New to dropshipping? These answers cover the most common questions about suppliers, business requirements, costs, marketplaces, products, shipping, and getting started.
Start here if you are brand new to dropshipping.
Dropshipping is a retail model where you sell products without keeping the inventory yourself.
When a customer orders from you, you purchase the product from your supplier and the supplier ships it directly to your customer.
Usually, no. Dropshipping is designed to let you sell products without purchasing large amounts of inventory in advance.
You still pay the supplier for the product when an order needs to be fulfilled.
No. Start with one supplier that fits your niche.
Learn that supplier's pricing, shipping, inventory, ordering, and return process before adding another supplier.
EPROLO or CJdropshipping may be good starting points for broad general merchandise.
Trendsi is geared toward fashion, Fast Furnishings toward furniture, Essential Pet Products toward pet supplies, and Costway toward home, outdoor, fitness, and lifestyle products.
Use the Supplier Comparison page to decide which one best matches your business.
Not every supplier requires an LLC.
Business requirements vary by supplier and by where you live and operate your business.
Direct wholesale suppliers may ask for business documentation before approving your account.
A resale certificate is commonly used to show a wholesale supplier that you are purchasing products for resale rather than for personal use.
The exact process and terminology can vary by state.
An EIN is an Employer Identification Number issued by the IRS for business tax identification purposes.
Some direct suppliers may request an EIN or other business tax information during the application process.
It depends on the supplier.
Platforms like EPROLO and CJdropshipping are generally easier to explore before your store is completely finished.
Direct suppliers such as Fast Furnishings or Essential Pet Products may want to review your business or website.
No. “Free to start” means there is a way to begin without a required recurring supplier membership fee.
You may still have product costs, shipping charges, marketplace fees, payment-processing fees, advertising expenses, returns, and optional supplier services.
In a normal dropshipping transaction, your customer purchases from your business first.
You then place the matching order with the supplier and pay the supplier for the product and any applicable shipping costs.
There is no single markup percentage that works for every product.
Consider your supplier cost, shipping, marketplace fees, payment processing, competition, return risk, and desired profit.
Focus on the final dollar profit rather than markup alone.
Landed cost is the total cost required to get the product to your customer.
It can include the product price, shipping, freight, handling, and other fulfillment-related expenses.
Some may support eBay selling, but you should never assume every supplier or every brand is automatically approved.
Check the supplier's current rules and make sure your fulfillment method also complies with eBay's current policies.
Do not assume that you can.
Supplier, brand, product-category, and marketplace rules can vary. Some supplier programs may restrict Amazon sales entirely.
Always check both the supplier's current rules and Amazon's current seller policies before listing.
Yes, many dropshipping suppliers are designed to work with independent ecommerce websites.
Direct suppliers may still require retailer approval before allowing you to advertise or sell their products.
No.
Individual brands may have their own marketplace restrictions, pricing rules, or authorization requirements.
Always check brand-specific restrictions before listing.
Start with research rather than quantity.
Build a list of approximately 20–25 possible products, research them, and narrow the list to your strongest 3–5 opportunities.
No.
A large catalog can be useful for research, but listing everything usually makes pricing, inventory monitoring, and store organization more difficult.
Choose products that fit your niche and have reasonable demand, profit, and shipping.
Update or pause your listing as quickly as possible.
If a customer already ordered, communicate promptly and follow the applicable marketplace and store policies for cancellation, replacement, or refund.
Yes.
Supplier pricing and shipping charges can change, so active dropshipping listings should be monitored.
Recalculate your expected margin when supplier costs change.
Only when the supplier gives you permission.
Many dropshipping suppliers provide approved product data and images, but policies vary by supplier and brand.
Even when you can use supplier content, improving the title and description for your own customer can help your listing.
The supplier or its fulfillment partner ships the product directly to your customer.
You do.
The supplier may handle fulfillment, but the customer purchased from your business. You are responsible for communicating with the customer and resolving problems.
Follow the supplier's damage and return procedures.
For large furniture or freight items, customers may need to inspect the shipment at delivery and document visible damage.
Add the tracking information to your customer's order on your website or marketplace.
Continue monitoring the shipment until it has been delivered.
EPROLO and CJdropshipping are the broadest general-product supplier options on DropshipStarter.
Trendsi is the site's fashion-focused supplier option.
Fast Furnishings is the site's dedicated furniture and home-furnishings supplier option.
Essential Pet Products is the site's dedicated pet-supply option.
Costway covers a broad range of home, outdoor, fitness, appliance, and lifestyle categories.
Supplier programs, fees, product availability, shipping terms, marketplace permissions, and application requirements can change. DropshipStarter helps explain the process, but the supplier's current terms control your relationship with that supplier.
Learn the dropshipping process and what you should prepare first.
Read Getting Started →Learn how to evaluate demand, competition, shipping, and profit.
Product Research Guide →Compare the six supplier options, choose one that matches your niche, and follow its step-by-step setup guide.
View the 6 Supplier Guides →