How To Start Dropshipping For Free In 2024?

Ready to get into online business but wondering how to start dropshipping for free?

Imagine having your own store without spending a cent. Is it really possible or just a myth?

This article will reveal the secrets of starting a dropshipping business in 2024 without spending a dime. Want to know more? Let’s get into it.

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Is It Possible To Start Dropshipping For Free? Quick Overview

First things first, YES. You can definitely start dropshipping for free. In fact, you have various options.

Unlike a physical store, a lot of startup capital is NOT required to start a dropshipping business. However, at some point, you will need to invest money into growing and scaling your business.

But let me break it down to you: starting dropshipping for free is real. So, here’s the power of three FREE ways to start! And keep reading because I am not letting you down! I will give you the best tips to perform these steps for FREE and start dropshipping.

✅ Building An Online Store

You can start dropshipping for free by setting up your online store with no-cost website builders like Shopify, Wix, or PageFly, which provide customizable and mobile-friendly templates.

👉 Learn What Is Blind Dropshipping + Step-By-Step Guide To Start Today.

They all have free trials, so you can use them for free. Not only that, but the templates for designing the store are free.

Also, there are numerous free dropshipping software that can help you manage your store later. Whether is Inventory Source, Spocket, or AutoDS, free trials are everywhere.

👉 Learn How To Start An Online Store Without Inventory In 2024.

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✅ Finding Reliable Suppliers

You can also find free dropshipping suppliers through directories such as Dropshipping.com to keep your initial expenses low.

Hence, in dropshipping, you don’t pay for your products unless the customer first orders and pays for them. So, this is a “free pass,” too.

✅ Promote Your Online Business

Additionally, you can promote your store without spending money by using SEO strategies, engaging on social media, and building an email marketing list. Or, you can start a blog around your business.

👉 Learn How To Make Dropshipping Ads To 10x Your Sales.

Before I go any further, we suggest that you check out my ultimate dropshipping checklist. This is actually a list of the most important things that you need to do before you start a dropshipping business.

👉 Learn How To Start Dropshipping With No Money & Quit 9 To 5.

How To Start Dropshipping For Free in 2024? Best 5 Tips

Now, I will explain in-depth how you can start dropshipping for free. I will dive into each step and give you the best tips and tricks.

Now, we will focus on how to start a dropshipping business for free:

1. Identify Your Niche and Products

Choosing your dropshipping niche and products is not that simple. You cannot go into this blindly. So, it’s crucial to do an in-depth research.

However, in my opinion, it is ideal to choose products with low to medium competitiveness, good profit margins, and products that you are passionate about.

Unfortunately, many excellent dropshipping product research tools that can help you find some best-selling products are not free to use. But do not get disappointed!

For example, Sell The Trends is a product research tool with amazing features for finding winning products. It has a 7-day free trial, so you can make a list of profitable products and do additional research yourself.

There are many free ways to find products for dropshipping in 2024.

So, what I personally do is use free tools like Google Trends

➡ Google Trends

Google Trends is a simple yet handy tool that allows you to find a dropshipping niche and products to sell online. And the best part? It is completely free to use.

This tool considers multiple factors, such as time (e.g., weeks and years), location, and language, thus helping you analyze the popularity of top search queries on Google.

Let’s try this out. I want to start dropshipping car accessories. So, I will type in the product keyword “wireless phone holder“and check the results.

Moreover, I advise you to take a look at the search queries and see what users search for in this niche. You can also check where your target audience is mostly located.

➡Amazon Movers & Shakers

Moreover, what I also find really helpful is the Amazon Movers and Shakers category.

By using the Amazon Movers and Shakers List, you can find out which items have been selling well over the past 24 hours.

It is also a free and easy tool to use. To use it, you just need to click on a product category and see the best-performing products in that category.

➡ AliExpress Dropshipping Center

This tool is created by AliExpress to help you, as a dropshipper, find winning products for your store. Moreover, it is also free to use.

And if you are interested in AliExpress dropshipping, you may want to include this tool in your product research arsenal.

2. Check on Product Competitiveness

To discover niches with less competition, you can find keyword research tools highly beneficial. These tools help by revealing the search frequency, difficulty of keywords, and the level of competition for different keywords and niches.

For example, I use Ahrefs for my keyword research. This tool helps me look into how often a keyword is searched, its difficulty, and the number of backlinks it has.

Moreover, I can also reveal my competitors this way.

However, as you want to start dropshipping for free, you can try out Semrush, which gives detailed info about what the competition is doing and its best-performing keywords.

Additionally, the keyword difficulty for scented candles is notably low, indicating that this niche has less competition.

3. Find a Dropshipping Supplier

You cannot begin your dropshipping journey if you do not find a dropshipping supplier.

You should find a dropshipping supplier to source products from and ensure that the supplier is certified, reliable, and trustworthy.

Thus, you can simply go to the Google search engine and type in the supplier niche you are looking for.

Let’s say you are looking for “dropshipping clothing suppliers”. So, I will you the exact keyword, and type it into Google.

In most cases, you will be able to identify the best suppliers for your online business. Just make sure the supplier you are willing to work with is reliable.

However, in my opinion, this option is not the best choice since you don’t know what’s reliable and what is not;

➡ Use a Free Supplier Directory

I actually search supplier directories. Most directories employ some kind of screening process to confirm that a supplier you want to contract with is legitimate and reliable.

