Dropshipping has become one of the most lucrative business models in India, allowing entrepreneurs to start an online business without holding inventory. Several Indian entrepreneurs have leveraged dropshipping to build successful businesses with minimal investment. This article highlights five inspiring success stories of Indian dropshipping businesses and the platforms that enabled them to start without upfront costs.
Top 5 Dropshipping Business Examples in India
1. Meesho – Empowering Small Entrepreneurs
Founder: Vidit Aatrey and Sanjeev Barnwal
Year Started: 2015
Business Model: Social Commerce & Dropshipping
Platform Used: Meesho (Self-built platform)
Success Story: Meesho started as a social commerce platform that allowed small sellers and resellers to source products from suppliers and sell them via WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram. With no upfront investment, individuals could run a dropshipping business by listing Meesho’s products and earning a profit margin on each sale. Today, Meesho is a leading player in the Indian dropshipping ecosystem with over 100 million downloads and millions of resellers.
Key Takeaway: If you're looking to start a zero-investment dropshipping business in India, Meesho provides an excellent opportunity by handling product sourcing, shipping, and logistics.
Messo Dropshipping Disadvantages
Messo dropshipping has some disadvantages that you should be aware of before choosing it as your supplier. Here are the key drawbacks:
Manual Product Uploads – You’ll need to manually add and update product listings, which is time-consuming.
No Branding Control – You cannot sell products under your own brand name, making it harder to build brand loyalty.
Generic Packaging – Messo ships products in its own or neutral packaging, preventing you from adding a professional touch with custom branding.
Difficult to Stand Out – Since many resellers use the same supplier, your store will offer identical products, making it harder to differentiate from competitors.
Lower Customer Trust – Customers may prefer brands over unbranded or generic products, affecting repeat purchases.
2. GlowRoad – Reseller-Based Dropshipping
Founder: Sonal Verma and Kunal Sinha
Year Started: 2017
Business Model: B2B2C Dropshipping Platform
Platform Used: GlowRoad
Success Story: GlowRoad was built to help housewives, students, and individuals without prior business experience start an e-commerce business. The platform provided a wide range of products that could be sold with a reseller commission model. Users could pick products from the GlowRoad catalog, share them on social media, and place orders only after receiving payments from customers. This eliminated the need for initial capital, making dropshipping accessible to thousands of Indian entrepreneurs.
Key Takeaway: Platforms like GlowRoad allow you to start dropshipping without any upfront investment while providing a vast catalog of trending products.
Glow Road Dropshipping Disadvantage
Major disadvantage of GlowRoad is that it is only integrated with Shopify, and does not offer integration with platforms like WooCommerce, Magento, wix and opencart . Without direct integration, you may face the following issues:
Manual Product Uploads – You’ll need to manually add and update product listings, which is time-consuming.
No Branding Control – You cannot sell products under your own brand name, making it harder to build brand loyalty.
Generic Packaging – Glow Road ships products in its own or neutral packaging, preventing you from adding a professional touch with custom branding.
3. Snazzyway – Dropshipping for Fashion & Lingerie
Founder: Nimita Sanwal & Nidhi Menon
Year Started: 2014
Business Model: Dropshipping
Platform Used: Snazzyway Fly
Success Story: Snazzyway revolutionized dropshipping in India by focusing on a niche market—lingerie and fashion. The company provides a white-label dropshipping service where resellers can sell premium fashion products under their own brand name without maintaining stock.
Many Indian entrepreneurs, including housewives and small e-commerce sellers, have used Snazzyway’s zero-inventory model to start their businesses. With free shipping, branding options, and seamless product sourcing,Snazzyway has earned its reputation as one of the most trusted Clothing dropshipping suppliers in India
Key Takeaway: If you’re interested in fashion dropshipping, Snazzyway offers a low-risk, high-reward business model with free shipping and branding options.
Snazzyway Dropshipping Disadvantage
While Snazzyway offers many benefits for dropshipping, there are a few potential disadvantages to consider:
Paid Plans – Snazzyway's services, such as the White Label Plan, require an initial investment, This might not be suitable for sellers with limited budgets.
