How Much Time Do We Have To Put On Dropshipping?

If you’re just starting out with dropshipping, expect to put in 15 to 30 hours per week. Once you’re up and running, you can scale it down to 5 to 10 hours a week with automation and outsourcing.

Starting a dropshipping business sounds simple enough. No inventory, low overhead, and the chance to work from anywhere.

But how much time does it really take to run a successful dropshipping business? Is it a few hours a week, or does it become a full-time commitment?

In this article, we’ll break down exactly how much time you need to invest in dropshipping based on your stage of the journey—from getting started to scaling up.

We’ll also show you where most people waste time, and how you can optimize your workflow for maximum output with minimal hours.

Phase 1: Getting Started (15–30 Hours/Week)

The first few weeks of launching a dropshipping store are the most time-intensive.

You’re building from scratch, learning new tools, and making foundational decisions. If you’re starting with zero experience, expect to dedicate 15 to 30 hours per week to get off the ground.

Key Tasks in This Phase:

• Niche and product research: Finding a profitable niche and evaluating which products are trending
• Supplier selection: Vetting suppliers on platforms like AliExpress, CJ Dropshipping, or Zendrop
• Store setup: Creating a Shopify or WooCommerce store, setting up pages, policies, payment gateways
• Design and branding: Customizing your store, creating a logo, choosing fonts/colors
• Learning marketing: Understanding the basics of paid ads (Facebook, Google, TikTok) or organic strategies (TikTok/Instagram Reels)

Time Breakdown (Example):

Tips to Speed This Up:

• Use ready-made Shopify themes
• Start with a one-product store to reduce complexity
• Choose suppliers with fast shipping and integrations like DSers or Oberlo
• Stick with one marketing strategy at first (e.g., paid Facebook ads)

Phase 2: Testing Products and Running Ads (10–20 Hours/Week)

Once your store is live, your focus shifts to driving traffic and testing your offers. You’ll start running ads, managing orders, and handling basic customer service.

This phase is when you’ll likely make your first sales—but it requires consistency and data analysis.

What You’re Doing Now:

• Launching ad campaigns: Creating and testing ad creatives
• Order fulfillment: Using DSers or manual fulfillment with suppliers
• Customer support: Handling emails, questions, refund requests
• Tweaking product pages: Improving descriptions, adding upsells, adjusting pricing
• Monitoring analytics: Reviewing ad performance, conversion rate, ROAS

Weekly Time Estimates:

Common Mistakes That Waste Time:

• Launching too many products at once
• Over-optimizing product pages before validation
• Watching every comment and message on ads manually
• Not batching tasks (e.g., responding to all customer emails at once daily)

How to Work Smarter:

• Automate order fulfillment with DSers or similar tools
• Use Shopify apps for upsells and post-purchase funnels
• Use template responses for customer support
• Track metrics using Shopify analytics + Meta Ads Manager

Phase 3: Scaling the Business (5–10 Hours/Week)

If you’re seeing consistent sales and have validated a winning product, it’s time to scale.

The workload starts to decrease here if you delegate properly. Your role becomes more about managing strategy rather than doing everything yourself.

Focus Areas in Scaling:

• Hiring and outsourcing: Use virtual assistants for support, fulfillment, or even content
• Delegating ads: Hire media buyers or use ad automation tools
• Automating support: Chatbots, email autoresponders, and templates
• Expanding: Adding new products, entering new markets, or exploring influencer marketing

Ideal Weekly Workflow:

Tools That Save Time at This Stage:

• Slack or ClickUp for team communication
• Google Data Studio or Triple Whale for tracking
• ManyChat or Gorgias for support automation
• Trello or Notion for SOPs and checklists

What Wastes the Most Time in Dropshipping

Some tasks might feel productive but burn time with little ROI. Avoid these traps:

Common Time Wasters:

• Over-designing your website before validating products
• Switching suppliers frequently without a performance issue
• Changing niches every month out of boredom or impatience
• Not automating tasks like order fulfillment or emails
• Trying to master every social platform at once

How to Avoid These Traps:

• Stick with a validated product at least 30–60 days before switching
• Document repeatable tasks and outsource them
• Use ready-made templates for emails, returns, and legal pages
• Focus on 1–2 sales channels, not all at once

Time Hacks: Save 10+ Hours/Week

If you’re pressed for time, there are smart ways to save 10+ hours a week without sacrificing performance.

Smart Time-Saving Moves:

• Use DSers or AutoDS for bulk product importing and auto-fulfillment
• Create SOPs (standard operating procedures) with Loom videos
• Hire VAs from Upwork or OnlineJobs.ph to handle repetitive tasks
• Use Gorgias or Zendesk to manage support from one place
• Template everything: emails, ad copy, product descriptions

Example Tasks You Can Outsource:

Can You Do Dropshipping Part-Time?

Yes—but you need structure. Many successful dropshippers started while working a 9–5 job. The key is consistency and batching your work.

Tips for Dropshipping With a Full-Time Job:

• Set fixed blocks of time daily (e.g., 7–9PM for 5 days a week)
• Use weekends for deep work like product research and content creation
• Automate or outsource anything repetitive
• Avoid burnout by setting realistic goals (e.g., $500–$1,000/month first)

Minimum Weekly Commitment for Progress:

Realistic Timeline to Make $1,000/Month

Your results will depend on your product, offer, ad creatives, and work ethic. But here’s a realistic timeline most people can expect:

Real Examples:

• Sebastian Ghiorghiu started with just a few hours a day and hit $1,000/day within 3 months by testing TikTok products aggressively.
• Arie Scherson scaled his first winning product after 4 months of consistent ad testing and store optimizations.
• Countless case studies in Reddit’s r/dropship and YouTube show that $1K/month in profit is realistic with 10–20 hours/week over 2–3 months.

Conclusion: Is Dropshipping Worth the Time?

Dropshipping isn’t a 4-hour workweek fantasy. Especially at the beginning, it demands effort, discipline, and willingness to fail and learn.

But with the right systems and structure, it can become a low-maintenance income stream that runs on autopilot.

Whether you have 40 hours a week or just 10, what matters is how you use that time. Focus on money-making tasks, automate the rest, and track your progress.

Dropshipping pays off—if you treat it like a real business.

FAQs

Can I do dropshipping with a full-time job?

Yes, many people start part-time. Allocate 1–2 hours per day and more on weekends.

How many hours per week does a beginner need?

Plan for 15–30 hours in the first month to set up everything properly.

Can you automate everything?

Most things can be automated—fulfillment, support, reports—but product research and strategy still need your brain.

What’s the #1 time waster in dropshipping?

Jumping between products and platforms too often. Pick one thing and stick with it for 30–60 days.