Dropshipping has exploded into one of the easiest and most profitable ways to start an online business in India. The model is simple—you sell products through your online store, but your supplier handles storage, packaging, and delivery. No inventory, no warehousing, no heavy capital.

In 2025, India’s digital retail industry is projected to cross $200 billion, and dropshipping is at the heart of this surge. Let’s walk through how you can start your own dropshipping business step by step, the tools you’ll need, and how platforms like Fills.in are helping small brands such as Olivlife, Axora, and Abhay Health scale smartly.

1. What Is Dropshipping & How Does It Work?

In a dropshipping model:

1. You set up an online store and list products from suppliers.
   

2. When a customer buys, you forward the order details to the supplier.
   

3. The supplier ships the product directly to the customer.
   

4. You earn the margin between the selling price and supplier cost.
   

It’s a low-risk model—perfect for entrepreneurs testing new categories such as fashion, accessories, or wellness.

2. Choose the Right Product Niche

Pick a category that balances demand, margin, and passion.

• Fashion Accessories: High repeat demand; examples include brands like Olivlife that sell functional, stylish tech gear.
  

• Jewellery & Artisanal Goods: Low shipping costs and strong storytelling potential like Axora.
  

• Health & Hygiene: A steady, growing category with year-round relevance—think wellness products from Abhay Health.
  

Use Google Trends, Statista, or even Shopify’s product research tools to analyse search volumes and seasonality.

3. Set Up Your Online Store

You don’t need coding skills to launch a store. Start with platforms such as Shopify, WooCommerce, or Wix.

• Register your domain name.
  

• Choose a professional theme.
  

• Add essential pages: Home, About Us, Return Policy, Contact.
  

• Integrate payment gateways such as Razorpay or PayU.
  

On Fills.in, sellers can go a step further—joining its curated marketplace allows immediate exposure to an existing audience and integrated SEO visibility without building traffic from scratch.

4. Find Reliable Dropshipping Suppliers in India

This is where many fail. Look for partners who provide:

• Transparent shipping timelines.
  

• Branded packaging options.
  

• Automatic order syncing.
  

Popular Indian suppliers include GlowRoad, TradeIndia, and Indiamart. For international products, use AliExpress or CJ Dropshipping—but check customs regulations carefully.

Fills.in’s backend partnerships allow new brands to connect with verified Indian suppliers—reducing logistic risk and ensuring faster delivery cycles for local customers.

5. Understand Pricing, GST & Legal Setup

• Business Registration: Register as a sole proprietorship or LLP.
  

• GST Registration: Mandatory if annual turnover exceeds ₹40 lakhs.
  

• Pricing Strategy: Keep margins of 20–40 % to cover transaction and ad costs.
  

Use tools like ProfitCalc or simple Excel sheets to project profits. Always display taxes clearly on invoices.

6. Market Your Dropshipping Store

Marketing makes or breaks your dropshipping business. In 2025, rely on:

• Instagram & Meta Ads: Use reels, testimonials, and influencer shout-outs.
  

• Google Shopping: Great for intent-based buyers.
  

• SEO Blogging: Write value-driven content like “Best Mobile Accessories for Professionals” linking to products (similar to Fills.in’s strategy).
  

• Email Automation: Convert first-time buyers into loyal customers.
  

Fills.in supports sellers with built-in marketing placements and category exposure, so brands like Olivlife or Axora get organic reach without high ad spend.

7. Manage Logistics & Customer Service

Even though your supplier ships the product, you own the customer experience.

• Track shipments regularly.
  

• Offer proactive updates via email/SMS.
  

• Handle returns and complaints promptly.
  

Marketplaces such as Amazon and Flipkart have set a high bar for customer trust—small sellers must match that responsiveness to build credibility.

8. Automate & Analyse

Once orders start coming in, automate repetitive tasks:

• Use Shopify plug-ins for inventory sync.
  

• Automate Facebook/Google ad reports.
  

• Integrate customer analytics tools like Hotjar or Clarity.
  

Monitor performance weekly—sales trends, bounce rates, top-selling SKUs—and refine accordingly.

 9. Why 2025 Is the Right Time

According to Statista, India’s dropshipping market is expected to grow by over 25 % annually through 2030. Increased smartphone adoption and logistics efficiency make it easier than ever for small sellers to compete.

Platforms like Fills.in are bridging the gap between local suppliers and online entrepreneurs, creating a launchpad for niche brands to shine.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is dropshipping legal in India?
Yes, it’s completely legal as long as sellers comply with GST, data privacy, and consumer protection laws.

2. How much money do I need to start?
You can begin with as little as ₹10 000–₹20 000 for domain, design, and initial marketing.

3. Do I need to register a company?
Not initially, but registering as a business helps when scaling or working with marketplaces like Fills.in.

4. Can I dropship from Indian suppliers only?
Absolutely. Many Indian vendors now offer competitive pricing and faster delivery compared to global suppliers.

5. How can Fills.in help dropshippers?
Fills.in provides a ready marketplace, verified logistics partners, and brand-visibility tools that help dropshippers build recognition alongside successful labels like Olivlife, Axora, and Abhay Health.