How to Start Dropshipping with Aliexpress

Overview

How to Start Dropshipping with Aliexpress is a Common Search for Entrepreneurs Who Want Low Upfront Inventory Costs and Wide Product Selection. This Guide Teaches Product Research, Store Setup (Shopify or Woocommerce), Aliexpress Supplier Evaluation, Automated Fulfillment Using Dsers or Plugins, Pricing Rules, and Launch Marketing Tactics. Followable Checklists and Time Estimates Make Implementation Practical.

What you’ll learn and

why it matters:

pick profitable niches, set up a store that converts, import reliable AliExpress products, automate orders and tracking, and run first tests to validate product-market fit. These steps reduce risk and let you scale instead of manually processing every order.

Prerequisites: basic computer skills, $30 to $500 startup budget (shop platform, sample products, ads), a PayPal or Stripe account, and admin access to a store (Shopify or WordPress). Total initial time estimate: ~6-12 hours to set up and launch a minimum viable dropshipping store. Each focused task in this guide includes specific time estimates to plan your work.

Step 1:

How to Start Dropshipping with Aliexpress - Choose Your Niche and Products

Action to take: research 3-5 niches, list 10 candidate products, and validate demand using Google Trends, Amazon bestsellers, and AliExpress order counts.

Why you are doing it: a focused niche improves ad targeting, reduces competition, and helps build a brand that converts. Picking products with proof of demand reduces wasted ad spend.

Checklist:

1. Use Google Trends to compare search interest for 3 niches (trend line increasing or stable).
2. On Amazon, check top 100 in related categories for similar items.
3. On AliExpress, filter by orders and 4.5+ seller rating to find proven SKUs.
4. Save candidate products in a spreadsheet with cost, shipping, and orders count.

Example tools and commands:

• Visit trends.google.com and compare keywords.
• On AliExpress use filters: Orders desc, 4.7+ seller rating, ePacket shipping if available.

Expected outcome: a shortlist of 3-5 validated products with supplier candidates and estimated margins.

Common issues and fixes:

• Low search volume: swap to adjacent niche or niche-down with accessories.
• High competition: look for unique variations or bundles.
• Vague supplier info: contact seller and request recent sales screenshots or product video.

Time estimate: ~30 minutes

Step 2:

Set up your store (Shopify or WooCommerce)

Action to take: create a storefront, set up product pages, payment, shipping, and basic policies.

Why you are doing it: a functional and compliant store builds trust and allows orders to flow automatically to suppliers.

Shopify quick steps:

1. Sign up for a Shopify trial at shopify.com.
2. Choose a simple theme (Debut or Dawn).
3. Add pages: About, Contact, Shipping, Refund Policy, Privacy.
4. Enable payments: Shopify Payments or PayPal.

WooCommerce quick steps (example WP-CLI commands):

1. Install WordPress on your host.
2. Use WP-CLI to install WooCommerce and set up basic pages.

Code example (WP-CLI):

wp core download
wp config create --dbname=shopdb --dbuser=wpuser --dbpass=secret
wp db create
wp core install --url="https://example.com" --title="My Shop" --admin_user=admin --admin_password=secret --admin_email=you@example.com
wp plugin install woocommerce --activate
wp wc --user=admin tool run install --allow-root

Expected outcome: live store with payment processing and legal pages, ready to import products.

Common issues and fixes:

• Payment gateway blocked: verify identity with Stripe/PayPal and use a supported country.
• Slow theme or broken layout: switch to a performance theme and compress images.
• Missing tax/shipping setup: configure shipping zones and tax settings before launch.

Time estimate: ~60 minutes

Step 3:

Find and vet AliExpress suppliers

Action to take: use AliExpress search filters, seller pages, and sample orders to evaluate suppliers.

Why you are doing it: supplier reliability reduces refunds and delivery complaints. Vetting prevents poor product quality and shipping delays.

Step checklist:

1. On AliExpress, search product keywords and sort by Orders.
2. Filter by seller rating 95%+ and at least 500 orders for the SKU.
3. Check product reviews and buyer images for authenticity.
4. Message the seller: ask average processing time, stock, and shipping methods.
5. Place a sample order to test packaging and delivery time.

How to evaluate:

• Orders: look for consistent order counts and recent review dates.
• Shipping: prefer ePacket, AliExpress Standard Shipping, or eCommerce-optimized methods.
• Communication: fast, clear responses and willingness to show stock.

Expected outcome: 1-2 vetted suppliers per product with known lead times and shipping options.

Common issues and fixes:

• Seller ignores messages: mark as high risk; choose another supplier.
• High shipping times: select listings with ePacket or use faster paid shipping for test orders.
• Fake reviews suspicious: inspect review timestamps and buyer images.

Time estimate: ~45 minutes

Step 4:

Import products and set pricing rules

Action to take: import chosen products using DSers, AliDropship, or manual CSV, then set pricing formulas and variants.

Why you are doing it: automation tools sync orders and inventory; consistent pricing ensures margin and uniform customer experience.

Import checklist:

1. Install DSers (Shopify) or AliDropship (WordPress).
2. Use the Chrome extension to import product images, title, variants, and shipping options.
3. Set your pricing rule: for example, Retail Price = (Cost + Shipping) * Markup + Fixed Fee.