Limited International Reach – Although Snazzyway offers Pan-India shipping, it may not provide the same extensive global reach as other dropshipping suppliers that operate internationally.
4. Indiamart – B2B Dropshipping at Scale
Founder: Dinesh Agarwal
Year Started: 1996
Business Model: B2B Marketplace & Dropshipping
Platform Used: Indiamart
Success Story: Indiamart started as a B2B platform but evolved into a leading dropshipping marketplace. Entrepreneurs use Indiamart to connect with manufacturers, source bulk products, and sell them without stocking inventory.
A great example is Rahul, a tech-savvy entrepreneur from Mumbai, who used Indiamart to find suppliers for mobile accessories. He created an online store and started fulfilling orders directly from manufacturers. Within a year, Rahul scaled his business to ₹10 lakh in revenue by leveraging Indiamart’s direct supplier connections.
Key Takeaway: Indiamart is ideal for those interested in B2B dropshipping and bulk sourcing at competitive prices.
IndiaMart Dropshipping Disadvantage
Indiamart is not a full service dropshipping website, it can help you in finding supplier for your store. Indiamart is one of the oldest B2B Marketplaces in India where wholesalers and retail traders meet each other.
5. Shop101 – A Budget-Friendly Dropshipping Platform
Founder: Abhinav Jain
Year Started: 2015
Business Model: Reseller Dropshipping
Platform Used: Shop101
Success Story: Shop101 made it easy for anyone to set up an online store and sell without investing in inventory. By sourcing products from manufacturers and suppliers, Shop101 allowed individuals to sell products via social media and e-commerce platforms.
One of the biggest success stories is that of Anjali, a homemaker from Delhi, who started selling ethnic wear via Shop101. Within six months, she scaled her business to earn ₹50,000 per month without any initial investment. Shop101 managed order fulfillment, ensuring Anjali only had to focus on marketing and selling.
Key Takeaway: Shop101 offers a simple, low-cost dropshipping model suitable for beginners looking to start an online business.
Shop101 Dropshipping Disadvantage
Here are some potential disadvantages of using Shop 101 for dropshipping:
Limited Customization and Branding – Shop 101 does not offer white-label options or much flexibility in product branding. This can make it harder for you to establish a unique brand identity for your store, unlike platforms like Snazzyway, which offer customization and branding opportunities.
Pricing and Profit Margins – While Shop 101 provides a variety of products, the pricing might not be as competitive as other suppliers, reducing profit margins for resellers.
Inventory and Stock Management – Since Shop 101 is a platform for multiple suppliers, you may face issues with stock availability and real-time inventory updates. This can lead to overselling or canceled orders, especially if a product goes out of stock.
Manual Product Uploads – You’ll need to manually add and update product listings, which is time-consuming.
How You Can Start a Free Dropshipping Business in India
If you're inspired by these success stories, here’s how you can start your own dropshipping business without investment:
Choose a Niche: Focus on a profitable dropshipping niches like fashion, Lingerie, or home decor.
Select a Dropshipping Platform: Use platforms like Meesho, GlowRoad, Snazzyway, or Indiamart.
Create an Online Store: You can start with social media or a free Shopify trial.
Promote Your Products: Leverage Instagram, Facebook groups, and WhatsApp for marketing.
Manage Orders: Work with your dropshipping supplier to fulfill customer orders without holding stock.
Final Thoughts
The dropshipping industry in India is growing rapidly, providing entrepreneurs with a low-risk, high-reward business model. Whether you choose Meesho’s social commerce model, Snazzyway’s white-label branding, or Indiamart’s B2B approach, there are numerous ways to start a profitable dropshipping business without upfront investment.
By learning from these top 5 dropshipping business examples in India, you can take the first step towards building your own online business with minimal risk and maximum potential.
Are you ready to start your dropshipping journey? Explore these platforms and turn your business ideas into reality today!
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