How to Start a Dropshipping Business in Nigeria [Updated for 2024] (2024)

Have you ever thought about launching your own online business but didn’t know where to start? With an exchange rate that floats more freely than floating berries, earning in dollars is a no-brainer.

If you saved just $500 two weeks ago at an exchange rate of ₦850/$1, today, at an exchange rate of ₦930/$1, you would have made ₦40,000 on your savings alone! Now imagine if you had a way of earning consistently in dollars, Dangote got nothing on you.

Let me introduce you to the world of dropshipping using a U.S bank account.

Dropshipping provides an easy entry point for aspiring entrepreneurs. In this article, I will walk you through the steps to get started with dropshipping in 2023 using a U.S bank account.

Let’s dive in!

What Is Dropshipping?

Dropshipping is a lucrative online business model that lets you sell products without holding any inventory. By using a U.S business bank account, you can order products in bulk from affordable suppliers across the world and sell them to customers in Nigeria.

By following this complete step-by-step guide you can become a successful dropshipper in a matter of weeks!

1. Choose a Profitable Niche

The first step is to choose a niche—a specific category of products you want to focus on selling. Defining your niche helps you target the right customers and build expertise. Some good niches for dropshipping in Nigeria include fashion accessories, electronics, kids’ toys, health, beauty, home and kitchen items. Focusing on a popular niche gives you a built-in audience.

2. Find Trending Products

Once you’ve settled on a niche, find trending bestselling products within it. Use tools like Google Trends and Amazon to spot popular search terms and top-ranked items. Select products with good reviews and reasonable shipping times. You should also pick products that have a stable demand and manageable competition to ensure a steady stream of customers in the long-term.

3. Set Up Your E-commerce Store

Selecting the right e-commerce platform is crucial for running a successful dropshipping business. Shopify is a popular choice that offers user-friendly features, customization options, and seamless integration with various third-party apps and payment gateways. Additionally, consider using QShop, a Nigerian e-commerce site builder that allows you to set up an online store easily and earn in dollars. You can set up a QShop account for free.

When you set up either a Shopify or QShop account, you will need a U.S business bank account or a Stripe account to receive payments in dollars.

4. Find Reliable Suppliers

Search for dropshipping suppliers on platforms like AliExpress, Worldwide Brands, Alibaba, Spocket, and Modalyst. Compare suppliers based on costs, delivery time, product range, and reliability. Test orders first before fully integrating any supplier.

5. Market Your Store

To sustain your business beyond friends and family, run marketing campaigns on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Nairaland, and relevant WhatsApp groups. Strategically distribute graphic-heavy content that promotes your products and brand. Nairaland ads can help you reach more potential customers.

The best thing about marketing your online store in this day and age is AI. In minutes, you can create free stunning designs using Canva, Adobe Firefly, or Microsoft Designer. You can write compelling sales copy using ChatGPT. There’s no excuse for failure.

As you grow, you may want to automate order processing by installing a Shopify app like Oberlo to automate. The app will automatically send customer orders to your suppliers for fulfilment. This saves you time on manually processing each order.

6. Regulate Your Supply Chain

Ensure fast delivery by choosing a product and supplier where you can get orders to customers within 5 – 7 days. Speed is essential in dropshipping so optimize your process for this. The faster your process, the more customers you will get.

7. Regulate Your Margins

As a dropshipper, aim to have wide enough profit margins of at least 30-50% for top-selling items. Regularly assess your numbers and make adjustments where needed to maximize income.

8. Regularly Reassess Progress

Ongoing evaluation is key. Track your sales, costs, and profits over time. Be willing to change or optimize aspects that aren’t working well for improvement. With the right strategy, dropshipping provides a flexible way to build a successful online business globally from Nigeria.

Final Thoughts

Dropshipping in Nigeria using a U.S. bank account provides opportunities to tap into the global market and earn in dollars.

To be a successful business person you don’t need a shop in Alaba International Market. Start a Dropshipping business today and save costs on shop rent, electricity bills, association dues, staff salary etc. Start by registering your U.S business with Norebase and get a bank account.

With consistent effort and optimization, you can build a steady flow of passive income. The key is finding a winning product, marketing effectively, and providing excellent service.