The best part is you don\u2019t even have to stock up products in your garage or ship products one at a time, with a dropshipping store, retail service providers take care of that for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All you have to do is open the store, import products from another site, promote, and start collecting the money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This guide is all about starting a dropshipping business with Shopify. It\u2019s completely beginner-friendly and we\u2019ll take you through the process step-by-step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By the end of this guide, you\u2019ll learn how to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Pick a profitable niche for your dropshipping store.<\/li>
- Find products that sell.<\/li>
- How to promote products.<\/li>
- How to setup a drop shipping store with Shopify.<\/li>
- Import products from AliExpress using Oberloo.<\/li>
- How to make more sales using Instagram.<\/li>
- And more.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Before going any further, bookmark this page<\/strong> so that you can easily get back here for reference while building your store.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s get started, shall we?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What is Dropshipping?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/azoora.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/what-is-dropshipping.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nNo inventory, semi-automated, earn up to $1K in first month<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dropshipping is an eCommerce strategy that involves selling products without keeping stock. You simply buy products from a wholesale agent like AliExpress and sells the products for a profit. You never have to handle the products, shipping, or returns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Simply put, when you have a dropshipping store, you find products from a third party whole selling site like AliExpress and feature those products in your own store at retail price. AliExpress doesn\u2019t charge you for featuring these products in your dropship store.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And, when a customer buys a product from your store, you process the order through AliExpress and they handle all the logistics for you by managing the inventory and shipping the product to your customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/azoora.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shop-vs-aliexpress.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFor example, here you see a shop selling a product at the full retail price. On AliExpress, it only costs $35. Which means, this seller earns a $15 profit from each sale of this product.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Can You Make Money Dropshipping?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/azoora.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/can-you-make-money-dropshipping.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nDropshipping is one of the easiest ways you can start a business and make an incredible profit. Some dropship sellers make over $20,000 per month, doing minimum work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Want proof? Meet Tanner Planes<\/a>. At only 16 years old, Tanner started a dropshipping store using Shopify. Every day, after coming home from school, he would spend his free time managing his Shopify store.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/azoora.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/influencer-success.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nTanner\u2019s store makes up to $20,000 in a day<\/strong>. It\u2019s no fluke. He makes this happen by promoting his products on Instagram via influencers. Tanner is one of the many people who make profitable dropshipping businesses online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yes, you can make that much money<\/a> with your dropship store too. The key is to pick the right niche. We\u2019ll talk more about that in a moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What Is Shopify & Why Use It?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/azoora.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shopify.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nTo setup your dropship store, we\u2019re going to use Shopify.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shopify<\/strong>\u00a0is an\u00a0online eCommerce software<\/strong>\u00a0that allows you to setup stores quite easily. With this software, you don\u2019t need to worry about designing websites and hiring web developers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, it only takes less than 20 minutes to setup a dropship store in Shopify. You can complete the entire process in just a few clicks. It\u2019s that easy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shopify is not free software. They give you hosting, manage checkout systems, and more to help you serve your customers. So you\u2019ll have to buy a Shopify subscription to open your store to the public, which only costs $29 per month. That\u2019s really nothing compared to what you can earn with your store.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of course, you can test drive Shopify for free for 14 days. No credit card required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How To Find A Profitable Niche & Products That Sell<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The number one reason most dropshipping businesses fail is that they try to include lots of products in dozens of categories. More products don\u2019t necessarily mean more sales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Instead, you should try to find a niche and include a collection of the best products on your Shopify store. This will make things easier for you to manage and promote your products more easily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To find a profitable niche, go to AliExpress and search for a product category. Then look for the best selling niches in that category.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/azoora.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/pick-product.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFor example, let\u2019s say that you\u2019re looking to start a dropship store to sell shoes. Then search \u201cshoes\u201d<\/em> in AliExpress and see what kind of shoes has the most sales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As you can see, there\u2019s a steampunk-style boot selling like hot cake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Instead of building a general shoe store, you can start a niche-store for like Steampunk shoes or Military Boots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Use this same tactic to find the best items to dropship from your store as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Find A Name For Your Store<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/azoora.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/name-generator.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBefore starting the store building process, lets come up with a cool name for your store. You can change this later, but it\u2019s best to go into the process prepared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A great way to come up with a unique name is to combine two words, for example, you can try something like Infinite+Shoes=InfiniShoes<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Or, you can use Shopify Business Name Generator<\/a> tool to quickly generate a name for your store<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Make sure that your store name is also available to buy as a domain name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Design a logo by yourself or get it designed by some Professionals<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/azoora.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/design-logo.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s important that you make your dropship store look as professional as possible to gain customer trust and generate more sales. Start by designing a unique logo for your store.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Use\u00a0Shopify Logo Maker<\/a>\u00a0tool to quickly create a simple logo for your store.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don’t like the logo’s generated by this tool, get it done by our Professional team working at Azoora, Inc.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 1: Signup With Shopify<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/azoora.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/free-trial.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nLet\u2019s start by signing up for a Shopify account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As we\u2019ve mentioned earlier, Shopify costs $29 per month to maintain your dropship store.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But, you can signup and build the site for free with its 14-day free trial<\/strong>. That\u2019s two whole weeks for free! More than enough time to test the platform and get comfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 2: Setup Your Store<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
