How Old Do You Have To Be To Start Dropshipping?

Wondering how old you have to be to start dropshipping? The good news is that you don't have to be a seasoned entrepreneur to dive into the world of dropshipping.

In this post, we explore the age requirements and practical tips for young entrepreneurs.

About Dropshipping

Dropshipping is a way for stores to complete orders when they don't keep the items they sell in stock. When a store wants to sell something, it buys it from someone else and has it sent straight to the customer. This means the seller doesn't have to handle the item themselves.

Dropshipping explains.

How Old Do You Have To Be To Start Dropshipping?

As someone who knows dropshipping, we don't think there is a certain age when someone has to start. To be honest, we think there is always a right time! However, you need to be at least 18 years old to sign contracts and run your own business legally.

If you're under 18 and keen on starting a dropshipping business, it requires careful planning and the involvement of a legal adult.

For instance, you might need their permission to make business choices like connecting their bank or PayPal account to your Shopify store. They could also be a co-owner or boss of the business.

However, with a choice like Stripe, users must be at least 13 years old to open an account. If you are under 18, though, keep in mind that Stripe needs a legal guardian to sign off on your account before they can send money to your bank account.

For advertising on social media sites like Meta, TikTok, and Google, you need to be 18 years old to run a campaign to sell your goods.

So, what can you do if you're under 18 years old?

• Parental or guardian consent. You'll need the consent and guidance of a legal adult to establish and operate your business.
• Limited legal capacity. Your ability to enter into contracts and make legal decisions may be restricted.
• Third-party assistance. Consider working with a legal guardian or adult family member to handle legal and financial aspects.

Don't forget that this method can help you start dropshipping, but you need the help and advice of a legal adult to get through the legal and financial issues that come up.

How To Start A Dropshipping Business As A Young Old?

This guide will show you how to start a drop-shipping business that makes money, even if you are a young business owner.

Step 1: Selecting A Niche

That's the first thing you need to do when you start your drop-shipping business. This will help you narrow your attention to a certain type of product or audience.

Think about your interests, hobbies, and the market desire for certain goods. Pick an area that will make you money to grow in the future.

We all have moments of inspiration, but not every idea translates into a successful product. As a dropshipper, it's crucial to carefully select products that are not only appealing but also in demand.

That's why a reliable product research tool can help you make informed decisions. We recommend it for you +15 best product research tools for e-commerce.

For instance, you might discover a product like the one shown above.

With a low-cost price of $11 and a potential selling price of $39, this product offers significant profit margins. Also, a smaller number of sellers indicates less competition, increasing your chances of success.

Step 2: Finding A Supplier

Picking the right dropship provider is very important if you want to avoid scams and keep a steady flow of products. Find sellers who are experts in the things you want to sell. Once you have found some good choices, form a company to make sure you always have stock.

For example, Dropshipping.com offers a directory with over 2,000 reliable suppliers across various niches. This lets you filter by product category, supplier location, shipping costs, and more. You'll also find details on pricing, order processing times, minimum order quantities, warehouse locations, and product lines.

Dropshipping.com website.

You can refer to some of our suggested articles: +17 Best Dropshipping Suppliers for eCommerce Success.

Step 3: Registering Your Business

There may be age limits on starting a business, so if you are under 18, you will need someone older to do this step for you.

While not strictly necessary for all dropshipping businesses, we still recommend forming a Limited Liability Company (LLC) for you.

Limited liability protection is one of the best reasons to form an LLC of any kind. In other words, one of your assets, like your home, car, or cash, is safe from possible business bills or claims.

You can learn more in this article: Do You Need An LLC To Sell On Shopify? All You Need To Know.

Most of the time, LLCs offer good tax benefits. Your tax return will usually include your LLC's gains and losses since it is treated as a pass-through entity. This could make filing your taxes easier and possibly lower the amount of tax you have to pay.

Step 4: Buy The Domain Name

Any age can buy a domain name. It's the address of your store on the web. For your site to be online, you'll need both a domain name and web hosting. Hosting on the web gives you the room and tools to put things on your website and let people see them.

Here are some popular domain names and hosting providers:

• Bluehost is a fantastic choice for novices because of its dependable hosting services and user-friendly design.
• GoDaddy, another popular alternative, offers several domain names and hosting choices.

For more ideas, we recommend 300+ creative eCommerce business names for you.

Step 5: Set Up Your Store

In this short part, we'll give you a quick look at the minimum age for doing business on the most popular platforms and in the most popular countries.

• Shopify - you must be 18 years old.
• eBay - you must be 18 years old.
• Etsy - age 13 and 17 for as long as the guardian or parent is involved.
• Amazon - It is possible to sell to children under 18 as long as parents or guardians have an involvement.

If you know how to code, you can use WordPress to make your own website. This gives you full power over how your store looks and works.

For those without coding experience, we recommend platforms like Shopify offer a user-friendly interface to create professional online stores. Additionally, they make it easier to make landing pages that convert well and look good.

Shopify theme store design dashboard.

Also, Shopify works perfectly with many dropshipping apps, which means that your dropshipping business will be fully automated.

We have an article to guide you through creating a Shopify account.

Step 6: Promotion Your Store

How can you make sales without marketing? This isn't working at all. So, to get people to visit your online store, you can use many different digital marketing strategies. You should start by using search engine optimization (SEO), social media ads, and email marketing.

