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Dropshipping
Dropshipping is a way to sell products without keeping them in stock yourself: a supplier can handle storage, packing and delivery. It can reduce the need for upfront stock, but you still need to choose suppliers carefully and handle customers’ questions and problems. <a href="https://sell.amazon.co.uk/learn/what-is-dropshipping" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Amazon UK</a>
Open the interactive guide (checklist, video, read-aloud) →In plain words
- You sell products online without storing them yourself.
- A supplier stores, packs, and sends each order.
- You choose products, set prices, and write listings.
- You answer customers and sort out order problems.
- Costs can be higher than expected, so check them first.
Who it suits
Adults who want to test an online retail idea and are comfortable researching suppliers, promoting products and responding to customers. It may suit people who prefer not to store stock themselves.
Some customers want products that are easy to find and buy online. Dropshipping lets you offer products without storing them yourself, but customers still expect accurate information, clear delivery details and help when something goes wrong.
Step by step
- Choose one product area you understand. Write down a small shortlist of products you can describe honestly. Check who might buy them and what useful information they would need before ordering. Avoid starting with many unrelated products. About 1-2 hours.
- Check suppliers before choosing one. Ask how the supplier confirms stock, handles packing and delivery, and deals with faulty or missing orders. Keep their answers in writing so you can compare suppliers and refer back to the details. About 1-3 days.
- Ask for a sample where practical. Check the product and its packaging before you decide to offer it. Compare what arrives with the supplier’s description and note any unclear instructions or concerns. About Several days to a few weeks.
- Work out each product’s likely costs. List the supplier price, delivery, platform charges and any promotion you plan to pay for. Compare those costs with a possible selling price before you commit. Include a margin for refunds or other order problems in your planning. About 30-60 minutes per product.
- Choose a selling platform. Compare platform charges and rules with your expected selling price. Amazon’s UK selling plan is £25 per month excluding VAT, plus selling fees; fee rates are not given. Amazon UK Shopify can be used to set up a shop, but check its current plan costs before choosing it. About 1-2 hours.
- Write accurate product listings. Use clear descriptions and images you have permission to use. Check that claims about quality, delivery and product benefits are supported by information you can verify. Make delivery details easy to find. About 1-2 hours per listing.
- Plan customer contact and order problems. Tell customers how to contact you and decide how you will handle delays, complaints and refund requests. If you sell to consumers in Ireland, check your obligations under Irish consumer law. CCPC About 1-2 hours.
- Test the ordering process. Place a test order if you can. Check that the order details reach the supplier and that delivery updates make sense from the customer’s point of view. Fix unclear steps before promoting the product. About One order cycle.
- Keep records and check the rules. Record sales, supplier costs and platform charges from the start. Check tax and VAT rules where you are based and where you sell; UK and Irish guidance is listed below. About 15-30 minutes each week.
Your first 15 minutes
Choose one product idea, contact a few possible suppliers, and compare their product, delivery and customer-support arrangements before opening a shop.
The money
Add the supplier price, delivery, platform charges and any promotion costs before choosing a selling price. Leave room for refunds and other order problems, and check your numbers again when supplier or platform costs change. Amazon’s UK plan has a monthly charge of £25 excluding VAT, plus selling fees, whose rates are not specified. <a href="https://sell.amazon.co.uk/learn/what-is-dropshipping" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Amazon UK</a>
Example only: Suppose you make 10 sales in one week at £20 each: £200 sales minus £120 product and delivery costs and £30 platform and promotion costs = £50 before tax. In euros, suppose 10 sales at €20 each: €200 sales minus €120 product and delivery costs and €30 platform and promotion costs = €50 before tax. These are made-up figures, not an earnings promise.
The rules
There's no specific licence for dropshipping. You still need to follow the rules for your products, customers, tax and selling location. Check the platform's terms. If your product or circumstances are unusual, ask the relevant authority for advice.
