From Zero to $1M in 8 Months | Awesome Dropshipping Success Stories (2024)

From Zero to $1M in 8 Months | Awesome Dropshipping Success Stories (1)

Max Godin

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During my years of doing dropshipping I’ve met countless people who wanted to make money online and build a lifestyle business where they can travel the world and work from their laptop. Of all of those people, I can count only a handful who really made it a reality.These people are self starters who actively search for other sources of income or who have turned selling on eBay into their main revenue source. But what about becoming a millionaire from ecommerce or making $30,000 a month? I know it sounds far fetched but in this post I will introduce you to three exceptional individuals who are the embodiment of dropshipping success stories.

Top Dropshipper #1: Irwin Dominguez

From zero to $1M+ in less than 12 months

Meet Irwin Dominguez from San Diego who within 8 months made $1,000,000 in profit as a dropshipper.

What drove Irwin to e-commerce entrepreneurship as a dropshipper ?

Dominguez happen to have a very good friend who was bringing in large amounts of cash on a monthly basis as a dropshipper. Irwin had no clue how to start dropshipping but he figured he would give it a try since he felt he had more to gain than to lose. He started by doing three simple things:

  1. He learned about e-commerce using Google
  2. He opened a Shopify account
  3. He started using Oberlo which is a platform which helps you import dropshipped products into your ecommerce store and ship them directly to your customer

What was Irwin doing before dropshipping and how did he make his first sale ?

Before becoming a dropshipping success story, Dominguez was a local marketing consultant helping small businesses increase online traffic. The skills he acquired through this job no doubt helped him succeed in his new online venture.

He made his first sale using Facebook ads which he says ate into most of his profit but was well worth the investment in order to jumpstart his business. He swears by advertising on Facebook and says he owes most of his success to this form of marketing though he stresses that business owners must learn over time how to balance the cost of Facebook ads with profit margins.

Let’s talk numbers – what is Dominguez’s revenue per day

On his best day of e-commerce, Irwin pulled in a cool $30,000 and on average pulls in $10,000 a day though he says he is trying to increase these numbers. He talks about finding a niche product but that at some point you have tapped most of your target market so you need to find new products in the same niche (learn how we found the perfect niche) or move on to a different niche entirely.

What recommendations can you give to aspiring dropshippers ?

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Pro tip # 1: Before dealing in large quantities, validate your product idea by making a few sales before jumping in head first.

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Pro tip # 2: Be prepared when the floodgates open! Once you find a product that is super popular, make sure you have a mechanism in place to deal with the demand.

Top Dropshipper # 2: Kate

$32,000+ monthly revenue from her dropshipping business

Kate is not making millions like some other dropshippers but I decided to write about her since I think her business story and strategy contain great actionable insights for dropshippers across the board.

Who is kate and what is her background ?

Kate works for Aliexpress’s e-commerce department creating and testing promotion strategy for dropshipping stores. But kate knew nothing about dropshiping just three years ago when she started working for Aliexpress – before that she worked as a journalist and as a saleswoman at an offline gift store.

What type of ecommerce store did Kate create ?

Kate decided to create a dropshipping store using anime (roughly: Japanese comics) theme based on research she did which told her that there was a lot of interest in this niche. Her logic says that many dropshippers can make money by pooling different items from a variety of dropshippers based on a common theme and thus create a dedicated shopping base.

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Pro tip: Kate stresses that her idea was perfectly legal as anime creators do not aim to profit from merchandise as opposed to Disney for example who absolutely does aim to profit from paraphernalia – make sure your themed drop shipping store is not legally infringing on anyone’s copyrights.

What is your strategy for finding successful products to dropship ?

  1. Offer a large variety – Kate says that even when she got to 100 products in her store’s inventory it wasn’t enough to quench fan’s thirst.
  2. New products – You constantly need to add new products, kate says. Don’t just look at ‘Best Sellers’ on Aliexpress or eBay, also look at the ‘new arrivals’ and you will often find your next top selling products.
  3. Duplicate and modify – Constantly check which products are selling best and which are not. Try and get rid of the items which are unpopular and import more items similar to the successful ones in order to generate more sales.

How do you learn about your target audience?

Google Analytics – Kate uses google analytics to find out crucial information about her customer base such as age, gender and country. Since she now knows that most of her customers are young men from developing countries she tries to keep prices low in order to move more merchandise.

