantage of social media platforms and online marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace, Instagram, or Etsy to promote your products and reach potential customers organically.

2. Focus on High-Profit Margin Products

Research and select niche products with high-profit margins to maximize earnings with each sale.

Look for suppliers offering dropshipping arrangements with low or no upfront costs, allowing you to list products without investing in inventory.

3. Optimize for Organic Traffic

Invest time in search engine optimization (SEO) techniques to improve your store’s visibility on search engines like Google.

Create valuable content related to your niche, optimize product descriptions with relevant keywords, and build backlinks to attract organic traffic to your store without spending on advertising.

4. Negotiate with Suppliers

Reach out to suppliers directly and negotiate favorable terms, such as lower minimum order requirements.

Building strong relationships with suppliers can lead to better pricing and terms, enabling you to operate your dropshipping business more profitably without significant upfront investment.

What’s Next?

If you have spare time after your eight-to-five work and wish to use the time to make some money, dropshipping is the perfect way for you.

Even with little money in your pocket at your disposal, you can still start a dropshipping business.

This page shows you detailed instructions on how to start your dropshipping business and the tips that can boost your sales.

As we come to the end of this discussion, remember that success in dropshipping, like any business endeavor, requires dedication, resourcefulness, and continuous learning.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to grow your existing store, keep experimenting, refining your strategies, and staying adaptable to the ever-changing landscape of e-commerce.