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Blog / Beginner's handbook / How to Start Dropshipping with no Money

Beginner's handbook

How to Start Dropshipping with no Money in 6 Steps

How to Start Dropshipping with no Money in 6 Steps
Karlina Rozkalne

By Karlina Rozkalne

8 min read

Not having money to invest in a business doesn’t mean you can’t start one! Print-on-demand (POD) dropshipping business model allows you to create a store and sell products to customers worldwide with minimal to no upfront investment . . . if you know how to go about it.

In this article, we’ll cover how to start dropshipping with no money in 6 steps so you can start your entrepreneur journey.

Let’s begin!

How to start dropshipping with no money in 6 steps

Starting a business with no money is entirely possible, but it requires time to find free versions of the apps and tools you need. Aside from that, the steps to starting a dropshipping business are very similar to starting any other online business. The pillars of all businesses are the same: well-researched audience, high quality, and skillful advertising.

preview play-button

Let’s start with the audience and your niche.

The first rule of business is to know who you’re selling to. 2 things in particular: your audience and your niche

To define your target audience, do market research and look at other dropshippers to see who they’re targeting and find any gaps you can fill. Create a clear picture of your ideal customer— their age, job, values, shopping habits, and favorite social media. Imagining them as a specific person could help you better understand their needs and preferences. Find these patterns to connect with potential customers and create messages that resonate.

Regarding niche, ideally, look for a niche with high demand, minimal competition, and a profitability perspective. We recommend picking a niche you’re personally interested in or knowledgeable about. That way, it’s much easier to sustain your motivation, establish yourself as a trustworthy brand, and connect with your shoppers.

Valuable read: 15 Profitable Dropshipping Business Ideas to Try in 2024 

You can start with something broad and narrow it down by researching market demand with free tools like Google Trends to ensure there’s sufficient interest in your niche. screenshot of Google Trends

Source: Google Trends 

Look for consistent or rising interest over time, which indicates steady demand. Choose a niche that’s popular in multiple regions to ensure a broad market. Compare related terms to see which has more traction, and explore the Related Queries section for additional niche ideas. related queries feature on Google Trends

Source: Google Trends

Valuable read: 15 Print-on-Demand Niches to Watch in 2024

Free research methods you can use:

  • Pinterest: Search for popular design trends in your niche, such as typography styles, graphic themes, or color schemes. Observe which designs are getting the most shares and saves.

  • Etsy: Browse the best-selling print-on-demand products like custom mugs, t-shirts, and art prints. Focus on what’s popular in specific categories, noting design styles that resonate with buyers.

  • Instagram: Follow hashtags related to print-on-demand products (e.g., #customtshirts, #walldecor) and monitor influencer posts and design trends that capture people’s attention.

As for the products, there are multiple routes you can take to choose them. First, you can design trending POD products (this will allow you to sell products that shoppers are currently looking for). Then, you can customize tried-and-tested best-selling products. Alternatively, look at what your competitors don’t offer and bring something fresh to your niche.

If you want to design best-selling products, you can check out the Bestseller category in the Printful Product Catalog. the best-seller category on Printful's catalog

Source: Printful

Once you know what products you want your new business to have, it’s time to find the right supplier that’ll make the products for you.

Here’s what choosing a supplier boils down to:

  • How fast they can create products—most global customers want to receive their orders in 2–3 days

  • What’s the product quality—products can make or break your reputation, so order samples to gauge the product and print quality

  • What’s the reach they offer you—their network of fulfillment centers will determine what markets your online business can reach 

  • How’s the customer support—solving issues is part of running a business, so choose a partner that’ll help you resolve them fast

Valuable read: The 14 Best Print-on-Demand Companies

Printful’s has been an industry leader for 11+ years and is completely free to use. And customer reviews back it up as one of the best options on the market.

stellar customer reviews for Printful

Source: Printful

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As we mentioned before, product quality is a dealbreaker. It can either turn shoppers into regulars or make them never return to your store. So, ensure you partner with a dropshipping supplier who takes it seriously. The best way to check the quality is to see the products in real life, so get product samples. It’s an expense you shouldn’t skip out on.

With Printful, you can order product samples with a 25% discount. You get 5 sample orders each month, with a maximum of 5 items per order.

Here’s what you can do with the samples:

  • Evaluate quality: Inspect the samples to assess the fabric, print quality, colors, and overall craftsmanship

  • Create marketing content: Use the samples to take high-quality, authentic photos and videos for your store and social media to help attract customers

  • Get feedback: Share the samples with friends and family to gather honest feedback on the product’s quality and appeal

To order samples with Printful, go to Product Catalog, select a product, and click Start new order. Then, choose the Test your designs option. order types business owners can get with Printful

Source: Printful

There are multiple ways to create a dropshipping store: an ecommerce marketplace, ecommerce platform, or Printful’s Quick Stores. Let’s start with the quickest, easiest option.

