Launch a Dropshipping Store in 30 Minutes

CodePup AI enables you to launch a complete dropshipping business through conversational AI.
Describe your niche, connect your suppliers, and CodePup AI generates a fully functional online store with product catalog, automated order processing, payment integration, and customer management.

Dropshipping eliminates the need for inventory, warehousing, or upfront product costs - you only pay for products when customers order.
CodePup AI handles all the technical setup, so you can focus on marketing and growing your business.

What is Dropshipping?

Dropshipping is an ecommerce business model where you sell products without holding inventory.

How it works:

Customer orders from your online store
You forward the order to your supplier
Supplier ships directly to your customer
You keep the profit (selling price minus supplier cost)

The beauty of dropshipping: zero inventory risk, low startup costs, and location independence.

Key Features of Your Dropshipping Store

Zero Inventory Costs

Start selling without buying inventory upfront.
Only purchase products after customers pay you.

Automated Order Fulfillment

Orders automatically sync with your supplier.
No manual copy-pasting or spreadsheet management.

Product Sourcing

Connect to suppliers like AliExpress, Spocket, or CJ Dropshipping.
Import products with descriptions, images, and pricing.

Stripe Payments

Accept payments globally with credit cards, debit cards, and digital wallets.
Get paid before you pay suppliers.

Customer Management

Track orders, manage customer inquiries, and handle returns.
All through your Supabase-powered dashboard.

Email Automation

Automated order confirmations, shipping updates, and customer support emails via Resend.

Profit Calculator

Built-in calculator to track profit margins, supplier costs, and shipping fees.
Know your numbers in real-time.

Mobile Optimized

Your store works perfectly on all devices.
Customers can shop from anywhere.

Why Build Your Dropshipping Store with CodePup AI?

Traditional dropshipping setup requires:

2-4 weeks of manual work - Shopify setup, theme customization, app installations
$500-$2,000 upfront costs - Store setup, apps, themes, branding
Monthly fees - Shopify ($29/mo) + Oberlo/DSers ($30/mo) + other apps ($50-$100/mo)
Technical knowledge - Product imports, payment setup, shipping configuration
Plugin complexity - Managing 5-10 different apps just to run your store

With CodePup AI, your workflow becomes:

“Describe your niche → Connect supplier → Import products → Launch in 30 minutes”

For example:
“Build me a dropshipping store for phone accessories. Modern design with blue colors. Import trending products from AliExpress.”

CodePup AI will:

Generate a professional store matching your vision
Set up Supabase database for products, orders, customers
Integrate Stripe for instant payments
Configure Resend for automated emails
Create an admin panel to manage orders and inventory
Deploy a mobile-responsive, SEO-optimized store

All ready to start selling immediately.

The Dropshipping Math: How Much Can You Make?

Here’s a realistic example:

Product: Wireless Phone Charger

Item	Amount
Your selling price	$29.99
Supplier cost (AliExpress)	$8.50
Shipping cost (to customer)	$0 (free shipping)
Shipping from supplier	Included
Payment processing (2.9% + 30¢)	$1.17
Your profit per sale	$20.32

Monthly Projections:

Sales Volume	Total Sales	Total Profit	Net After Costs*
10 orders/mo	$299.90	$203.20	$174.20
50 orders/mo	$1,499.50	$1,016.00	$957.00
100 orders/mo	$2,999.00	$2,032.00	$1,944.00
200 orders/mo	$5,998.00	$4,064.00	$3,910.00

*After CodePup AI ($29/mo) + Supabase ($25/mo) + Stripe fees

Key takeaway: With just 100 orders per month, you can net ~$2,000/mo profit.

Getting Started: Launch Your Dropshipping Store

Building your dropshipping store requires:

A CodePup AI account (free to start)
A Supabase account (backend + database)
A Stripe account (payment processing)
A Resend account (email notifications)
Supplier accounts (AliExpress, Spocket, CJ Dropshipping)

All services offer free tiers - total upfront cost: $0.

Prerequisites: Set Up Your Accounts

CodePup AI - Sign up at www.codepup.ai
Free tier available to test your store.
Supabase - Sign up at supabase.com
Free tier: 2 projects, 500MB database, 1GB storage.
Stripe - Sign up at stripe.com
No monthly fees, only pay 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction.
Resend - Sign up at resend.com
Free tier: 100 emails/day, 3,000/month.
Supplier Account - Choose one:
- AliExpress - Best for beginners, massive product selection
- Spocket - US/EU suppliers, faster shipping
- CJ Dropshipping - Professional service, better support

Step 1: Choose Your Dropshipping Niche

Success in dropshipping starts with picking the right niche.

