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I’ve been in e-commerce for over a decade, and one of the questions I hear constantly from beginners is, “How much money do I actually need to start dropshipping on Shopify?”
There’s a lot of misinformation out there — some say you can start for free, others throw around numbers that sound like a venture capital pitch.
The truth? You can start lean, but there are real costs you’ll need to plan for if you want a shot at succes.
This guide breaks down every cost you’ll encounter — upfront, monthly, and optional — whether you’re going the traditional dropshipping route or jumping into print on demand (POD).
I’ll also walk you through lean vs. full setups and show you how to avoid overspending in the wrong places.
Let’s get into it.
1. Shopify Subscription Plans
Before anything else, you’ll need a Shopify account to build your store.
Shopify has a few plan tiers, but for most beginners, the Basic plan will cover everything you need to get started.
Shopify Pricing Plans (2025)
| Plan | Monthly Cost (Billed Monthly) | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | $39 | Storefront, checkout, unlimited products, 24/7 support |
| Shopify | $105 | Professional reports, lower payment fees |
| Advanced | $399 | Custom reporting, 3rd-party shipping rates |
Pro tip: Shopify usually offers a $1/month for the first 3 months deal for new users, which is an incredible way to get started with minimal commitment.
After the trial, the full price kicks in.
You don’t need the higher-tier plans unless you’re processing a high volume of sales or managing multiple staff members.
Stick with Basic and upgrade only if your growth demands it.
2. Domain Name Costs
A domain name gives your store a professional look and makes it easier for customers to trust your brand.
Options for Buying a Domain
- Shopify: $14/year (auto-renews through Shopify)
- Namecheap: $9–$13/year
- GoDaddy: $10–$20/year depending on availability and TLD
You can either buy the domain directly through Shopify (easiest, but slightly pricier), or buy it from a registrar like Namecheap and connect it.
It’s a one-time yearly cost, and it’s worth spending a few bucks here.
Avoid free subdomains like yourstore.myshopify.com if you want to be taken seriously.
3. Dropshipping App Costs (e.g. DSers, Zendrop)
You’ll need a dropshipping automation tool to import products, sync inventory, and fulfill orders.
Without one, you’d be manually copying customer data to suppliers — a huge time sink.
Popular Dropshipping Tools
| Tool | Free Plan Available | Paid Plan Starts At | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| DSers | Yes | $19.90/month | AliExpress partner, bulk ordering |
| Zendrop | Yes | $49/month | US products, faster shipping |
| CJ Dropshipping | Yes | Pay per service | Print on demand + traditional dropshipping mix |
You can start with free plans, especially if you’re testing.
Once you start fulfilling more than 50 orders per month, you’ll likely need a paid plan for features like auto-fulfillment, variant mapping, or faster syncing.
This is one area where paying for convenience is absolutely worth it once orders come in.
4. Print on Demand: What’s Different?
If you’re planning to launch a print on demand (POD) store instead of traditional dropshipping, your costs will shift slightly — mainly due to product pricing and branding options.
POD lets you sell custom-designed t-shirts, mugs, posters, and more without buying inventory.
When someone places an order, it gets printed and shipped on demand.
Common POD Platforms
| Platform | Free Plan | Paid Plan | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Printful | Yes | Premium starts at $49/month | High-quality, global fulfilment |
| Printify | Yes | Premium is $29/month | Wide supplier network, cheaper base prices |
| Gelato | Yes | Paid plans for extra features | Global network, good for international stores |
Main cost differences with POD:
- Product pricing: Base costs are higher, so your profit margins are thinner unless you charge more.
- Branding upgrades: Some POD providers charge for custom labels, packaging inserts, or branded packing slips.
- Shipping: You don’t control shipping costs; they vary based on customer location and product.
You don’t pay for inventory upfront, but you’ll need strong marketing to justify your prices.
POD products often cost $10–$20 each before shipping, so plan accordingly.
5. Marketing and Advertising Costs
This is where most dropshippers either succeed or burn out.
Marketing isn’t optional.
If no one sees your product, you don’t get sales.
Paid advertising is the fastest way to test products, but it comes with a learning curve and real costs.