Read more: 11+ Free and Efficient Strategies to Increase Store Traffic.

You can also increase your dropshipping sales by using marketing strategies like up-selling and cross-selling, special discount codes, referral programs, and more.

We have a deep tutorial article: 10 Cross-selling Strategies For Maximizing Sales.

Should You Even Dropship As A Teen?

Yes, you should definitely try dropshipping when you are a teen. It will teach you a lot. Besides that, running a dropshipping store doesn't cost a lot of money. Here, we will talk about the best things about dropshipping as a teen.

Marketing

As drop shippers, we think the most important thing you will learn is how to market your business. You can do better in today's competitive e-commerce world if you learn about the psychology of your target audience and how to persuade them.

Here are some of the things you will learn:

• Understanding consumer behavior by learning what inspires them and how to sell to them.
• Branding and positioning your products effectively in the market.
• Create compelling ad creatives and write persuasive copy that drives conversions.
• Content marketing, such as blog articles and social media, to engage your audience.
• Photo and videography of your merchandise to attract consumers.

If you learn these skills, you'll be great at selling and many other sales and marketing jobs as well. To get started, you might want to read our guide on how to write appealing product descriptions on Shopify that will help you sell a lot more.

Customer Service

When you start as a dropshipper, you'll quickly learn how important great customer service is to your business. Even if you're not involved in the deal, it's essential to see things from the customer's point of view.

Think about these things about your customer service skills:

• Product know-how. Knowing your items well is crucial. Be ready to discuss size, shipment, quality, compatibility, and constraints.
• Timely responses by utilizing tools like chatbots and automated responses to provide immediate help.
• Problem-solving abilities. This could involve refunds, exchanges, or troubleshooting guidance.
• A positive and patient attitude can turn a negative experience into a positive one.

It's just as important to have the right attitude as it is to know how to do things. It's important to be gentle, understanding, and open if you want to deal with tough people and build relationships that last.

Business Management

Last but not least, dropshipping will teach you a lot about running a business. You'll learn everything about it because you'll be running your business by yourself first. You won't hire people to help you until you've already been successful.

In short, you will learn how to plan, organize, and carry out business ideas. Besides that, you will learn how to look at data and choose what to do with it.

Tips For Young Entrepreneurs Getting Started In Dropshipping

Young people who want to start and grow their businesses now have a lot of amazing options, thanks to e-commerce. In this part, we'll talk about the steps you need to take as a young entrepreneur to start a successful dropshipping business.

Avoid Getting Caught Up In Shiny Things

Shiny object syndrome can be a big problem for many people who want to start their own businesses, including dropshippers. The urge to look for the next big thing can take your attention away from your main goal and slow you down.

It's important to stay focused and fight the desire to jump from one chance to the next if you don't want to fall for this.

Here are some tips to help you maintain focus:

• Define your niche. Clearly define your niche and stick to it. Don't try to cover too many niches at once and end up burning out.
• Set realistic goals. Establish clear, achievable goals for your dropshipping business and work consistently towards them.
• Continuous learning. Keep up with the latest trends and best practices in your field, but don't let every new chance take your attention away from your work.
• Prioritize tasks. Make a daily or weekly plan to help you stay on track and avoid getting sidetracked.
• Build a strong foundation. Focus on building a strong base for your dropshipping business, such as a strong brand, a group of loyal customers, and smooth operations.

We really think you should stick to your niche. Just because you saw that another niche could make you more money doesn't mean you should switch to it.

Understand Consumerism

Consumer psychology looks into what people think, feel, and do when they decide what to buy. If you know about these psychological factors, you can make marketing messages that get people to buy from your dropshipping business.

Here are a few tips to get you started:

• Identify the specific problems or frustrations your target audience faces.
• Position your products as solutions to these pain points.
• Highlight the benefits of your products.

Once you understand these ideas, you can write compelling product descriptions, convincing ads, and interesting marketing campaigns that will connect with the people you want to reach.

Do Not Stop Research

We recommend you analyze your competitors' strategies and identify areas where you can improve. Read our blog to learn more:

• Guide to Spy On Native Competitors' Ads? (+FREE Tools).
• How To Spy On Competitors' Google Shopping Ads?

Find out what your competitors do well and what they could do better to improve your own strategies, make your brand stand out, and get ahead of them.

FAQs

Can I dropship from AliExpress as a young entrepreneur?

We're sorry to tell you this, but AliExpress users must be at least 18 years old to use their site. You should make sure you meet this age standard before you start dropshipping.

What happens if I lie about your age when starting a dropshipping business?

If you lied about your age when you signed up for an e-commerce account and can't find a legal adult to take over your account, you won't be able to get any of the money you made from the store. Also, you'll have to stop running it, and the store risk assessment team may close it down.

What are the legal implications of being a minor dropshipper?

There may be limits on what minors can do, like signing contracts, starting bank accounts, and paying taxes. Working with an adult or legal guardian can help you get through these tough situations.

Can I start dropshipping with no money?

Yes, you can. It's good to have some money to spend on marketing and inventory, but it's not exactly required.

Key Takeaway

Drop shipping is a good way for new businesses to make money, but only up to a certain age. This is very important when making arrangements and setting up payment accounts. You can make your online business work no matter what age you are as long as you get the right help, plan ahead, and work hard.

Check out our blog for more useful information and tips on dropshipping. We have a lot of useful information on choosing products, marketing methods, and other important subjects.