I Tried Dropshipping for 3 Months: My Honest Results and Costs Guide

For months, the allure of dropshipping had been whispering in my ear: the promise of an online business with minimal upfront inventory, the freedom to work from anywhere, and the potential for significant passive income. It sounded almost too good to be true, which, as I’d soon discover, often means it is. After countless YouTube videos, blog posts, and late-night research sessions, I decided to dive in headfirst. My mission? To dedicate three solid months to building and running a dropshipping store, meticulously tracking every single step, sale, and, most importantly, every single dollar spent and earned. This isn’t another guru’s success story or a doom-and-gloom warning; this is my unvarnished, transparent account of what actually happened during my 90-day dropshipping experiment, revealing both the triumphs and the often-overlooked challenges.

Setting the Stage for My 3-Month Dropshipping Experiment

Before any products were listed or ads were run, a significant amount of groundwork was required. My initial goal was clear: launch a viable store, generate sales, and understand the true effort and financial investment needed. I approached this as a genuine business venture, not just a hobby, allocating dedicated hours each day. The first few weeks were a whirlwind of decisions, ranging from niche selection to platform choice. I was determined to treat this as a serious startup, even with its low barrier to entry.

Finding My Niche and Building the Store Foundation

• Niche Selection: I settled on a niche around “unique home gadgets” – a broad enough category to find trending products but specific enough to target a particular audience interested in innovation and convenience for their living spaces. This involved extensive effective product research, looking for products with high perceived value, low competition (or at least identifiable gaps), and strong problem-solving capabilities. I scoured AliExpress trends, used tools like Google Trends, and analyzed competitor stores to identify potential winners. The goal was to find products that evoked an “aha!” moment or solved a common household annoyance.
• Platform Choice: Like many beginners, I opted for Shopify due to its user-friendliness, robust app ecosystem, and integrated payment processing. Setting up a Shopify store was relatively straightforward, though customizing it to look professional and trustworthy – choosing a theme, designing a logo, writing compelling “About Us” and policy pages – took considerable time and effort. I wanted my store to feel like a legitimate brand, not just a hastily assembled dropshipping site.
• Product Sourcing: I used DSers (formerly Oberlo) to connect with AliExpress suppliers. The initial product selection involved importing about 15-20 products, focusing on good supplier reviews (4.7 stars and above), ePacket shipping options for faster delivery to key markets (US, Canada, UK, Australia), and competitive pricing that allowed for a healthy markup. I also paid close attention to product imagery and videos provided by suppliers, as these would be crucial for my ad creatives.

My Initial Strategy: A Continuous Cycle of Test, Analyze, Optimize

My strategy for the three months was iterative and data-driven. I didn’t expect immediate overnight success but aimed to learn quickly from every interaction. The plan involved a rigorous cycle:

1. Product Launch & Store Setup: Launching a few carefully selected products with basic yet compelling descriptions, high-quality images, and clear calls to action. This phase alone consumed about two weeks, primarily focused on setting up a Shopify store, writing compelling product descriptions, and designing basic ad creatives. It felt like I was constantly learning a new skill, from graphic design basics to persuasive copywriting.
2. Initial Ad Campaigns: Running targeted Facebook Ads to test product viability and audience interest. I started with broad interest-based targeting to gather initial data, using different ad creatives (images, short videos) to see what resonated most.
3. Daily Data Analysis: Analyzing ad performance (Click-Through Rate, Cost Per Click, Cost Per Purchase), website traffic (sessions, bounce rate), and conversion rates daily. I tracked everything in a spreadsheet, looking for patterns and anomalies.
4. Optimization & Iteration: Based on the data, I would optimize product pages (improving descriptions, adding GIFs, enhancing social proof with reviews), refine ad creatives, and adjust targeting parameters. This often meant pausing underperforming ads and tweaking successful ones.
5. Scaling & Discontinuation: Scaling winning products by increasing ad budgets or expanding to new audiences. Simultaneously, I would quickly discontinue underperforming products or ad sets to minimize losses. This rapid iteration was key to conserving my ad budget.

This systematic approach, though demanding, allowed me to make informed decisions rather than relying on guesswork. It was a constant battle of learning, adapting, and refining.

The Unvarnished Truth: My Sales Figures and Profit Margins Over 90 Days

Now, for the part everyone wants to know: did I make money? The short answer is yes, but it’s far from the “get rich quick” narrative often peddled online. My journey was a rollercoaster of small victories and noticeable setbacks. Transparency is key here, so let’s break down the numbers and the story behind them.

Month 1: The Steep Learning Curve and Initial Trickle

The first month was primarily about testing the waters. I launched 5 different ad campaigns for 3 different products, each targeting slightly different demographics on Facebook. It was a slow burn, characterized by more learning than earning.

• Total Revenue: $285.00
• Number of Orders: 8
• Average Order Value (AOV): $35.63
• Gross Profit (before expenses): $102.60 (Average product cost was around $22, selling for $35-$45, with a typical 30-50% markup.)
• Key Takeaway: Proving the concept. I made sales! This was a huge psychological win, validating that people would buy from my store. However, the ad spend was significantly higher than the gross profit, resulting in a net loss. This month was about identifying initial product-market fit and understanding Facebook Ads mechanics.

Month 2: Gaining Traction and Scaling Attempts

Armed with data from Month 1, I killed the underperforming ads and scaled the one campaign that showed promise. I also introduced a couple of new products that aligned with my best-seller, leveraging the insights from my first month’s testing. This month saw a noticeable increase in sales, confirming that focused effort could yield results.

• Total Revenue: $1,120.00
• Number of Orders: 29
• Average Order Value (AOV): $38.62 (Slightly improved due to better product bundling and a small upsell app.)
• Gross Profit (before expenses): $425.60 (Improved product selection and slightly better margins, averaging a 40-60% markup.)
• Key Takeaway: Scaling works, but it’s not linear. While sales increased, new challenges emerged with increased order volume, like more customer inquiries, managing fulfillment updates, and dealing with occasional supplier delays. I started to see the potential, but also the operational complexities.

Month 3: Optimization, Refinement, and Reality Check

In the final month, I focused heavily on optimizing my existing winning campaigns, refining my product pages with better copy and more persuasive imagery, and implementing basic email marketing for abandoned carts. Sales continued to grow, but so did the complexity of managing the store and the pressure to maintain profitability.

• Total Revenue: $1,650.00
• Number of Orders: 42
• Average Order Value (AOV): $39.28 (Consistent, indicating stable pricing and product appeal.)
• Gross Profit (before expenses): $660.00 (Further margin improvements were achieved by negotiating slightly better prices with suppliers