How to find the best & reliable US dropshippers

If you’re thinking of selling products online, you’ll need to find a reliable dropshipping supplier. Establishing a good working relationship with a dropshipper in the US will make sure you continue to fulfill online orders and create happy customers. A reliable dropshipping supplier will offer you a wide range of products to choose from, as well as give you a great price on goods so that your sales make a healthy profit. You should also look out for dropshippers who guarantee a speedy delivery and detailed returns policy so that your e-commerce store develops a good reputation online. Happy customers mean more sales in the end, so take your time and read our in-depth guide to find the best and most reliable US dropshippers online.

What is dropshipping?

Before we reveal some of the best dropshipping companies in the US, let’s first recap what dropshipping actually is. When you launch an online store, you have two options for stock. You can either invest heavily in stock and sell a wide range of goods, keeping products at a warehouse and fulfilling orders as you go. Or you can use a professional dropshipping service, where you never need to handle products or set up deliveries and returns yourself. Dropshipping basically takes your entire inventory of stock off your hands and allows businesses to start selling without having to invest in products and organize delivery, returns policies, and stock management. This is often the case for Amazon stores, eBay business accounts, and Shopify stores.

Put simply, dropshipping is a retail order fulfillment strategy where an online store doesn’t handle stock. When a customer places an order online, the product will be sent from a third party using the dropshipping model. So, the seller never needs to handle the goods and so can manage their business from anywhere in the world. Not only is this more convenient and allows remote workers to launch online e-commerce businesses, but it also saves business owners precious time and money too. There is no need to manage inventories, stock take, deal with cash flow issues or spend time packaging and sending out orders.

Benefits of the dropshipping model for retailers:

Low investment business model - One of the best reasons to set up a dropshipping business is that it doesn’t require thousands of dollars upfront investment. In fact, you can set up a dropshipping company with even a small amount of cash and gradually grow the business over time. When you make a sale, you can purchase the products and arrange delivery.

Affordable business to run - Unlike a traditional retail business, dropshipping has very low overheads since you only need to buy products when you make a sale. You also save money on storage and staff since you don’t handle stock, take stock inventory, and manage postage and packaging or international shipping. You can run everything from a computer or laptop as long as you have a solid and reliable internet connection.

Flexible location - If you enjoy working remotely and having the freedom and flexibility to travel whenever and wherever you want, dropshipping is a great fit for you. A dropshipping business can be managed from anywhere in the world, as long as you have a high-speed internet connection. Sign up to an international and well-established online marketplace such as Alibaba.com and have instant access to buyers around the world.

Test out products - Another major benefit to dropshipping, is that you can test out products and see what sells online before investing heavily in one particular category or product range. This helps retailers to pivot and react quickly to changes in buyer behavior and trends.

Scale-up with ease - This business model also makes it easier to scale up and grow a business online. One person can manage the entire business since there is no man-power required to store, check and manage stock, or fulfill orders and deliveries. This makes it more sustainable to manage with a small team or run the entire business single-handedly.

While dropshipping is a popular business model for new online stores, some entrepreneurs still prefer to invest and handle their own goods. If you’re not sure which route is a good fit for you, feel free to read our article on Dropshipping vs eCommerce fulfillment: what is the difference?

11 Top dropshippers in the US

To find a reliable dropshipping service in the US, check out a dropshipping supplier directory. This is a database of dropshipping suppliers offering products. You’ll usually be able to filter by categories and country to find a good match for your retail business. However, bear in mind that directories will often charge a service fee to access it. While a dropshipping directory membership might come in useful, it might actually be better to contact a supplier directly and cut out the middleman to keep your costs as low as possible. Plus, once you’ve established a strong working relationship with one or two manufacturers, you won’t need the membership anymore.

So, let’s take a look at 11 of the top dropshippers available in the US.

1:Wholesale2b

Create a free account with Wholesale2b and discover an all-in-one dropshipping marketplace. This leading supplier offers inventory automation, supplier integration, order automation, website integration, marketplace imports, and even a knowledge base to help empower customers to grow and develop your online store. With a free account, you can browse through the 120 product categories and explore over 1.5 million unique and high-quality items.

