In this post, I share 7 proven ways to start dropshipping in India and make a lot of money. We keep hearing about dropshipping and how people make thousands of dollars monthly by commissions. But can we do the same in India as well? The answer is YES.
Dropshipping is mainly about selling a product without taking the responsibility of delivery. This is the whole game of the internet that makes it possible to handle from anywhere and anytime.
Dropshipping has a global market size of USD 287.36 billion in 2023 and is forecasted to grow to USD 1,253.79 billion by 2030. Whether you choose to go with a general online store or a niche-specific one, dropshipping in India is as good as working internationally.
Of course, you would need some guide or checklist to ensure you don’t miss out on anything. So, here we are with everything you need to start your dropshipping business immediately.
How to Start Dropshipping in India in 2024?
1. The Right Product
As we said earlier, there are 2 types of dropshipping stores-
- A general store where you sell everything
- A niche-specific store where you sell a particular range of products, eg- home appliances.
No matter what type of store you would be opening, the main idea is to do market research to know what product your customers want on your website. Figuring out this is not that difficult. In fact, all you need is Google.
Just go to the website and type in what people are looking for in trends. For instance, if you are interested in cell phone accessories, just type in the search box ‘Trendy phone accessories in India’.
Hit the search button, and you will come across many websites with trendy products. Also, you can learn from the case studies where dropshippers have made over $10 million with dropshipping business.
Make a list and see which one you want to research further. By further research, use Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or even Amazon and Flipkart stats to see if that product has a demand.
Follow the tags, check out the competitors, and come up with the final list or single product that you would like to sell.
2. Get the supplier
Now that you have determined the right product, it is time to look for the right supplier. When you look for Suppliers in the international market, there are options like Alibaba. But what about Indian companies?
You can get suppliers from Meesho, Shop101, JustDial, GlowRoad, IndiaMart, and many more. These companies sell you the product at wholesale prices and ask you to add your commission just the way you like. Then you take the order, and they will be responsible for delivering it to the right customer.
All you need to do is make sure you contact someone who is selling their product and not working as another middleman.
Also, don’t forget to act all professional because there are wholesalers who wouldn’t treat a retailer for that matter.
So, if you have some business proof such as GST Number, Website, or a business card, you can ensure to appear a professional business person.
Talk to them, clear out all your doubts, ask plenty of questions and get them to deliver their product to your customers in exchange for a commission. Most importantly, don’t hide the purpose of your contact and what you do.
3. Profit analysis
Sometimes, especially as a beginner, we think working for about Rs 50-100 per product would be enough. But this is where the real deal comes in.
When you are dropshipping something, choose the seller who offers you good quality at a minimal price. Only then can you keep your profit margin as high as possible.
Think of it this way: if you get the wholesale price of Rs 200 for a saree, you can sell it at around Rs 500, which is like Rs 300 coming to your pocket.
Don’t confuse it as greed. That’s not what this is about. As a dropshipper, you would probably have millions of other expenses include website expenses, promotions, marketing, and return/refund policies, and more.
Another most important thing to keep in mind is the time of delivery the manufacturer is taking. If it’s too late like 10-15 days, skip it and move to some other seller.
4. Build your online store
Obviously, like any other businessman, you need your online presence and in dropshipping, that’s your online store. Your website needs to look professional just like you see something on Myntra or Nykaa.
Now, to have your online store, you can start one from already established platforms like WooCommerce or Shopify. However, if you want to build something different or personalized, you can also do that on WordPress.
According to experts and already-established Indian dropshippers, platforms like Shopify are the best choice. The reason is this platform gives you a number of tools, plugins, and templates with which you can manage everything super easily.
All you need to do is keep in mind
- What color, logo, listicles, and other details will you represent.
- Have a nice Shopify theme to make your online store look unique and attractive.
- Don’t forget to add return/refund policies, customer reviews, and contact details to ensure trust for your new as well as existing buyers.
5. Time to market your product
As a new store in the market, you would have to gain traffic to start selling products. That traffic will turn in to customers. But how to get that traffic? It’s through the right promotional and marketing techniques.
Here’s a bitter truth – Having a separate marketing budget for this one is better.