Example pricing formula:

• Cost: $6.50, Shipping: $2.00, Target profit: $15.00
• Price = max((Cost + Shipping) * 2.5, Cost + Shipping + Target profit) 15) = max(21.25, 23.50) = $23.50

Expected outcome: product pages with optimized titles, descriptions, pictures, and margin set so you can run ads without losing money.

Common issues and fixes:

• Missing images: download high-resolution images and compress using TinyPNG.
• Variants mismatched: double-check SKU mapping and color/size combinations.
• Price rounding: use psychological pricing (.97 or .99) and test conversions.

Time estimate: ~20 minutes per product

Step 5:

Set up order fulfillment and automation

Action to take: configure automated order forwarding, tracking updates, and refund/return workflows with DSers or plugin.

Why you are doing it: automation reduces manual work and speeds order processing, limiting human errors and improving customer experience.

Automation checklist:

1. Connect DSers to your AliExpress account and link imported products to seller listings.
2. Enable auto-order or one-click fulfillment settings.
3. Configure tracking sync so tracking numbers push to customers automatically.
4. Create templates for order notes and customer communication in your store admin.

Expected outcome: when a customer orders, the order routes to AliExpress supplier with correct address and payment; tracking is updated automatically.

Common issues and fixes:

• Address format mismatch: use standardized shipping address format and confirm country codes.
• Tracking not updating: ensure DSers or plugin has API access and the supplier provides tracking numbers.
• Duplicate orders: enable idempotency or verify payment capture settings.

Time estimate: ~15 minutes

Step 6:

Launch test ads and measure performance

Action to take: run small ad tests on Facebook/Instagram or TikTok, and set up basic analytics and email capture.

Why you are doing it: testing validates product-market fit and identifies profitable customer acquisition channels before scaling.

Launch checklist:

1. Install Facebook Pixel and Google Analytics on your store.
2. Create a landing page or product ad with clear CTA and 3 creatives.
3. Run 3 x $5/day ad campaigns for 3-5 days testing different audiences and creatives.
4. Set up an email capture popup with a 10% discount to capture visitors.

Example ad test approach:

• Campaign A: interest-based (niche audience)
• Campaign B: lookalike 1% from page engagers
• Campaign C: video creative with product demo

Expected outcome: early metrics (CTR, add-to-cart rate, conversion rate, cost per purchase) to decide whether to scale or iterate.

Common issues and fixes:

• Low CTR: improve ad creative and headlines, test carousel vs single image.
• High add-to-cart but low purchase: check checkout friction, payment options, and shipping costs.
• Ad account restrictions: follow ad policies and appeal with business documentation.

Time estimate: ~45 minutes to launch initial tests

Testing and Validation

How to verify everything works with checklist:

1. Place a test order: use a $1 product or enable test mode to simulate checkout.
2. Confirm the order forwards to AliExpress via DSers or plugin and supplier receives order.
3. Verify payment capture, shipping address accuracy, and that a tracking number is generated when supplier ships.
4. Check customer emails: order confirmation, shipping notification, and tracking link.
5. Validate analytics: Facebook Pixel fires, Google Analytics records conversion, and email capture stores addresses.

Run these tests for 1-3 orders per product to ensure consistent behavior. Fix any broken webhooks, payment gateways, or mapping issues before running paid ads.

Common Mistakes

1. Skipping supplier vetting: results in long delivery times and refunds. Always order samples and verify seller response time.
2. Underpricing or ignoring fees: include transaction fees, ad costs, and returns in your pricing model to avoid losing money.
3. Poor product pages: low-quality images and vague descriptions reduce conversions. Use clear benefits, specs, and social proof.
4. Launching with large ad budgets too early: start small, optimize creatives and funnels, then scale successful campaigns.

Avoid these by following supplier checks, using a margin calculator, A/B testing creatives, and monitoring KPIs before scaling.

FAQ

Do I Need a Lot of Money to Start?

No. You can begin with a small budget (often $100 to $500) covering a store trial, a few sample orders, and low-cost ad tests. Focus on validation before scaling ad spend.

How Long Do Aliexpress Shipments Take?

ePacket or AliExpress Standard Shipping is often 10-20 days; paid express options reduce time at higher cost.

Is Aliexpress Reliable for Quality?

AliExpress reliability depends on the seller. Vet suppliers by order counts, reviews, and sample orders. Choose sellers with high ratings and recent buyer images.

What Legal or Tax Issues Should I Consider?

Register a business in your jurisdiction if required, collect sales tax where applicable, and have clear refund and shipping policies. Consult an accountant for tax compliance.

Can I Automate Everything?

Most order forwarding, tracking updates, and product imports can be automated with DSers, AliDropship, or plugins, but manual oversight is still needed for quality control and exceptions.

What Platform is Best:

Shopify or WooCommerce?

Shopify is faster to launch and has many apps for dropshipping; WooCommerce gives more control and lower recurring fees. Choose based on budget, technical comfort, and scalability needs.

Next Steps

After completing this guide, run sustained ad tests for 7-14 days to gather statistically significant data. Optimize product pages and ad creatives using the highest-performing combinations. Gradually scale budgets on winning campaigns, add complementary products, and systematize customer service responses.

Track unit economics and aim to automate repetitive tasks to free time for growth strategies such as influencer partnerships and email lifecycle campaigns.

Further Reading

• How Much to Start Dropshipping - Startup Costs
• What Dropshipping Products are Most Successful
• How to Start Dropshipping with Shopify Guide
• How Many Dropshipping Stores Fail

Sources & Citations

• https://trends.google.com - https://trends.google.com