How to Start a Dropshipping Business in India Using Shopify – Complete Step-by-Step Guide

India is witnessing a massive boom in eCommerce, and dropshipping stands out as the easiest way to build an online store without holding any inventory. With Shopify as your platform, starting a dropshipping business in India is now faster, cheaper, and more scalable than ever.

This guide gives you a complete, step-by-step path to launch your dropshipping store using Shopify – covering everything from product selection to shipping, payments, and marketing.

What is Dropshipping?

Dropshipping is a business model where you sell products online without buying or storing inventory. When a customer places an order, you simply purchase the item from a supplier, who ships it directly to the customer. You keep the profit margin without worrying about storage or logistics.

Why Choose Dropshipping in India?

India offers a huge market of price-sensitive, mobile-first shoppers, making it perfect for dropshipping.

Top reasons to start in India:

• Low startup cost and no need for warehousing

• High smartphone and internet penetration

• Access to Indian and international suppliers

• Customers prefer cash on delivery, which can be enabled

• Shopify supports Indian payment gateways and shipping apps

Step-by-Step Guide to Start Dropshipping in India with Shopify

1. Choose Your Niche

Your first step is deciding what type of products you want to sell. Choosing the right niche is critical for success.

Hot-selling dropshipping niches in India:

• Kitchen tools and home improvement items

• Fashion and accessories

• Skincare and beauty products

• Baby care and kids toys

• Mobile accessories and gadgets

• Pet care essentials

• Spiritual and wellness items

Do research using platforms like Amazon India, Flipkart, Google Trends, and YouTube Shorts to find trending and evergreen items.

2. Create a Shopify Store

Visit shopify.in and start a free trial. Shopify offers everything you need to build and run your online store.

Steps to set up:

• Sign up with your email

• Choose a store name related to your niche

• Add a logo (you can design one using Canva)

• Select a theme

• Add a custom domain

3. Pick a Shopify Theme

Choose a theme that is mobile-friendly, fast-loading, and designed for conversions.

Free Themes:

• Dawn – Clean and versatile

• Craft – Great for storytelling products

• Refresh – Minimal and product-focused

Premium Themes:

• Booster – Optimized for fast performance

• Debutify – Built for dropshippers with upsell and trust features

• Ella – Great for fashion and multiproduct stores

4. Find a Reliable Supplier

Since GlowRoad is now shut down, you will need to use other suppliers or platforms.

Top supplier options:

• DSers (AliExpress) – For international products

• AutoDS – Works with multiple suppliers like Amazon and AliExpress

• IndiaMART – Find Indian wholesalers and dropship-ready vendors

• Snazzyway – Indian supplier for fashion and innerwear

• Local Wholesalers – Connect via WhatsApp groups or directly in your city

Use CSV upload or manual product addition if suppliers do not offer integration.

5. Add Products to Your Store

Once you find your suppliers, start importing products to your Shopify store.

Each product page must have:

• Clear, keyword-rich title

• High-quality images

• Benefit-driven description

• Transparent pricing

• Shipping and return policy

You can edit product descriptions and pricing using Shopify’s built-in editor or product import apps.

6. Set Up Payments

Indian buyers prefer multiple payment options including UPI, cards, wallets, and cash on delivery.

Best payment gateways for India:

• Razorpay – Fast setup, supports all major options, cash on delivery via SmartCollect

• Cashfree – Low transaction fee and payout in 1–2 days

• Paytm Payment Gateway – Popular with Indian users

Set these up through your Shopify admin under Settings > Payments.

7. Setup Shipping and Order Fulfillment

Use Indian shipping aggregators to manage pickups and deliveries.

Recommended shipping apps:

• Shiprocket – Connects with Shopify, enables order syncing, supports COD

• Pickrr – Covers 29,000 plus pin codes

• Shyplite – Multi-carrier shipping with analytics and early COD payouts

Once a customer orders, your system will notify the supplier or sync with your shipping partner.

8. Install Essential Shopify Apps

Apps help automate, optimize, and grow your dropshipping business.

Must-have apps:

You can install all these apps from the Shopify App Store.

9. Setup Policies and Legal Pages

Build trust by adding the following pages to your footer menu:

• Privacy Policy

• Shipping and Delivery Policy

• Refund and Return Policy

• Terms and Conditions

• Contact Us

Shopify has built-in templates for these, which you can edit as per Indian laws.

10. Start Marketing and Driving Traffic

Once your store is ready, you need traffic. Use both free and paid marketing channels.

Free Marketing:

• Instagram Reels, Pinterest Boards

• Facebook groups and WhatsApp broadcasts

• Blog posts with keywords targeting your niche

• YouTube Shorts with product demos

Paid Marketing:

• Facebook and Instagram Ads to drive quick sales

• Google Shopping Ads to capture purchase-intent buyers

• YouTube influencer promotions for your niche

Start with a small budget and test different creatives and audiences.

11. Monitor, Optimize, and Scale

Use analytics to understand what is working and what needs improvement.

Track and scale using:

• Google Analytics and Facebook Pixel

• Shopify dashboard reports

• Heatmaps using Lucky Orange

• Upsell and AOV tracking via Vitals or ReConvert

Legal Requirements for Indian Dropshipping

To run a legit business in India, consider the following:

• GST Registration – Required if you are selling goods online and running paid ads

• PAN and Aadhaar – Needed for setting up payment gateways

• Bank Account – A current account for business purposes

Final Thoughts

Dropshipping in India using Shopify is a smart and scalable business idea with very low investment. Whether you are a student, working professional, or aspiring entrepreneur, Shopify allows you to create a brand and run your business from your laptop.

The key to success lies in picking the right niche, finding trusted suppliers, providing a smooth shopping experience, and continuously optimizing your marketing efforts.

If you need help choosing your niche, building a Shopify store, or launching your first ad campaign, I can assist with a tailored plan based on your goals.