So, I personally find the Dropshipping.com supplier directory very helpful. Thus, here I can narrow down my search based on supplier costs, location, dropshipping niche, etc.

Moreover, you get valuable insights about each supplier, such as MOQ requirements, product costs, contact information, order processing time, and many more. And, the best part? This is all FREE!

3. Set Up Your Dropshipping Store

You should now set up your free online store. But what does setting up a dropshipping store mean?

This means that you need to design your store (e.g., homepage and images), add products, set up payment methods, add checkout and shipping settings, buy a domain, and launch your store so that you can receive orders.

For example, I personally use Shopify. It is an e-commerce platform boasting powerful features, great integration and synchronization options, and more.

Plus, with its drag-and-drop editor, you can easily customize your store however you want.

In addition, it is a favorable choice as long as you want to set up your store with no money.

Again, although you can get started with Shopify for free, it is NOT a complete and forever-free platform.

Shopify offers a 3-day free trial. Unlike many other platforms, this platform enables you to sign up without adding your card details.

This means that when using Shopify, there are no hidden costs or charges, such as “If you forget to cancel the free trial, you will be charged.”

Check my guide: How To Pause Or Cancel Shopify Subscription

To sign up for a free trial, click on the green “Start Free Trial” button in the upper right corner of the Shopify site.

But when the free trial ends, you will have to choose one of the paid plans. Just take a look at the picture below.

Of course, you have a completely FREE option for free dropshipping online store. Hence, that’s Google Sites. It is the only website builder that’s completely free, with no paid plans available.

If having a professional website isn’t a priority for you, Google Sites could be a solid choice. It works well for student portfolios, internal documentation, or personal websites created just for fun.

However, I do not recommend it for your own dropshipping business.

AI-Generated Shopify Store

I have an even better solution for you. Imagine spending only $1 to prepare your Shopify store without any complications.

Dropshipping.com can quickly set up your Shopify store with the help of AI. It will be fully equipped with top products in your selected niche and pages that are ready for you to profit through dropshipping.

Here’s how you can get started easily:

First, pick your interest area—choose a business niche from our curated list. Then, let their AI technology build your store, complete with excellent products and all the necessary details.

Once set up, you’re all ready to start selling. With the store and products arranged by the AI, plus your chosen supplier, you’re fully prepared to launch.

Furthermore, here are some other alternative website builders who can start dropshipping for free. 👇

WooCommerce

WooCommerce is a fantastic shopping cart plugin for WordPress.

Therefore, you will need a WordPress site so that you can download, install, and use WooCommerce for free.

WordPress and WooCommerce are both free to use.

Though this could mean that you can save money, when it comes to setting up a dropshipping store using WooCommerce, you will have to pay certain fees such as hosting and domain fees.

WooCommerce is open-source software. As a result, the costs that may be incurred will be customizable.

You will also have greater control over how much money you spend compared to many other e-commerce platforms.

Ecwid

Another great way to set up a dropshipping store for free is to use Ecwid. Namely, it allows you to create an online store and embed it on other platforms via plug-ins.

With it, you can sell on your website, social media, and marketplaces such as Amazon, all from a single dashboard.

If you only have a few items to sell (up to 10), Ecwid is entirely free.

To get started with Ecwid, just visit the Ecwid homepage and tap the “Get Started for Free” button.

You can check out our in-depth Ecwid vs. Shopify review for more information about both platforms.

4. Use Free Dropshipping Software To Manage Your Online Store

A dropshipping software solution can provide you with everything you need to run and grow your dropshipping store.

There are many dropshipping software solutions out there. Some are free to use (some offer free trials), whereas others are not.  

Furthermore, some integrate directly with e-commerce platforms. So, depending on your chosen ecommerce platform, select the right free dropshipping software for your online store.

For example, DSers allows you to easily find products, place orders, and manage your business with AliExpress as your source.

Also, AutoDS offers a free trial. Typically, they provide a 14-day free trial which allows you to test out their features and see if their automation tools suit your dropshipping business needs.

This trial period usually includes access to some of the basic functionalities to help you start and manage your dropshipping operations.

Also, here’s my suggestion.

Modalyst is a free dropshipping website that connects retailers with a network of reliable suppliers from around the world.

But what truly sets Modalyst apart is the unique features and benefits offered by its dropshipping supplier base, which can help you build a profitable business.

First, they offer a carefully curated selection to find reliable suppliers who have been rigorously vetted and selected for their quality products and services. This ensures customer satisfaction and encourages repeat business.

Additionally, you can use Inventory Source, one of the free tools offered, to seamlessly synchronize product listings and inventory levels across more than 25 e-commerce platforms, online shopping marketplaces, and multi-channel management systems.

5. Promote Your Store With Free (Organic) Marketing Tactics

Regardless of what you sell, which e-commerce platform you use, and where you sell, you must promote your store and your products.  

As already mentioned, it is ideal to use a combination of free and paid marketing tactics to build a solid dropshipping marketing strategy.

However, you can start with free tactics in the beginning.

Here are some of the most effective free marketing tactics to include in your dropshipping marketing strategy:

➡ SEO

To effectively promote your online store through SEO without incurring costs, start by focusing on keyword research. You can use Google AdWords Keyword Planner and Ubersuggest.

These tools are free and ideal for finding relevant yet not overly competitive keywords.

Google AdWords Keyword Planner provides suggestions for keywords related to your products and helps you understand the search volume.

Meanwhile, Ubersuggest offers a long list of keyword ideas, aiding you in developing product ideas and finding marketing angles.

