How to Start Shopify Dropshipping: A Guide to No-Inventory Sales, POD, and Printful [2026 Edition]

“I want to start an e-commerce business on Shopify without holding inventory.” “I want to sell original products like T-shirts and merchandise, but I don’t have the resources for manufacturing and shipping.” — For those with such concerns, we’ve compiled a guide on how to get started with dropshipping and Print on Demand (POD) on Shopify. Based on insights gained from our experience in Shopify development support, we will explain the mechanisms, procedures, app comparisons, real-world examples of selling original products using Printful, profit margin calculations, and legal considerations before going live. By the time you finish reading, you'll have a clear understanding of the right model for you and your first steps.

1. What are dropshipping and POD? Understanding the mechanisms and differences

Dropshipping (also known as "no-inventory selling" in Japan) is an e-commerce model where you sell products without holding any inventory yourself. When an order is placed, you place an order with the supplier, and the product is shipped directly from the supplier to the customer. This allows sellers to focus on store operations and marketing, and the biggest advantage is the ability to start a business without inventory risk or warehousing costs. Shopify's official Japanese blog also has a dropshipping explanation, and it is a widely used and common sales method overseas.

Print on Demand (POD), on the other hand, is a form of dropshipping. The difference is that instead of pre-made ready-to-sell products, original designs are printed and manufactured only when an order is placed. Since products like T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, and smartphone cases can be created from a single design, this model is highly compatible with creators and those looking for a side hustle.

Basic Flow of Dropshipping

Dropshipping follows these four steps:

1. The customer places an order and makes payment on the Shopify store.
2. Order information is automatically transmitted to the supplier via an app.
3. The supplier packs the product and ships it directly to the customer.
4. The seller receives the difference between the sales revenue and the cost of goods sold as profit.

The biggest difference from general e-commerce (self-inventory model) is that the seller never handles the product directly. All procurement, warehousing, and shipping operations can be outsourced, allowing a single person to manage the business.

Difference from Print on Demand (POD)

Dropshipping and POD (Print on Demand) share the commonality of "not holding inventory," but the nature of the products they handle differs. Dropshipping primarily focuses on ready-made products (miscellaneous goods, gadgets, etc.), where product research and differentiation are crucial. POD involves manufacturing original designs, so design capabilities and brand building directly translate into sales.

In other words, dropshipping is about "efficiently selling products that others also have," while POD is about "creating unique products." It's not about which is superior, but rather choosing the model that suits your preferred style.

Three Main Forms (App-Intermediated / Direct Contract / POD)

Dropshipping can be broadly categorized into three types based on the relationship with suppliers.

• App-Intermediated (DSP type / Drop Shipping Provider): Handles a large number of supplier products collectively via an app. DSers, Spocket, and CJ Dropshipping fall into this category, with ease of entry being the biggest appeal. Note that this is a different concept from DSP (Demand-Side Platform) used in the advertising industry.
• Direct Contract type: Establishes individual contracts with specific manufacturers and wholesalers. Allows for price negotiation and exclusive sales, but incurs development costs.
• POD type: Manufactures original designs on demand. Printful and Printify are prime examples. Suitable for creators and brand-oriented sellers.

This article will primarily focus on app-intermediated (DSP type) and POD type, which are easier for beginners to start with.

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2. 6 steps to start dropshipping on Shopify

The strength of Shopify x dropshipping is that it allows you to "start small and quickly." However, if you launch purely on impulse, you may face legal violations or complaints later. It is safest to follow the six steps below in order. For details on each step, you can also refer to Shopify's official dropshipping getting started guide for a deeper understanding.

Step 1: Store Setup (Plan Selection, Theme)

Shopify is available on a monthly subscription basis, and free trials and initial discount campaigns are sometimes offered depending on the period (please check the latest information on the Shopify official website). The cheapest Basic plan is sufficient to start. For the theme, it is efficient to start with the free "Dawn" theme and then differentiate the design once the business is on track.

Step 2: Deciding on Product Categories and Concepts

A store that "sells everything" will ultimately appeal to no one. The first priority is to narrow down your target audience and product categories, and establish a specialized niche concept. For example, clarify it to a degree where the customer base can be imagined, such as "A specialist store for minimalist outdoor camping gear" or "Original apparel for cat lovers."

