How to Start A Dropshipping Business in Nigeria
How to Start A Dropshipping Business in Nigeria
There are many ways to make money online in Nigeria, without having to spend much. Dropshipping is actually one of them.
Sadly, many people are looking for good business ideas, without actually knowing that dropshipping is one good business that anyone can start in Nigeria.
Hence, if you are looking for ways to start your own online store in Nigeria without having money for products, or you are just looking for a good online business to start in Nigeria, you are in the right place.
In this article, you will learn what dropshipping is all about, and how to start a dropshipping business in Nigeria.
If you are ready, let’s get started.
What is Dropshipping?
Dropshipping is a business method of selling goods without actually buying or having them.
What this implies is that, in starting a dropshipping business, you don’t actually have to worry about buying the products you wish to sell.
This is more like a middle man or agent job which involves getting customers to buy a product from you which you don’t have in stock, then paying the actual seller of the product with the money you received from the customer.
The seller, in turn, fulfils the order by shipping the product directly to the buyer, without you having to see or touch the product.
Your profit will come from the difference of the amount you received for payment of the product from the customer, and the amount you actually paid the supplier for it.
Before starting a dropshipping business in Nigeria, it is essential that certain key things like knowing the right product to ship, and how to create a good communication bridge between yourself and your suppliers but settled.
Also, you would need to choose a perfect payment gateway to enable smooth transactions and a good knowledge of tax payment.
How to Start A Dropshipping Business in Nigeria
Starting a Dropshipping Business in Nigeria
Starting a dropshipping business in Nigeria is quite easy and can be done from anywhere. However, the following must be in place before starting a dropshipping business in Nigeria.
- Decide the Product to Sell
Before commencing a dropshipping business in Nigeria, it is essential to decide on the best products you intend to sell.
Just like every other business, knowing what is in trend or widely demanded is important to avoid loss. You are expected to conduct research and study the market before starting up so as to attract a good number of customers.
In a situation where proper research or market survey is not been carried out before start-up, you may find yourself in the wrong line of business and thereby misdirecting your target to a lesser or no customer base.
- Get a Reliable and Efficient Supplier
This is by far the most important part of a dropshipping business. Without a supplier of the demanded products, there would be no business.
Hence, you can rightly say that they are the pillars of any dropshipping business. On this ground, it is very vital to choose an efficient and reliable supplier because it would help stabilize your customer base.
Also, having an efficient supplier would ensure the growth and reputation of the dropshipping business because when customers get what they demanded, they talk about it to their friends and associates which attracts more customers to the business.
- Create a Good Selling Platform
A good selling platform is important to communicate with your customers. It is an avenue for customers to see the products you have available and place their orders on the products they want.
Having a well created online platform would make it easier to perform business transactions and thereby eliminating certain stress or inconveniences.
The best way to implement your dropshipping business would be to create your own online store; and the recommended platform for that is WordPress.
This part may cost more both in set up and maintenance because you would need a web designer to help create the website, that is if you are going to use your own online store.
However, if you think that may not be easy for you to do, then you can pay for a ready-made dropshipping store like https://alidropship.com/
Regardless of the type of selling platform you decide to use, it is important that it should be attractive and easy to access.
When a dropshipping online platform is well designed, elaborate, and easy to access, the customers would be drawn to it and get motivated to shop for products with you.
How to Start A Dropshipping Business in Nigeria
4. Device and Implement Good Marketing Process
Its no use having a business that people don’t know about or having products that customers are not aware you possess.
Just like every other business, adverts and publicity are great forms of marketing your products. Having the selling platform is great but making the products known to the public is also essential.
There are various ways to create awareness about the products you are dropshipping both on your website and other online selling platforms.
These may include, promos, giveaways, adverts on various media platforms, on-ground awareness, etc.
Whichever form of marketing process you decide to apply, ensure it is efficient and appeals to the public to attract a high number of customers for your business.
5. Be Efficient and Reliable
Customers work better with efficient and reliable businesses. This means that for a dropshipping business to grow both in size and reputation, it is expected that customers should be left satisfied at all times.
The nature of products sold should be up to standard, quality-oriented, and easily accessible.
When customers visit your website and find their desired products, they are motivated to shop with you on a regular basis.
Also, the speed in response to their needs would make them feel confident in getting solutions to their desires.
Another factor that ensures the loyalty of customers is the prompt delivery of their ordered products to them as well as making sure they get the actual product they ordered.
This has been the setback of most dropshipping businesses because they fail to get the products to their customers on time and in good condition.
Payment transactions should also be made easy and convenient for customers to enable them purchase these products with ease.
Payment gateways still pose great deal of problems to most dropshipping businesses in Nigeria and that is why certain companies provide such services to make online payments easier.
<h2>Top Payment Payment Gateway To Use For Your Dropshipping Store</h2>
If you are going to create an online store for your dropshipping business, it is important you set the right payment gateways that Nigerians can pay for the products with.
Some of the payment gateways to use are:
Paystack
This is an efficient payment platform that enables transactions within and outside Nigeria easier.
It is set to accept payments within Nigeria but transactions outside the country would require a certain process that is more lengthy compared to within Nigeria transactions.
Paypal
This payment platform is widely efficient and has grown in reputation for making online payments easier but it is yet to be efficient in Nigeria.
It is used in several countries around the world and is a widely accepted payment platform for its efficiency and smooth transaction processes.
Stripe
Stripe is a more accepted payment platform all over the world more than Paystack and PayPal. Their payment process is quite easy, smooth, and efficient. This has made them more preferred all over the world. Although in Nigeria it is yet to gain grounds as most businesses aren’t conversant with it.
How to Start A Dropshipping Business in Nigeria
Conclusion
While dropshipping has proven to be a major source of income for many, it might be a little challenging for many to successfully implement in Nigeria, given the fact that customers in Nigeria may not agree to pay for a product before delivery.
And as you already have learned, without the customers paying for the product first, there is no dropshipping business.
However, with time, your customers will build trust in your business. Alternatively, you simply focus your dropshipping business to Europeans and Americans.
That is all on how to create a dropshipping business in Nigeria. I hope this detailed guide on how to great a dropshipping business in Nigeria was helpful.
About the Author
Kachi Justin is a freelancer and a content editor for https://www.9guiders.com a trusted blog that provides tips on making money online, blogging, tech, and other general guides.
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