Next, integrate these keywords into your website’s meta descriptions and headlines.

For instance, I use ChatGPT to give me some headline ideas. Thus, let’s see what it will generate for my dropshipping fitness products article.

Also, ensure your meta descriptions are concise and include main keywords to improve click-through rates from search results. Headlines should be compelling and clear to enhance user engagement and retention.

Furthermore, maintain a healthy link profile by using internal links to guide visitors through your website, which enhances user experience and SEO.

External links from reputable sites can also boost your credibility and search rankings. Regularly monitor your link health with tools to ensure all links add value to your SEO efforts.

Additionally, Google Analytics is one of the best free tools for measuring and improving your site’s performance. It helps you understand your website visitors, providing insights that you can use to optimize your site and marketing strategies.

Lastly, consistently create engaging and SEO-friendly content. This keeps your site dynamic and relevant, further improving your SEO rankings and attracting more organic traffic.

Although some of the best SEO tools are paid, others are free to use. Now, I will create a list of the free ones because you want to learn how to start dropshipping for free:

➡ Content marketing

Starting a blog is one of the pillars of an excellent content marketing strategy.

When you have an awesome blog (with informative and relevant content + the right keywords) on your online store, you can easily acquire organic traffic.

In other words, people will visit your dropshipping store if your blog post ranks high in Google Search results.

Let’s say you have a blog post that ranks for the query “Best winter boots for women.”

If this is the case, you will probably attract a large number of visitors to your online store. And some of them will surely buy your winter boots.

But there is one thing to keep in mind when creating a blog for your online store. When writing your blog posts, you should not try to be aggressive and persuade people to make a purchase at any cost.

Instead, you should share informative content so that more people can make informed purchases.

In addition, Beavertown Brewery’s blog is a great example of how effective design and smart content planning can work together. Their blog has an attractive look, featuring a sleek, modern design that’s simple to use.

Also, they write on interesting topics related to their products, and you can always find call-to-action buttons like “add to cart” on their blog. So, this is a good idea.

They also use the GemPages page builder to make their blog feel unique and tailored to their readers’ needs.

➡ Social media marketing

People don’t associate churn with dropshipping businesses because they just think you buy Facebook ads or whatever ads and you obtain a customer, and that’s it. But if you really focus on retaining customers, that’s when you can make a lot more money dropshipping. – Mike Pavlou 

Want to succeed in a world where everything people do is shared, liked, and tweeted? Then, you cannot simply leave social media marketing as an afterthought for your dropshipping store.

To effectively leverage social media marketing for free, start by selecting the right platforms where your target audience is most active.

For visually appealing products, platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Pinterest are ideal. On the other hand, Twitter and Facebook are better for customer engagement and news sharing.

So, I advise you to post engaging content that resonates with your audience, including product photos, behind-the-scenes videos, and educational posts. For example, I personally post up to 5 stories on my Instagram Account per day and 2-3 posts on the feed. However, that all depends on your personal business and customers.

Maintain a regular posting schedule to keep your audience engaged and use relevant hashtags to increase the visibility of your posts.

For example, @lushcosmetics uses hashtags like #LushLife or #lushcosmetics to employ a community that cares about ethical beauty products.

Furthermore, actively engage with your followers by responding to comments and participating in relevant conversations. This interaction not only increases your visibility but also builds community and trust around your brand.

Additionally, consider running contests and leveraging user-generated content to drive engagement and expand your reach.

FUN FACT: Did you know that Zara only spends 2% of its revenue on marketing? And yet, they are everywhere. Well, UGC is the key.

Top 10 FREE Platforms For Dropshipping in 2024

1. AutoDS: A Reputable Dropshipping Provider for Your Business Model

AutoDS is your go-to dropshipping supplier for building a profitable business. As a reputable dropshipping provider, AutoDS connects you with trusted suppliers like AliExpress, Amazon, Wayfair, and CJDropshipping. It’s the perfect platform for sourcing high-demand products and optimizing your dropshipping business.

With AutoDS, you can explore 500 million product listings from global suppliers. This vast selection allows you to attract potential customers by offering profitable products that meet the demands of your target market.

One of the standout features of AutoDS is its ability to streamline order processing and manage customer satisfaction effectively. By ensuring quick and reliable fulfillment, AutoDS encourages repeat business and helps you maintain a strong customer base. Their services are designed to help you build a profitable business with ease.

AutoDS offers a 14-day free trial, allowing you to test their features without any risk.

After the trial, you can continue using their services with pricing plans that fit your business needs. This flexibility makes AutoDS an excellent choice for anyone looking to succeed in the dropshipping business.

2. CJ Dropshipping: A Reliable Dropshipping Supplier

CJ Dropshipping is a top-notch dropshipping supplier that supports businesses across the globe. With an extensive network of suppliers and warehouses in the US, Europe, and Asia, CJ Dropshipping ensures fast and reliable shipping, helping you keep shipping costs low while offering free shipping to your customers.

Their platform is easy to use, allowing you to import product listings, manage orders, and track shipments from one central location. CJ Dropshipping’s focus on quality ensures that you are offering high-demand products from vetted suppliers, which can help you boost customer satisfaction and encourage repeat business.

Moreover, CJ Dropshipping provides free tools that simplify the dropshipping process, making it easier for businesses of all sizes to succeed. The best part? It’s free to use, making it an attractive option for those just starting in the dropshipping business.

