How to Start a Dropshipping Business in 2023: A Step-by-Step Guide

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Written by: Richie A Bongo




 Introduction

Are you dreaming of starting your own online business, but don't have the capital to invest in inventory? Dropshipping may be the perfect business model for you.

Dropshipping is a retail fulfillment method where a store doesn't keep the products it sells in stock. Instead, when a store sells a product using the dropshipping model, it purchases the item from a third party—usually a wholesaler or manufacturer—and has it shipped directly to the customer. As a result, the seller doesn't have to handle the product directly. The biggest difference between dropshipping and the standard retail model is that the selling merchant doesn't stock or own inventory—they act as the middleman.




Dropshipping Programs in the Philippines


1. Dropify

2. OJMD Solutions

3. Oberlo


These programs offer different features and benefits, so it's important to compare them before choosing one.


1. Dropify - is a dropshipping platform that allows you to sell products from Lazada and Shopee on your own website. It also offers a variety of tools to help you manage your business, such as product sourcing, order fulfillment, and customer support.

2. OJMD Solutions - is a Philippines-based dropshipping company that offers a wide range of products, including electronics, clothing, home goods, and more. They also offer importing and customs clearing services, which can be helpful for dropshippers who are selling products from overseas.

3. Oberlo - is a dropshipping platform that is owned by Shopify. It allows you to connect your Shopify store to a variety of dropshipping suppliers, including AliExpress. Oberlo also offers a variety of features to help you manage your business, such as product importing, order fulfillment, and inventory tracking.


In addition to these dropshipping programs, there are also a number of marketplaces in the Philippines that allow you to sell products on a dropshipping basis. These marketplaces include:


1. Lazada

Lazada is a popular e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia, with over 100 million active buyers. It offers a variety of features and benefits for dropshippers.

Lazada is a good platform for dropshippers who are looking to reach a large and growing market in Southeast Asia. However, it is important to be aware of the challenges involved and to have a plan in place to address them.


2. Shopee

Shopee is a popular e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan. It is known for its wide range of products, competitive prices, and convenient checkout process. While Shopee does not officially support dropshipping, it is still possible to dropship on the platform by working with a supplier.


3. Shopify

Shopify is a Canadian multinational e-commerce company headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario. It is also the name of its proprietary e-commerce platform for online stores and retail point-of-sale systems.

Shopify was founded in 2006 by Tobias Lütke, Daniel Weinand, and Scott Lake after Lütke had difficulty setting up an online snowboard store. The company's platform is designed to make it easy for anyone to start and manage an online store, regardless of their technical expertise.

Shopify is used by over 1.75 million businesses in over 175 countries. It is a popular choice for businesses of all sizes, from small startups to large enterprises.

If you are thinking about starting an online store, Shopify is a great option to consider. It is a powerful and easy-to-use platform that can help you grow your business.

4. WooCommerce

WooCommerce is an open-source e-commerce plugin for WordPress. It is designed for small to large-sized online merchants using WordPress. Launched on September 27, 2011, the plugin quickly became popular for its simplicity to install and customize and for the market position of the base product as freeware.

WooCommerce is a highly customizable platform, with a wide range of extensions and themes available. This allows users to tailor their store to their specific needs. WooCommerce is also well-integrated with other WordPress plugins, making it easy to add additional features and functionality to your store.

WooCommerce is used by millions of businesses around the world, and it is one of the most popular e-commerce platforms available. It is a good choice for businesses of all sizes, from small businesses to large enterprises.

Dropshipping can be a great way to start an e-commerce business without having to invest in inventory. However, it is important to choose a reliable supplier and provide good customer service in order to be successful.




When choosing a dropshipping program or marketplace, it's important to consider the following factors:


* Product selection:   Make sure that the program or marketplace offers the types of products that you want to sell.

* Pricing:   Compare the prices offered by different programs and marketplaces to find the best deals.

* Shipping:  Consider the shipping times and costs offered by different programs and marketplaces.

* Customer support:   Make sure that the program or marketplace offers good customer support in case you have any problems.


Once you've chosen a dropshipping program or marketplace, you can start setting up your store and selling products. Be sure to promote your store and products on social media and other channels to attract customers.


Dropshipping has become increasingly popular in recent years, as it offers a number of advantages for entrepreneurs, including:

* Low startup costs: Since you don't have to purchase inventory upfront, you can start a dropshipping business with very little money.

* Flexibility: You can run a dropshipping business from anywhere in the world, and you can set your own hours.

* Scalability: Dropshipping businesses are very scalable, as you can easily add or remove products from your store without having to worry about inventory management.


Of course, there are also some challenges associated with dropshipping, such as:

* Competition: The dropshipping market is very competitive, so it's important to find a niche where you can stand out from the crowd.

* Profit margins: Dropshipping profit margins can be slim, so it's important to choose your products carefully and to price them competitively.

* Supplier reliability: It's important to work with reliable suppliers who can ship products to your customers on time and in good condition.


If you're interested in starting a dropshipping business, there are a few things you need to do to get started:

1. Choose a niche: What kind of products do you want to sell? It's important to choose a niche that you're passionate about and that you know something about.

2. Find suppliers: Once you've chosen a niche, you need to find suppliers who can provide you with the products you want to sell. There are a number of different ways to find suppliers, such as online directories and trade shows.

3. Create an online store: Once you have suppliers, you need to create an online store where you can sell your products. There are a number of different e-commerce platforms that you can use, such as Shopify and WooCommerce.

4. Promote your store: Once your store is up and running, you need to start promoting it so that people can find it. There are a number of different ways to promote your store, such as search engine optimization (SEO), social media marketing, and paid advertising.

Starting a dropshipping business can be a great way to start your own online business with very little money. However, it's important to do your research and to understand the challenges involved before you get started.


In conclusion,

 Drop shipping is a business model that allows you to sell products online without having to deal with inventory, fulfillment, or shipping. It can be a great way to start an online business with low risk and high potential. However, drop shipping also comes with some challenges, such as finding reliable suppliers, managing customer service, and competing with other sellers. To succeed in drop shipping, you need to do your research, find a profitable niche, create a professional website, and market your products effectively. Drop shipping is not a get-rich-quick scheme, but it can be a rewarding and flexible way to make money online if you are willing to work hard and learn from your mistakes.

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