Imagine earning ₹1 Lakh every month without ever touching a product or managing a warehouse. Sounds too good to be true?
Well, that’s exactly what Amit, a regular guy from India, is doing — all through a simple business model called dropshipping.
With nothing but a laptop, internet, a Shopify store, and free YouTube tutorials, Amit built a profitable online business that runs smoothly without any stock, staff, or warehouse.
In this article, we’ll break down:
-
What is dropshipping?
-
How Amit started (with examples)
-
How YOU can start step-by-step
-
Tools and tips for success
-
Common mistakes to avoid
💡 What is Dropshipping?
Dropshipping is a retail business model where you sell products online without ever holding inventory.
Here’s how it works:
-
A customer places an order on your online store.
-
You forward the order to a supplier or manufacturer.
-
The supplier ships the product directly to the customer.
You earn money from the price difference — known as profit margin.
🧠 Example:
Amit lists a Bluetooth speaker on his Shopify store for ₹2,000.
His supplier (from AliExpress or IndiaMart) charges him ₹1,200.
When a customer orders, he keeps ₹800 profit after paying the supplier.
🚀 How Did Amit Start?
Amit didn’t take any expensive course or mentorship. He simply:
-
Watched YouTube tutorials on dropshipping.
-
Created a Shopify store using a free trial.
-
Picked trending products from AliExpress and CJ Dropshipping.
-
Promoted products on Instagram and Facebook Ads.
-
Used free apps for automation.
He never bought stock, never hired a team, and started with zero experience.
🔍 Step-by-Step Guide: How You Can Start Dropshipping Like Amit
Here’s how you can start from scratch, just like Amit:
1. Choose a Niche (and Research It Well)
Don’t try to sell everything. Start with a specific category that is trending, profitable, and not too competitive.
🔥 Popular beginner niches:
-
Fitness accessories
-
Home improvement tools
-
Pet care items
-
Travel gadgets
-
Phone accessories
📌 Example:
Amit noticed portable juicers trending on Instagram reels.
He found a supplier on AliExpress offering it at ₹900, and sold it at ₹1,799 on his store.
2. Find a Reliable Supplier
You don’t need to buy any product — just connect with a supplier who will fulfill your orders.
📦 Platforms to find suppliers:
-
AliExpress (global shipping)
-
CJ Dropshipping (faster delivery)
-
Spocket or DSers (Shopify apps)
-
IndiaMart (Indian suppliers)
Make sure:
-
The supplier offers fast shipping
-
Has good ratings and reviews
-
Provides tracking numbers
3. Set Up Your Online Store
Amit built his store using Shopify, a user-friendly platform with drag-and-drop tools.
🛒 Shopify Plan: Starts around ₹1,994/month (but comes with 3-day free trial)
Steps:
-
Go to Shopify.com
-
Choose a theme (e.g., “Dawn” – free and mobile-friendly)
-
Add your product listings with descriptions, images, and pricing
-
Set up payment gateway (Razorpay, PayPal, Stripe)
📌 Tip:
Use Canva to design clean product banners and logos.
4. Add Products + Set Pricing
Add your selected products with:
-
Clear images (from supplier or create AI versions)
-
Bullet point features
-
A short video showing product in use (taken from TikTok or AliExpress)
Price it with profit margin:
-
Cost Price: ₹900
-
Selling Price: ₹1,799
-
Profit: ₹899 (minus ad cost)
💡 Use Shopify apps like DSers to automate order fulfillment.
5. Promote on Social Media
Amit’s major success came from Instagram reels and Facebook Ads.
🌀 Free methods:
-
Create a theme page on Instagram (e.g., “Cool Gadgets India”)
-
Post daily product videos with trending audio
-
Use reels + stories + polls
💸 Paid methods:
-
Facebook Ads targeting 18–35 age group in India
-
₹200/day budget to test products
-
Track conversions via Shopify dashboard
📌 Tip:
Use AI voiceover tools (like ElevenLabs or TTSMP3) to create faceless videos explaining the product.
6. Provide Customer Support
Even if you don’t ship the product, you are still the store owner — so customers will contact you.
Use:
-
Auto email replies using Gmail filters
-
WhatsApp Business for order updates
-
Chat widgets like Tidio on Shopify
Be honest about shipping time (8–15 days for international products).
🛠️ Tools Amit Used (and You Can Too)
Tool/Platform | Purpose | Free Option? |
---|---|---|
Shopify | Build your online store | ✅ Free trial |
AliExpress | Find products and suppliers | ✅ Yes |
DSers | Automate orders | ✅ Yes |
Canva | Create visuals, ads, product banners | ✅ Yes |
InVideo | Make product videos with templates | ✅ Yes |
Meta Ads Manager | Run Instagram & Facebook ads | ✅ Yes |
YouTube | Learn everything, free tutorials | ✅ Yes |
💰 How Much Can You Earn?
Amit earns about ₹1,00,000/month — but it didn’t happen on Day 1.
Here’s how his revenue looks:
-
Average Product Profit: ₹800
-
Orders per Month: 130
-
Revenue: ₹1.3 Lakhs
-
Ad spend & fees: ₹30,000
-
Net Profit: ₹1 Lakh (approx.)
It took him 2-3 months of testing, learning, and tweaking.
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
If you want to be successful like Amit, avoid these mistakes:
❌ Selling without testing
Test 3–5 products before choosing a winner.
❌ Overpricing products
Keep your margins fair (₹500–₹1,000 max). Don’t be greedy.
❌ Ignoring customer experience
Late replies and broken promises can ruin your store’s reputation.
❌ Not learning ads
You must learn how to run simple Facebook/Instagram ads — or you won’t get consistent sales.
✅ Final Advice: Start Small, Stay Consistent
Amit didn’t have a team, big money, or special training.
He just:
-
Took free YouTube tutorials seriously
-
Started with basic tools
-
Posted content daily
-
Learned from feedback and analytics
You can do the same.
Start with 1 product, test ₹200/day in ads, and aim for your first 10 sales.
🎯 Bonus Tips to Get Ahead
-
Offer COD (Cash on Delivery) if targeting Indian buyers
-
Add scarcity (“Only 5 left in stock!”) to boost urgency
-
Collect email leads via a 10% discount popup
-
Offer bundle deals (e.g., 2 items for ₹3000)
-
Use AI-generated videos to save cost and time
📚 Final Thoughts
If Amit can build a ₹1 Lakh/month business with zero inventory, no office, and just YouTube tutorials — so can you.
You don’t need to be a techie or a business expert.
You need:
✅ A good product
✅ A reliable supplier
✅ A clean store
✅ Simple marketing
Start small, stay consistent, and scale as you learn.
🌟 Your online business journey starts today.