3. Modalyst: Connecting Retailers with Reliable Suppliers

Modalyst is a free dropshipping platform that connects retailers with a network of reliable suppliers, making it easier to find profitable products and ensure customer satisfaction. Their dropshipping app offers a carefully curated selection of suppliers who have been rigorously vetted to ensure top-quality products and services.

With Modalyst, you can view comprehensive product listings, pricing information, and customer reviews, allowing you to make informed decisions about the products you sell. Modalyst’s focus on dropshipping means that they handle all the logistics, ensuring that products are delivered directly to your customers and enhancing your online shopping experience.

Modalyst offers a free plan, and if you need more advanced features, their pricing plans are designed to suit various business needs.

4. Spocket: Quality Products from US & EU Suppliers

Spocket is an ideal platform for sourcing profitable products from US and EU suppliers. Their platform provides valuable sales data that helps you make informed decisions about the products you want to sell in your store. Spocket’s focus on high-demand products ensures that you are always offering items that attract customers.

One of Spocket’s key features is automatic order processing, which allows you to focus on growing your business while Spocket handles the logistics. This efficiency can lead to higher customer satisfaction and encourage repeat business.

Spocket offers a 14-day free trial, and their pricing plans start at $39.99/month, making it accessible for businesses of all sizes.

5. Minea: Your Ultimate Dropshipping Tool

Minea is a comprehensive tool designed to help dropshippers stay ahead of the game. With its vast collection of eCommerce ads across social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok, Minea helps you track the latest trends and discover winning products.

Minea also provides valuable insights into customer inquiries and product placements by influencers, giving you the edge you need in your dropshipping venture.

Their detailed analysis of competitors’ advertising strategies allows you to refine your marketing strategies and boost your store’s performance.

Minea offers a free plan with additional features available in higher-tier plans, starting at $49.

6. Shopify: The Right E-Commerce Platform for Your Dropshipping Business

Shopify is a leading e-commerce platform that allows businesses of all sizes to create and manage an ecommerce store with ease. Known for its user-friendly interface and powerful tools, Shopify makes it easy to customize your store, track inventory, process orders, and manage email marketing campaigns.

Shopify integrates seamlessly with search engines and social media platforms, enhancing your online visibility and helping you attract more potential customers. Search engine optimization tools are also available to help you rank higher and drive more traffic to your store.

Shopify offers a free trial to explore its features, and various pricing plans are available to suit your business needs.

7. Wix: Build a Custom Website for Your Dropshipping Business

Wix is a versatile website builder that lets you create a custom website for your dropshipping business with ease.

While Wix offers a free plan, it’s important to note the limitations, such as the inability to connect your domain or sell products.

Affordable pricing plans are available for those looking to fully unlock Wix’s potential. These plans allow you to design a professional-looking site that fits your marketing strategy.

Wix’s drag-and-drop editor and customizable templates make it easy to create a site that reflects your brand’s identity.

8. PageFly: Customize Your Shopify Store with Ease

PageFly is a user-friendly dropshipping tool that allows you to create custom pages for your Shopify store without any coding knowledge.

Whether you need landing pages, product pages, or email marketing templates, PageFly offers the flexibility to create and publish pages easily.

PageFly offers a free plan, with additional features available in higher-tier plans, making it an excellent tool for those looking to enhance their Shopify store.

9. Squarespace: A Creative Platform for Dropshipping

Squarespace is a reputable e-commerce platform that offers robust tools for creating and managing a dropshipping store. Known for its beautiful, customizable templates, Squarespace is ideal for those looking to build a unique and professional website.

Squarespace also offers a 14-day free trial so you can explore its features before committing. With round-the-clock support and a focus on customer satisfaction, Squarespace is a strong choice for any dropshipping venture.

10. GrooveKart: A Free E-Commerce Solution for Dropshipping

GrooveKart is a free e-commerce platform designed to help you build and manage a dropshipping store.

Also, it offers a variety of features, including free hosting, custom domain integration, and free tools for market research and order management.

GrooveKart’s user-friendly interface and comprehensive feature set make it a cost-effective solution for anyone looking to start a dropshipping business for free.

Dropshipping With No Money: Pros & Cons

Dropshipping can be a low-risk and low-investment way to start an online business, as it allows you to test and sell products without the need to invest in inventory upfront.

However, there are also some potential drawbacks to consider when starting a dropshipping business with no money. Let’s see!

👉 Learn about B2C vs D2C: What’s The Difference & Which One Is For Beginners.

Pros

✅ Low startup costs

As mentioned, one of the main advantages of dropshipping is that it requires a relatively low investment to get started.

You don’t need to purchase any inventory upfront, which means you can get started with a small budget.

👉 READ: What Is the Minimum Budget to Start Dropshipping with Shopify?

✅ Easy to get started

Setting up a dropshipping business is relatively easy and can be done quickly. You can start by setting up an online store, finding suppliers, and marketing your products.

✅ Flexibility

Dropshipping allows you to sell a wide range of products without being tied down to any specific inventory. This gives you the flexibility to quickly pivot and change your product offerings based on demand.

👉 Learn How To Sell On Spotify Today: Step-by-Step Guide + Top Products.

✅ Easy to scale

Since retailers do not need to worry about physical inventory, it is relatively easy to scale a dropshipping business by simply adding more products to the store.

👉 Read aboutThe Ultimate Guide: How To Find Products To Dropship In 2024.

Cons

❌ Low profit margins

Because you are purchasing the products you sell from a third party, your profit margins may be lower compared to if you were selling products you sourced and manufactured yourself.

