Dropshipping Side Hustle: Is It Really Worth It In 2025?

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Dropshipping can be a good side hustle but it’s not an ideal business model for every entrepreneur. Some online retailers achieve steady income but others struggle with low margins and high competition.

For example, a Reddit user shares:

It’s easy to set up but harder to maintain. You’re competing against thousands of stores with similar products.

Other people note that you need to spend numerous hours researching market trends to find a winning product and a reputable supplier with no guarantee of profits.

However, the trustability of dropshipping suppliers varies considerably across sectors. Once you find a reputable supplier, you can build a profitable business alongside your full-time job.

One Reddit user notes that they made almost a million dollars in revenue – such success stories can motivate you to start it.

The reality is that success depends on your niche, supplier quality, and marketing efforts. Managing customer service requests, marketing, and supply chain management can be challenging but consistent effort can offer passive income and valuable skills. But if you’re looking for a side hustle with a lower learning curve, check out other side hustle ideas.

What is dropshipping?

Dropshipping is an online retail model where sellers sell products via an online store but don’t hold inventory. Instead, orders are sent to third-party suppliers who ship directly to customers.

Over 27% of online sellers choose dropshipping as a side hustle because of a limited budget or a tight schedule – you don’t need to invest money into inventory, handle shipping, or manage inventory costs. Also, you can save on upfront paying warehouse rent.

A successful dropshipping business relies on a reputable supplier and servicing niche markets. Both product quality and delivery service matter to your overall customer satisfaction.

Make sure to research supplier reputation and control product quality when choosing a dropshipping venture. However, if you want to quickly make money online, consider alternative options.

Weighing the pros and cons of dropshipping

While it offers freedom, dropshipping is not a get-rich-quick scheme. Before starting a dropshipping business, you should weigh its benefits and drawbacks to see if you want to sell products online.

Pros: why should you try it

The dropshipping world is an attractive option for people wanting to have a good profit margin at a relatively low cost.

Pros	Details
Low startup costs	You don’t need to invest in warehouses or inventory. Set up a business online with a minimal marketing budget to get started.
No inventory management	Dropshipping allows you to focus on business growth instead of worrying about delivery and inventory. However, finding reliable suppliers can be challenging.
Flexible work hours	Dropshipping as a side hustle lets you set your own hours.
Wide product variety	Online retailers can do private label dropshipping, easily build a brand on an e-commerce platform, or try a new niche with low costs.

Cons: what to consider

Dropshipping might be one of the most popular side hustle ideas but it has drawbacks. Some sellers need to resolve potential delivery issues, build customer loyalty, or solve complaints daily.

It’s not a get-rich-quick scheme, so evaluate if you want to put in effort and start dropshipping.

Cons	Details
High competition	Online sellers face high competition. The customer sets demand for products, so make sure to offer superior customer service and exceptional quality.
Shipping delays	Delivery speed varies across suppliers and delivery companies. Delays are inevitable, so choose a supplier that can organize delivery as fast as possible.
Supplier reliability issues	Supplier reputation matters – dropshipping gets a bad name for poor-quality products, so ensure you choose a reliable partner.
Small profit margins	Profits vary depending on your product, niche, and delivery. Set realistic expectations before you start this side hustle.

How to start a dropshipping side hustle

Dropshipping enables sellers to sell products locally and internationally with minimal setup costs. It’s relatively simple to launch this side hustle. You’ll need to:

Choose a niche.
Research suppliers.
Register a domain and set up an e-commerce platform.
List products and set pricing.
Set up payment processing.
Market your store.
Manage customer service and fulfillment.

Notably, some regions require a business license, and you’ll need to set up payment gateways. Make sure to consult an expert if you have any questions or doubts.

Market research and niche selection

Finding your target audience might require a lot of time. Online retailers starting a dropshipping business often struggle with finding profitable niches. You can research product demand on social media platforms and focus on customer loyalty when building your brand.

When identifying the right niche for your business, look for:

Trending products with steady demand (e.g., TikTok sales catalog identifies perfume as a top product).
Gaps in existing markets (e.g., note what your competitors are doing wrong and fix it).
A unique selling point (e.g., eco-friendly products, pet supplies, faster shipping options)

Your target audience will help you identify what products you can sell to make a profit. Understand their pain points, research your competitors, and offer a solution to your customers’ problems.

Setting up your online store

To get started, you’ll need an e-commerce platform and reliable suppliers. Popular platforms include:

Shopify – Ideal for beginners with user-friendly tools and templates.
WooCommerce – A flexible, open-source option for WordPress users.

Each platform requires a different setup, so browse your options and choose the one you like. Shopify has an easy-to-use interface, so it’ll be easy to set up and run your business. Other platforms have more customization options but a steeper learning curve.

