Quick Answer
Shopify dropshippers can make anywhere from a few hundred dollars per month to tens of thousands, depending on experience, product selection, margins, and execution. In 2026, most beginners earn modest income at first, while consistent profits come from merchants who optimize conversion, pricing, and average order value—not just traffic.
A few years ago, ecommerce entrepreneur Sharif Mohsin created a brand-new Shopify store with only $100. Mohsin, who had made 7 figures from dropshipping, wanted to see how much he could make if he was starting afresh as a Shopify dropshipper.
Without relying on his previous relationships with suppliers or knowledge of winning products, Mohsin started a Shopify store. He designed the brand himself, and signed up for the thirty-day free plan. He found a mini portable speaker selling for $38 on Amazon and listed it in the new Shopify store.
To grow the store’s visibility, he recorded several TikTok videos and shared them on TikTok. At the end of the experiment, and having started out with a budget of $100, he’d made three sales and only $119.97.
The experiment showed that dropshipping isn’t a get-rich quick scheme as some experts paint it to be. Users liked the idea, with one commenting, “I really like the idea that you…made it as realistic as what others would really expect”.
On average, dropshippers make $1000 to $3000 monthly in their first year. As with any other business venture, income would vary based on the seller, the product, the buyers, and other factors.
In this article, we’d review the average dropshipping income and factors that can affect dropshipping profits. Let’s get into it.
Successful entrepreneurs and how much these Shopify dropshippers make:
Cole Turner
At just 18, Cole Turner dove into dropshipping on Shopify, eager to explore online business opportunities. Over four years, his determination paid off as he built a flourishing e-commerce store, generating $2 million from 2019 to 2020.
Cole’s journey began with a diverse product range, but a jewelry item soon caught his customers’ eyes. Spotting the potential, he intensified his focus on Facebook ads and revamped his store. This decision led to $75k in earnings and ultimately enabled him to sell the store to a major corporation for an astounding $2.1 million.
Alex Philip
Alex got into dropshipping in 2015, taking the entrepreneurship world by storm when he turned over $30k a month only three years later, at age 14.
Speaking to Forbes, the young entrepreneur remarked, “You can find any and every item on AliExpress at wholesale prices, and drop shippers can take any of these items and put them on their store, mark them up at a good price and sell them.”
Why This Question Is Misunderstood
“Dropshipping income” is often presented as a single number.
In reality, it’s a range.
What we see repeatedly with Shopify merchants:
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Many start with unrealistic expectations
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Most early revenue is reinvested
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Profitability depends more on structure and strategy than product trends
This guide breaks down what dropshippers actually earn—and why.
Typical Shopify Dropshipping Income Ranges
Beginner Dropshippers (0–3 months)
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Revenue: $500–$3,000/month
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Profit: Often minimal or breakeven
At this stage, most income is spent on:
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Ads
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Testing products
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Learning store optimization
This phase is about validation, not profit.
Intermediate Dropshippers (3–12 months)
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Revenue: $5,000–$30,000/month
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Profit: 10–30% margins are common
Merchants at this level usually:
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Narrow product focus
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Improve product pages
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Start optimizing checkout and offers
Many reach their first consistent profit here.
Advanced Dropshippers (12+ months)
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Revenue: $50,000+/month
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Profit: Highly variable, often reinvested
At this stage, dropshipping looks less like “side income” and more like a real ecommerce operation:
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Better suppliers
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Branded stores
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Repeat customers
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Higher average order value (AOV)
What Actually Determines Dropshipping Income
Product Margins
Low-margin products require massive volume.
Higher-margin products give you room to test, optimize, and grow.
Conversion Rate (Often Ignored)
Two stores with the same traffic can earn wildly different amounts.
Store structure, product clarity, and checkout UX matter more than most people realize.
If you’re new to Shopify setup, this context helps.
Internal link (foundation): How to Make a Shopify Store
Average Order Value (AOV)
This is where many dropshippers leave money on the table.
Selling one item at a time limits growth.
Offering logical bundles or quantity-based deals often increases revenue without increasing traffic.
Internal link (strategic, mid-article): How to Boost Sales & Enhance Customer Experience with Bundling
Traffic Quality
More traffic ≠more profit.
Merchants who:
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Target the right audience
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Use clear messaging
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Match product to intent
almost always outperform those chasing volume alone.
Operational Discipline
Profitable dropshippers track:
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Costs
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Refunds
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Delivery times
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Customer experience
Ignoring operations eats margins fast.
Real-World Dropshipping Scenarios
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A beginner running ads to test products may “make” $2,000/month but keep little profit.
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An intermediate store selling a focused niche product can earn $10,000/month with healthy margins.
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An advanced merchant using bundles and repeat purchases can scale without constantly increasing ad spend.
This is why income comparisons without context are misleading.
Common Mistakes That Limit Earnings
These mistakes show up again and again:
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Chasing viral products without margins
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Ignoring product page clarity
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Over-relying on ads
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No strategy to increase AOV
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Treating dropshipping as passive income
Dropshipping is simple—but it’s not effortless.
Is Dropshipping Still Profitable in 2026?
Yes—but differently than before.
What’s changed:
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More competition
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Smarter customers
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Higher expectations
What still works:
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Clear positioning
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Good UX
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Smart pricing and offers
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Reliable fulfillment
The “easy money” narrative is gone. The opportunity isn’t.
For merchants comparing business models, this broader context helps
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How much can beginners make with Shopify dropshipping?
Most beginners earn modest revenue early on and focus on learning and testing rather than profit.
Is dropshipping still profitable in 2026?
Yes, but profitability depends on execution, not product trends alone.
What is the average profit margin for dropshippers?
Margins typically range from 10% to 30%, depending on product and costs.
How long does it take to make money with dropshipping?
Many merchants take several months to reach consistent profitability.
Can dropshipping become a full-time business?
Yes, but only when treated like a real ecommerce operation, not a side hustle.
Next Steps
If you’re considering dropshipping, the biggest lever isn’t traffic—it’s how your store is structured to convert and increase order value.
Before scaling ads, make sure your foundation is solid.
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