For example, profit margins of around 20% are considered good ones in dropshipping. Thus, everything else that is under 15% might be considered a low profit margin.

👉 Check out Dropshipping Profit Margin: A Step-By-Step Guide For Beginners.

❌ Lack of control

When you are dropshipping, you don’t have control over the quality or availability of the products you are selling. This can lead to problems such as out-of-stock items, late shipments, or product returns.

👉 Read about Dropshipping Scams & How To Avoid Them As a Beginner.

❌ Competition

Dropshipping has become increasingly popular in recent years, which means there is a lot of competition in the market. This can make it difficult to differentiate your business and stand out from the crowd.

Check out The Top 15 Best Facebook Ad Spy Tools For Dropshipping.

Overall, dropshipping can be a viable option for starting an online business with little upfront investment. However, it’s important to carefully consider the pros and cons before making a decision.

Limitations for Starting Dropshipping For Free

While starting a dropshipping business for free may be an appealing option, there are significant limitations to consider before starting a dropshipping business. Thus, here we will list the most common ones:

❌ Limited product selection

Many dropshipping suppliers require a membership fee or minimum order quantity, so you may have limited options for products to sell.

❌ Lack of control over the supply chain

Since you are not purchasing and holding inventory, you have less control over the quality and reliability of the products you are selling.

👉 Read about Dropshipping Fulfillment: Supply Chain and Fulfillment Process Explained.

❌ High competition

Dropshipping has become a popular business model, and there is a lot of competition in the market. This can make it difficult to stand out and attract customers.

However, you can always try to be a step forward. First, consider building a unique dropshipping marketing strategy.

❌ Difficult to build a brand

Without a physical product to sell and limited control over the supply chain, building a strong brand identity can be difficult.

👉 Check out the 10 General Dropshipping Store Examples To Inspire Yours.

However, there are a lot of dropshipping suppliers that offer branding options, like packaging using your logo and colors.

💡Branded Dropshipping: Is Branding Helpful When Dropshipping?

❌ Difficulty in providing good customer service

Without control over the shipping and fulfillment process, it can be difficult to provide good customer service, such as quickly resolving issues with orders or returns.

An interesting fact is that, according to Salesforce Research, almost 89% of customers will repeat their purchase because of the good customer service experience in all buying stages.

👉 Read about Customer Service for Dropshipping: The Ultimate Guide of 2024.

❌ Dependence on third-party suppliers

Your dropshipping business is only as good as your supplier, so if they have issues with inventory, shipping, or quality control, it can affect your business as well.

As you already know, dropshipping suppliers are the only ones who see the products that have been sent to your customers. So, in the end, if something goes wrong, you are the one that has to deal with unsatisfied customers.

The Cheapest Way To Start Dropshipping

As I already mentioned several times, you can definitely start dropshipping for free.

Of course, you can start by using free or low-cost tools, build your dropshipping store using a free trial from a website builder, use free or low-cost marketing tools, dropshipping suppliers with free shipping or no MOQ, etc.

However, here are some extra tips.

🔸 Be Active on Social Media

You must first be engaged on social media. A long-term objective for your dropshipping business is to increase its followers, but you must begin right away.

The success of your dropship store depends greatly on developing brand recognition and brand trust.

If you want to post a blog on your website every day, even little messages or reposts of information created by others (sharing and giving credits), simply do it!

To start, you should update your Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest accounts daily (i.e. every day), and on your Facebook company page two to three times every day. Be consistent, don’t miss any days!

Using social media effectively requires adding value for your audience.

So, don’t limit your posts to promoting your business and its products. Also, you should post content about your dropshipping business, the products you offer, and trends in your industry.

First, you should make use of all the free marketing options. Also, you must generate sales in order to pay for the paid promotion in the next section.

Also, I recommend you post different content like videos, images, reels, stories, etc. Plus, another idea is to use trending sounds. This can help your content to even go viral.

However, it may take some time for the above-mentioned organic marketing campaigns on social media, blogs, etc. to take off and for sales to begin to flow in.

🔸 Boost Your Marketing With Instagram Influencers

Then, after you have some cash, consider using Instagram influencers. Contact all Instagram influencers and offer them a payment of $5 to $20 (or more for bigger influencers) to post about your products or services on their feeds.

For example, you can use influencer marketing platforms to find an influencer. For example, I personally have found influencers on  AspireIQ, Influencer.co, and Upfluence.

Also, make sure you search for influencers that create content for your dropshipping niche.

For example, with my home decor dropshipping business, I head to my Instagram account and enter #homedecor in the search bar. This search allows me to discover posts from influencers who focus on home decor, and I can reach out to them directly.

This is crucial for spreading the word about your dropshipping business early on. This is one of the most cost-effective methods to get started, start receiving genuine visitors to your website, and start making purchases.

Moreover, I use the HypeAuditor tool to look into the audience and engagement of the influencers I choose. This tool gives me useful details such as their engagement rate, audience demographics, interests, and more.

🔸 Follow up with Facebook Re-Targeting Advertising

To effectively use Facebook retargeting advertising, start by setting up a Facebook Pixel on your website. This small piece of code is crucial as it tracks visitors and enables Facebook to target them later.

Next, define your audience in the Facebook Ads Manager by targeting people who have visited specific pages, added items to their cart, or engaged with your content on Facebook.

When preparing your ad content, tailor the ads to reflect the interests or actions that brought visitors to your site initially.