Once you have a platform, you’ll need to find trustworthy suppliers. Your options include:

AliExpress – A go-to marketplace for global dropshipping.
Printful – Great for custom print-on-demand products.

To set up your store, follow these tips:

Choose a clean, professional theme. Avoid cluttered designs and focus on a seamless shopping experience.
Optimize product descriptions. Use compelling copy that highlights key benefits.
Set competitive pricing. Consider your margins and research competitor pricing.
Clearly outline shipping and return policies. Transparency builds customer trust.
Include customer service requests. Some platforms allow you to do it via a button, others require you to handle it via email.
Enable secure payment gateways. Services like PayPal, Stripe, or Shopify Payments ensure smooth transactions.

A well-structured store with clear policies for shipping, returns, and customer support reduces friction for buyers and enhances credibility.

Marketing your dropshipping side hustle

Once you complete your store’s setup, choose a way to attract customers. You should explore:

Social media marketing. Engage potential buyers with ads and organic content to increase engagement and brand awareness. Social media is a necessity since over 5 billion people have a social media account.
Influencer marketing strategies. Partner with influencers in your niche and request authentic reviews and product placements. It’ll help to increase your brand credibility and attract more customers.
Content marketing. Search engine optimization can help your store stand out in search results. Focus on producing high-quality SEO blogs and product guides to boost visibility.

Marketing has numerous strategies, so choose the right one for your business. Online sellers find luck in paid ads, build organic traffic via blogs, or even sell online courses to build their brand. You should experiment with various strategies until you find what works for you.

Is building a brand important for dropshipping business?

Branding helps differentiate your store from competitors and build customer trust. Since 81% of people need to develop brand trust before a purchase, a strong brand can significantly increase your sales.

You should develop a unique logo, color scheme, and clear messaging to make your brand stand out. Additionally, offer excellent customer service to build a reputation when choosing dropshipping as a side hustle you want to turn into a full-time job.

Managing time and balancing commitments

Balancing a dropshipping business with a full-time job or studies can be tricky. The key is to structure your time wisely. You should set dedicated hours for order management, marketing, and customer service. Use automation tools, like scheduled social media posts and chatbots for handling common inquiries.

Early on, dedicate more time to setting up your store, handling orders, and customer inquiries. As your business grows, you can streamline operations and even outsource tasks.

Dropshipping isn’t a get-rich-quick scheme and it requires ongoing effort. As you build your business, you can explore additional flexible income sources like JumpTask which pays you for playing games or taking surveys.

Earn as you build your business

Running a store takes time. Earn extra cash with JumpTask’s flexible microtasks.

Measuring performance and scaling up

You should track your performance if you want to scale your business. Keep an eye out for conversion rates, average order value, and customer acquisition costs.

It’s crucial to test different niches and products to find profitable segments. You can learn from product testers – spend limited time on research and product launch, identify potential in the early stages, and fully launch a product if it has a product market fit.

If you’re looking to grow your store, reinvest in ads, better website features, and outsourced help.

Handling common growing pains

Some common issues you might encounter are:

Order surges. You can automate order processing to handle the load.
Supplier shortages. Work with multiple vendors to keep your stock full.
Shipping delays. Always keep customers informed with tracking information.

Also, excellent customer service can be a competitive advantage, so respond quickly and resolve issues professionally.

Key takeaways

Dropshipping has low startup costs and is easy to start. However, it requires effort to set up and scale.
Your success depends on niche selection, branding, and marketing. Always set realistic expectations to make a profit.
Expect common challenges like high competition and supplier issues.
You should spend time researching winning products and setting up nuances. Remember to be consistent and build brand loyalty to earn money online with dropshipping.

FAQs

Yes. Dropshipping is a viable business for both local and international markets. However, check local regulations for tax and import laws or consult with an expert.

The profitability varies across different niches, markets, and products. Some see profits in months but others experience slow sales. You should research if there’s demand for your products and determine how long it’ll take you to earn profits.

Every supplier should have reviews from other dropshippers. Research them and note if the supplier has competitive rates, fast shipping, and overall great customer satisfaction.

It depends on your location. You should check local regulations for tax because some countries require a business license.

You should determine your return and refund policy before launching your business. Some suppliers handle returns but others don’t, so make sure to talk with your supplier. Also, don’t forget to inform your customers of your policy.

Always respond to inquiries, provide tracking information for every purchase, and choose a high-quality product to sell. Also, address any complaints and offer discounts or other bonuses to retain customers.

Monika Ivanauskaite

Content Manager

Meet Monika, your go-to person for turning side-hustle ambitions into real income. As a content manager at JumpTask, she makes digital earning opportunities easy to understand and follow. With a Communication degree from Vilnius Tech and studies in International Communication at Hanze, Monika knows how to turn tricky money earning topics into practical tips. She’s been where you are and knows how hard it can be to start. That’s why her advice is always honest and clear. No empty promises, just real ways to make money online.