First Steps to Starting a Dropshipping Business

If you’ve been thinking about building a dropshipping store, you might be wondering: “Where do I even start?”

The truth is, most people overcomplicate the process. They waste time chasing trends, buying shiny apps, or setting up half-baked stores that never make a sale.

But if you focus on the first steps that actually matter, you can launch faster, avoid beginner mistakes, and start building momentum right away.

In this post, I’ll share the first steps to start a dropshipping business the right way, even if you’re starting from scratch.

Step 1: Pick the Right Niche

Your niche is the foundation of your business. Without a solid one, nothing else matters.

Here’s what I recommend for beginners:

• Focus on high-ticket products ($200+ per sale). That way, you can make $300–$1,000 profit per order instead of chasing $5 margins.
• Look for evergreen demand. Don’t chase short-lived TikTok fads. Choose products people will always need.
• Check supplier availability. If there are no suppliers in your niche, you can’t build a real business.

👉 If you need help brainstorming, check out my list of Best Dropshipping Niches for Beginners in 2025.

Step 2: Research Your Competition

Healthy competition is a good thing—it means money is being made.

Before moving forward, make sure:

• There are at least a few established stores already selling in your niche.
• They’re running ads (a sign of profitability).
• Their websites aren’t flawless. If you can build a better store or offer better service, you’ll have an edge.

👉 For more guidance, read Is Dropshipping Worth It in 2025?

Step 3: Build a Professional Store

Suppliers won’t approve you without a live store. That’s why you need to set this up before applying.

I recommend using Shopify because it’s:

• Affordable and beginner-friendly
• Trusted by real suppliers
• Easy to customize and scale

Keep your design clean, fast-loading, and professional. You don’t need 50 apps, just a simple setup that looks legit.

👉 Step-by-step guide here: How to Build a Dropshipping Website on Shopify.

Step 4: Apply With Real Suppliers

This is where many beginners fail; they try to sell through middlemen who charge extra fees. Don’t do that.

Instead:

• Apply directly to authorized suppliers and brands.
• Present yourself as a serious retailer with a professional store, business email, and domain.
• Don’t be discouraged if some say no. Keep applying until you have a strong supplier base.

👉 Full guide here: How to Start a Dropshipping Business Step by Step.

Step 5: Launch Buyer-Intent Traffic

Not all traffic is created equal. If you want sales fast, focus on traffic sources where buyers already have intent.

Best beginner-friendly traffic sources:

• Google Shopping Ads (people searching for your exact products)
• SEO (long-term free traffic that compounds over time)
• Retargeting ads (to bring back visitors who didn’t buy right away)

👉 Learn more here: SEO for High-Ticket Dropshipping: How to Get Free Traffic That Converts.

Step 6: Track, Optimize & Scale

Once you’re live, your focus shifts to improving your numbers. Track:

• Conversion rate
• Cost per acquisition
• Average order value

Then test improvements, better product descriptions, trust signals, or upsell offers.

👉 Check out: Improving Conversion Rates for High-Ticket Products.

Final Thoughts

The first steps to start a dropshipping business don’t have to be overwhelming. Focus on the basics:

If you follow this roadmap, you’ll be way ahead of the average beginner who’s chasing shortcuts.

And if you want me to walk you through these steps in detail, check out my free training where I show exactly how to launch a high-ticket dropshipping store in 21 days or less.