Starting a dropshipping business is an accessible way to begin selling online, especially when you have the right tools in place.

AutoDS simplifies the entire process by automating product imports, pricing updates, order fulfillment, and tracking, so you can focus on growing your business instead of managing repetitive tasks.

Understanding how to set up your account correctly from the beginning helps you avoid common mistakes, choose the right tools for your business model, and start selling faster.

This guide walks you through everything you need to launch your dropshipping business with AutoDS, from account registration to essential features that help you scale.

Before you begin, it's essential to understand what AutoDS is and what it is not, to avoid confusion as you set up your business.

What AutoDS is:

AutoDS is a cloud-based dropshipping automation platform. It is a software tool designed to help you manage your dropshipping business more efficiently by connecting you to suppliers and automating repetitive tasks such as product imports, price monitoring, order placement, and tracking updates.

What AutoDS is NOT:

AutoDS is not a supplier. AutoDS does not own, store, or ship any products. We do not maintain inventory, and we are not responsible for product quality, packaging, or delivery times. These responsibilities belong to the suppliers you choose to work with (such as AliExpress, Amazon, Walmart, and others).

How it works:

When you sell a product in your store, you purchase it from a third-party supplier (like Amazon or AliExpress), and the supplier ships it directly to your customer. AutoDS helps you manage this process by offering different levels of automation for placing orders, updating tracking information, and monitoring stock and price changes. You can choose between:

AutoDS Marketplace:

While AutoDS is not a supplier, we do offer the AutoDS Marketplace feature. This is a product discovery tool inside your AutoDS account that allows you to browse, filter, and import profitable products from trusted suppliers directly into your store with just a few clicks. The Marketplace does not mean AutoDS owns these products, but it makes it easier for you to find and source them from external suppliers.

Before diving into account setup, it's important to understand how dropshipping works and what makes it an attractive business model for beginners.

Dropshipping is a retail fulfillment method where you sell products without keeping them in stock. Instead of purchasing inventory upfront, you only buy products from suppliers after customers place orders in your store.

How dropshipping works with AutoDS (example with Shopify):

This model eliminates the need for warehouses, reduces financial risk, and allows you to start selling with minimal upfront investment.

Dropshipping has become one of the most popular online business models because it offers significant advantages:

These benefits make dropshipping an ideal entry point for entrepreneurs who want to start an online business without the complexities of traditional retail.

Follow this step-by-step guide to set up and start dropshipping with AutoDS quickly.

Choosing your selling channel is the first step in setting up your dropshipping business.

AutoDS supports multiple platforms, including marketplaces such as eBay, Amazon, and Etsy, as well as e-commerce platforms like Shopify, Wix, and WooCommerce.

Each platform has its own advantages, challenges, and requirements. Understanding these differences helps you make an informed decision that aligns with your experience level, budget, and business goals.

Marketplaces (easier for beginners, built-in traffic):

E-commerce platforms (full branding control, requires marketing):

How much do I need to start dropshipping with AutoDS?

To start your dropshipping business with AutoDS, the initial costs involved are:

Here’s an example of your potential monthly investment when starting with dropshipping:

Total estimated monthly investment: $288.80

After registering, the next step is getting familiar with the AutoDS platform.

In addition to product imports, price updates, stock monitoring, and order fulfillment automation, our platform offers several features designed to support you on your dropshipping journey, allowing you to save hours of manual work every day and focus on growing your store.

Check some of our features designed especially for our users:

AutoDS offers several powerful tools to help you with your product research, discover trending items, analyze the competition, and import products quickly.

AutoDS includes AI tools that help you create product listings and ads faster. These tools use AI credits, which you purchase separately from your subscription.

Available AI tools:

Setting the correct prices is crucial to make a profit in dropshipping. AutoDS offers the possibility to automatically adjust your prices to stay competitive and profitable, even when supplier costs change.

