How do I start a drop shipping web site?
Rj asked:
I want to start a home-based business and I’ve been wondering if drop shipping would be a good choice. I’d rather have my own ecommerce site using drop shippers than sell on eBay, since lots of other sellers there would be using the same suppliers as me. So what I need to know is:
I want to start a home-based business and I’ve been wondering if drop shipping would be a good choice. I’d rather have my own ecommerce site using drop shippers than sell on eBay, since lots of other sellers there would be using the same suppliers as me. So what I need to know is:
If I purchase only a drop shipping list of resources, how do I build the web site myself with all the shopping cart buttons and all? What web hosting features would I need?
How do I promote a drop shipping web site?
How profitable is a New Age niche?
How reliable are drop shippers and how do I do deal with product inquiries, reeturns, etc.?
Do I need any type of licensing or permit? How do I get it? What about taxes?
Please don’t try to promote any drop shipper in your replies.
You’d need a web hosting account (I’d recommend HostGater.com).
For the e-commerce functionality you can sign up for PayPal Merchant Services – probably the Web Payments Standard package. This allows you to put shopping cart buttons and buy now buttons on your site with different prices.
For the business questions (taxes, permits, licensing) you’d have to register with your local government to incorporate and they could answer what questions you would have.
This looks like a fairly serious venture, and to hire a web developer to put together a full e-commerce site will most likely run you upwards of $2,000.
Drop shipping is a supply chain management technique in which the retailer does not keep goods in stock, but instead transfers customer orders and shipment details to either the manufacturer or a wholesaler, who then ships the goods directly to the customer. As in all retail businesses, the retailers make their profit on the difference between the wholesale and retail price.
My personal opinion is that there are already plenty of well established sites, and a new site run by an individual would have very little chance of success
Honestly I’m not a professional online merchant to guide you. I just own a simple personal website. However I recommend to take a look at:
There you can reach the three reputable companies that are leaders in the E-commerce web hosting industry. They fulfill all your requirements to sell online. By using each of them, everything you need for your business website is provided in one eCommerce Hosting Package.
Good Luck!