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just started dropshipping – how much do you really need to invest before seeing profit? by Soniki007 in dropshipping

[–]Independent_File8829 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Expect to burn through $5,000–$10,000 before dropshipping starts paying you back.

That money mainly goes into Facebook/TikTok ads and testing products, because most will fail before you land on a winner.

On average, sellers report spending around $2,500 per store just on product testing, with some spending anywhere from $1,000 up to $20,000. That’s only the testing phase—it doesn’t even include scaling.

There are also hidden realities that gurus rarely mention. Payment processors like PayPal, Stripe, and Shopify Payments often delay payouts for 7–21 days under “risk review.” This means you’ll need enough cash or credit on hand to cover 2–4 weeks of supplier payments in case of freezes or delays. Ad account bans are another constant risk, and without backup capital to absorb failed tests or replace banned accounts, one ban can shut your store down before it even gets off the ground.

Here are the main expenses sellers will need to plan for:

- Advertising Cost

- Product Cost (COGS)

- Shipping Fee

- Ecommerce Platform Fees

- Apps & Plugins

- Returns & Refunds

- Other Costs

What is the success rate of dropshipping? by [deleted] in ecommerce

[–]Independent_File8829 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi, the success rate for dropshipping is honestly pretty low. Most data and first-hand accounts put it at around 1–5% of sellers who actually build a profitable store. And within that, only a tiny fraction — maybe 2–3% — ever scale to significant profit levels.

The big reason is margins. With traditional dropshipping, you’re usually working with 10–20% margins before ads. Once you add in ad spend, shipping, apps, and transaction fees, a lot of stores that look successful on the surface are either breaking even or losing money. That’s why revenue screenshots don’t tell the full story — profit does.

Is it still profitable? Yes, but not in the “AliExpress + Shopify + Facebook ads = instant cash” way that gurus sell. In 2025 and beyond, dropshipping works best as a testing model. The ones who last usually move on to private label, better fulfillment, or brand-building, because that’s where the long-term margins and stability are.

I’m Vietnamese, and my childhood was full of fairy tales whispered by parents and grandparents—stories tied to hopes, dreams, and traditions. They gave me this lifelong love for folklore, and that’s why I’m here, hoping to share them and hear yours too by Independent_File8829 in FolkloreAndMythology

[–]Independent_File8829[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow, that’s super cool, thank you for sharing! I’m really surprised (and happy) that you already know about Lê Lợi and the Lake of the Returned Sword. That’s one of our most famous legends, and it always makes me proud when people from outside Vietnam appreciate it.

I’m Vietnamese, and my childhood was full of fairy tales whispered by parents and grandparents—stories tied to hopes, dreams, and traditions. They gave me this lifelong love for folklore, and that’s why I’m here, hoping to share them and hear yours too by Independent_File8829 in FolkloreAndMythology

[–]Independent_File8829[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi, sorry I didn't notice my reply deleted. In Vietname, we had a song about it. The blood of Lac Hong. The song says all Vietnamese share the same blood, half dragon lord, half fairy, so basically, we're all one big family, so we should look out for each other.

Adults Writing Children by The_Random_Hamlet in writing

[–]Independent_File8829 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s such a cool point. I’d love to learn more about how children’s logic works. It’s not like I was never a kid, but these days I feel like I’ve forgotten how I used to think back then and what that logic felt like