Dropshipping Checklist: A Step-by-Step Guide Before You Launch

Starting a dropshipping business sounds simple.

But the truth is, missing even one step can lead to wasted money, slow shipping, customer complaints, or even account shutdowns.

I’ve built this dropshipping checklist from the ground up—based on what actually matters, what you can’t skip, and what people often forget.

This guide is for you if you’re about to launch your first store or you’ve tried before but didn’t get the results you wanted.

I’ll walk you through every part of the process—from product research to post-purchase emails—and include tools, tips, and a few warnings from my own experience.

1. Product Research: Choosing What to Sell

This is the foundation of everything. You can have the best store, the cleanest design, and the flashiest ads—but if your product doesn’t hit, none of it matters.

Here’s how I approach product research:

What I Look For in a Winning Product

• Solves a real problem
• Has a clear “wow” factor or unique angle
• Not available in local stores or Amazon Prime
• Sells for $20–$100 with a minimum 2.5x markup
• Low return risk (no electronics or sizing complexity)

My Go-To Product Research Tools

• Sell The Trend – for trending products backed by data
• Niche Scraper – to spy on top Shopify stores
• Google Trends – to validate if interest is rising or falling
• AliShark – for fast-moving AliExpress products
• Amazon Best Sellers – see what’s already selling

Quick Checklist Before I Commit

If the product passes this test, I move on to vetting competitors.

2. Competitive Analysis: Know Who You’re Up Against

You’re not selling in a vacuum. Someone out there is already selling what you want to sell.

That’s a good thing—it proves demand. Your job is to figure out how to position yourself differently.

How I Spy on Competitors

• Facebook Ad Library – search keywords and brand names
• Koala Inspector or Commerce Inspector – see what apps they’re using, their best-sellers, and ad strategies
• BigSpy / AdSpy – dig into ad creatives and platforms used
• Shopify Store Directory – browse example stores by niche

What I Look For

• What price are they charging?
• How are they positioning the product? (Problem-solution? Emotional angle?)
• Are there any obvious weaknesses in their store or funnel?
• What kind of reviews are customers leaving?

Table: Example Breakdown from a Competitor

Once I’ve studied competitors, I move on to finding the right supplier.

3. Supplier Vetting: Choose the Right Partner

Your supplier can make or break your dropshipping business.

I’ve learned this the hard way—bad shipping times or unreliable tracking can ruin your store’s reputation fast.

Platforms I Trust

• AliExpress – best for testing, but watch out for slow shipping
• CJ Dropshipping – better for branding and faster fulfillment
• Zendrop – beginner-friendly with solid support
• DSers – works well with AliExpress bulk orders

My Supplier Checklist

• Do they respond within 24 hours?
• Are they willing to send a test order?
• Can they offer tracking and decent packaging?
• Do they offer ePacket or alternative fast shipping?

Tip: Order a Sample Product First

Always. I check:

• Build quality
• Packaging (does it look like it came from a random factory?)
• Delivery speed
• Any damage or issues

A quick sample order tells me everything I need to know before I scale.

4. Store Setup: Build for Conversions

Your store isn’t just a place to show off your product—it’s a funnel.

Every page should guide the visitor toward buying. Clean, simple, and fast is the goal.

What I Use to Build

• Shopify – easy, scalable, and made for ecom
• Debutify Theme or Refresh Theme – optimized for conversions
• Apps I Install:
  • Loox – photo reviews
  • ReConvert – post-purchase upsells
  • Hurrify – urgency timers (use sparingly)

If you’re not tech-savvy, don’t overcomplicate things. Stick with a basic layout that gets the job done.

Every second your site takes to load increases the chance a visitor bounces.

Page Checklist

• Home
• Product
• About Us
• Contact
• Refund Policy
• Shipping Policy
• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Service

Each of these pages builds trust. If you’re missing one, it could cost you conversions—or worse, get your ad account suspended.

Facebook and Google check for these before approving your ads.

Trust Boosters

• Add trust badges under the “Add to Cart” button
• Use real customer reviews (even from AliExpress if just starting)
• Display accepted payment methods in the footer

I also include customer support hours and a working contact form with an autoresponder.

It makes your store feel active and reduces customer anxiety when placing an order. You’re trying to look like a real brand, not a one-off store.

5. Branding: Stand Out From Generic Dropshippers

Too many stores look the same. A simple logo and consistent colors can instantly build trust.