For example, remind customers of items they left in their cart. You can choose various places for your ads to appear, including the Facebook news feed, sidebar, Instagram, and the Audience Network.

Decide on your budget and the duration for which you want your campaign to run.

Facebook allows you to set a daily or lifetime budget. Once your campaign is live, it’s important to monitor its performance regularly.

Thus, adjust your strategies based on the insights Facebook provides, such as tweaking your ad copy or audience settings to optimize results.

After the campaign ends, analyze the outcome. To gauge effectiveness, look at metrics like return on ad spend (ROAS), click-through rates (CTR), and conversion rates.

🔸 Establish a Perceived Value

While it’s true that certain niches are far more competitive and crowded than others, this will not necessarily affect your profitability.

First, research is an important element. There are always products in any niche that will be more profitable than others, especially if the products are trendy.

Next, how much value you provide to items affects a lot of what is involved in dropshipping sales. How impressive are the explanation and the image? How much value can you assign to the object?

For example, consider two retailers (Retailer no.1 and Retailer no.2) who offer the same product from AliExpress at the same price, let’s say $3.99 with ePacket delivery.

👉 Retailer no.1

This vendor utilized the generic supplier description and the “stock” photo. Also, he/she followed all the fundamental steps to focus on distributing mass-produced goods.

Thus, this retailer’s suggested retail price is $10.59 + free delivery. Therefore, the profit he gains is $6.60 before transaction costs.

👉 Retailer no.2

This vendor placed a personal order and used his own images. The time they spend crafting a unique description, adding coupon codes, security site stamps, warranty/guarantees, etc. is also around two minutes.

This seller’s regular price is $59.99, but they discounted it to $29.59 with free delivery. Thus, he/she gets a profit of around $30.4.

Thus, retailer no.2 gets higher profit by improving its appearance, adding more details, and making it appear more professional—all at a higher (before-discount) price. In other words, he/she added additional value to customers! 

Overall, being smart and concentrating on the areas that will yield the most return on investment are the keys to beginning a profitable dropshipping business on a tight budget. 

So, you can start dropshipping for free by employing free or inexpensive technologies, locating affordable suppliers, and starting small. More importantly, leveraging social media and other marketing strategies is crucial as well.

Real-Life Examples & Tips For Starting Dropshipping For Free

Dev Kumar

Before you dive in, check out what Dev Kumar (blogger) claims about Can I start dropshipping with $100-$200? 👇

Yes! You can even I started dropshipping with only 150$ . So i can guide you …

Don’t Pay Shopify 29$ charge. 😯

Your Main Focus Should Be Collecting More Money!

First of all, start with shopify 14 day free trial. 😎

Second, prepapre your store within 24 hour..❤️

Third, Run Google Ads only for the next 10 days with daily budget of 10$ with CPC of 0.50–1$ …

Then, you’ll start getting sales; once you realize that this store deserves your time 🤔, then keep your ads continue and yes also buy shopify plan! 😀

First of all, it’s important to note that while the initial start-up costs may be low, it takes time, effort, and marketing expertise to successfully run a dropshipping business and make a profit.

Dropshipping companies may turn a profit after just one day or even one sale. Other eCommerce models, however, might require a week, a month, or even a year, but it differs.

Thus, as a skilled dropshipping team, we would like to share our experience with you about how to start dropshipping for free or the cheapest way.👇

Although we’ve worked with Magento, Bigcommerce, Woocommerce, and Shopify, We’d have to say that Shopify is now the greatest platform to utilize.

However, the greatest method to become successful is to put up an excellent marketing and advertising strategy and to leverage what our market refers to as perceived value. Fortunately, here we will discuss both. 

Any online eCommerce shop may be promoted in the same way. No matter what kind of business it is or what dropshipping niche it falls under, the techniques remain the same when the matter is generating traffic.

Sebastian Ghiorghiu 

Sebastian Ghiorghiu stands out as one of the wealthiest dropshippers in 2023. His journey began when dropshipping was just gaining popularity. By spotting a profitable niche and choosing products in high demand, he launched his first dropshipping store, quickly generating $35,000 in revenue.

Rather than relying on Instagram influencer marketing, Sebastian focused on Facebook ads to promote his stores on both Facebook and Instagram. He also shared his journey on YouTube, explaining how he made $10,000 using Shopify in his first video.

Following this, Sebastian posted another video which quickly went viral, a move he planned to boost his earnings through ad revenue and affiliate deals.

His strategy included leveraging organic traffic through search engine optimization, significantly enhancing his store’s visibility, and attracting a steady stream of potential customers. This success led him to create a dropshipping course, which quickly resulted in multiple sales, boosting his monthly income to between $70,000 and $80,000.

As his savings grew, Sebastian took dropshipping more seriously, establishing a brand and investing heavily in research and development, eventually earning between $500K to $2.3 million.

Now, at 24, Sebastian runs a Google Ads agency, multiple dropshipping stores, and a YouTube channel. His entrepreneurial ventures have made him a millionaire, enabling him to buy a house and his dream car—all thanks to his initial venture into drop shipping.

Alex Philip

Alex Philip made headlines as one of the world’s youngest and most successful dropshippers. He started his entrepreneurial journey at the tender age of 11 by selling Pokemon toys on his Amazon store.

By the time he was 15, Alex had amassed over $2 million by sourcing products from Alibaba and selling them on Shopify.