After completing the signup process, you should be able to login to your Shopify account dashboard. This is where you\u2019ll be setting up and managing your dropship store.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/azoora.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shopify-dashboard.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe dashboard may look empty at the moment, but once your\u00a0store is up and running, it will show you analytics, orders, sales, and a lot more info about your store.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You\u2019ll notice that Shopify has already setup the store for you. There\u2019s very little work you have to do it customize it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First, head over to the Settings page<\/strong>. Now, don\u2019t feel overwhelmed by all the options and tabs on this page. Shopify has already configured most of the settings and you don\u2019t have to change them unless you want to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/azoora.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shopify-settings.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHere are a couple of things that you should customize.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Go to General <\/strong>options and change the currency to USD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/azoora.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shopify-currency.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nGo to Taxes <\/strong>and choose how you\u2019d like to charge for taxes (it\u2019s best to include taxes in your price choose that option).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/azoora.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shopify-taxes.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nGo to Payment Providers<\/strong> and choose how customers can pay during the checkout. You can allow your customers to pay with many different options, including PayPal, credit card, Skrill, Stripe, and many more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/azoora.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shopify-payment-providers.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAfter choosing a payment method, Shopify will request you to activate it by connecting Shopify with your preferred payment processor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you have PayPal, connect your PayPal<\/strong> with Shopify.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s all you have to configure for now. We\u2019ll get to the Shipping section later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 3: Install A Theme<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
To make your store look more professional, you should install a Shopify store theme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can either browse a collection of free themes or buy a premium theme from the Shopify Theme Store. Using a premium theme will make your shop look more professional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For now, let\u2019s use a free theme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/azoora.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shopify-themes.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nGo to Online Store >> Themes<\/strong> and select Explore Free Themes<\/strong> to browse themes and choose one that fits your store. The Supply theme is our favorite free theme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Click on the Customize <\/strong>button to customize your store design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/azoora.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shopify-themes-3.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFrom here, you can add a background image to your store, upload your logo, change colors, and do much more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Switch over to the Theme Design<\/strong> tab to change the store colors and fonts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/azoora.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shopify-themes-4.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nNotice that here you can also choose which Collections <\/strong>to show on your homepage. Select the appropriate Collections to show in different sections on your Store. We\u2019ll show you how to create Collections next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 4: Create Collections<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Before adding products to your store, you need to create Collections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Collections <\/strong>are like categories for your products. It helps you to organize your products properly and arrange your products on your store homepage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example, if you\u2019re selling shoes, you should have shoes in different styles like Boots and Sneakers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/azoora.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shopify-collections-1.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nGo to Products >> Collections<\/strong> and create different Collections for categories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When creating Collections, choose the Collection Type<\/strong> as Manual<\/strong>. This enables you to add products manually to your store.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 5: Buy A Domain Name<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Even though it\u2019s optional, we highly recommend that you use a custom domain name to make your store look more professional and build authority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shopify will give you a free sub-domain for your store (eg: mystore.shopify.com). But, this usually makes your store look cheap and amateur-like. And customers will avoid buying on your store if it looks unprofessional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, buy a custom domain name, like yourstore.com, to make your store stand out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/azoora.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shopify-domain-1024x595.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nGo to Online Store >> Domains<\/strong> to buy a domain name for your store. It will cost around $14. Shopify will manage the domain and connect it to your store for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 6: Install Oberloo<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
AliExpress is the platform we\u2019ll be using to add products to your store. AliExpress is a popular retail service provider that supports dropshipping stores by providing products at wholesale prices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now, you don\u2019t have to use AliExpress directly to add products to your store. Instead, we\u2019ll be using a tool called\u00a0Oberlo<\/a> to make this process easier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"oberloo\"](\"https:\/\/mk0designbombsg12amh.kinstacdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/oberloo.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhen using Oberloo, you can easily browse the products on AliExpress and instantly import those products to your store, including the product images, descriptions, and tags.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Signup for an Oberloo account by installing the Oberloo app in Shopify. It\u2019s free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/azoora.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/oberloo-2.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFrom your Shopify dashboard, go to Apps<\/strong> and click on Oberloo <\/strong>app to install it. Shopify will ask you to login again<\/strong> during the installation process. Use your login info and follow the instructions to create an Oberloo account and integrate it with Shopify.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 7: How To Find Products With Oberloo<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Once you connect your Shopify store with Oberloo, it will redirect you to your Oberloo account dashboard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/azoora.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/oberloo-dashboard-1024x656.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nNow, you won\u2019t find AliExpress products directly on Oberloo. Instead, you have to install the Oberloo Chrome extension to import products from AliExpress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Use this link<\/a> to install the Oberloo Chrome extension. You will need the Google Chrome browser for this extension to work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After installing the extension, go to AliExpress <\/a>website and search for a product. You\u2019ll see a whole lot of new information showing up for each product in AliExpress when you hover your mouse over them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/azoora.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/oberloo-alixpress-products.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/azoora.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/oberloo-import-list-1.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/azoora.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/oberloo-import-list-2.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/azoora.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shopify-shipping.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/azoora.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shopify-pricing-plans.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/azoora.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/shopify-oberloo-app-1024x507.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/azoora.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/fulfill-orders-oberloo.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n