Step 3: Selecting a Supplier/App

Once you've decided on your product categories, choose an app that fits them. For miscellaneous goods and gadgets, DSers or CJ Dropshipping are suitable; for original T-shirts and merchandise, Printful or Printify; and for beauty, health, and domestic consumer goods, Oroshi no Tatsujin (卸の達人) or similar. A comparison table is provided in the next chapter.

Step 4: Product Import and Pricing

Many apps allow you to import product information and images to Shopify with a single click. Immediately after import, the product will have the purchase price plus a fixed markup, so always adjust the price manually. The target selling price is the line where "purchase price + shipping + (advertising costs + payment fees) + profit" is achieved. Careless price reductions will lead to operating in the red.

Step 5: Preparing Legal Pages such as Specified Commercial Transaction Act and Shipping Policy

Shopify themes provide templates for "Notation based on the Specified Commercial Transaction Act," "Shipping Policy," "Return Policy," and "Privacy Policy." Since dropshipping often involves longer shipping lead times, you must clearly state the estimated delivery days. Ambiguous descriptions increase the risk of violating the Premiums and Representations Act and the Specified Commercial Transaction Act, which will be discussed in later chapters.

Step 6: Order Testing, Launch, and Start of Customer Acquisition

Before launching, always perform a test order to confirm the experience from the customer's perspective, including order confirmation emails, shipping notifications, and product arrival. If there are no issues, launch the store and begin customer acquisition through social media, SEO, and advertising. For the first 1-2 months, consider it a period to verify not only sales but also whether "shipping runs as expected" and "no complaints arise," which will make operational decisions easier.

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3. Comparison of 7 popular dropshipping/POD apps

As of 2026, we have selected 7 apps that are realistically usable from Shopify stores in Japan. Oberlo, once a staple, ended its service in June 2022, and DSers is now recommended as its successor.

Overview with a comparison table

*Please confirm the latest information on prices, delivery days, and supported languages on each official website. Import duties and consumption taxes may vary when using overseas suppliers.

Printful (Representative POD, with Japanese base)

Printful is a POD service that handles everything from manufacturing original designs to shipping. It has partnered manufacturing bases in Japan, in Kumamoto (apparel) and Ishikawa (miscellaneous goods), making it a significant advantage for Japanese users to receive products in as short as a few business days. You can choose from hundreds of products such as T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, and stickers. The monthly fee is free, and product costs are incurred only when an order is placed. Please check the latest number of supported products, bases, and delivery days on the Printful official website (for dropshipping in Japan).

Printify (Expanding POD Options)

Printify networks multiple printing factories, and its strength lies in the wide range of products and pricing options. While its Japanese presence is weak, it is a strong option if you are primarily targeting the US and European markets. Even for the same T-shirt, prices, quality, and delivery times vary by factory, so it is safer to order samples and compare them before committing.

DSers (AliExpress Integration Staple)

DSers is an app that allows you to directly import products listed on AliExpress (one of China's largest cross-border marketplaces) into Shopify. It handles a wide range of categories such as miscellaneous goods, small items, and gadgets, and a free plan is available. Since delivery days vary from 7 to 30 days, it is essential to clearly state on your store, "Delivery will take approximately 2-4 weeks."

Spocket (US and European Supplier Focus)

Spocket has strong ties with US and European suppliers, making it advantageous for selling to North American and European markets. While delivery lead times are relatively short and product quality tends to be stable, the UI is English only, and it mainly offers paid monthly plans. This presents a hurdle for operations targeting Japan.

CJ Dropshipping (China-based, wide range of categories)

CJ Dropshipping is a comprehensive dropshipping service based in China. It offers an extremely wide range of product categories and has its own warehouses worldwide, providing abundant shipping options. It also supports product customization (such as package printing), making it suitable for brand-oriented operators.

Modalyst (Apparel and Brand Focused)

Modalyst is a service that brings together many apparel and brand-related suppliers. It allows you to handle existing brand products, which makes it easier to set higher unit prices than for general goods. However, the UI is English only, and contract terms are somewhat stricter. Keep it in mind as an option if you want to create an apparel-focused store.

Oroshi no Tatsujin / NETSEA (Domestic Suppliers)

If your main focus is selling products domestically, "Oroshi no Tatsujin" and "NETSEA," which allow you to use domestic suppliers, are also strong contenders. Shipping is fast, taking 2-5 business days, and comprehensive Japanese support is available, which reduces the burden of handling complaints. The degree of app integration and automation is inferior to overseas services, so it is necessary to design your operational flow in advance.