You can start your advertisements on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and more. These include free and paid ads.
Now, we all are familiar with the paid ads that reach out to a number of people based on geography, age, and gender.
You must determine your target audience to make it more effective. When it comes to free ads, the thing becomes quite tricky.
You would have to join groups, send personalized messages, and do anything to inform people that ‘Hey! We have a business, and we want to sell it to you.’
Once you start the paid ads, you will see the statistics of how your customers respond to your business.
There will be sign-in/sign-out, bounce-back rate, and hot map. You need to pay attention to all these details to see what your customers are looking for and how to improve your store to attract more people.
It is recommended that you learn marketing first before stepping into the dropshipping business.
What happens is that you make the deals with the sellers and even spend thousands of Rupees on the business, but if you are unaware of the right marketing strategies, your business may not work as we expect it to.
6. Order and delivery
The rest of the work is pretty simple. All you have to do is keep a track of your customer orders and track them until it gets delivered from the seller to the final customer.
For that, you would need to place the order ASAP to ensure it reaches the final customer as soon as possible.
When it comes to payment, it’s totally up to you how to want them to transfer the money via online banking, UPI, app transfer, or COD (Cash on Delivery).
Most sellers forget to keep an eye on the stock and inventory of their goods. So, whenever you are not selling something or some XYZ product is out of stock, take them off the website. Otherwise, you would be fooling your customers and risking your professionalism.
7. Feedback
Another most significant thing is to receive an honest review of the customer who received your product. When they receive it, send them a reminder to share honest feedback on the product. Having video testimonials can further boost your online store. Make sure you take permission from your customers to use the video testimonial as marketing material for your dropshipping store.
This will be beneficial for 2 reasons:
- You would be able to develop your services and goods for the better.
- It will ensure trust for the other customers who will be visiting your website. You know how we humans believe the word of the mouth, and when it comes from real users, it leaves a different impression.
- Having high reviews on your website is fantastic for your overall traffic. So, ensure you have some so that more people can know about your online business.
Benefits of dropshipping in India
Let’s come to the good part. More and more people are entering the world of eCommerce, and all want to have something that requires minimal effort.
Dropshipping is one of those options. But why should you do dropshipping just like hundreds of others?
- You don’t have to manage the inventory; it’s the job of the final seller.
- It’s a low-investment eCommerce business that you can start with barely Rs 10,000 or maybe Rs 5,000 in some cases.
- You can try various products and the one that suits them best, that’s your thing.
- A location-independent business that you can start from anywhere and anytime.
- The risk is minimal as compared to other eCommerce businesses.
Drawbacks of Dropshipping in India
Obviously, like any other business, this one, too, has some drawbacks that nobody really discusses. So, here are some.
- You have low control over your activities. You will be dependent on your seller.
- Low profit – This makes people confused about what to charge and what is good for them.
- Delay in activities of supply and delivery.
Also Read:
- Best Shopify Dropshipping Themes
- How To Find Reliable Dropshipping Supplier In The US & EU?
- Ultimate Guide to High- Ticket Dropshipping
FAQs (Dropshipping in India)
🙆 Does Dropshipping work in India?
It’s one of the most profitable e-commerce businesses that you can do. It has amazing growth benefits, low risks, and a big area for experiments. Yes, there is a risk but that is very less as compared to other online businesses. All you need is the right strategies and techniques to make the best of it.
🤷♀️ Which platform is best for dropshipping in India?
As per many established dropshipping professionals in India, platforms like Shopify and IndiaMART are the best choices because their tools will help you with many other activities. These pretty much take the burden off your shoulders.
🙎 Can I dropship in the USA from India?
Yes, You can run a dropshipping store from India and sell products in the USA Market. Some dropshipping tools customized for this purpose can make it easier to operate from anywhere and ship to USA customers.
Conclusion- How To Start Dropshipping In India in 2024?
Now that you know how to start your eCommerce dropshipping business in India, it’s time to beat the international market. These steps make things pretty clear and sure you won’t face many problems.
Get your online store, choose the right promotional techniques, and don’t underestimate the product choice because that’s the whole game.
