How to Create a Dropshipping Website

Are you considering starting a dropshipping business? If you need to create a dropshipping website, there are many things to consider before moving forward.

Dropshipping is an eCommerce fulfillment method where products are sold directly to customers through an online store. Customers do not purchase goods directly from a manufacturer, which means you don’t have to ever stock inventory or worry about warehousing. Instead, dropshipping distributors act as intermediaries between manufacturers and customers and take a commission on sales.

What Is a Dropshipping Business?

Dropshipping is an online store, where instead of a warehouse inventory, sellers buy products from third-party suppliers when customers make orders. Then, the customers get the orders directly shipped to them. This way, the seller doesn’t get in direct touch with the product.

Running an online store doesn’t require as many costs as the traditional store would. You don’t have to stock products, pay overhead, keep the lights on, or hire employees. Instead, you buy products from suppliers that already have an inventory space filled with the products.

With dropshipping, you don’t have to worry about managing the logistics behind each purchase — you just sell the product, and then it gets sent.

Why Make a Dropshipping Website?

No need for inventory

With dropshipping, you won’t need an inventory. All you’ll need is a picture of the product on your website.

No need for a warehouse

Dropshipping will save you the money you would otherwise spend on warehouse rent since your supplier will already have one warehouse or more.

Low running cost

You can do dropshipping from your smartphone while you’re at home in your pajamas, and the best thing is you don’t have to rent an office.

Offers flexibility

With dropshipping, you have the ability to work from anywhere you would like.

How Profitable is Dropshipping?

Dropshipping is a great way to get into online retail without having to spend a lot of money or take on much risk.

Profit margins are usually around 15% to 20% of the selling price for each item. The amount of profit you make will depend on how many good suppliers you can develop good relationships with. Although there are other factors that are involved, this is the most important thing.

What Do You Need to Create a Dropshipping Website?

eCommerce Platform/Website Builder/CMS

One of the fastest ways to launch a dropshipping website is using a content management system , a website builder , or an eCommerce platform.

This website will be where you send traffic, sell your products, and process payments. Some popular eCommerce platforms are WooCommerce, Shopify,BigCommerce, Ecwid, nopCommerce, Salesforce Commerce Cloud, Magento, and Square Online.

Even if you have a big budget and you are able to hire a development company and web designer to create a custom website, these aforementioned options are a smarter choice. The reason for this is because you’ll be able to manage the website much more easily if you don’t have any technical knowledge.

You don’t have to be a developer or designer to be able to use these platforms. You can easily change the feel and the look of your dropshipping website with these platforms.

Domain Name

Your dropshipping website starts with a domain. The first issue you will need to solve when creating a website is the domain name. A domain is the main part of your website's URL address. This is a phrase or a word that you decide will represent your site.

A domain name is important because it gives you credibility, allows customers to find you online, and it helps you build a brand that connects with your audience. At Veprex, we provide a free domain name with our hosting plans.

To determine whether or not a certain domain name is available, you can use Verpex Domains which will show you a domain’s availability. You do this by typing in the domain name, and our site gives you information on whether the domain is it’s owned by somebody or not.

Website Plan and Content

To make a dropshipping website, you need a website plan and content for the website. Choose teas that are clean and easy to navigate. You can change the theme over time. Once you’ve made some money, you can invest it in getting a new theme that will better suit your store.

Whatever type of content you post should be tied to your brand’s goals, so it helps your business move forward. Website owners often make videos or write blog posts that people read, which is great. However, it’s not clear what the reader or viewer should do after.

There should always be a goal or a next step your audience should take after consuming your content.

Payments Feature

Your website will need to feature a payment gateway, i.e., a tool that will let the customer buy something from your store. The payment feature on your website should handle all the money transactions for your store.

A payment gateway makes sure that the money is deducted from the account of the buyer and that all of the information is processed in a secure way. After that, the payment gateway should deposit the funds in your bank account, which later you should be able to withdraw. As a fee for the service, the payment gateway usually takes a small percentage of the payment.

Some payment gateways you should consider for your dropshipping store are PayPal, 2Checkout, Stripe, Authorize.net, Wepay, Skrill, Apple Pay, and Google pay.

Best E-Commerce Platforms for a Dropshipping Business

Magento

Magento is definitely one of the most powerful platforms for dropshipping right now. Magento websites are user-friendly and scalable.

WooCommerce

Another popular eCommerce platform is WooCommerce. WooCommerce is an ideal solution for those who want an easy-to-use website with basic functionality.

Shopify

Shopify powers many eCommerce stores around the world, including dropshipping businesses. Overall, it provides a lot of useful features for dropshipping websites, including customer management, orders, products, theme settings, and much more. Read our WooCommerce vs. Shopify comparison to find out more!

BigCommerce

BigCommerce provides all the necessary eCommerce features you will need to start a website, like marketing features, products, catalogs creation, order and inventory management, and so on. The platform is not complex, so newbies can easily use it.

Shopware

Shopware is a great platform that comes with some advanced options which allow you to personalize your products. You can generate flexible content pages using the drag and drop function. However, the licensed plugins and plans may not be really suited for businesses with a small budget.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did dropshipping start?

Dropshipping has been around for decades, starting in the 60s with mail order catalogues. Though it has changed over the years, it is still a very profitable business model that can make people a lot of money from the comfort of their homes.

Is there a future for dropshipping?

Despite what some naysayers might say, dropshipping is very much alive – and still extremely profitable. It's one of the simplest business models out there, and can be extremely lucrative if done right.

Who covers the shipping costs?

The owner of the dropshipping business pays for shipping costs out of their own pocket. This can be a significant expense, and it is something that should be considered before starting a dropshipping business.

Is dropshipping for everyone?

Starting a dropshipping business is a great way to earn extra cash for those who are looking to start their own business. It’s a perfectly legitimate source of income.