How to Start Dropshipping with no Money in 6 Steps

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.

Let’s start with the audience and your niche.

1. Decide on a niche and find products

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.

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.

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.

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.

2. Select a reliable supplier

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.

Source: Printful

3. Get samples

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.

Source: Printful

4. Build your online store

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:

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

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

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.

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:

• Marketplace vs. Ecommerce Platform: Which Is the Best?

• Top 10 Best Online Marketplaces for Print-on-Demand Sellers

• Best Ecommerce Platforms in 2024: Top 10 Contenders

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

5. Add products to your store

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.

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.

6. Make use of free marketing channels

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.

Social media

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.

Blogging

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

Influencers

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

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!

Read next:

• How to Start a Dropshipping Business in 2024
• Weighing Dropshipping Pros and Cons: The Ultimate Breakdown