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4. Starting POD (Original T-shirt and Merchandise Sales) with Printful

If you want to sell original products without holding inventory, Printful should be your first consideration. It has a base in Japan, stable integration with Shopify, and no fixed monthly fees, making it the standard route for those starting POD. Please also refer to the Printful official website (Japan-focused page) for detailed specifications.

Printful's Mechanism and Product Lineup

Printful handles hundreds of products, including T-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, caps, mugs, stickers, posters, and smartphone cases. All the seller has to do is upload design images, generate mockups (product image previews), and register them on Shopify. The moment an order is placed, Printful handles manufacturing, packaging, and shipping. The latest product lineup can be checked on the official website.

Shopify Integration Procedure (including switching to Japanese UI)

Printful integration is completed by adding "Printful: Print on Demand" from the Shopify App Store and connecting it to your Printful account. The initial setup flow is as follows:

1. Create a Printful account and switch the language setting to Japanese.
2. Install the Printful app from the Shopify App Store.
3. Select a product template and upload design images.
4. Review mockups, set prices, and publish the product to Shopify.
5. Verify the order to delivery process with a test order.

Manufacturing and Delivery in Japan (Partner Bases in Kumamoto/Ishikawa and Short Lead Times)

Printful has partnered manufacturing facilities in Japan, and orders for Japan are manufactured and shipped domestically. Apparel (T-shirts, hoodies, etc.) is produced at a partner factory in Kumamoto Prefecture, and non-apparel items (mugs, stickers, miscellaneous goods, etc.) are produced at a partner factory in Ishikawa Prefecture. The average manufacturing lead time is 2-5 business days, and with domestic delivery, it generally takes 3-8 business days to reach the customer. Since overseas POD services often take 2-4 weeks, the presence of domestic bases is a significant deciding factor if you are targeting the Japanese market. Please note that the latest information on bases and delivery days may vary depending on the season, so check the Printful official website (dropshipping for Japan) and Printful Help Center (list of locations) before going live.

Pricing and Profit Margin Estimation (Example for one T-shirt)

It's often said that "POD has low profit margins," but let's look at the actual numbers to see to what extent. The following is an example when selling one T-shirt. This is an estimate for a standard line T-shirt, commonly chosen on Printful, with single-sided printing.

*Amounts are estimates, exclude tax, and vary depending on exchange rates, timing, plans, and payment types. From this, advertising costs, partial shipping cost burden, and return handling costs will be deducted, so the net profit margin will generally be around 20-30%. Means to increase profit margins are concentrated in three areas: "raising selling prices," "increasing repeat purchases," and "combining products with high unit prices."

【Watch the video】SOLSTAR's Shopify Construction Course (including Printful implementation part)

The movements of the Shopify settings screen and the Printful integration procedure, which are difficult to convey through text alone, are demonstrated in the YouTube course published by SOLSTAR. If you want to follow along with the actual operations, proceeding with the video and this article in parallel will be efficient.

The video explains the entire Shopify construction process for beginners, and it also covers the implementation part of no-inventory selling (POD) using Printful. If you get stuck with the settings or want to consult about customization tailored to your store, please feel free to use SOLSTAR's free consultation.

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5. Advantages, disadvantages, and who it's for

The biggest appeal of no-inventory selling is that you can "start without taking inventory risk," but that's not the only benefit. Conversely, there are also often overlooked weaknesses. Understand both sides before deciding if it's right for your situation.

Advantages (virtually zero initial investment / suitable for test sales)

• Can outsource procurement, warehousing, and shipping, allowing a single person to operate the business.
• No inventory risk, as inventory is only purchased after a product is sold.
• Initial investment is minimal: Shopify monthly fee + domain fee + design tools. Can be started for under 100,000 yen.
• Easy to change product lineups, allowing for quick adaptation to trends.
• Can serve as a "stepping stone" to transition to a full-fledged self-inventory model after testing market viability.

Disadvantages (low profit margins / long shipping lead times / quality control)

• Profit margins tend to be lower than in a self-inventory model due to procurement costs and fees.
• Long shipping lead times when using overseas suppliers can lead to customer dissatisfaction.
• Difficulty in managing defect risks as product quality and packaging cannot be personally verified.
• Increased competition with similar products, leading to price wars.
• Out-of-stock situations or discontinued items due to supplier circumstances can suddenly cause products to become unsellable.

