Dropshipping Business Ideas: How To Pick the Best Idea

Our independent research projects and impartial reviews are funded in part by affiliate commissions, at no extra cost to our readers. Learn more

So, you want to dropship? Wise choice.

Dropshippers can make over 50% more profit than businesses that store and sell their own inventory. Which makes sense – when you dropship, you don’t have to pay for the goods you sell. You don’t have to pay to keep them in storage, either – or ship them to the customer.

Dropshipping, then, is a no-brainer. What you’re actually going to be selling, though? That’ll require a little more thought.

That’s why we’ve put together our guide to the best dropshipping business ideas. Below, we’ll walk you through both how to pick the right ideas – from market and audience research to finding your niche – as well as which ideas to pick.

Between phone accessories and pet carriers, all the top ideas are here. So let’s explore!

What Is a Dropshipping Business?

A dropshipping business is one where the seller doesn’t actually store – or even handle – any of the stock they’re selling.

Let’s say you’re the dropshipping business. Rather than having to buy your inventory in advance – and then store it in warehouses, or your den – you simply work with several dropshipping suppliers. These suppliers own and store the stock you’re selling.

When you receive an order through your online store, you simply relay it to the supplier. They then process, package, and ship your product – directly to your customer.

How does dropshipping work

How To Pick the Best Dropshipping Business Ideas

Okay – so now, we’ve realized that the term “dropshipping” isn’t quite as lofty and complex as it sounds. Picking the right dropshipping business idea, though? That’s a little more complicated.

Fortunately, it’s something we can help with – so check out our three top tips for picking the best dropshipping business ideas below.

#1. Conduct Market Research

First up? Testing the waters of your prospective market with some targeted research.

Good market research can help you understand:

  • Where you want to sell: domestically alone, or to international markets?
  • Who you want to sell to: is there a particular demographic you want to home in on?
  • Which companies you’re going up against: by understanding your competitors – where both their strengths and weaknesses lie – you can better understand how to set your own dropshipping business apart.
  • When you want to get started: market research helps you identify any consumer trends or other topical factors that may affect the best time to start up your dropshipping business.

Market research takes many forms. A good (and lower-effort) option is to incentivize your prospective customers to fill out surveys.

A more expensive – but far more comprehensive – route is to set up a focus group. This involves getting a number of people from your audience segment together, and facilitating a conversation around their needs, goals, and pain points as consumers.

#2. Find a Niche

With your market research completed, you’re well on your way to finding your niche.

Your niche is the specific slice of the market you’ll be targeting. It includes the product or service you’re planning to sell, the industry you’ll operate in, and your unique approach to ecommerce.

Are you a premium brand, for instance – selling less stock, but for bigger prices? Or will you prefer a higher-volume, lower-margin approach to cut your competitors out of the market? To answer these questions, understanding your niche is vital.

Why is your niche so important, then? Because, let’s not forget, there are a lot of businesses out there. (In fact, the data shows that there are 100,000 dropshippers already active throughout the world.) And chances are, many of those businesses are selling similar products to the ones you’re going to be.

Your difference? The specific niche you’re targeting. Everything about your fledgling dropshipping business – from how it looks and speaks, to the products it showcases – needs to live and breathe this niche.

If it doesn’t, you’ll simply blend into the background, and that’s not a good business model! The best dropshipping business ideas have a strong niche to help them stand out from the competition!

#3. Ask the Audience

Now, it’s time to do some more research – and really get to grips with your audience.

Audience research helps you understand the size, characteristics, and proclivities of the customers you’re planning to target. It’s designed to give you a better sense of that “ideal customer” – that archetype you conjure up in your mind when someone asks who you’re selling to.

Audience research unearths insights about your customers’:

  • Demographics (their age, gender and more)
  • Budget
  • Interests
  • Values
  • Hobbies
  • Geographic location
  • The types of products and services they’re interested in

Once you’ve understood all this, you can draw up customer personas. These are generalized “archetypes” of your typical customer. They feature a name, occupation, age, and gender, but also key information such as each persona’s desires, needs, and pain points. Plus their social media footprint and information sources.

With accurate personas in place, you can ensure everything you do – whether that’s putting together an email marketing campaign, or writing content for your dropshipping store’s blog – appeals to at least one of these archetypes.

