Just a year ago, I stumbled upon a YouTube video titled “Make Money Online Without Inventory!” It sounded too good to be true. But that’s when I first heard about dropshipping on Amazon.
Fast forward to today, I’ve completed my first few sales, made mistakes, learned from them, and built a side hustle I’m genuinely proud of.
If you’re wondering how to start dropshipping on Amazon, let me walk you through my real experience, no fluff, just what actually worked for me.
How to Start Dropshipping on Amazon
- The Beginning – What Even Is Amazon Dropshipping?
Before I jumped in, I had to wrap my head around the basics.
Dropshipping is a retail model where you sell products without stocking them yourself.
Instead, a third-party supplier stores, packs, and ships the product directly to your customer.
On Amazon, this means you list a product on your storefront and forward the order to your supplier once it’s purchased.
Simple, right? Well, sort of. The catch is – Amazon has strict dropshipping policies, and violating them can get your account suspended. So I knew I had to play by the rules.
Step 1 – I Created a Professional Amazon Seller Account
This was my first investment – $39.99 per month.
I went with the Professional plan because it allowed me to list unlimited products and access better features.
The sign-up was straightforward, but Amazon does ask for things like,
-
Business email
-
Bank account and credit card
-
Government-issued ID
-
Tax information
I was nervous hitting “Submit,” but I got approved within a few days.
Step 2 – I Found a Reliable Supplier (This Took Time)
Here’s where I hit my first wall.
I originally thought I could just use AliExpress, but that’s a red flag on Amazon. Why? Because Amazon wants fast shipping, proper tracking, and branded packaging things AliExpress doesn’t guarantee.
After researching and reading horror stories in Facebook groups, I found US-based suppliers through platforms like SaleHoo and Spocket.
Some sellers also use private label manufacturers, but as a beginner, I wanted simplicity.
Lesson learned:
If your supplier messes up, your Amazon account pays the price. Choose wisely.
Step 3 – Listing Products That Actually Sell
I didn’t want to sell everything under the sun.
Instead, I focused on niche products specifically kitchen gadgets and fitness accessories.
I used tools like,
-
Jungle Scout – to research trending products
-
Helium 10 – to spy on competitors’ sales
-
Google Trends – to see seasonal demand
I made sure to write my own product descriptions, used high-quality images (provided by the supplier), and optimized titles with keywords like “eco-friendly,” “portable,” and “best seller.”
Step 4 – The First Sale (And What It Taught Me)
After weeks of setting everything up and running small Amazon ads, I finally got a notification,
“You’ve made a sale!”
I’ll be honest; I didn’t believe it at first. I double-checked the order, contacted my supplier, and they confirmed the shipping within 24 hours.
That first $14.99 sale taught me two things,
- It works.
- Customer experience is everything.
From that day on, I made sure to track every shipment, update buyers, and even follow up for reviews (the right way).
Common Mistakes I Made (So You Don’t Have To)
-
Using slow suppliers: Your account health depends on fast delivery.
-
Not understanding fees: Amazon takes a cut, and it can eat into your margins if you don’t plan carefully.
-
Trying to scale too fast: I started with 5 products. Trying to manage 30 products too early became overwhelming.
My Daily Routine Now
-
Check orders and messages on Amazon Seller Central
-
Forward orders to suppliers
-
Track shipments
-
Review account health metrics
It takes me under an hour per day, and I’m gradually scaling up with better suppliers and higher-margin products.
Final Thoughts – Is Amazon Dropshipping Worth It?
If you’re willing to learn, follow the rules, and stay patient; it absolutely is.
Dropshipping on Amazon is not a get-rich-quick scheme, but it can be a real income stream when done right.
I started with zero experience. Now, I’m running a growing side business that’s taught me skills I’ll use for life.
Read: I Tried 5 Online Business Ideas – Here’s What Actually Made Me Money