2:Doba

If you want instant access to hundreds of suppliers, head to Doba for streamlined order management. This supplier is offering new sellers a 14-day free trial, to test out the features before you commit to a basic plan. Once signed up, Doba Dropship also alerts sellers when certain products are about to go out of stock, sending a proactive custom inventory alert and reducing the need to refund or cancel active sales. A basic Doba plan has a $29 monthly fee, with an advanced plan at $69 or go pro for $249 per month. Doba wholesale suppliers are also given a report card, which reveals their performance and helps sellers to find the most reliable dropshipper. Should you need to expand or find a new supplier, Doba makes this process much easier.

3:Inventory Source

This site has been specially designed for retailers and suppliers and works as a dropshipping platform. With dropshipping automation software and an integrated supplier network, it offers integration with almost all major e-commerce platforms. Upload product data, sync inventory quantities, and route orders from the platform to your own online store. However, remember that retailers’ inventory automation costs $50 a month, with a standard subscription at $125. And unlike other dropping platforms, Inventory Source won’t help sellers scout out the competition or identify buyer trends to optimize profit margins.

4:US Direct

Another great platform for new sellers is US Direct. A trusted US dropship provider that offers fast and reliable shipping and delivery. Rather than go to several dropship wholesalers, Go US Direct gives business owners an online marketplace of high-quality products and leading brands. US Direct also gives sellers peace of mind when it comes to returns and refunds. Providing a quick resolution, they will keep you updated as customer services issues are raised and dealt with professionally. US Direct will by default issue a credit on your account unless otherwise requested for all impacted orders. All order credits are only eligible for a refund within 30 days from the credit date. This prevents customers from requesting refunds after 4 weeks.

5:Worldwide Brands

With a database of certified dropship suppliers, Worldwide Brands is rated as ‘Excellent’ on Trustpilot and has over 16 million wholesale products to choose from. Secure, scam-free, and BBB A+ rated, Worldwide Brands will not sell your personal information to third parties. With no recurring fees or hidden small print, it is a trusted directory for certified wholesalers and ideal for US dropshippers. A lifetime subscription can be purchased for around $299, making it affordable for start-up businesses and international retailers. If you can’t commit to $299, there is also an Easy Pay Plan, which has an initial upfront cost of $99 and two monthly payments of $110. A trusted dropshipper for wholesalers in the US, Worldwide Brands offers both US suppliers and non-US-based manufacturers too.

6:SaleHoo

SaleHoo has a $67 full-year access fee offering an affordable flat pricing structure, which gives you access to a network of over 8,000 trusted wholesalers. Personally reviews by SaleHoo, the company takes the time to review each provider so that SaleHoo customers always find trusted, reliable and professional dropshippers to partner up with. With over 1.6 million branded goods to choose from, discover great opportunities to generate a healthy profit and establish strong working relationships with online wholesalers. Customers also have access to 24/7 support and guidance, as well as free training to help new dropship companies grow from the ground up. Their Market Research Lab is an invaluable resource to identify niche products and learn about buyer trends. Listing both local and global suppliers, take advantage of step-by-step dropship training.

7:Beautyjoint

If you plan to sell cosmetics to US customers, Beautyjoint is a great place to start. Specializing in hair, beauty, skincare, and everything in between, it is an authorized USA distributor of certain cosmetic brands such as Rimmel London, Hollywood Fashion Secrets, Bye Bye Blemish, China Glaze, and CITY COLOR. As one of the most popular and largest dropshipping cosmetic suppliers online, Beautyjoint offers a wide range of dropship products and worldwide shipping. So, if you’re searching for high-quality makeup, haircare, nail art or k-beauty, make sure to check out Beautyjoint.

8:Sunrise Wholesale

With an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, Sunrise Wholesale is a trusted US dropshipping company based in California. With a wide range of dropshipping products to chose from, whether you are specializing in a particular category of products, or want to simply sell what is in demand, Sunrise Wholesale is certainly a good place to start. Established in 1999, the site has over 15,000 products to sell and handles all product returns and refunds automatically. Start a free 7-day trial and access competitive wholesale prices.

9:BryBelly

Stock your online store with established and sought-after brands by heading to BryBelly, a dropshipping supplier based in Indiana, USA. The company’s range of goods includes high-quality homeware, games, toys, and beauty products. With over 3,000 SKUs across a dozen retail industries, no matter what you plan to sell online, you’ll likely find relevant goods on BryBelly. With a reliable and efficient fulfillment service, you can also ship products directly to customers and even include your own custom packing list. So, your customers will never know that you are using a dropshipping service when they place an order and receive their goods. Expand your product range without investing in stock, or create a brand new e-commerce store with this reputable US dropshipping company.