Want more guidance? Check out our list of dropshipping tips, and ensure your success.

Top 5 Dropshipping Business Ideas

Still stumped as to what to sell? Fret not. Here are our top five dropshipping business ideas to inspire you – and ignite your imagination!

#1. USB Chargers

If you’re anything like us, USB chargers sit firmly in the category of “things I always need, but never seem to be able to locate.” As easily misplaced as they are important, USB chargers power a wide range of electronic devices.

An in-demand product with high margins – one source places the USB charger’s average profit margin at as high as 50%, with a sell rate of 45% – this handy gadget could be the perfect place to charge up your new dropshipping business.

USB chargers that are able to be dropshipped
USB chargers come in all shapes and sizes – and with tantalizing profit margins.

#2. Yoga Mats

Namaste! Whether or not you’re an avid yogi yourself, there’s plenty of inner peace to be found for you (and your wallet) when you dropship yoga mats.

With an average profit margin of 60% and a sell rate of over a third (35%), yoga mats – along with leggings and other yoga-related paraphernalia – are a great place to start. And, since there’s already such a specific, pre-established culture around yoga, there’s already a well-defined niche waiting for you. You just have to tap into it!

Yoga mats product pages that are able to be dropshipped
To locate yoga mats to dropship, Alibaba.com’s wide range makes it an excellent first port of call.

#3. Wireless Security Cameras

Forget George Orwell’s 1984 – surveillance culture is already more pervasive than ever. And, while that certainly has its drawbacks, it also presents opportunities – especially for dropshippers.

With a strong average profit margin (40%) and an even more impressive sell rate (65%, according to SalesHoo), wireless security cameras are a dropshipping business idea worth zooming in on.

And, with the home security market expanding constantly, there’s plenty of long-term growth to look forward to.

Wireless security cameras for sale with prices
The home security market is growing – so there’s never been a better time to dropship wireless security cameras.

#4. Pet Carriers

Dogs may be man’s best friend, but – when it comes to your bank balance, at least – there’s no better chum than dropshipping pet carriers.

A niche which offers plenty of lucrative options (dog toys, for instance, boast an average profit margin of 55% and a sell rate of 65%), pet supplies are a bankable springboard from which to launch your fresh-(and fur-)faced dropshipping business.

Small dog carrier product page with pricing and product description
Pet carriers don’t just carry canines – they can carry your dropshipping business, too!

#5. Phone and Tech Accessories

When it comes to the world of phone and tech accessories, the possibilities for dropshippers are almost endless.

Consider, for example, the smartphone tripod – a gadget which peaked at the onset of the pandemic, but still offers a 65% average profit margin and a whopping 75% sell rate. Or phone cases – items with a 50% margin and a strong 65% sell rate.

Add to this the expected growth of the cell phone accessories market – forecast to hit almost $75 billion by 2026 – and the stage is set for ambitious dropshippers to benefit.

A smartphone tripod product page with a red "Add To Cart" button
For dropshippers, smartphone tripods offer high profit margins and noteworthy sell rates.

Summary

From pet carriers and phone cases to carriers and cameras, there are so many dropshipping business ideas out there. Our final piece of advice, though? Don’t choose what you’re going to be selling on profit margins or sell rates alone.

Yes, these are important – you need to be able to make a profit, after all! – but what’s more important is that you’re passionate about what you’re selling. The more you love (and are committed to) your dropshipping store, the more you’ll set it up for success.

FAQs

One of the most crucial components of running a successful dropshipping store? Picking the right suppliers to work with. Luckily, we’ve created a guide dedicated to helping you do just that – so go find out how to find dropshipping suppliers!
Absolutely! We’ve pulled together our 10 favorite dropshipping store examples to inspire your own online store design and creation. Enjoy!
Written by:
I’ve written for brands and businesses all over the world – empowering everyone from solopreneurs and micro-businesses to enterprises to some of the ecommerce industry’s best-known brands: including Yahoo!, Ecwid, and Entrepreneur. My commitment for the future is to empower my audience to make better, more effective decisions: whether that’s helping you pick the right platform to build your website with, the best hosting provider for your needs, or offering recommendations as to what – and how – to sell.

2 comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *