Introduction: Want to Start a Business Without Huge Investment?
Most of us dream of starting a business. But very few of us actually take that first step. Why? It usually comes down to a few major roadblocks—lack of money, no prior business experience, full-time jobs, or simply not knowing where to begin.
But what if I told you there’s a way to start an online business in India with almost zero inventory, low risk, and very little investment? And the best part—you don’t even need to ship the products yourself.
Welcome to the world of dropshipping. It’s one of the easiest ways to launch an ecommerce business in India without stocking any inventory or handling deliveries.
I’m Ashish Agrawal, founder of Kartgen Infotech LLP, where we help startups and founders build websites, apps, and grow their digital presence. In this guide, I’ll walk you through how dropshipping works, how it differs from traditional ecommerce, and how you can get started from scratch—even if you’re just a beginner.
What is Dropshipping and How Does It Work?
Dropshipping is an ecommerce model where you sell products online without holding any inventory. Instead, you create an online store, list products from suppliers, and whenever someone places an order, the supplier ships the product directly to the customer.
This means you never have to deal with stocking items, packing orders, or arranging deliveries.
Your focus areas as a dropshipper:
- Building your website
- Finding trending products
- Marketing your store
- Providing good customer service
It’s a great side hustle that can grow into a full-time business. It’s perfect for those who want to start small and scale gradually.
Dropshipping vs Traditional Ecommerce
The biggest difference between dropshipping and traditional ecommerce is the initial investment.
Traditional ecommerce businesses need money for:
- Buying inventory
- Renting storage
- Handling logistics
- Branding and packaging
In contrast, dropshipping allows you to:
- Start with low investment
- Avoid stock management
- Focus on marketing and sales
Of course, there are trade-offs. Profit margins in dropshipping may be lower initially, and you have less control over product quality and shipping times. But the risk is also much lower. You don’t lose money on unsold inventory, and you can scale quickly by adding new products and suppliers as you go.
Dropshipping is all about working smart—leveraging technology to sell online without the hassle of physical operations.
How to Start a Dropshipping Business in India (Step-by-Step)
Let’s break it down into actionable steps:
Step 1: Choose a Niche
Start by selecting a niche that’s:
- Trendy
- Useful
- High in demand
Avoid generic categories. Instead, go for products that trigger impulse buying—think pet accessories, phone gadgets, home décor, or kids’ clothing.
Step 2: Find Reliable Suppliers
Your supplier can make or break your business.
If you’re targeting Indian customers, check:
If you’re open to international dropshipping, try:
- AliExpress
- CJ Dropshipping
- Spocket
Always test your suppliers for responsiveness, product quality, and shipping times before scaling.
Step 3: Build Your Online Store
You can create your store using:
- Shopify (easy to use but has monthly fees)
- WordPress + WooCommerce (more flexible and cost-effective)
Tips:
- Use a clean, mobile-friendly theme
- Add high-quality product images
- Write SEO-optimized product descriptions
- Use a decent Payment Gateway Partner
- Include essential pages: Return Policy, Shipping Policy, Contact Us, and Terms & Conditions
Need help building your store? Contact me at ashish(@)kartgen.in or WhatsApp me at +91-78699-03030.
Step 4: Market Your Store
Marketing is where the real magic happens.
You can start with:
- Instagram Reels
- YouTube Shorts
- Facebook and Google Ads (once you test organically)
- SEO blogs targeting product-specific keywords
- Micro-influencer collaborations (1000–5000 followers)
Focus on building trust and brand awareness before running ads. You can also reach out to us for help with digital marketing and growth.
Step 5: Handle Orders and Support
If you’re starting manually, make sure to:
- Place orders with your supplier after every sale
- Share tracking info with your customers
- Provide quick customer support
Good communication = better reviews = more sales.
And always ask satisfied customers to leave Google reviews or tag your business on social media.
How Long Does It Take to Make Dropshipping Profitable?
There’s no fixed timeline. But here’s what I’ve seen with clients:
- With a winning product and consistent marketing, you can break even within 1–2 months.
- Most dropshipping businesses take 3–6 months to turn profitable.
- With patience, testing, and learning from data, you can scale to ₹50,000–₹1 lakh/month within a few months.
But remember—dropshipping is a business, not a get-rich-quick scheme. Success comes with consistency, testing, and refining your products and offers.
Real-Life Dropshipping Success Story
Let me tell you about Rohit, a 25-year-old from Jaipur. During the 2020 lockdown, he started his dropshipping journey with just ₹5000. He used that for a domain, Shopify trial, and a few Facebook ads.
In 6 months, his store generated ₹3 lakh in revenue, and he earned ₹70k in monthly profits. Fast forward to today—he runs 3 dropshipping businesses in different niches and earns over ₹5 lakh/month.
His biggest success factor? He focused on building trust and offering value, not just cheap products.
Do’s and Don’ts of Dropshipping
✅ Do’s
- Test 3–5 products before scaling
- Ask suppliers for real product videos
- Build your brand and logo from Day 1
- Monitor delivery times and customer reviews
- Stay connected with your customers and suppliers
❌ Don’ts
- Don’t rely on one supplier
- Don’t ignore customer support
- Don’t copy other dropshippers blindly
- Don’t sell low-quality or fake products
- Don’t expect overnight success
Why Dropshipping Is the Best Online Business for Beginners in India
If you want to start a business with:
- Low risk
- No inventory
- No office or team required
- Potential to scale big
Dropshipping is a great starting point. With the right mindset and tools, you can turn your side hustle into a full-time online business.
Conclusion: Start Your Dropshipping Store Today
The best time to start was yesterday. The next best time is today.
Set up your store, test products, market consistently, and keep learning. Success won’t happen overnight—but if you stay patient and consistent, it will happen.
Need help getting started?
📩 Email: ashish (@) kartgen.in
📱 WhatsApp: +91-78699-03030
💬 Or use the contact form here
And don’t forget to watch the video version of this guide on YouTube!