Quick Stores is completely free and allows you to create a store in 10 minutes or less with just a few clicks. Here’s how easy it is: steps for creating an ecommerce store with Printful's Quick Store

Source: Printful

The benefits of launching a store this way:

  • Quick setup: Open your online store and start selling within minutes, allowing you to get started with minimal effort

  • Ease of use: Launch your store without worrying about technical difficulties or spending time on store design

  • Simple management: Manage all your products and business operations from a single, user-friendly dashboard

  • Cost-effective: Don’t spend money to start your dropshipping store

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If you want to sell on a marketplace like Etsy or an ecommerce platform like Shopify, you must know the difference between the 2: comparison table between ecommerce platfrom and marketplace

Source: Printful 

To start your dropshipping business with as little investment as possible, you must also research if the platform you want to use has a free version.

For example, Shopify is one of the most popular platforms for an online store, but it doesn’t have a free version. Shopify's subscription plans

Source: Shopify

Marketplaces like Etsy, Amazon, and eBay typically don’t have monthly subscription costs, but you must pay fees to sell your products. Weigh out which costs you’re willing to pay.

Valuable read:

Once you have your store, it’s time to fill it up with beautiful, custom products.

Now you have to put the products on your store. If you’re running your dropshipping store with Printful, you can do this from your Printful Dashboard. Select Product templates on the left sidebar, hover over the product you want to add to your store, and click Add to store. Choose your store, and follow the instructions. adding a product to store from Printful's dashboard

Source: Printful

When adding products to your store, you must write an informative product title and description and have eye-catching, detailed photos. One of the best ways to nail these things is to look at competitors and figure out how you can do it better. Plus, you must follow the guidelines of the platform you’re using.

Valuable read: How to Find Dropshipping Products That Boost Sales

If you don’t want to use paid advertising, you must advertise your print-on-demand product with free marketing channels. 

Groups, communities

Join Facebook groups, Reddit threads, or forums related to your niche. You can start by sharing valuable insights, answering questions, and subtly promoting your products when relevant (and allowed). Building a reputation as a helpful member can increase visibility and trust. Ensure you understand the group rules to avoid spammy behavior and add value to the conversations.

Use social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook to show your products and connect with your audience. Create photos, videos, and stories to highlight your products, their benefits, and use cases. Use relevant hashtags to reach a broader audience and participate in trends to gain visibility. Consistent posting and interaction with followers can help build a loyal community around your brand.

Start a blog on your ecommerce website to attract organic traffic and establish authority in your niche. Write informative and engaging articles related to your products and the interests of your target audience. Use SEO (search engine optimization) best practices to rank higher in search engines, driving readers to your site that you can turn into customers.

Valuable read: What Is SEO and How It Works—a Beginner’s Guide

Collaborate with influencers in your niche to reach their audience. We recommend connecting with micro-influencers to promote your products in exchange for free samples. Influencers can create authentic content showcasing your products, providing social proof, and driving traffic to your store. Be clear about your goals and select influencers whose audience aligns closely with your target market.

Valuable read: 5 Steps for Running the Perfect Microinfluencer Campaign

Printful logo
man with jacket
Printful logo
Create and sell custom products online
Let’s go

Frequently asked questions

To start dropshipping for free, first, choose a niche and find a reliable supplier like Printful that doesn’t charge upfront fees. Next, set up a free online store using marketplaces like Etsy. Then, list products from your supplier, focusing on high-quality images and descriptions. Promote your store through social media, SEO, and free marketing tools.

While dropshipping doesn’t require upfront investment, some unavoidable costs include product samples and selling fees. To make money faster, budget for advertising, apps, and other tools to drive traffic and sales.

To start dropshipping as a beginner, first, choose a niche based on demand and profit potential. Then, find reliable suppliers like Printful. If you want a standalone store, use platforms like Shopify or Woocommerce, but if you’re looking to build a storefront within a marketplace, Etsy and eBay are good options. Then, focus on marketing through social media, SEO, and paid ads to drive traffic.

Yes, $1000 is enough to start a dropshipping business. With this budget, you can cover essential costs like setting up an online store and buying a domain while still having money for extras like paid ads. Your success depends on product selection, effective marketing, and managing expenses. It’s important to continuously reinvest profits to scale the business. Starting small and gradually expanding as you learn the market can lead to long-term success.

Put it all together, and you have your store!

Contrary to what others might say, starting a dropshipping business won’t be 100% free. But you have many options to keep costs at a minimum. If you combine the steps we’ve covered in this article and are consistent, you can profit in a couple of months.

Happy selling!

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By Karlina Rozkalne on Aug 29, 2024

Karlina Rozkalne

SEO Content Writer

Karlina is an SEO Content Writer specialist at Printful. As a firm believer in attitude over aptitude, Karlina gives her 100% whenever she works on something new. Karlina spends her free time reading, traveling, and doing yoga.

Karlina is an SEO Content Writer specialist at Printful. As a firm believer in attitude over aptitude, Karlina gives her 100% whenever she works on something new. Karlina spends her free time reading, traveling, and doing yoga.