Popular High-Profit Niches:

Phone Accessories - Cases, chargers, screen protectors (high demand, low competition)
Fitness & Wellness - Resistance bands, yoga mats, supplements
Home & Garden - LED lights, organizers, smart home devices
Pet Products - Toys, grooming tools, pet cameras
Beauty & Skincare - Tools, brushes, skincare devices
Tech Gadgets - Bluetooth speakers, smartwatches, earbuds
Fashion Accessories - Jewelry, sunglasses, bags

Step 2: Start Your Dropshipping Project

Log in to CodePup AI
Click “New Project” and select “Interactive Website”
Write your store description. Be specific about:
- Niche: What products you’re dropshipping (phone accessories, fitness gear, etc.)
- Target audience: Who you’re selling to (young professionals, fitness enthusiasts, pet owners)
- Style: Design aesthetic (modern, minimal, bold, trendy)
- Colors: Brand color scheme

Example Prompts:

Build me a dropshipping store for phone accessories.  
Target young professionals aged 20-35.  
Modern, clean design with navy blue and white colors.  
Include product filters, search, and customer reviews.

Create a dropshipping store for fitness equipment and accessories.  
Target fitness enthusiasts and gym-goers.  
Bold, energetic design with black and neon green.  
Include workout guides and product comparison tools.

Build a pet products dropshipping store.  
Target dog and cat owners.  
Fun, colorful design with orange and teal.  
Include pet care blog and product recommendations.

Step 3: Connect Your Integrations

After CodePup AI generates your store, connect your backend services.

Connect Supabase
Enter your Supabase Access Token.
- Go to Supabase Dashboard
- Navigate to Settings → API
- Copy your anon/public key
- Paste into CodePup AI
CodePup AI automatically creates:
- Products table (with supplier info)
- Orders table (with fulfillment status)
- Customers table
- Suppliers table
Connect Stripe
Enter your Stripe Publishable and Secret Keys.
- Go to Stripe Dashboard
- Navigate to Developers → API Keys
- Copy both keys
- Paste into CodePup AI
Use Test Mode keys first to avoid real charges.
Switch to Live Mode when ready to accept real orders.
Connect Resend
Enter your Resend API Key.
- Go to Resend Dashboard
- Create an API key
- Paste into CodePup AI
Email automation includes:
- Order confirmation to customer
- Order notification to you (for supplier fulfillment)
- Shipping confirmation
- Delivery confirmation

Step 4: Import Products from Suppliers

This is where dropshipping magic happens - adding products without buying inventory.

Option 1: Manual Product Import (Recommended for Beginners)

Browse your supplier (AliExpress, Spocket, etc.)
Find trending products in your niche
Copy product details:
- Product name
- Description
- Images (5-10 high-quality photos)
- Supplier cost
- Shipping time
Tell CodePup AI to add the product:

Add a new product:
Name: Wireless Fast Charging Pad  
Supplier cost: $8.50  
My selling price: $29.99  
Description: [paste description]  
Upload these images: [attach images]  
Shipping: 7-15 days

CodePup AI will:

Create the product page with images
Calculate profit margin automatically
Add to your catalog
Make it available for sale

Option 2: Bulk Import (Advanced)

Import these 20 products from my CSV file [attach file]  
Set markup at 3x supplier cost  
Add to "Phone Accessories" category

Step 5: Customize Your Store

Make your store unique with AI-powered customization.

Design Tweaks:

Change the primary color to deep blue

Add a promotional banner: "Free Shipping on Orders Over $50"

Make product images larger with zoom on hover

Features to Add:

Add a product comparison tool so customers can compare features

Include customer reviews with star ratings

Add a live chat widget for customer support

Create a "Trending Products" section on the homepage

Add urgency badges: "Only 5 left in stock!" or "Selling fast!"

Step 6: Set Up Order Fulfillment Automation

The key to successful dropshipping is automated order processing.