Targeted Facebook advertising campaigns – Kate says Facebook is also an integral platform both for advertising and data collection. Facebook and google complete and complement each other.

Tell us some more about how you promote your dropshipping store on the internet ?

  1. Instagram – The store’s Instagram account currently has 1,851,910 impressions, 81,000, 8,272 posts and has an ever growing fan base.

Kate used a variety of simple methods to achieve these astounding results including:

  • Writing an appealing bio
  • Analyzing the most popular hashtags
  • Experimenting with different post formats
  • Using Instagram Ads

2. Facebook – On Facebook the store is also very popular with 34,000+ followers – the main tactic is providing high quality content and attracting buyers and visitors vis-a-vis Facebook ads.

  1. Content Marketing

This includes writing original content or rewriting original content which is related to the product and publishing this on the store blog and on Facebook. This is a great way to engage people and get them interested in your product in an indirect way.

  1. Google Shopping

This is a semi – automated option and generates 300 sales on average per month. When someone searches for something related to the product, in this case anime, a picture of some products and prices appear in the google search.

How successful is your dropshipping business ?

The numbers talk for themselves – as of October 2017 Kate’s dropshipping business had 922 orders and $32,000:

Note the conversion rate which is 1.31%, this is a standard conversion rate for eCommerce sales so there’s a lot of opportunity to improve here, as you’ve probably read already, we increased our eBay conversion rate by 220% by optimizing our eBay listings.

Top Dropshipper # 3: Aloysius Chay and Galvin Bay

$60,000 a day within a year of starting their dropshipping store

How did these guys get started in dropshipping and what were they doing before ?

Before becoming successful dropshipping entrepreneurs, these guys were professional poker players in the Vegas like city of Macau. Like so many others, they had heard of friends who were making big bucks and wanted in on the action.

What challenges did these guys face ?

Towards the beginning they really struggled to find the correct product and the correct market. They failed at the beginning, trying to sell 20-30 different items. “Creativity and perseverance are key to success”, they both say.

They started selling Jewellery in June 2016 but did not end up even breaking even but they did learn many things such as the need to target specific audiences by country.

Chay and Galvin don’t really have a niche – they sell products that seem to be in demand or try selling products that are new on the market (you may remember the post we wrote about what to sell on eBay, these guys are implementing some of the best practices)

How did they promote and develop their business ?

These guys swear by Facebook ads and say that this was hands down the best marketing tool at their disposal. They say that it is super user friendly and any information or skills they lacked were easily enough found in online tutorials.

The pair also recommends networking and sitting down with friends and family who are involved in e-commerce in order to exchange and improve ideas (you’re welcome to read some of our eBay selling advice and how to boost eBay sales to get ideas for your eBay business).

What do you love about running a successful dropshipping company ?

Chay and Galvin love the most obvious and envious things – the income and the freedom. Now that they are totally independent they have a large source of income and they get to decide when they work and when they don’t. For most people in the workforce this sounds nothing short of a magical dream.

What is your highest sales record and what advice do you have for new entrepreneurs ?

Their record is 5 figures in one day and they hope to make it to six figures.

As far as advice for new entrepreneurs – always add new products (learn more about finding the best things to sell on eBay)! This will keep your business fresh and customers coming back. They say that the risks of adding new products pay off in the long run.

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My pro tip: This is a valuable advice for any online seller, it’s very important to understand that as a business owner you must be on your toes all the time, ready to make bug changes in order to grow your business. I always say that a business who’s not growing is essentially slowly dying and finding new products is a lifeline to business growth.

“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work”, Thomas Edison once famously said. All in all there are many dropshipping success stories but also people who have failed. Failure lays the foundations for success and we can learn from both experiences. I hope this post gave you some insights into how to better start or run your dropshipping business – I would love to hear your stories and experiences with dropshipping below.

Max Godin

Co-founder and CMO of CrazyLister -the world's leading eBay & Amazon listing software.2x eBay award recipient for excellence in sales and highest conversion rates.Started my journey in eCommerce back in 2008, grew an online business from zero to $4.5M in sales and never looked back.

