Starting an online drop-ship store with products involves several key steps. Most drop-shippers sell to small retail or wholesale customers, or to people who own online stores. These retail, wholesale or Internet businesses use drop-shippers so they can purchase items in low quantities. They also may need you to ship products for them. You will need to find your own wholesale or manufacturer supplier for your online drop-ship store.
Step 1
Create a name for your online drop-ship business. Register your business name as a DBA (doing business as) through your city or county administration office, according to Business.gov.
Step 2
Decide what types of products you want to sell and drop-ship online.
Step 3
Search the NAW (National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors) website at Naw.org. Call and ask the NAW if they can supply a list of wholesale suppliers that sell the products you want. The Thomas Register of American Manufacturers lists potential manufacture suppliers.
Step 4
Call several wholesale and manufacturer suppliers. Find out which one sells the products you need. Make sure your wholesaler or manufacturer also offers drop-shipping so you can order small quantities if necessary. Select the wholesaler or manufacturer supplier that offers you the lowest unit cost, as you will need to buy products inexpensively as a wholesaler.
Step 5
Obtain a merchant account through your bank so you are able to accept credit card orders.
Step 6
Create your website by using online store-building software. Obtain pictures of the products from your wholesale or manufacturer supplier. Order samples of the products if the wholesaler does not supply pictures. Take a picture of the products and post them on your website. Follow the format of the software in setting up the descriptions and prices of your products. Add a shopping cart for customers to check out when they are finished shopping. Add a button for customers to purchase by credit card. Include an "About" page that describes the benefits of buying products from your company. Create a "Contact" page on your site with your business name, address, phone number and email address.
Step 7
Create a URL (uniform resource locator) or website address for you online store. Determine whether that address or domain name is available by visiting domain registration websites. Register your domain name.
Step 8
Find an ISP (Internet service provider) or someone to host your website. Note that some providers also offer web hosting.
Step 9
Follow the instructions of your web host in getting your website live on the Internet.
Step 10
Submit your website to various search engines. Find a search engine optimizer through a web design firm or Internet consultant. Use your search engine optimizer to achieve a first-page ranking in search engines when people search for your products.
Step 11
Order products from your supplier when people place orders through you. Pay your supplier only your wholesale cost. Keep the rest of the money as profit.
Step 12
Ship the products out for your customers.