Manual Fulfillment (Simple):

When a customer orders:

You receive email notification (via Resend)
Log into your supplier (AliExpress)
Place the order using customer’s shipping address
Update order status in your admin panel
Customer receives tracking number automatically

Automated Fulfillment (Advanced):

Connect my store to Oberlo/DSers for automatic order forwarding  
When customer orders, automatically send order to supplier  
Sync tracking numbers back to my store

Step 7: Configure Your Admin Panel

CodePup AI generates a complete admin dashboard for managing your dropshipping business.

Features include:

Order Management: View new orders, update fulfillment status, track shipping
Product Management: Add/edit products, update pricing, manage inventory alerts
Customer Support: View customer inquiries, order history, refund requests
Profit Tracking: Real-time profit calculator (revenue - supplier costs - fees)
Analytics: Best-selling products, conversion rates, traffic sources

Access Your Admin Panel:

Create an admin login page  
Add me as admin: youremail@example.com

Admin URL: https://yourstore.codepup.ai/admin

How Your Dropshipping Business Works

Customer Journey:

Customer discovers your store (via ads, social media, SEO)
Browses products with high-quality images and descriptions
Adds items to cart and proceeds to checkout
Enters shipping info and pays via Stripe
Receives order confirmation email instantly

Your Workflow:

Receive order notification via email (Resend)
Forward order to supplier (manually or automatically)
Supplier ships directly to your customer
Update order status in admin panel
Tracking number syncs to customer automatically
Customer receives product in 7-15 days
You keep the profit 💰

No Inventory Needed:

You never touch the product
No warehouse or storage costs
No upfront inventory investment
Only pay supplier after customer pays you

Database Schema (Auto-Generated)

When you connect Supabase, CodePup AI creates these tables for dropshipping:

Products Table

- id (uuid)
- name (text)
- description (text)
- supplier_cost (decimal)
- selling_price (decimal)
- profit_margin (decimal, calculated)
- image_urls (array)
- supplier_name (text)
- supplier_url (text)
- shipping_time (text)
- category (text)
- created_at (timestamp)

Orders Table

- id (uuid)
- customer_id (uuid)
- total_amount (decimal)
- supplier_cost (decimal, sum of all products)
- profit (decimal, calculated)
- status (text: pending, processing, shipped, delivered)
- fulfillment_status (text: unfulfilled, fulfilled)
- shipping_address (jsonb)
- tracking_number (text)
- supplier_order_id (text)
- created_at (timestamp)

Order Items Table

- id (uuid)
- order_id (uuid)
- product_id (uuid)
- quantity (integer)
- supplier_cost (decimal)
- selling_price (decimal)
- profit_per_item (decimal)

Suppliers Table

- id (uuid)
- name (text: AliExpress, Spocket, etc.)
- contact_email (text)
- api_key (text, encrypted)
- shipping_times (jsonb)
- notes (text)

You can view and modify all tables in Supabase Dashboard → Database.

Payment Processing with Stripe

Stripe handles all payments securely. Key features:

Get paid instantly - Customer pays you before you pay supplier
Multiple payment methods - Cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay
Test mode - Fully test checkout before going live
Automatic payouts - Stripe deposits to your bank account

Cash Flow Example:

Customer pays you $29.99 via Stripe
Stripe takes $1.17 fee (2.9% + 30¢)
You receive $28.82 in your Stripe balance
You pay supplier $8.50
Your profit: $20.32

Learn more about Stripe Integration →

Email Automation with Resend

Every order triggers automated emails:

Customer Emails:

Order Confirmation - “Thanks for your order! Here’s your receipt.”
Shipping Notification - “Your order has shipped! Track it here: [link]”
Delivery Confirmation - “Your order was delivered!”

Admin Emails (You):

New Order Alert - “New order #1234 received. Fulfill now.”
Low Stock Alert - “Product XYZ is running low on supplier inventory.”

Customizing Emails:

Update order confirmation email to include estimated delivery time  
Add our logo and brand colors

Include a discount code for 10% off next order in delivery confirmation

Learn more about Resend Integration →

Deploying Your Dropshipping Store

Ready to launch and start selling?

Click “Publish” in CodePup AI
Choose your domain:
- Free subdomain: yourstore.codepup.ai
- Custom domain: yourstore.com
Switch Stripe from Test to Live Mode:
- Replace API keys with live keys
- Redeploy
Your dropshipping store is live!
Start driving traffic and making sales.

Learn about Custom Domains →

Marketing Your Dropshipping Store

Building the store is just the beginning. Now you need customers.