His big breakthrough came in 2017 when he discovered dropshipping and launched his own Shopify store, focusing on products from Chinese suppliers to drive traffic to his store.

Instead of concentrating on the aesthetics of his store, Alex prioritized developing a strong marketing strategy.

He believes that effective marketing is essential for sales. Under the mentorship of Julian Hall, he learned to enhance conversion rates, optimize his online store, and run profitable Facebook ad campaigns.

Alex spends time before school doing product research on Instagram and Facebook, searching for the latest trending items to add to his store. Even though running a Facebook ad campaign might cost him between $400 to $500, successful product selection has proven to generate substantial returns.

Alex advises young dropshippers to focus on learning and improving rather than just making money. He encourages them to embrace mistakes and take bold actions.

3 Tips To Learn About Dropshipping For FREE

1. Dropshipping.com

Dropshipping.com stands as one of the TOP free dropship websites for acquiring extensive knowledge about dropshipping. Where to begin, you ask?

Firstly, this platform offers over 450 blog articles packed with tips, tricks, how-to’s, and comprehensive reviews on every facet of dropshipping.

What’s more, they provide a FREE dropshipping community where you can:

• Access video training, tutorials, and case studies valued at $5,652+, absolutely FREE upon joining.
• Receive feedback and assistance from 10+ expert moderators and a community of hundreds of dropshippers.
• Gain exclusive access to directories, tools, offers, guides, and special industry reports available only on Dropshipping.com.

In addition, you can explore guides on Ecom Apps, tools, trending products, suppliers, and more.

For those looking to deepen their knowledge, consider subscribing to access their Swipes and Niche trends.

But that’s not all. Dropshipping.com also offers a FREE Facebook community, Instagram reels, TikTok videos, Guides, and more.

2. AutoDS

AutoDS is another powerful dropshipping platform that equips you with everything you need to excel in the dropshipping world. If you’re looking for valuable information, AutoDS provides resources like:

• Blog
• Courses
• Webinars
• Podcast
• eBooks
• Mentorship Program

Moreover, they host a YouTube channel with over 65K subscribers, offering a variety of comprehensive dropshipping guides.

3. Do Dropshipping

Do Dropshipping is one of the top free dropship websites providing free guides, resources, and courses on dropshipping. They cover essential topics such as:

• Niche selection
• Product research
• Marketing strategies
• Step-by-step instructions on starting a successful dropshipping business

What’s more, they publish new articles weekly. For even more insights, consider subscribing to their newsletter.

FAQ: Starting Dropshipping With No Money?

1. Is it possible to start such a business with no money?

Yes, starting dropshipping for free is definitely possible.

2. How to Dropship with No Money?

You can use a free dropshipping apps like Shopify Lite, sell your dropshipping products over social media, use free marketing tools, website builder free trial, etc.

But first, check – Is Shopify Legit for Selling?

3. What Are the Best Free Dropshipping Suppliers?

Some of the best free dropshipping suppliers are CJ Dropshipping, AliExpress, Modalyst, DSers, Salehoo, etc.

4. How to Create a Free Dropshipping Store?

You can use some website builders’ free trials, like Weebly, Spocket, GetResponse, PageFly, etc.

5. How to Drop Ship for Free with AliExpress?

If you want to know how to start dropshipping for free with AliExpress, follow these steps:

1. Sign up for a free AliExpress account: Go to the AliExpress website and click on the “Sign In” button in the top right corner. Follow the prompts to create a new account.
2. Choose a product to sell: Browse through the products on AliExpress and choose a product that you want to sell. Make sure to select a product that is in high demand and has a good profit margin.
3. Find a supplier: Once you have chosen a product, look for a supplier that offers the product at a competitive price. You can use the “Contact Supplier” button to get in touch with the supplier and ask about their dropshipping policy.
4. Set up your online store: To start selling the product, you will need to set up an online store. There are many options for setting up an online store, such as using a platform like Shopify or setting up a website on your own.
5. Add the product to your store: Once you have your online store set up, you can add the product from AliExpress to your store by creating a new product listing. Make sure to include a detailed product description and high-quality images.
6. Process orders: You will receive a notification when an order is placed in your store. You can then log in to your AliExpress account and place the order with the supplier. Make sure to include the customer’s shipping information when placing the order.
7. Ship the product to the customer: The supplier will ship the product directly to the customer, and you don’t have to worry about handling or storing inventory.

6. Can a Dropshipping Agent Help Me Find Free Dropshipping Suppliers?

Yes, dropshipping agents like Dropshipping.com, which have huge supplier databases, also give you information about free dropshipping suppliers and how to start dropshipping for free with them.

7. Are There Some Good Free Dropshipping Courses or Guides?

There are various websites like Dropshipping.com that have free blog articles that teach you how to be a dropshipper for free, how to start a dropshipping business for free, etc.

8. How to Offer Free Shipping If You Dropship with No Money?

If you are dropshipping and want to offer free shipping to your customers but don’t have the financial resources to cover the cost of shipping yourself, there are a few options you can consider:

1. Increase your product prices: One way to cover the cost of free shipping is to slightly increase the price of your products. This can help offset the cost of shipping and still allow you to offer free shipping to your customers.
2. Offer free shipping on orders over a certain amount: You can also offer free shipping to customers who make a minimum purchase. This can help encourage customers to spend more and offset the cost of shipping.
3. Use a third-party fulfillment service: Some fulfillment services, such as Amazon Fulfillment or ShipBob, offer free shipping options for orders over a certain amount. If you use one of these services, you may be able to offer free shipping to your customers without incurring the cost yourself.
4. Negotiate shipping rates with carriers: If you are using a particular carrier to ship your products, you may be able to negotiate a lower shipping rate. This can help reduce the cost of shipping and allow you to offer free shipping to your customers.
5. Offer free shipping as a limited-time promotion: Finally, you could consider offering free shipping as a limited-time promotion to help drive sales and attract new customers. This can be a good way to test the waters and see how your customers respond to free shipping before committing to it on a permanent basis.

