International Dropshipping Business

Sell imported products online with suppliers shipping directly to customers

Startup Cost
$3,000-$30,000
Difficulty
Beginner
Time to Profit
6-15 months
Profit Potential
$4,000-$83,000/month

Overview

Dropshipping businesses generate $50,000-$1,000,000+ annually with 15-35% margins.

In 2025, dropshipping provides low-barrier entry to e-commerce.

Initial investment $3,000-$30,000 includes e-commerce website and platform, product research and selection, marketing and advertising, business setup and tools, and initial ad spend.

Revenue from product markups (typically 30-100% over supplier cost), repeat customer purchases, upsells and cross-sells, affiliate and influencer partnerships, and list building for future marketing.

Successful dropshippers find trending products with demand, select reliable suppliers with fast shipping, create compelling product pages and ads, drive traffic through paid ads and social media, and provide excellent customer service despite not touching products.

Online consumers as customers.

Marketing through Facebook and TikTok ads, Instagram and influencer marketing, Google shopping ads, SEO and content marketing, and email marketing.

Required Skills

  • E-commerce Operations
  • Product Research
  • Digital Marketing & Ads
  • Supplier Management
  • Customer Service
  • Conversion Optimization

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Very low startup costs (no inventory)
  • Suppliers handle fulfillment and shipping
  • Can test many products quickly
  • Scale without inventory investment
  • Location-independent online business

Cons

  • Lower margins than holding inventory (15-35%)
  • No control over fulfillment and shipping
  • Long shipping times from overseas suppliers
  • Quality control and customer service challenges
  • Highly competitive dropshipping market

How to Get Started

  1. Research trending dropshipping product niches
  2. Find suppliers through AliExpress, Oberlo, Spocket
  3. Build e-commerce store (Shopify, WooCommerce)
  4. Create product listings and optimize for conversion
  5. Drive traffic through paid ads and marketing
  6. Process orders and communicate with suppliers
  7. Provide customer service and manage returns

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