Who it's for and who it's not for

Dropshipping/POD is a valid option for anyone who meets one of the following criteria:

• Want to earn a side income of tens of thousands to 300,000 yen per month, alongside their main job or childcare responsibilities.
• Have no experience with inventory or logistics and want to start small to test the waters.
• Want to give shape to their own designs and worldview (in the case of POD).
• Are comfortable with or want to try social media promotion.

Conversely, if you "want to achieve large profits quickly and reliably," "want to control product quality down to the finest detail," or "absolutely do not want to get involved in price competition," then a self-inventory model or contract manufacturing model would be more suitable.

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6. Necessary knowledge, skills, and preparation

Dropshipping is often introduced as something "anyone can start today," but to continue making profits, you need to acquire the following five things in order.

Product Research and Selection Skills (Identifying Best Sellers)

Best-selling products change with the times, trends, and seasons. Continuously monitor AliExpress, Amazon rankings, social media ad posts, Google Trends, etc., and hypothesize and select products with growing demand. You cannot gauge demand simply by choosing "products you want." It's important to combine objective data and your own interests in equal measure.

Marketing Fundamentals (SNS/SEO/Advertising)

Products won't sell just by being listed in your store. There are three main channels for customer acquisition:

• SNS (Instagram, X, TikTok): Use according to your target audience. Strong for conveying brand worldview.
• SEO (Search Engine): Takes time but becomes an asset. Quality of product descriptions and blog posts is key.
• Advertising (Meta, Google): Immediate effects but can easily lead to losses. Profit margin calculation is essential.

Understanding Profit Margins and Cost Accounting

“How much was sold” is less vital to a business than “how much was left after each order.” Make it a habit to track sales price, purchase price, shipping, payment processing fees, and advertising costs per order. Even a simple simulation using Shopify’s "Analytics" function and Google Sheets can shift your business from intuitive management to data-driven management.

Customer Support (Shipping Delays and Returns)

The most common complaints in dropshipping are "I don't know when my product will arrive" and "The quality of the product I received is different from what I expected." Most of these can be prevented by including estimated delivery days in automatic email replies, placing disclaimers on product pages, and clearly stating return policies. However, there will still be situations requiring individual attention, so preparing template responses will reduce your workload.

Quality Control (Importance of Sample Ordering)

Before full-scale sales, it's essential to order each product yourself. Print color, fabric texture, packaging condition, delivery days. If you sell without seeing the actual product, you will only discover its flaws when a customer points them out. The cost of one sample is extremely small compared to the cost of handling later complaints.

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7. Dangers of not knowing! Legal, tax, and copyright considerations

Dropshipping is "a legitimate retail business, just without inventory." As long as you sell products, the same laws apply as for general e-commerce sites. The following are the minimum points you should be aware of, and practical decisions should be made in consultation with legal and tax professionals.

Notation based on the Specified Commercial Transaction Act

All businesses engaged in mail-order sales are obligated to clearly state their business name, address, phone number, sales price, payment methods, delivery time, and return policy. Shopify's admin screen provides a template for the Specified Commercial Transaction Act notation, but a unique point for dropshipping is the need to accurately state the "number of days until delivery." If you state "delivered in 3 days" when using an overseas supplier, it may deviate from reality and lead to a violation of the Specified Commercial Transaction Act. Please check the Consumer Affairs Agency's Specified Commercial Transaction Act Guide for detailed requirements.

Act Against Unjustifiable Premiums and Misleading Representations (Prohibition of Misleading Superiority and Misleading Advantage)

Unsubstantiated claims such as "absolutely effective," "lowest price," or "industry No.1" may constitute a violation of the Act Against Unjustifiable Premiums and Misleading Representations. When copying and pasting product descriptions directly from suppliers, exaggerated expressions are often included, so always rewrite them in your own words. If you promote comparisons or superiority, provide objective evidence.

Product Liability Act (PL Act) and Seller Responsibility

The PL Act is a law that defines liability when consumers suffer damage due to defects in manufactured products. When handling imported products, the seller, as the importer, may bear the same responsibility as the manufacturer. Since the seller is effectively the importer of products shipped directly from overseas suppliers, consider obtaining PL insurance and clarifying the scope of disclaimers in your terms of service.