What AutoDS does:

Product monitoring in AutoDS helps you avoid selling products that are out of stock or have become too expensive to fulfill profitably. You configure the rules (like minimum stock levels or maximum shipping days), and AutoDS applies them automatically by checking supplier prices and stock multiple times per day.

What AutoDS monitors:

As your store grows and you start managing more products, AutoDS offers filtering and bulk editing tools to help you work more efficiently. Instead of editing products one by one, you can make changes to hundreds or thousands of listings at once.

What you can do:

When is this useful?

This becomes essential when you're managing hundreds of products and need to make quick updates, like adjusting prices for a seasonal sale, changing shipping policies for a specific region, or updating templates across your entire catalog.

After choosing your selling channel and discovering features to grow your business with AutoDS, the next step is to register with AutoDS. The registration process is quick and straightforward, and you'll have immediate access to the platform once completed.

To do so, remember to have the following items ready:

Follow these steps to create your AutoDS account:

During registration in AutoDS, you will choose a subscription plan and optional add-ons that match your dropshipping business needs. We offer flexible plans based on the number of listings you want to manage, so you can start with a smaller catalog and upgrade as your store grows.

AutoDS subscription plans:

Trial period:

Billing options:

Optional add-ons:

These add-ons are optional but unlock specific features:

If you encounter any issues during registration in AutoDS, the following table provides common issues and their solutions:

Before uploading products into your store, it's essential to choose the right supplier and configure your supplier settings in AutoDS. This preparation saves time and prevents confusion later.

AutoDS supports a wide range of suppliers from which you can import and upload products to your store, giving you the flexibility to source items from various locations and compare options to find the best fit for your business needs.

How it works:

You don't buy products from AutoDS. You source them from external suppliers, such as Amazon, AliExpress, Walmart, and others. AutoDS helps you import these products into your store and automatically monitors them for price and stock changes.

When choosing your supplier, you must consider:

AutoDS integrates with numerous suppliers across different regions, allowing you to upload products from their catalogs directly to your connected selling channels.

The platform supports over 25 suppliers, including:

When a customer buys a product from your store, you need to purchase it from your supplier and have it shipped to the customer. This is called order fulfillment. AutoDS offers different ways to handle this process, from fully automated to completely manual.

Which order processing method should I choose?

It depends on your priorities and how you want to run your business:

The Fulfilled by AutoDS (FBA) service is our most recommended option for you.

How it works: AutoDS handles everything for you. When a customer orders, AutoDS places the order with the supplier, manages payment, updates tracking, and even handles returns if needed.

Best for: Users who want to save time, scale their business, and let AutoDS handle order fulfillment professionally.

What AutoDS does:

Additional benefits: Access to AutoDS Sourcing Service (for better pricing, faster shipping, and higher quality from suppliers), Sample Orders, AutoDS Marketplace, and Print on Demand.

Cost:

Supported suppliers: Check the FBA article for the complete list.

Why we recommend this: This is our main service and the best option if you're serious about dropshipping. It saves the most time, reduces errors, and allows you to focus on growing your business instead of processing orders.

Learn more about Fulfilled by AutoDS (FBA) here.

The Auto-Order with Full Automation service is also automated, but uses your own buyer accounts to process the orders.

How it works: You connect your Amazon or AliExpress buyer account to AutoDS. When a customer orders, AutoDS automatically places the order on the supplier's website using your account and updates tracking.

Best for: Users who want automation but prefer to use their own buyer accounts (for Prime benefits, rewards points, or maintaining purchase history).

What AutoDS does:

Cost:

Supported suppliers: AliExpress (multiple regions), Amazon (AU, DE, FR, UK, US).

Note: Tracking number conversion is available for Amazon orders. Returns must be handled through your own buyer account, not AutoDS.

Learn more about Auto-Order here.

The Auto-Order with Semi-Automation service uses your own buyer accounts, but the only automated service is the tracking updates.

How it works: You place orders manually, but AutoDS automatically updates the tracking number.

Best for: Users who want to control when and how orders are placed but need help keeping tracking information updated in their store.