What I Do to Brand Quickly

• Use Canva or Looka for a fast logo
• Stick to 1–2 main colors and 1 font throughout the site
• Buy a .com domain that matches the store name
• Remove all traces of “Powered by Shopify”

Branding isn’t just visual. It’s how you speak to your audience. When everything feels aligned, the customer trusts you more.

Brand Identity Questions

Your brand is your moat. It’s the only long-term edge you have in a space where people can copy your product in 24 hours. Consistency, not complexity, wins here.

6. Payment Gateways: Get Paid Without Hassles

You can’t run a real store if you can’t collect payments properly.

It’s not just about getting paid—it’s about reducing chargebacks and freezes.

What I Use

• Shopify Payments – no transaction fees
• PayPal – required, but risky if scaling fast
• Stripe – great backup option

Most customers expect flexibility at checkout. I always make sure PayPal is an option even if I’d rather avoid it. Some customers just feel safer using it.

Offering multiple gateways also increases conversion rates, especially in international markets.

What You Need Before Applying

• Legal business name (if required in your country)
• Business bank account
• Verified domain email (e.g. [email protected])
• Store policies and contact page live

Tip: Avoid Sudden Spikes

Start slow. If you go from zero to $10,000/week overnight, PayPal and Stripe might freeze your account.

Let things build up gradually and provide tracking info for every order.

7. Shipping Strategy: Set Expectations

This is where most beginners lose. Customers don’t mind waiting if they know upfront. What they hate is being surprised.

What I Offer

• Free shipping worldwide (build cost into product price)
• Estimated delivery: 8–15 days
• Tracking with 17track embedded on my site
• Shipping updates via email using Klaviyo

Key Tips

• Be clear on your product page
• Send a shipping confirmation email with tracking
• Avoid using multiple suppliers with different delivery times on the same store

If someone is waiting, keep them in the loop. It reduces refund requests and angry DMs.

8. Legal Pages and Business Setup

No one wants to think about this, but if you’re collecting money online, you need to cover yourself.

Legal Pages to Include

• Refund Policy
• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Service
• Shipping Policy
• Disclaimer if needed (especially for health-related products)

Shopify offers templates you can tweak.

These legal pages aren’t just there for show—they protect you from chargebacks and potential legal issues.

Registering a Business

Always check your local tax laws. If you’re unsure, speak to a professional. Don’t skip this part.

Even if you’re testing, having a registered business can help you get approved for payment processors faster and look more credible to customers and suppliers.

9. Marketing Plan: Drive Traffic and Make Sales

The best product in the world won’t sell itself. Here’s how I choose what marketing channel to start with.

My Top 3 Channels

• TikTok Organic – great for testing products with no ad spend
• Facebook Ads – fast scaling, but expensive
• Influencer Marketing – especially on Instagram and TikTok

Choosing one traffic source at a time is key. I focus on getting traction with a single platform, then expand.

Too many people try to do TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook all at once and burn out with nothing to show.

What I Focus on First

• Hook: 1–3 seconds
• Benefit: what problem does this fix?
• CTA: Shop now, limited stock, etc.
• Ad Type: UGC-style videos, product demos, testimonials

I test 3–5 creatives with small budgets and kill losers fast.

Before launching ads, I also set up retargeting audiences and email capture popups. That way, even if someone doesn’t buy the first time, I can follow up and recover the sale.

10. Post-Purchase Flow: Maximize Every Order

Once a sale comes in, most stores go silent. That’s a mistake.

Good follow-up can lead to repeat customers, more reviews, and fewer refunds.

My Post-Purchase Automation

• Order confirmation email
• Shipping confirmation with tracking
• Review request after 14–21 days
• Upsell email offering a bundle or discount

It’s not just about what you say—it’s how you say it. If you sound human, people respond.

If you sound like a marketing template, they ignore it.

Tools I Use

• Klaviyo or Omnisend for emails
• Loox for review requests
• ReConvert for post-checkout offers

Customers who feel taken care of are more likely to buy again. Keep that in mind.

You don’t need a huge list—just 100 loyal customers spending more than once can stabilize your revenue better than thousands of cold buyers.

Final Thoughts

Dropshipping can work, but only if you’re willing to treat it like a real business.

This checklist isn’t just about ticking boxes—it’s about setting a solid foundation.

You don’t need to be perfect to start. But you do need a plan. This is that plan.