How to Start Dropshipping with Shopify (Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners
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How to Start Dropshipping with Shopify (Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners)So, you’ve heard about dropshipping and you’re wondering: *Is this something I can actually do?* The answer is yes, and Shopify makes it super beginner-friendly. If you’ve got a laptop, some Wi-Fi, and a little hustle, you can get started.
Let’s break down exactly how to start dropshipping with Shopify — no fluff, just clear steps you can follow.
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🚚 What Is Dropshipping, Anyway?
In case you’re totally new to this: dropshipping is a business model where you **sell products online without holding inventory**. You set up a store, customers place orders, and a supplier ships the product directly to them. You don’t need to stock anything — you’re the middle person.
Why People Love Dropshipping:
- Low startup costs
- No need to buy inventory upfront
- Flexible — work from anywhere
- Tons of niches and products to choose from
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🛒 Step-by-Step: How to Start Dropshipping on Shopify
1. Set Up Your Shopify Store
Head to Shopify and start your free trial. You’ll need to create an account and name your store. Don’t stress about the name too much — you can change it later.
Once you're in:
- Choose a theme (there are free ones — “Dawn” is a great starter).
- Customize your homepage, add a logo, and tweak your colors.
- Set up your basic pages: **Home**, **Shop**, **About**, **Contact**, and **Shipping & Returns**.
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2. Add the Right Dropshipping App
To actually dropship, you need to connect your store with suppliers. Shopify has several apps for that. The most popular one for beginners is **DSers – AliExpress Dropshipping** (it replaced Oberlo).
Here’s how to do it:
- Go to the **Shopify App Store**
- Search for **DSers** and install it
- Connect it to your Shopify account
- Link your store to **AliExpress** (you’ll need a free account there too)
DSers lets you import products from AliExpress into your Shopify store in just a few clicks.
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3. Choose and Import Products
This is the fun part.
- Think about your niche: beauty, gadgets, home decor, pet accessories, etc.
- On DSers, search AliExpress for products with good reviews, fast shipping, and clear photos.
- Click “Import to Store” to add them directly to your Shopify product list.
- Edit the titles, descriptions, and images to make them fit your brand (don’t just copy/paste from AliExpress — that’s lazy and hurts SEO).
💡 *Pro tip: Avoid products with long shipping times (30+ days). Look for “ships from US” or “AliExpress Standard Shipping” when possible.
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4. Set Up Your Pricing
A good rule of thumb is:
**Cost x 2.5 or 3 = Your Selling Price**
Example: If you buy it for $10, you sell it for $25–$30.
This gives you room for ad costs and profit.
You can also use Shopify’s “Compare at price” feature to show your price is discounted (which helps conversions).
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5. Set Up Payments and Shipping
- Go to Settings > Payments in Shopify
- Enable Shopify Payments (or PayPal if you're outside supported countries)
- Add shipping zones and rates. Many dropshippers offer Free Shipping and bake the cost into the product price.
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6. Test Everything Before You Launch
Run through a test order to make sure everything works. Check:
- Add to cart
- Checkout flow
- Payment processing
- Email confirmations
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7. Launch and Promote Your Store
Once everything’s ready, it’s time to get traffic!
Options:
- TikTok or Instagram Reels: Create short, catchy videos showing off your products.
- Facebook Ads: Great for testing fast.
- Influencer marketing: Send free products for shoutouts.
- SEO/blogging: Takes longer, but great for long-term traffic.
Track your results with Shopify Analytics and adjust as you go.
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🙌 Final Thoughts
Dropshipping with Shopify isn’t some “get rich quick” thing — but it *is* a super doable way to start your own online business without a ton of risk. The key is picking the right products, keeping your store looking clean and professional, and staying consistent with your marketing.
You won’t get everything perfect on Day 1 — and that’s okay. The important thing is to start.
So… ready to give it a shot?
👉 [Start your Shopify trial here] https://shopify.pxf.io/55ZoNL and begin building your store today.