Free Traffic Sources:

Instagram Organic
- Post product photos/videos daily
- Use trending hashtags in your niche
- Engage with potential customers
- Link in bio to your store
TikTok Organic
- Create product demo videos
- Show products solving problems
- Use trending sounds and effects
- Link to store in bio
Pinterest
- Create product pins with descriptions
- Link directly to product pages
- Great for home, fashion, beauty niches
Reddit Marketing
- Find relevant subreddits (r/PhoneAccessories, r/Fitness)
- Provide value first, promote subtly
- Share deals and exclusive offers
Facebook Groups
- Join niche-specific groups
- Answer questions, help people
- Share your products when relevant

Paid Traffic (Faster Results):

Facebook/Instagram Ads
- Best for visual products
- Start with $10-20/day budget
- Target specific interests and demographics
- Track ROAS (Return on Ad Spend)
TikTok Ads
- Growing platform, lower costs
- Great for viral products
- Short video ads perform best
Google Shopping Ads
- High purchase intent traffic
- Show up in Google searches
- Pay per click

Advanced Dropshipping Features

Product Upsells

When customer adds phone case to cart, suggest screen protector  
Show "Frequently bought together" section  
Offer bundle discount: Save 15% when buying both

Abandoned Cart Recovery

Send email to customers who left items in cart  
Offer 10% discount code to complete purchase  
Send reminder after 1 hour, 24 hours, 3 days

Loyalty Program

Create a points system: 1 point per $1 spent  
100 points = $5 discount  
Show points balance in customer account

Product Reviews

Send email 7 days after delivery asking for review  
Offer 10% off next order for leaving a review  
Display reviews with photos on product pages

Common Dropshipping Challenges & Solutions

Challenge 1: Long Shipping Times

Problem: AliExpress takes 15-30 days
Solution: Use Spocket or CJ Dropshipping for US/EU suppliers (5-7 day shipping)

Connect to Spocket for faster US suppliers  
Filter products by shipping time: under 7 days

Challenge 2: Product Quality Issues

Problem: Customer receives damaged/poor quality product
Solution: Order samples yourself before listing

Create a "Sample Orders" tracking sheet  
Test every product before selling  
Only work with suppliers with 4.5+ ratings

Challenge 3: Supplier Stockouts

Problem: Customer orders, supplier out of stock
Solution: Multiple suppliers per product

Add backup suppliers for each product  
Set up automatic stock checking  
Alert me if primary supplier is out of stock

Challenge 4: Refunds & Returns

Problem: Customer wants refund, you already paid supplier
Solution: Clear return policy + supplier coordination

Add return policy page:  
"30-day money-back guarantee"  
Process returns through supplier first  
Only refund after supplier confirms

Pricing Breakdown

Startup Costs:

Service	Cost
CodePup AI	$0 (free tier) or $29/mo
Supabase	$0 (free tier) or $25/mo
Stripe	$0 monthly (2.9% + 30¢ per transaction)
Resend	$0 (free tier) or $20/mo
Domain (optional)	$12/year
Total to start	$0-$12

Monthly Costs (After Growth):

Item	Cost
CodePup AI Pro	$29/mo
Supabase Pro	$25/mo
Resend	$20/mo
Marketing budget	$300-1,000/mo
Total monthly	$374-1,074/mo

Revenue Example (100 orders/month):

Item	Amount
Revenue (100 × $30)	$3,000
Supplier costs (100 × $8.50)	-$850
Stripe fees (2.9% + $30)	-$117
CodePup + Supabase + Resend	-$74
Net profit	$1,959

ROI: Spend $74/mo on tech, make $1,959/mo = 26x return!

Before Going Live Checklist

Test complete order flow:
- Browse products
- Add to cart
- Complete checkout (Stripe test mode)
- Receive order confirmation email
- View order in admin panel
- Mark as fulfilled
- Test tracking number update
Order samples from suppliers
- Test product quality
- Verify shipping times
- Check packaging
Set up legal pages:
- Privacy Policy
- Terms of Service
- Refund/Return Policy
- Shipping Policy
Configure Stripe for live payments
- Replace test keys with live keys
- Verify payout bank account
Set up customer support:
- Add live chat widget
- Create FAQ page
- Set up support email
Launch marketing campaigns
- Start Instagram/TikTok posting
- Set up Facebook Ads
- Join niche communities

FAQ

How long does it take to build a dropshipping store with CodePup AI?