UK and Northern Ireland
- Tax and records. The UK trading allowance is £1,000 a year. This is measured as gross income before expenses. If you earn more, tell HMRC. GOV.UK Tax Help for Hustles If you need to register for Self Assessment, do so by 5 October after the tax year ends. GOV.UK
- VAT. You must register for VAT if your taxable turnover is over £90,000. Check the current rules with HMRC, especially if you sell across borders or import goods. Business.gov.uk
- Online consumer sales. Before the contract, give customers the required information. Where cancellation rights apply, make the cancellation form available. For goods, the usual cancellation period is generally 14 days from when the consumer receives them. Consumers should send returned goods within 14 days of cancelling. Refunds are generally due within 14 days of receiving the goods or proof of return. Before purchase, tell customers if they must pay return costs. Explain delivery arrangements and make the total costs clear. Unless you agree otherwise, deliver without undue delay and within 30 days. Exceptions apply. UK Government guidance
- Product safety. In Great Britain, the UK General Product Safety Regulations cover businesses that sell products. UK Government In Northern Ireland, the EU General Product Safety Regulation applies to covered products. You may only place or make safe products available on the market. A responsible economic operator established in Northern Ireland or the EU must be in place. Their details must appear on the product, packaging, parcel or accompanying document. If you are the responsible operator, keep the required technical documentation for 10 years. Your duties depend on your role in the supply chain. UK Government
- Ads and customer data. Clearly label social-media adverts and affiliate posts, for example with “Ad”. ASA Use the ICO self-assessment tool to check whether your business must pay a data protection fee. If you hold customer details only for your own accounts and transaction records, you are likely to be exempt. ICO
Ireland
- Income tax. If you work in PAYE, register for self-assessment using Form 11 if your taxable non-PAYE income is over €5,000 or your gross non-PAYE income is over €30,000. Below those limits, declare the income on Form 12 through myAccount. Check your situation with Revenue or a tax adviser. Revenue
- VAT. The Irish VAT registration threshold for goods is €85,000. Check with Revenue if you sell goods across borders or are unsure which threshold applies. Revenue
- Online consumer sales. Before purchase, give customers your business name, physical address, phone number and email address. Give details of the product, total price and extra charges, and cancellation information. Explain how to use the cancellation right and provide a cancellation form. For goods, the usual cancellation period is 14 days from receipt. The consumer must tell you within that period, then has another 14 days to return the goods. Refund the consumer within 14 days of being told about the cancellation, subject to receiving the returned goods. Use the same payment method unless the consumer agrees otherwise. Tell customers about any return costs that apply. Exceptions apply. If you do not explain cancellation rights, the cancellation period can be extended. CCPC
- Product safety. Irish product-safety rules apply to online sellers. This includes sellers based elsewhere who sell to consumers in Ireland. You must make sure products are safe and compliant. Give consumers the information they need to use products safely. Have systems to identify risks and monitor complaints or incidents. Products placed on the EU market must have a responsible person in the EU. Their details must appear on the product, packaging, parcel or accompanying document. If a safety issue arises, take corrective action and tell the CCPC without delay. Tell consumers if they have been sold an unsafe product. CCPC CCPC
- Ads and business name. If you use influencer-style commercial posts, label them clearly, for example with “#Ad”. CCPC Be honest. Do not make false or misleading claims about goods, services or prices. CCPC If you trade under a name other than your own, register the business name with the CRO. The online fee is €20. CRO
Checked against official sources: 22 October 2026. Not yet reviewed by a qualified tax or legal adviser. General guidance, not legal advice. Check the official link beside each point before you start.
Common mistakes
- Choosing a supplier without checking stock, delivery and problem-handling arrangements.
- Setting a price before adding delivery, platform and promotion costs.
- Using product claims or images you cannot verify or do not have permission to use.
- Assuming the supplier is responsible for customer questions, complaints or refunds.
- Forgetting to keep records or check tax, VAT and product-safety rules where you sell.
AI-made demonstration: this module has a 20-second street-chat video in the interactive guide. The presenter and the people in it are computer-generated, not real people.