76% of adults in the US do their shopping online. Yes, that’s a high percentage. Is it any wonder that more and more entrepreneurs are jumping into the world of e-commerce?

Are you looking for ways to streamline your e-commerce business? Or are you just getting started?

Have you heard about dropshipping? Dropshipping is not just a new buzzword.

If you have heard about it and need some dropshipping tips and information, stick around. We share all you need to know in this dropshipping for dummies guide.

Dropshipping for Dummies

Is dropshipping a new term for you? What does it mean?

Dropshipping is when an online website selling a product buys it from a third party and has it sent directly to the purchaser.

The store does not keep inventory or items in stock. In fact, the merchant doesn’t see or handle the merchandise they sell.

Dropshipping for Beginners: 5 Things You Need to Know

In this dropshipping guide, we’ll show you what you need to know before you get started.

1. Less Start-Up Costs

It is easier to start an e-commerce business when you don’t need a lot of cash upfront to buy and stock inventory.

Using a third-party seller to stock and dropship the merchandise you’re selling leaves you without the cost of buying items before you sell them.

2. Very Low Overhead Costs

Using a Fulfillment Center means no warehouse or packaging and shipping costs and no need for an accountant for tracking inventory.

A lot of e-commerce business is run by a person in their home office with their home computer.

Expenses are minimum but will increase as the business grows.

Simplified, dropshipping cuts out a lot of costs that a brick-and-mortar shop owner has to calculate into the cost of doing business.

3. Inventory Problems

Because e-commerce merchants are using warehouses that other merchants are using, there can be inventory issues.

The inventory is subject to change quickly as orders come in from many different online businesses. You have no control over that.

4. More Products

Using a drop shipper for your products allows you to offer a wide variety of products since you do not have to purchase anything until someone orders it from you.

You can list anything that the supplier has on your website without shelling out any money upfront.

5. Shipping

There can be some complications with shipping an order for multiple items. If the items are all from different suppliers, the shipping costs will be more than you can reasonably charge the customer.

You’ll have to incur the cost in lieu of overcharging the consumer.

Are You Thinking About Becoming an Online Entrepreneur?

Now that you’ve seen the important information in dropshipping for dummies, you’ll be able to streamline your online business before you even get started.

Check out our other blog articles. We have blogs on anything from marketing your business using social media influencers to advice on email campaigns. You don’t want to miss our tips, tricks, and tutorials.