Copyright and Trademark Rights (especially important for POD designs)

With POD, what you "thought you designed yourself" might actually infringe on someone else's copyright or trademark. Specifically, this includes famous characters, celebrity photos, other companies' logos, and parodies of well-known works. Even when using free materials, always check whether commercial use and modification are permitted. There is a risk of sales injunctions, damages, and criminal penalties.

Taxes (Tax Returns / Customs Duties and Consumption Taxes When Using Overseas Suppliers)

If you operate as an individual side business, you must file a tax return if your annual income (sales minus expenses) exceeds 200,000 yen. For corporations and sole proprietors, there are also consumption tax liability determinations depending on the scale of the business. When products are shipped directly from overseas suppliers, the handling of customs duties and import consumption taxes becomes complex, so it is advisable to consult a tax accountant early.

These are not points to "read and forget," but rather tasks to check off and resolve one by one before launching your store. SOLSTAR also supports the preparation of legal pages and review of Specified Commercial Transaction Act notations during the construction support phase, so if you want an expert to review them before launching, please feel free to contact us.

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8. Common pitfalls and tips for success

Based on SOLSTAR's daily interactions with clients, we have compiled common failure patterns in the early stages of dropshipping/POD and concrete measures to avoid them.

Failure Case 1: Numerous complaints due to unstated delivery times

This is a case where a product that takes 2-3 weeks via an overseas supplier generates a flood of customer inquiries like "When will it arrive?" or "I want to cancel" because the delivery time was not stated on the product page. Simply stating the same estimated delivery time in a prominent location on the product page, in the order confirmation email, and on the specified commercial transaction page will significantly reduce inquiries.

Failure Case 2: Profit margins too thin to run ads

This pattern occurs when sellers mistake the difference between selling price and purchase price as their entire profit, leading to losses the moment they run ads. Unless you secure a gross profit margin of at least "30% or more of the selling price," there will be no room to increase sales with paid advertising. The basic approach is to estimate first, then design the selling price, and then focus on customer acquisition.

Failure Case 3: Getting buried with the same products and photos as competitors

Since anyone can source from the same supplier, using the exact same images and descriptions will result in zero differentiation. Taking additional product photos, writing brand stories, suggesting uses, and other efforts to reconstruct value in your own words will change the persuasiveness of your entire store.

3 tips for success

• Differentiation: Compete not on products, but on "concept" and "worldview." Increase the resolution of your target audience and align the store and product page's worldview.
• Test Sales: Observe the response to each product through advertising and focus investments on products that show a winning pattern.
• Data Measurement: Use Shopify Analytics and GA4 to track traffic sources, exit points, and average order value weekly. Do not operate based on intuition.

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9. Summary: Start with zero inventory, then scale to full-fledged e-commerce



Dropshipping and POD are excellent entry points for launching an e-commerce business without taking on inventory risk. However, they also have weaknesses such as thin profit margins, long shipping lead times, legal risks, and high competition, requiring a strategy to succeed long-term. A realistic approach is to consider the first 3-6 months as a "market testing period" and gather data to find a winning strategy.

Once you gain traction, consider transitioning to a self-inventory model or an independent brand to improve profit margins. Shopify's monthly subscription allows for flexible scaling, so customer data, social media followers, and brand assets accumulated during the dropshipping/POD phase can be directly carried over to full-fledged e-commerce.

If you're looking for someone to "review your store before it goes live," "are stuck with legal disclaimers or theme customization," or "are seeking a partner to support you through the long-term process of building an independent brand e-commerce store," please consider SOLSTAR's hands-on support. From Shopify Basic plans to full-scale Plus environments, we provide end-to-end support for building and operating your store, tailored to your business phase.

(Authored by Hayato Shimabukuro / Representative Director, SOLSTAR Inc. Graduated from San Diego State University with a degree in Economics. As a Shopify-specialized e-commerce partner, he provides comprehensive support from store building to operation and improvement.)

Related Articles / Reference Links

• Estimated cost of building a Shopify store: For budgeting when considering full-scale e-commerce construction.
• Cost estimation for commissioning a freelance Shopify developer: If you're unsure whether to build it yourself or outsource.
• What is JSON-LD? A complete guide to SEO: Fundamentals of structured data.
• YouTube: [Latest 2026 Edition] Complete Shopify Master Course for Beginners: See Printful integration in action.
• SOLSTAR Free Consultation: For individual consultations on Shopify building and operation.