Dropshipping

[bolo]

Hi there, I am keen to start my own online store. Don't have much capital to buy stock and get a posh site so is going to a monthly payment job and dropshipping seems a good way to get started. I will be working full time so will be evening and weekends. I'm not really fussed about making money in the first 6-12 months just put the money back in to the business so I can be in a position to do some payed advertising and buy stock. I work for an ecommerce business now so am quite up on getting my products out there. I do require a bit of help.

Do I need to register a company name? and is it recommended I make it Limited.
As it is from home for now should I get a PO Box Address?
Does anyone know of any reputible dropshippers? I believe there are a few dodgy ones out there.
I was thinking of getting a site through Go-Ecommerce.com. Does anyone know of any other cheap monthly sites that I can dropship through?

From what I have wrote above is there anything glaring I seem to have missed?

That's all I can think of at the moment, you're help will be much appreciated.

 

I used a dropshipping company called Butterfly Media. I was using them to sell software and games on ebay.

Lets just say it didnt work out so well. Be very careful of what you list, My ebay rating took a big hit becuase the info they supplied me for my listing was not what was sent out.

I know your not going the ebay route, However remember if what the customer receives is not what you list it comes back on you, I was covered by ebay who dealt with everything for me.

I would suggest if you could get the dropshipping company to send you a one each of the products you will list for sale and check it against the descriptions they supply.

Saying all that iv seen posts on here about very good dropshippers. So have a look around.

Good Luck with your venture.

Regards

Greg

 

[FreelanceSoftwareDeveloper]

If your going to be running a business you need to register as self employed within 3 months of starting trading. No need for a limited company, in fact I would advise against it for a part time venture as the admin and accounting costs will add up. You will be registered as a self employed as a Sole Trader. Take a look at some of the threads in the Accounts section for more info.

It doesn't affect your employed PAYE at all, this is something I was concerned about when I started.

Do you have a preference for a product type, quantity of products (high volume or niche product)?

For high volumes of products looking for a dropshipper with data feeds would be an advantage.

 

[bolo]

Thanks for your replies. I haven't got a preference on products yet, I am keen to stay away from Mobile Phones and electricals due to the competition and margins. The ideal is to have a selection of 50-100ish products in a fairly niche market with decent margins (stating the obvious maybe). I have been on dropshipping forums/information sites and they all seem to be doing the same stuff. Maybe need a new angle (contacting Suppliers/Distributors themselves?)

Another possible option is to have an ecommerce site and contact retailers to sell their products through my site on a commission basis but this idea seems to have been done to death.

 

[FreelanceSoftwareDeveloper]

You are certainly on the right track, most people fall at the first hurdle thinking mobile phones and consoles for pennies profit is actually a sustainable business model.

Certainly contacting suppliers directly is a good option too, again you are avoiding the saturated, duplicated dropship sites your likely to come across on places like dropshipping forums.

 

[wholesalecity]

Do you like to do clothing and accessory dropship business?
If you like, you can come to http://www.wholesale-dress.net/.
it provides dropship service to the whole world and don't need any special fees. also no minimum order.