Paid Ads Breakdown
| Channel | Recommended Budget | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Facebook/Instagram | $5–$20/day | Best for impulse products |
| TikTok Ads | $10–$30/day | Great for Gen Z products, trending items |
| Google Shopping | $10–$50/day | High-buying intent, better for niche products |
Start with a small budget and test different creatives, copy, and audiences. Don’t expect profits right away.
The goal in the beginning is to find a product/ad combo that converts.
Free (Organic) Alternatives
If your budget is tight, there are still ways to drive traffic:
- TikTok organic: Post content daily using trending sounds
- Pinterest: Pin your products with keywords
- SEO: Write blogs targeting low-competition keywords
- Instagram Reels: Similar to TikTok, but slightly slower reach
While these are free, they take time and consistency. Most successful dropshippers eventually invest in paid traffic to scale.
6. Design and Branding Costs
Strong branding builds trust, and trust drives sales. Fortunately, you don’t have to spend a lot here if you’re resourceful.
Design Tools
- Canva (Free or Pro $12.99/month): Easy logo, social content, mockups
- Hatchful by Shopify (Free): Quick logo generator
- Fiverr ($10–$50): Hire a designer for branding assets
Most stores can get by with a decent logo and a clean theme in the beginning.
Store Theme Options
| Theme Source | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Shopify Free Themes | $0 | Dawn, Sense, Refresh — mobile-optimized |
| Premium Themes | $180–$350 one-time | More features, conversion focused |
| Third-Party (Debutify, Booster) | Free–$300/year | Built-in upsells, timers, fast loading |
You don’t need a premium theme on day one. Focus on clean design, fast loading, and mobile usability.
You can upgrade your design as you scale.
7. Extra Shopify Apps
Shopify’s app store has thousands of tools. The key is not to overload your store with too many apps early on.
Start with essentials.
Useful Apps to Consider
- Loox or Judge.me (reviews)
- Vitals (all-in-one tool: upsells, timers, reviews)
- Klaviyo or Omnisend (email marketing)
- ReConvert (post-purchase upsells)
Most apps offer free plans or free trials. Expect to pay $10–$50/month if you start stacking multiple tools.
Focus on revenue-generating apps first — especially upsells, trust elements, and automated emails.
8. Hidden and Ongoing Costs
There are a few things most beginners overlook when budgeting.
Common Extras
- Refunds/returns: You’ll need to eat these unless your supplier handles it
- Chargebacks: $15–$30 per incident, plus loss of product and fees
- Payment processor fees: Shopify takes 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction
- Shipping mishaps: Lost packages = replacements out of your pocket
- Customer support tools: Optional tools like Zendesk, Gorgias, or Tawk.to
Set aside 5–10% of revenue to cover the unexpected. It’s part of the game.
9. Total Startup Cost Breakdown
Here’s a realistic look at what it might cost you to get started, based on whether you’re going lean or aiming for a full setup with paid ads.
Lean Setup (Organic Traffic Focus)
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Shopify (trial + 1 month) | $1–$39 |
| Domain name | $10–$20 |
| Dropshipping app | Free |
| Logo/design | Free |
| Marketing (organic) | Free |
| Apps | Free |
| Total | $11–$59 |
Full Setup (Paid Ads + POD or Dropshipping)
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Shopify (3 months) | $3 |
| Domain name | $14 |
| Paid theme | $180 |
| Dropshipping app | $19–$49 |
| Design/logo | $50 |
| Paid ads (30 days) | $300–$900 |
| Apps | $30–$70 |
| Total | $596–$1266 |
The difference comes down to how much control and speed you want.
Starting lean is totally fine, but scaling fast means spending more upfront.
10. Is Dropshipping Still Worth It in 2025?
The business model still works, but it’s evolved.
Dropshipping is no longer about throwing up a general store and hoping to go viral with a product video.
You need strong product selection, marketing skills, and customer experience.
Profit margins are tighter, and platforms like TikTok and Meta keep changing.
That said, the low barrier to entry and ability to test ideas quickly still make Shopify dropshipping one of the best models for aspiring entrepreneurs — especially when combined with print on demand or personal branding.
Final Thoughts
So how much does it cost to start dropshipping on Shopify?
It depends on how lean or fast you want to move, but expect somewhere between $50 and $1,200.
If you’ve got the time, you can start small. If you’ve got the money, you can move quicker.
Either way, treat it like a business — budget wisely, test constantly, and don’t cut corners on the things that matter (like your product and customer experience).