30 minutes to build the store.
Another 1-2 hours to import products and customize.
Total time from idea to launched store: 2-3 hours.

Do I need money upfront to buy inventory?

No! That’s the beauty of dropshipping.
You only pay suppliers after customers pay you.
Zero inventory investment required.

How do I find profitable products to sell?

Look for products that:

Have 3x markup potential ($10 cost → $30 selling price)
Solve a specific problem
Are lightweight and unbreakable
Have passionate customer bases
Are trending on social media

Tools to use:

AliExpress “Hot Products”
Amazon Best Sellers
TikTok trending products
Facebook Ad Library (see what others are selling)

What’s the average profit margin in dropshipping?

Healthy dropshipping margins:

15-45% net profit margin after all costs
Aim for 3x markup (supplier cost × 3 = selling price)
Example: $10 product → sell for $30 → ~$20 gross profit

After Stripe fees, marketing, and overhead:
20-30% net margin is excellent.

How long does shipping take?

Depends on your supplier:

AliExpress: 15-30 days (China to US/EU)
Spocket (US suppliers): 2-7 days
CJ Dropshipping: 5-15 days
Local suppliers: 2-5 days

Pro tip: Use Spocket or CJ for faster shipping and better customer satisfaction.

Can I dropship from multiple suppliers?

Yes! You can:

Mix AliExpress, Spocket, and CJ products in one store
Have backup suppliers for each product
Source different product categories from different suppliers

CodePup AI tracks which supplier each product comes from in your database.

How do I handle customer refunds?

Refund Process:

Customer requests refund
Contact supplier to initiate return
Supplier confirms return/refund
Issue refund to customer via Stripe
Supplier refunds you

Best practice: Have a clear 30-day return policy and work with suppliers who accept returns.

Do I need to collect sales tax?

Depends on your location:

US: You may need to collect sales tax in states where you have “nexus” (usually where you live or have warehouses)
EU: VAT requirements apply
Other countries: Check local regulations

CodePup AI can integrate with Stripe Tax for automatic tax calculation worldwide.

Enable Stripe Tax for automatic sales tax calculation  
Set up tax collection for US, EU, and other regions

Can I automate order fulfillment?

Yes! Options:

Manual: Copy order details to supplier (5 min per order)
Semi-automated: Use DSers/Oberlo for one-click ordering
Fully automated: CJ Dropshipping auto-fulfills orders

Connect my store to CJ Dropshipping API  
Automatically forward orders when customer pays  
Sync tracking numbers back to my store

What if a product goes out of stock?

CodePup AI can:

Check supplier stock levels regularly
Send you alerts when products are low/out of stock
Automatically hide out-of-stock products from your store
Suggest alternative products to customers

Set up automatic stock checking every 24 hours  
Alert me if supplier inventory drops below 10 units  
Auto-hide products that are out of stock

How much can I realistically make with dropshipping?

Realistic earnings:

Month 1-3 (Learning phase):

10-30 orders/month
$500-1,500/month profit

Month 4-6 (Growing):

50-100 orders/month
$2,000-5,000/month profit

Month 7-12 (Established):

200-500 orders/month
$8,000-20,000/month profit

Key factors: Marketing spend, product selection, conversion rate optimization.

Is CodePup AI better than Shopify for dropshipping?

Choose CodePup AI if:

You want to launch in 30 minutes (vs 1-2 weeks)
You’re on a tight budget ($0-29/mo vs $29-299/mo + apps)
You prefer AI-powered setup over manual configuration
You don’t want to manage 10+ plugins

Choose Shopify if:

You need 1000+ apps and integrations
You’re already doing $50k+/month in revenue
You have a team managing operations
You need advanced inventory systems

See full comparison →

Can I add my own branded packaging?

Yes! Many suppliers offer:

Custom packaging
Branded inserts
Thank you cards
Custom labels

Ask your supplier:

Do you offer custom packaging?  
Can you include my branded thank you card?  
What's the cost per unit?

Usually adds $0.50-$2.00 per order.

Next Steps

Ready to start your dropshipping business?

Launch Your Store

Build your store now →

View Examples

See dropshipping examples →

Join Community

Get help on Discord →

Learn More

Getting Started Guide →

Questions? Email us at ask@codepup.ai or join our Discord community.

Ready to quit your job and go full-time dropshipping? We’ll be here to support you every step of the way. 🚀