How to Start a Dropshipping Business in Nigeria (2025 Step-by-Step Guide)
Want to start a business in Nigeria with little or no capital?
Dropshipping is one of the easiest ways to make money online in Nigeria without buying or storing products yourself.
Here’s why:
- No inventory required – You don’t need to buy products upfront.
- No warehouse needed – Your supplier handles storage and shipping.
- Work from anywhere – All you need is a phone and internet.
- Low startup cost – You can start with as little as ₦20,000 – ₦50,000 for website and ads.
The best part? You can run a fully automated eCommerce store and make 6 to 7 figures monthly—even while you sleep!
But there’s a catch…
Most people fail in dropshipping because they:
Choose the wrong products
Use unreliable suppliers
Don’t know how to market their store
This step-by-step guide will show you how to start a successful dropshipping business in Nigeria, choose the right products, find trusted suppliers, and make sales consistently.
Let’s dive in.
Step 1: Understand How Dropshipping Works
Dropshipping is simple:
- customer orders a product from your online store.
- You forward the order to your supplier.
- The supplier packs and ships the product directly to the customer.
- You keep the profit (selling price – supplier cost).
That’s it…
Example of Dropshipping Profit Calculation
Let’s say you list a smartwatch for ₦25,000 on your store.
- Your supplier sells it for ₦10,000
- Shipping cost: ₦3,000
- Facebook ad cost per sale: ₦4,000
- Total cost per sale: ₦17,000
- Profit per sale: ₦25,000 – ₦17,000 = ₦8,000 profit per order
Pro Tip: The more you sell, the more money you make. 100 orders = ₦800,000 profit!
Step 2: Choose a Profitable Niche
Your niche is the category of products you sell. Picking the right niche is critical to success.
Best Dropshipping Niches for Nigeria
- Health & Wellness – Weight loss products, posture correctors, fitness accessories
- Beauty & Skincare – Organic skincare, facial cleansers, makeup tool.
- Fashion & Accessories – Smartwatches, jewelry, sunglasses
- Gadgets & Electronics – Wireless earbuds, phone accessories
- Home & Kitchen – Smart home devices, kitchen gadgets
Pro Tip: Avoid products that break easily, have high return rates, or are banned on Facebook ads (e.g., weight loss pills).
Step 3: Find Reliable Dropshipping Suppliers
Many dropshipping beginners fail because they choose bad suppliers.
Where to Find Trusted Dropshipping Suppliers
This are place:
- AliExpress.com – Best for starting out (Chinese suppliers with global shipping)
- CJ Dropshipping – Faster shipping than AliExpress
- Zenlpdrop & Spocket – For high-quality products & faster delivery
- Local Nigerian Suppliers – Jumia, Konga, or local wholesalers (for faster delivery)
Pro Tip: Use AliExpress Dropshipping Center to check if a product is selling well before adding it to your store.
Step 4: Create Your Dropshipping Store
To start dropshipping, you need an online store where customers can place orders and pay online.
How to Set Up Your Dropshipping Store
Option 1: Use Shopify (Easiest for Beginners)
- Visit www.shopify.com
- Choose a theme and customize your store
- Install DSers app to automate AliExpress orders
- Set up payments (Paystack or Flutterwave for Nigerians)
Option 2: Use WooCommerce (Cheaper but More Setup Required)
- Buy a domain & hosting (e.g., Namecheap or Bluehost)
- Install WordPress + WooCommerce
- Install AliDropship plugin to automate order fulfillment
- Set up payment gateways
Pro Tip: If you’re new, Shopify is the fastest way to get started.
Step 5: Market & Sell Your Products
Marketing is the key to making sales in dropshipping. If no one sees your store, you won’t make money.
Best Ways to Market Your Dropshipping Store in Nigeria
- Facebook & Instagram Ads – Run targeted ads to get buyers fast
- TikTok Organic Marketing – Create viral videos about your products
- WhatsApp Marketing – Sell directly to customers
- Influencer Marketing – Pay Nigerian influencers to promote your store
Pro Tip: Start with Facebook ads (₦5,000 – ₦10,000 daily) and scale up when you see profits.
Step 6: Handle Payments & Deliveries in Nigeria
Unlike the US, Nigeria doesn’t support PayPal for business. But you can use:
- Paystack – Accepts Naira, USD, and card payments
- Flutterwave – Allows international payments.
- PayPal Business (via Lesotho account) – For international dropshipping
How to Handle Delivery in Nigeria
If using international suppliers (AliExpress, CJ Dropshipping):
- Let the supplier ship directly to the customer (14–21 days delivery).
If using local suppliers (Jumia, Konga, or wholesalers):
- Use local logistics companies (GIG Logistics, Kwik, DHL).
- Offer Pay on Delivery (POD) to boost trust.
Pro Tip: For fast Nigerian dropshipping, use local suppliers and deliver within 24–72 hours.
Step 7: Scale Your Dropshipping Business to ₦1M+/Month
Once you make consistent sales, it’s time to scale up:
- Increase your ad budget to reach more buyers
- Test new winning products in your niche
- Build an email & WhatsApp list to retarget customers
- Outsource tasks (customer service, order fulfillment)
Pro Tip: The secret to making ₦1M+ per month in dropshipping is consistent marketing and selling high-profit products.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How Much Do I Need to Start Dropshipping in Nigeria?
You can start with ₦20,000 – ₦50,000 for domain, hosting, and ads. But the more you invest in marketing, the faster you’ll grow.
2. Is Dropshipping Profitable in Nigeria?
Yes! Many Nigerians make ₦500,000 – ₦2M+ per month with dropshipping. Success depends on your product selection and marketing.
3. How Do I Receive Payments from Nigerian Customers?
Use Paystack or Flutterwave to accept online payments. If you target international customers, use PayPal Business (Lesotho method).
Final Thoughts: Is Dropshipping Worth It in Nigeria?
Absolutely YES—if you do it the right way.
- You don’t need inventory
- You can start with low capital
- You can run your business from anywhere
Follow this step-by-step guide, and you can start making money with dropshipping in Nigeria within weeks!
Now, I’d love to hear from you:
Are you ready to start dropshipping? Drop a comment below!