10:National Dropshippers

Another Better Business Bureau A+ rated dropshipping supplier based in the US is National Dropshippers. Offering cellphones, home decor, kitchenware, high-quality luggage, and fragrances, browse their online product catalog. Launch a dropshipping wholesale business today and take advantage of their no-risk 7-day free trial. Supporting their customers with premium goods at low prices, National Dropshippers offers fulfillment dropshipping services. Feel free to use the product images and descriptions to sell products online, and when you place an order, using the interactive order form, products will be shipped to your customers with tracking information.

Still unsure on what to sell on your online store? Don’t worry; we’ve put together a list of 30 best dropshipping products to sell in 2021. Read our article here: 30 best dropshipping products to sell in 2021

11: Alibaba.com

Designed and developed with buyers and sellers in mind, Alibaba.com has plenty of features to make dropshipping worldwide easier than ever. With CRM tools, market and industry analytics, buyer trends, comprehensive order management, API integration, and available in over 18 languages, it is an invaluable resource for new and established dropshippers. Alibaba.com is best suited for B2B dropshipping and is extremely popular with manufacturers, wholesalers, and international exporters. Wholesalers can sell to dropshipping customers via Alibaba.com, and many who do this offer order fulfillment too. This means that a wholesaler can hold onto goods for retailers around the world and fulfill orders from a warehouse. AliExpress, a B2C e-commerce marketplace from the Alibaba group is another excellent resource for dropshipping.

Find out more by reading our article on: Dropshipping vs eCommerce fulfillment: what is the difference?

5 Top Tips to find reliable US dropshippers

Now you’ve discovered 11 of the most reliable dropshipping suppliers in the US, let’s talk about communication and how to choose the best company for your unique business and target market.

1: Contact suppliers directly

It’s important to act professionally when reaching out directly to suppliers. A badly worded email with spelling mistakes or a couple of sentences will probably be ignored and not taken seriously. Always use a professional business email address so that your email doesn’t end up in their junk folder, and make sure you explain your business needs, provide relevant contact information and ask clear questions regarding their minimum order requirements and shipping provider. Cutting out the middleman will help minimize miscommunication and help build a strong working relationship between your business and the supplier.

2: Look out for money-back guarantees

Some dropshipping services will include a money-back guarantee to help boost sales. This is often the case when you start selling branded high-quality goods online. Should an item not meet a customer’s expectations, they may be entitled to a money-back guarantee which will be fulfilled by the dropshipping company.

3: Read the supplier’s product return policies

Running any retail business will eventually involve a refund, so make sure you fully understand the supplier’s product return policy. Should a customer request a refund, you should know the cut-off date when the supplier will accept a refund and when they won’t. This information again must be clearly visible in your online store.

4: Check if they offer tracked deliveries

If a package doesn’t arrive on time, or at all, this can cause a lot of problems, not to mention unhappy customers. To protect your reputation as an online retailer, make sure the dropshipping company you worked with offers tracked deliveries for both local and international sales. If an item can be tracked, you can guarantee deliveries, and if a customer claims they haven’t received the item, you can use the unique tracking number to locate the missing package, saving you the cost of sending out a new product.

5: Know the shipping times for local and international orders

Knowing the shipping times for local and international orders is key to running a successful dropshipping business. Customers will expect a speedy delivery, and if your dropshipping service fails to meet a delivery deadline, you’re going to have to deal with unhappy customers and refund requests. You should also make the shipping times clear on your website and in relation to each product you sell. You should also check which shipping company they are using, such as FedEx or DHL.

Sell on Alibaba.com

Alibaba.com is the largest eCommerce company in the world and has one of the most comprehensive dropshipping directories with suppliers and buyers actively trading worldwide. Most sellers on Alibaba.com are reputable and trustworthy manufacturers, ready to empower online stores with high-quality goods and fast shipping. Some even offer order fulfillment, saving dropshipping customers valuable time for orders.

Alibaba.com also offers Trade Assurance, which helps safeguard customers and protect payments. By using Alibaba.com you can use a wide range of payment options such as PayPal, credit card, and even financing for US customers. Should a customer be unsatisfied with the products, the Trade Assurance policy will offer refunds and help you create happy customers. Use Alibaba.com to connect with dropshipping and e-commerce customers worldwide and create your own digital storefront to attract buyers and showcase your products.