Is Dropshipping Profitable in 2024?

If you’ve ever been interested in earning money online, surely you’ve heard of dropshipping. This business model has been a huge buzzword these past few years, with many influencers sharing their “big wins,” reaching thousands to millions of dollars as dropshippers. 

So, are the rumors true? Can dropshipping really make you a rich entrepreneur? 

The short answer is: yes, it’s totally possible. 

But precisely what you must do to achieve dropshipping success is a whole different discussion. So continue reading to learn how you can make dropshipping profitable, the pros and cons of this business model, and the top tips to achieve your dropshipping earning goals. 

Dropshipping profitability in 2024

Dropshipping is still highly profitable in 2024. Experts project that this industry is expected to reach more than $372 billion in 2025, which is almost 3 times its worth in 2020, just a couple of years back. 

Now, you may be thinking:

“Sure, that’s a lot of money. But isn’t the competition too tough in dropshipping right now?”

I won’t deny that. Dropshipping has undoubtedly become more competitive over the past few years. 

But, if you think about it, the same is true for pretty much every business model out there. 

Having high competition is the norm in starting most types of businesses. However, as long as you have the right strategies or “recipe” to excel in your chosen niche, you can rack up profits, gain loyal customers, and grow your business. 

Not to mention, not every dropshipping business is going to be your direct competitor in the field, as the niche you choose matters significantly for how competitive it will be.

How much can you earn from dropshipping?

Is it in the millions? Thousands? Hundreds of thousands?

There’s actually no one-size-fits-all answer. Dropshipping is a huge industry, so not every entrepreneur who enters this field will have the same results.

Some dropshippers have totally changed their life lives (for the better) through dropshipping, while others barely earn a hundred dollars a week. And, although rare, some have ended up losing money by trying out dropshipping as well.

But hey– don’t think success in dropshipping is solely determined by luck or chance. As mentioned, it’s all about knowing how to manage your business, crafting strategies, and adapting to remain competitive, which I’m going to discuss more about later. 

The dropshipping business model explained 

Dropshipping is a type of eCommerce business that lets you sell products to customers without holding inventory yourself. Just market the products offered by your suppliers, list them on an eCommerce platform, and you’ll earn money through the price markups you impose on products when customers place an order.

With no inventory needed and suppliers only needing payment when you’ve received an order, there are no significant up-front expenses associated with dropshipping. However, you may still need to invest money to fulfill your main responsibilities as a dropshipper, including tasks such as:

• Creating an accessible platform that people can buy from 
• Finding specific products you want to sell in your store 
• Marketing/advertising your products and business 
• Offering customer support 
• Accommodating returns and refunds 

If you want to skip the burdens of the tasks above, you may also hire the help of dropshipping agents like Sup Dropshipping. For a small fee or commission, these companies can help you improve your overall dropshipping store by identifying specific pain points of your business.

Can you dropship products with no money?

Yes, it’s totally possible to dropship products with no money. And, of course, the not-so-secret way to achieve this feat is to take advantage of free-to-use dropshipping tools. 

Specifically, find free-to-use versions of the following: 

• eCommerce platform: The platform you’d be using to set up your online store and sell products. TikTok Shop is an example of an eCommerce platform that doesn’t charge upfront fees. 
• Product sourcing apps: These apps will import products from suppliers directly to your virtual store. Sup Dropshipping is a great example of an unpaid product sourcing application for platforms like Shopify. 
• Marketing/advertising: Most dropshipping stores won’t succeed without marketing their products. While investing some money to advertise your online business is helpful, there are ways to accomplish this effectively without spending a dime. 

But let me be clear– investing in growing your dropshipping business is highly advisable. 

After all, most of the time, the best versions of eCommerce platforms and dropshipping apps require payment. 

Similarly, it’s going to be much easier to reach your target audience if you opt for paid advertisements or promotions. 

Advantages of dropshipping

Dropshipping has plenty of advantages that make it an attractive option for entrepreneurs. Let’s let’s explore each of them to understand why dropshipping is gaining popularity in the world of eCommerce today.