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From Zero to $1M in 8 Months | Awesome Dropshipping Success Stories (2024)

FAQs

From Zero to $1M in 8 Months | Awesome Dropshipping Success Stories? ›

Yet for some reason people assume they can build a passive six-figure income with dropshipping after a few months of part-time effort. That's just not the way it works. It will realistically take at least a year to build a business that generates an average full-time income.

How long does it take to see success in dropshipping? ›

Yet for some reason people assume they can build a passive six-figure income with dropshipping after a few months of part-time effort. That's just not the way it works. It will realistically take at least a year to build a business that generates an average full-time income.

How much profit in first month of dropshipping? ›

But with high ticket dropshipping, it's not unreasonable to say that you can be making anywhere from $200 – $3000 in the first month or two of making your store if you put in the work and happen to get a little lucky with the right product along the way.

Is dropshipping still profitable 2023? ›

Dropshipping is worth it in 2023 for both retailers and suppliers. However, every business needs an effective and multi-pronged strategy to succeed. Dropshipping is profitable for retailers and vendors that develop strong relationships to lower risks and drive growth.

How much can dropshippers make a month? ›

How Much Do Drop Shipping Jobs Pay per Month?
Annual SalaryMonthly Pay
Top Earners$60,000$5,000
75th Percentile$42,000$3,500
Average$40,566$3,380
25th Percentile$28,500$2,375

What percentage of dropshippers fail? ›

Luckily, with a little trial and error, access to resources, and perseverance, you can be part of the 10 percent. Before we dive into the most common reasons dropshippers fail, let's address some of the questions that have been buzzing around dropshipping.

How much money can I realistically make dropshipping? ›

There are many dropshippers who make up to $100,000 per year as a side hustle. So, if your idea of being a successful dropshipper is to make $100,000 per year, you'll need to choose the right suppliers and build a brand. Starting a dropshipping business can be highly competitive.

Can I make 10k a month dropshipping? ›

If you are hoping to make $10,000 a month in profit, you will need to partner with reliable companies who are producing and dropshipping high-quality products. They are much more likely to work with you if your business is legitimate and comes across as professional and serious.

How much does the average dropshipper make a year? ›

Professional Drop Shipping Salary
Annual SalaryHourly Wage
Top Earners$48,000$23
75th Percentile$44,000$21
Average$39,287$19
25th Percentile$34,000$16

Can you become a millionaire with dropshipping? ›

The truth is, dropshipping is not a get-rich-quick scheme, and success in this field requires hard work, dedication, and a deep understanding of the market. While dropshipping can be a profitable business, it's not a guaranteed way to make millions.

Why is dropshipping so hard? ›

However, dropshipping is usually from China, so the minimum shipping time is at least 20 days. People can't wait this long to get their products. Another reason most dropshippers fail is that they don't order products through ePacket. This means the buyer won't get a tracking number, decreasing his trust in the store.

What is more profitable than dropshipping? ›

Amazon FBA can be potentially more profitable than dropshipping. This is because you are purchasing items in bulk from a manufacturer and then shipping them to an Amazon warehouse or third-party warehouse. This allows you to better scale up your Amazon business.

Is dropshipping passive income? ›

Dropshipping is one of the best passive income ideas to earn money from wherever you are, even if you don't have a lot of cash flow to begin with. Some dropshippers report making upward of $100,000 per year.

Can dropshippers make 6 figures? ›

Many entrepreneurs use a product fulfillment method called «dropshipping» where they don't have to invest in inventory in order to sell items online. Dropshipping successfully can lead to six-figure sales — in fact, Business Insider has spoken with sellers who have sold more than $1 million of a single product.

How many hours do dropshippers work? ›

Expect to spend at least 10 to 15 hours per week to generate up to $2,000 in monthly revenue through your dropshipping business. But, just like any other small business, the time you invest increases your odds of making substantial revenue.

What is the highest paid dropshipping? ›

Andreas Koenig and Alexander Pecka are among the richest dropshippers.

What is the hardest part of dropshipping? ›

Handling Shipping And Processing Time

Here's one of the biggest challenges in dropshipping.

How much can dropshippers make a day? ›

How much do dropshippers make a day? Successful dropshipping businesses can make anywhere between $50 to $5,000 in daily profit. This hinges on stocking high demand products, having enough profit margin, top-shelf marketing and sales, and recurring purchases.

