Create your own eCommerce business with no upfront investment
Dropship worldwide without storage, order fulfilment, or shipping hassle
Focus on business growth while we handle the logistics
Understand the dropshipping business model
What exactly is dropshipping?
Dropshipping is an eCommerce business model where you sell products online without holding stock. When a customer orders, it’s sent to a dropshipping supplier who manages the fulfilment process – from packing to shipping. You run the online store, while your supplier handles operations behind the scenes.
Where does Printful come in?
With Printful, you combine dropshipping services with Print on Demand. That means:
- You design it – we print, pack, and ship it
- No need for warehouses or inventory management – everything’s on demand
- Build a brand that stands out and sell online easily
How much does dropshipping cost?
Starting a dropshipping business with Printful is low-risk and cost-effective:
- Open a Printful account for free
- No monthly fees or hidden charges
- Pay only when you get an order
- Avoid bulk purchasing or holding stock
Dropshipping vs. managing your own inventory
Compare both models and see why dropshipping with Printful is the smarter way to start and scale your business
Your roadmap to launch: A step-by-step guide
Follow these steps to start a dropshipping business in the UK with confidence
1. Choose your niche
A dropshipping niche is a focused segment of the market. Instead of selling just ‘clothes’, you’ll succeed better by selling something specific like ‘eco-friendly jumpers for dog lovers.’ Look at your interests and UK market trends to find an audience willing to buy.
2. Choose your platform and supplier
Build your eCommerce store on platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, or Wix, which all integrate seamlessly with Printful. Partner with dropshipping suppliers that offer local fulfilment.
With Printful’s UK facility in Birmingham, orders reach customers in just days via Royal Mail, with no customs fees.
3. Sort out the legal side
Dropshipping is legal in the UK as long as you comply with regulations. Most sellers start as sole traders and register with HMRC. You must register for VAT once your turnover passes the government threshold (£90,000 as of April 2024). If it’s less than that, it’s not mandatory.
4. Market your business
Now it’s time to attract customers and drive sales. Focus on:
- Paid social ads: reach new audiences on Instagram and TikTok
- SEO: help your eCommerce store rank on Google
- Content marketing: publish blogs, posts, or videos that highlight your brand’s story and products
- Email campaigns: build loyalty and encourage repeat sales with personalised offers and updates
Learn about print-on-demand dropshipping with YouTuber Liam James Kay
Check out the British YouTuber's new video series where he starts his own print-on-demand business with Printful
445 dropshipping products for you to sell online
Find top-selling products for your dropshipping store
The benefits of dropshipping in the UK
Low start-up costs
This is the biggest draw. No need to invest thousands of pounds in stock. Your main costs are building your website and marketing.
Ultimate flexibility
Run your eCommerce business anywhere with just a laptop and an internet connection.
Easy to scale
As orders increase, your fulfilment process stays the same because your dropshipping supplier handles production and shipping.
No unsold inventory
With Print on Demand, you only pay when a customer orders. No risk of leftover stock.
Reliable suppliers
Printful’s UK and global dropshipping services reduce delivery times and costs, so you can sell products online with confidence.
See what other UK business owners say about Printful
Made in the UK, for the UK
To provide shorter delivery times Printful runs a fulfilment centre in Birmingham
Local fulfilment for you and your UK customers mean:
- Speedy shipping—it takes 2 days for your products to arrive within the UK
- Fast fulfilment times—we fulfil products from all categories in 2–5 business days
- No customs—orders shipped within the UK won’t go through customs incurring duty fees
- UK product collection—carefully selected products for the UK market
- Local currency—you can pay for your orders in GBP
Printful in numbers
445
products to customize
1M+
items fulfilled each month
19
integration partners
117M
items trusted to deliver
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Frequently asked questions
Yes. Profit depends on how you price your products and manage costs. Your profit is the retail price minus your dropshipping supplier’s cost and any business expenses.
Example: You’re selling a jumper for £45. If Printful’s cost is £24 and marketing is £5, your profit is £16. At ten sales a week, that’s over £600 a month.
Pros:
- Low start-up costs
- Flexibility to run your eCommerce business anywhere
- Large dropshipping product catalogue
- Easy to scale with minimal inventory management
Cons:
- Lower profit margins than holding stock
- Less control over the fulfilment process
- Reliance on your supplier for quality and shipping
- Working with a trusted dropshipping partner like Printful helps reduce the cons.
Yes. In the UK, you must register your dropshipping business. Most sellers begin as sole traders with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), since it’s the simplest structure. As your business grows, you can transition to a limited company for additional benefits.
Become an expert at running a dropshipping business with our free resources