Flexibility 

Dropshipping is definitely not a one-and-done deal, but it’s extremely flexible! You get to call the shots on when and where you work and what products you want to sell.

What’s even better? Dropshipping is way less time-consuming compared to traditional business models. So, you can even choose to dropship as a side hustle, not a full-time commitment. 

Scalability 

Even if your sales volume rises rapidly, you won’t need to stress about spending or working harder to handle the growth in dropshipping. 

Suppliers, who often have big teams, can easily handle the order fulfillment process of large volumes. Moreover, top-notch dropshipping tools are more than capable of managing big batches of dropshipping orders, keeping them organized, efficient, and streamlined.

If you get more customers, you might just need to put a bit more effort into customer support. Amazing, ain’t it? 

Minimal risk 

Since the upfront fees of dropshipping are super low, there’s hardly any risk involved in this business model. Even if you don’t make as many sales as you anticipate in the beginning, you’re not in deep water. 

There’s no staff to pay, inventory to spend thousands of dollars on or rent to worry about. You might just have to cover hosting and marketing expenses to keep your store up and running, but even those are usually pretty affordable.

Hurdles of dropshipping 

Just like any entrepreneurial journey, dropshipping comes with its fair share of challenges. These are some of the main hurdles you can expect as a dropshipper. 

Low profit margins 

The pros of dropshipping include only needing to put minimal money into the business. But unfortunately, this also means you’d be getting less profit out of it. 

Every time you receive a dropshipping order, you’ll encounter various costs that eat into your earnings. 

Specifically, you’d be paying suppliers extra for the convenience, the eCommerce platform’s transaction fees (if applicable), and other expenses. These can add up fast and leave you with relatively low margins.

So, what can you do about it? 

Well, you can try to cut costs by picking the cheapest suppliers and using free or low-cost eCommerce platforms. But realistically, you’ll need to process hundreds of orders each month to really see the big bucks as a dropshipper. 

Hard to establish quality control 

Dropshipping puts you in a semi-awkward spot where you need to handle customer requests, concerns, and complaints yourself, yet you lack control over the product quality, order fulfillment speed, and packaging of your business. 

Sure, you can avoid selling low-quality products and services by teaming up with top-rated suppliers. But let’s face it, finding these gems isn’t always a walk in the park. Plus, some dropshipping apps like to keep their suppliers under wraps, which doesn’t make the hunt any easier.

Because of these factors, even if you’re eager to provide top-notch customer support, you might find yourself caught in a loop of communication between your supplier and the customer. 

And it can be a real headache trying to sort out every little hiccup and keep everyone happy.

Unexpected stock shortage 

Almost every supplier and dropshipping websites often promises “real-time” updates on inventory levels. But in reality, not many actually fulfill that promise. 

Picture this: you’re swamped with orders for a hot-selling item, only to learn that your supplier no longer has any on hand. Plus, you don’t exactly have an alternative supplier for that product. 

When this happens, your options aren’t exactly ideal. 

You could cancel the orders or break the news to your customers about possible delays, but either way, it’s bound to tarnish your brand’s reputation. 

5 tips to guarantee your dropshipping profitability 

Wanna ensure your profits are in the greens, not reds, as a dropshiper? These tips have your back. 

1) Don’t be a generalist 

While the abundance of dropshipping suppliers may make it tempting to sell everything under the sun, it’s actually wiser to avoid selling random products in your dropshipping store. 

Rather than being a jack of all trades, focus on a niche that perfectly balances your interests and profitability. 

For instance, niches like pet supplies, sportswear, and home decor have proven to be lucrative for dropshippers. But of course, there are dozens more out there, so with a bit of exploration and research, you’ll find more hidden gems waiting to be tapped into.

You may be thinking: 

“But Jack, why niche down? Won’t that limit my customer base and product options?”

Sure, it will. But here’s the thing: when you have a niche, you can better understand and connect with your target customers, making them more likely to choose your store over others when they need products within your niche. It’s all about quality over quantity!

Not to mention, finding profitable products isn’t too overwhelming when you only need to focus on one industry.