What you do:

Cost:

Supported suppliers: AliExpress (multiple regions), and Amazon (AU, DE, FR, UK, US).

Learn more about Auto-Order here.

When handling your orders manually, you have no access to automation in AutoDS.

How it works: You handle everything yourself. When a customer orders, you manually place the order on the supplier's website, pay for it, copy tracking numbers, and update your store manually.

Best for: Users who want complete control over every aspect of order fulfillment and prefer to handle each step themselves without automation.

What you do:

Cost: Free (no AutoDS fees, no add-ons required).

Learn more about Manual Orders here.

Your buyers may request returns for various reasons, including mismatched expectations, delayed deliveries, or product quality issues. In dropshipping, you do not control inventory or shipping directly, so managing return requests effectively is essential to protect your performance.

Returns can impact your profit margins, store reputation, and account health, which is why it is important to know how to handle each request and work on reducing return rates from the beginning.

How you process returns depends on the fulfillment method you chose in Step 5. AutoDS handle returns with FBA, while Auto-Order and Manual Orders require you to hold them through your buyer account or supplier. To learn the specific return process for your method, refer to the corresponding article linked in Step 5.

Before applying strategies to reduce returns, it is essential to understand the normal return rate for your niche, allowing you to identify issues early and measure improvements over time.

A high return rate damages reputation, increases costs, and impacts store performance across all selling channels.

Fraudulent return requests can represent a significant portion of a retailer’s losses, so tackling return fraud is critical to protecting your business and keeping your operations sustainable.

Some suppliers supported by AutoDS, such as AliExpress, require valid proof and a clear reason before accepting returns.

Others, like Amazon, have introduced stricter measures, including blacklisting customers who frequently return items, to reduce abuse and protect sellers.

Your return policy must be clear, transparent, fair, and easy for buyers to find.

Communicating clearly with buyers helps prevent unnecessary returns and strengthens your relationship with customers. Not every complaint needs to end in a return, especially when the product is still usable and the issue can be addressed quickly.

Examples of alternative solutions include:

Many customers are willing to keep the item if they feel heard and fairly compensated for it.

By resolving issues early, you reduce return rates, protect your profit margins, and turn a potentially dissatisfied buyer into a loyal customer.

Improving product quality, images, and descriptions helps set the right expectations for your buyers, which directly reduces return rates and increases customer satisfaction. Unclear details or misleading visuals are some of the most common reasons for returns in e-commerce.

To reduce returns and build trust:

You can also use AutoDS tools to improve product quality and content before listing:

Shifting orders to Fulfilled by AutoDS ensures professional handling that reduces return rates and builds customer trust.

Benefits:

If you encounter challenges with returns, the following table provides common issues and their solutions:

AutoDS not only updates your items automatically but also sends you email notifications for important product and order changes.

By receiving alerts about stock updates, price changes, and order status, you can react quickly to potential issues, keep your listings accurate, and protect your profit margins as your store grows.

To have access to this feature, remember to enable price and stock monitoring.

To set up email notifications for product monitoring and orders in your AutoDS account:

Solving problems quickly and learning continuously are essential for growing your dropshipping business efficiently.

AutoDS provides multiple support channels, educational resources, and mentorship programs to help you resolve technical issues, avoid common mistakes, and implement proven strategies at every stage of your journey.

Whether you need immediate help with a technical issue or want to learn advanced strategies for scaling, AutoDS offers the resources you need to succeed.

The mentorship program is designed for beginners who want structured, expert guidance to accelerate their learning curve, protect their profit margins, and build a more stable dropshipping business.

It will connect you with experienced dropshipping mentors who guide you through real business challenges so that you can grow your store with more clarity and confidence.

With the AutoDS Mentorship Program, you can:

AutoDS offers world-class customer support, active communities, and knowledge base resources to help you succeed.

Managing your AutoDS account effectively helps you keep billing, subscription, and login details organized as your business grows.

Clear account management also prevents interruptions to your service and ensures you always have access to your store and automation tools.