How Much Does It Cost to Start Dropshipping?

One of the most common questions I hear from new entrepreneurs is: “How much does it cost to start a dropshipping store?”

The truth is, it can cost you a lot, or it can cost you almost nothing. And the honest answer? You’ll have far better results if you follow the path that costs almost nothing.

In this post, I’ll break down the real costs of starting a dropshipping store in 2025, explain why you should avoid “middlemen,” and show you how to launch a profitable business the right way.

The Wrong Way: Paying Middlemen

When you start researching dropshipping, you’ll come across companies that want to charge you big upfront fees to “let” you sell their products or build you a pre-made store.

These companies are middlemen. They:

Are they outright scams? Not always. But they are a losing proposition for beginners. The middleman profits while you waste money on a business model that isn’t sustainable.

The Right Way: Building Your Own Store & Working With Real Suppliers

If you want a profitable business, you need to build your own store (on Shopify) and get approved with legitimate suppliers.

These real suppliers don’t charge you to access their products. You only pay for inventory after a customer has purchased from you. That’s why dropshipping is such a low-risk business model when done correctly.

Here’s what it actually costs to start a dropshipping store using the Drop Ship Lifestyle model:

1. Shopify Store – $29/month

Shopify is the only platform I recommend. It’s easy to use, customizable, and built to scale. Right now, Shopify offers a 3-day free trial and 6 months for just $1/month, giving you plenty of time to launch.

2. Domain Name – $11–$15/year

A professional domain makes your store look trustworthy. Buy one through Shopify or a registrar like Namecheap or Google Domains.

3. Suppliers & Products – $0 upfront

With real suppliers, you don’t pay for access. You only pay wholesale pricing after your customer pays you. This means no inventory costs when you’re starting out.

4. Paid Traffic (Google Ads) – $0 to start

New advertisers can get a $100 Google Ads credit when they sign up. With the right setup, that’s enough to land your first sale—and reinvest those profits into more traffic.

Bottom Line: How Much Does It Cost to Start a Dropshipping Store?

Using this method, your startup costs are:

👉 That means you can realistically launch your dropshipping store for less than $40.

Compared to traditional retail, where you’d spend hundreds of thousands stocking inventory and renting storage space, dropshipping is by far the cheapest and lowest-risk way to start an online store.

Recap

When done the right way, dropshipping doesn’t just cost less—it sets you up with a long-term, scalable, and sellable business.

If you found value in this, please let me know in the comments below. And if you have any questions, definitely post them as well! I’m always happy to continue the conversation there.