Is dropshipping a profitable side hustle? ›

If you want to earn a decent income by starting your side business, then dropshipping is definitely worth it. However, if you want to make lots of money in a short amount of time, then dropshipping is definitely not worth it. For dropshipping to work successfully, you will have to invest time, money, and effort.

How to start dropshipping with no money? ›

How to Start a Dropshipping Business with No Money in 5 Steps
  1. Step 1: Find a Niche.
  2. Step 2: Find a Product Within Your Niche.
  3. Step 3: Find Suppliers.
  4. Step 4: Choose a Platform to Sell On.
  5. Maintain a Strong Branding.
  6. Build Relationships with Customers.
  7. Build Effective Copy for Your Sites.
  8. Improve Your Web Design Skills.
Mar 21, 2023

Is 1k enough to start dropshipping? ›

Dropshipper corner

The budget [for the first three to six months], from my experience, should be around $1,000. Most of it should definitely go to marketing—for testing Instagram influencers and Facebook ads, I'd say about 50% to 80%.

How much can I make a week dropshipping? ›

While ZipRecruiter is seeing weekly wages as high as $1,356 and as low as $404, the majority of Drop Shipping wages currently range between $548 (25th percentile) to $807 (75th percentile) across the United States.

How can I make $10 000 a month in passive income? ›

Here are 11 ways to make 10k a month.
  1. Start Dropshipping with Shopify. ...
  2. Offer Freelance Writing Services. ...
  3. Start a Bookkeeping Business. ...
  4. Open a Custom Pins Shop Online. ...
  5. Start Affiliate Marketing with Clickbank. ...
  6. Start a Blog. ...
  7. Sell T-Shirts through Tee Spring. ...
  8. Start a Web Development Business.
Apr 26, 2023

How long does it take for dropshipping to be profitable? ›

You should always treat your dropshipping store like a real business. If you are a beginner, don't expect to be making money within six months. And remember that it can take even longer. But as long as you take it seriously and don't quit working it, you will succeed in making money with dropshipping.

How much does the average person make on Shopify? ›

As for now, the average income of one Shopify store is around $3,897. At this point, it is essential to note down those profits are still unknown but the majority of them earn around 10% to 40% profit margins.

Can dropshipping be a full time job? ›

This depends on the specifics of each situation, obviously, but this is the average timeline. In other words, it takes a little time, but yes, you can make dropshipping a full-time job!

Can you get rich off of Shopify? ›

In short, yes! Of course, how profitable your Shopify store will depend on the type of business you're creating, the value of your products or services, your profit margins, expenses, how saturated your particular market is, and how you go about promoting your store, along with other factors.

What is one of the major disadvantages of dropshipping? ›

With dropshipping, you probably will be buying products one at a time rather than in bulk, and that means your profit margins will be less favorable. You may also have to pay the wholesaler additional fees for selecting, packing and shipping each customer order.

How do people get rich dropshipping? ›

You make money from dropshipping by adding a profit margin to your product. The merchant will give you their total price and then you add whatever you like to that as your profit earnings. It's worth remembering that your profit margin needs to be realistic, as eCommerce is very competitive.

What is best niche to sell in dropshipping? ›

These are some of the best dropshipping niches to consider when building your online store.
  • Clothing. Apparel is one of the most consistently profitable dropshipping niches. ...
  • Wall art products. ...
  • Sustainable products. ...
  • Kids & baby products. ...
  • Office products.
Mar 14, 2023

Is dropshipping Amazon worth it? ›

Amazon dropshipping can be profitable. The average dropshipping margin is between 10% to 30% margins. Amazon takes around 15% off your top line revenue. So if your margins are around 30%, that means you'll have a new margin of 15% after selling a product via Amazon store dropshipping.

Should I start dropshipping or FBA? ›

What's better: Dropshipping or Amazon FBA? If you're just starting your online business then opt for the dropshipping business model. It comparatively provides more perks than Amazon's FBA program. If you are already running an online business and wish to further scale, then opt for Amazon FBA.

Do you have to pay taxes for dropshipping? ›

First of all, yes, dropshippers have to collect taxes. If you're a for-profit business, the U.S. government requires you to pay taxes. Dropshipping might be an online business, but you're earning an income from it, so Uncle Sam wants his cut.