Related: Top 7 Dropshipping Business Ideas to Try

2) Choose reliable suppliers

As hinted earlier, suppliers are the backbone of your dropshipping business, being responsible for the product quality, shipping time, and your store’s reputation.

So, before sealing the deal with any supplier, it’s crucial to do your homework. Take time to research and compare as many dropshipping suppliers as possible just to ensure you find the perfect match for your business needs. 

To know more about how reliable a supplier is, make sure to check its:

• Reviews: Check out reviews from at least three platforms. Look into how others view the supplier, whether it’s on their website, forums, social media, or through review aggregators.
• Offerings: Read the supplier’s experiences, offered services, and product catalog thoroughly. Make sure they can cater to all your dropshipping needs within your budget.
• Customer support responsiveness: Contact the supplier and ask questions or clarifications about their services, shipping processes, or any other concerns you may have. Pay attention to how promptly and thoroughly they respond.

Here’s a handy tip: I recommend having one or two backup suppliers lined up, just in case your main one runs into any hiccups, like running out of stock or other issues. This ensures continuity in fulfilling orders and minimizes disruptions to your business operations.

3) Market, market, market 

Equip yourself with a variety of marketing tactics to attract and retain customers. 

Remember, you’ll only be one fish in a vast ocean when you start an online business. So, why settle for being just any fish when you can be the top-of-the-supply-chain kind of fish, ruling the waters, right? 

You can start with the basics, like social media marketing, customer reviews, and paid ads. 

But don’t stop there! Dive into other strategies like email marketing and collaborating with influencers. The more options you explore, the better your chances of reaching and connecting with potential customers.

4) Build a brand 

Create a brand that stands out! Don’t settle for being just “another dropshipping store” online. 

Aim to build a brand so unique and memorable that your customers won’t even realize you’re dropshipping.

Drawing inspiration from your niche, choose a catchy store name, distinctive brand colors, eye-catching logos, and attractive packaging. Make sure your store theme reflects your brand identity. 

Remember, consumers are more likely to buy from a professional-looking brand than a generic one. So, focus on branded dropshipping to make a lasting impression on your customers. 

5) Excel in customer support

I’ve already mentioned earlier that providing top-notch customer support in dropshipping isn’t always gonna be possible. Often than not, your suppliers hold the key to your customer queries, not you, so there might be delays in your responses.

But hey, that doesn’t mean you can’t try to strive for excellent customer service!

Even if you don’t have all the answers right away, for example, you can reassure your customers, give them an idea of when to expect a response or offer alternative solutions. 

Keep in mind silence can sometimes be mistaken for a lack of professionalism and care.

One trick to streamline customer support is using automated chatbots.

These smart AI-powered pieces of software can answer customer queries in real-time in your stead. 

And, while they won’t be able to handle complex requests, they’re highly capable of addressing common questions, which may already be enough to cater to the needs of your customers. 

Can dropshipping agents increase your business profits? 

Most dropshippers start and run their dropshipping business solo. But as mentioned briefly earlier, some eventually seek the help of dropshipping agents. 

Basically, these agents act as middlemen between suppliers and dropshippers. And they help improve your dropshipping store’s performance by sourcing products or fulfilling orders on your behalf. 

Of course, in exchange for a small fee.

Now, the big question: Are dropshipping agents worth it? 

Biases aside, absolutely! If you work with reliable, experienced, and professional ones like Sup Dropshipping, that is. 

Sup Dropshipping, for example, not only helps you source products but also improves your branding, marketing, and pretty much every aspect of your business. 

Sure, hiring dropshipping agents means spending some cash. But the investment is worthwhile once you’ve successfully increased your overall sales. 

Dropshipping: the final verdict 

Dropshipping still remains a very profitable venture in this day and age. Just equip yourself with the knowledge of how this business model works, how you can stand out, and where to seek assistance; you’ll be able to grow your business from small profits into significant earnings over time.

Still unsure if dropshipping is the right fit for you? Feel free to reach out to us. Our team is here to help, and we’re more than happy to answer any questions you may have.