9. Can I Dropship Private Label or White Label Products for Free?

while it may be possible to find some suppliers who offer dropshipping services for private-label or white-label products, it is not typically a free option

In order to dropship private label or white label products, you will typically need to pay for the products upfront and then mark up the price to cover your costs and make a profit.

10. What’s the Difference Between Wholesale and Free Dropshipping?

Wholesale and free dropshipping are two popular e-commerce business models. Here’s a simple comparison of their key differences:

Wholesale:

• In the wholesale model, businesses buy products in bulk from a manufacturer or supplier at a discounted rate.
• They then sell these products to retailers, who sell them to the final consumer.
• This model allows businesses to purchase products at a lower cost and then mark up the price when selling to retailers.
• Physical inventory is required, meaning businesses need to store and manage the products.

Free Dropshipping:

• In the free dropshipping model, businesses do not need to buy any products upfront.
• Instead, they act as a middleman, promoting and selling products on behalf of a manufacturer or supplier.
• When an order is placed, the manufacturer or supplier fulfills the order, including packaging and shipping the product directly to the end consumer.
• The business earns a commission on each sale
• This model does not require businesses to have a physical inventory, making it a more cost-effective and flexible option.

Both wholesale and free dropshipping can be successful business models, but they are suited to different types of businesses and goals.

The wholesale model may be a better option for businesses that want to have more control over their inventory and pricing, while the free dropshipping model may be a good choice for businesses that want to get started quickly and with minimal upfront investment.

👉 See the difference between Dropshipping and eCommerce

11. Are There Free Dropshipping Suppliers in the USA?

There are free dropshipping suppliers in the USA, and some of them are AliDropship, Wholesale2B, SaleHoo, Dropified, Oberlo, Wholesale Central, etc.

👉  Check out my Wholesale2b Review: Is It A Good Platform For Dropshipping.

12. Why isn’t dropshipping illegal?

Dropshipping isn’t illegal because it’s simply a business model where you sell products without holding inventory.

As long as you operate within the law, such as honoring agreements and protecting customer data, it’s perfectly legal.

13. Is it hard to dropship?

Dropshipping can be challenging due to market competition, finding reliable suppliers, and managing customer expectations, but with the right strategy and tools, it’s manageable.

14. Does dropshipping pay off?

Yes, dropshipping can pay off if you choose the right products, target the right audience, and optimize your marketing efforts. Success often requires consistent effort and learning.

15. How to get inventory with no money?

With dropshipping, you don’t need to purchase inventory upfront.

You can partner with suppliers who will ship products directly to your customers, allowing you to start with little to no money.

16. How much does it actually cost to dropship?

The cost to start dropshipping can vary. Expect to spend on a website, marketing, and apps.

Generally, you can start with as little as $100-$500, but ongoing costs depend on your scale and marketing strategy.

17. Can you dropship just one product?

Yes, you can dropship just one product, often referred to as a one-product store. This approach allows you to focus all your marketing efforts on a single item, potentially increasing your chances of success.

18. Do you need your own product to dropship?

No, you don’t need your own product to dropship. You sell products from third-party suppliers who handle the inventory and shipping.

19. How to start dropshipping with no experience?

To start dropshipping with no experience, research the market, choose a reliable ecommerce platform, find trustworthy suppliers, and start with niche products.

Also, learn from online resources and start small to minimize risks.

20. What is the easiest thing to sell dropshipping?

The easiest products to sell in dropshipping are low-cost, trending items with high demand, such as phone accessories, fitness gear, or home decor.

21. How to dropship without getting sued?

To avoid getting sued in dropshipping, always use legitimate suppliers, ensure accurate product descriptions, and avoid copyrighted materials.

Additionally, it’s crucial to register your business to operate legally and protect yourself. Consider getting liability insurance and having a clear return policy.

22. Is dropshipping worth doing?

Dropshipping can be worth it if you’re willing to put in the work.

It offers low startup costs and flexibility, but success depends on market research, product selection, and effective marketing.

Also, this business model’s worth is reaching $301.11 billion in 2024 and $372.47 billion in 2025. So, yes, it is worth it.

How to Start Dropshipping For Free – The bottom line

starting a dropshipping business for free is not only possible but also a viable way to enter the ecommerce space with minimal financial risk.

By using free trials from website builders like Shopify and Wix, sourcing products from free supplier directories like Dropshipping.com, and employing free marketing strategies, you can set up a functioning online store without upfront investment.

The key to success lies in careful product selection, effective marketing, and maintaining a strong online presence.

From my personal experience, while it’s exciting to start a dropshipping business with little to no cost, it’s crucial to plan for future expenses as your business grows.

Investing in marketing and enhancing your store’s design and functionality will become necessary to scale your business and stay competitive.

Therefore, embrace the learning curve, be prepared to adapt, and always focus on delivering value to your customers.

Starting dropshipping for free is an excellent first step, and with persistence and creativity, it can lead to substantial long-term success.