How much money do you need to start dropshipping on Amazon? ›

How Much Does It Cost to Start Dropshipping on Amazon? Amazon dropshipping requires everyone to sign up as a seller on Amazon's website. Their Individual plan costs $0.99 per unit sold, while the Professional plan will cost you $39.99, regardless of how many items you sell.

Can dropshipping be a side job? ›

Dropshipping is one of the best side hustle job ideas. It allows you to sell a product directly to the customer without having to buy any inventory. Why's that great? You don't need to have a big startup costs budget, keeping your risk low.

How much time does it take to do dropshipping? ›

Expect to spend at least 10 to 15 hours per week to generate up to $2,000 in monthly revenue through your dropshipping business. But, just like any other small business, the time you invest increases your odds of making substantial revenue.

How fast is dropshipping growing? ›

The global dropshipping market size was valued at USD 225.99 billion in 2022 and is expected to register a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23.4% from 2023 to 2030.

How do I know if my dropshipping product is good? ›

How to Find the Perfect Dropshipping Products
  1. Find trending products—they're perfect for a dropshipping business.
  2. Finding a niche dropshipping product.
  3. Competitor product research.
  4. Research product hashtags on TikTok.
  5. Search social shopping sites for products that sell.
  6. Join online communities to find products to dropship.
Apr 12, 2022

How to succeed in dropshipping 2023? ›

How to Start Dropshipping Business in 2023 – A Comprehensive Guide
  1. Pick a Dropshipping Niche.
  2. Do a Market Analysis.
  3. Find a Dropshipping Supplier.
  4. Create Your Online Store.
  5. Prepare the Dropshipping Business Finances.
  6. Register Your Dropshipping Business as a Legal Structure.
  7. Optimize and Market Your Dropshipping Business.
3 days ago

Is it too late to make money dropshipping? ›

Is Dropshipping Still Profitable? In 2023, absolutely yes. In fact, as more and more people have moved away from platforms like AliExpress, dropshipping has become all the more popular. It's an excellent option for those looking to jump in the ecommerce space.

Are dropshipping courses worth it? ›

Dropshipping courses are worth it for anyone looking to start an e-commerce venture. These courses provide a comprehensive guide to building a successful business, covering all the essential aspects, including market research, product selection, setting up an online store, marketing, advertising, and even networking.

Is $500 enough to start dropshipping? ›

$500 is a fair bit of money! Most of the stores I've started, I've never spent more than $100 before I've decided if it's something I'm going to go ahead with or if I need to rethink my approach. If you've spent $300 or $400 and you still haven't made any sales, you've got an issue.

How many dropshippers succeed? ›

According to data on top dropshippers, it's about 10-20%. However, this doesn't mean that many businesses fail, it simply refers to the fact that many people enroll in this model of sales without properly understanding it.

How much will dropshipping make in 2023? ›

According to the latest data, the global dropshipping market is forecast to reach $243.42 billion in 2023. This is also the first year it has surpassed $200 billion, after a 23.7% increase from 2022's numbers.

Should you buy the product before dropshipping? ›

With the dropshipping model, you don't have to purchase a product unless you've already made the sale and have been paid by the customer. Without significant upfront inventory investments, it's possible to start dropshipping and become successful with very little money.

How do I test a product before launching dropshipping? ›

Answer: You'll want to test products on a small scale before investing in larger quantities when dropshipping. This means ordering a few samples of each product you're considering and testing them out in your store. One way to test products is to set up a simple “test” store with just a handful of products.

Can dropshipping make us millionaire? ›

But can you become a millionaire from dropshipping? The truth is, dropshipping is not a get-rich-quick scheme, and success in this field requires hard work, dedication, and a deep understanding of the market. While dropshipping can be a profitable business, it's not a guaranteed way to make millions.

Can dropshipping be a side hustle? ›

Dropshipping is one of the best side hustle job ideas. It allows you to sell a product directly to the customer without having to buy any inventory. Why's that great? You don't need to have a big startup costs budget, keeping your risk low.

How to make millions off of dropshipping? ›

How to Make Money from Home with Dropshipping
  1. Set up Your Website Hosting. This is the obvious place to start, but it will take some research. ...
  2. Decide on Your Niche. What products do you want to sell? ...
  3. Find Your Dropship Suppliers. ...
  4. Design Your Store Front. ...
  5. Develop a Marketing Strategy.

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