Imagine you’re starting a dropshipping business selling office products like ink cartridges and staplers. You’ve partnered with a third-party supplier to handle storing, packing, and shipping office products. Now it’s time to find potential customers, but where should you start?
One option is Facebook Marketplace. Originally launched in 2016 for selling products locally, Facebook Marketplace expanded into shipped products in 2019. This makes the site into a useful platform for ecommerce entrepreneurs using a dropshipping business model.
In any given month, a whopping 1.23 billion people shop on Facebook Marketplace. Read about the requirements for Facebook Marketplace dropshipping and learn how you can start your own Facebook dropshipping business.
Rules for dropshipping on Facebook Marketplace
Facebook Marketplace has a few requirements you need to meet to dropship products on the platform. You must be at least 18 years old and have an active Facebook account in good standing. You also need to post accurate listings without misleading information or product photos.
There are a few types of items you’re not allowed to sell on Facebook Marketplace, per the site’s commerce policies:
- Digital products or services. Facebook Marketplace does not allow the sale of subscription services or digital products like apps, online courses, or ebooks.
- Weapons and ammunition. Facebook prohibits weapons of any kind, including firearms, knives, and bows.
- Medical or pharmaceutical products. Prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines, and supplements are not allowed on Facebook Marketplace, including products like bandages or oxygen tanks.
- Adult products. These include goods like sex toys and sexual health products.
- Tobacco products. Facebook prohibits the sale of cigarettes and e-cigarettes, as well as smoking paraphernalia like pipes or rolling papers.
- Alcohol. You can’t sell alcohol on Facebook Marketplace—not even to buyers who are over the legal drinking age.
- Violent or hateful materials. Products featuring offensive symbols or messages are not allowed for sale on Facebook Marketplace.
- Hazardous materials. Materials like flammable liquids and toxic chemicals are prohibited for sale on the platform.
- Auto parts. Facebook bans the sale of vehicle parts and accessories.
- Animals. Facebook Marketplace does not allow the sale of any animals, including household pets like cats or goldfish.
How to dropship on Facebook Marketplace
- Research a product to dropship
- Find a reliable dropshipping supplier
- Set up your Facebook Marketplace account
- Post engaging product listings
- Market your listings on Facebook
- Fulfill orders
Here’s how to launch a Facebook Marketplace dropshipping business:
1. Research a product to dropship
Perform market research and product research to find the perfect item to sell on Facebook Marketplace. Start by taking a look at the best dropshipping products, then consider currently trending products. Look for popular products that have less competition on Facebook Marketplace than on similar platforms like Etsy and TikTok Shop. Use tools like Google Trends to measure search volumes for product keywords on Google Search.
2. Find a reliable dropshipping supplier
Once you’ve found a dropshipping product to sell on Facebook Marketplace, research dropshipping suppliers who offer that product to merchants. Compare and contrast different dropshipping suppliers by evaluating them based on a few key criteria, including:
- Pricing. How competitive are the supplier’s prices? Will you be able to mark up the product by enough on Facebook Marketplace to secure a reasonable profit margin? Note that Facebook takes a 10% fee (or a minimum of 80¢ per order) for shipped products.
- Location. Where are the supplier’s warehouses? Choose a supplier with locations near your main customer base for faster order fulfillment.
- Reputation. What have other merchants said about working with the supplier? Look for suppliers who are known for good customer service and reliable inventory management.
3. Set up your Facebook Marketplace account
Log in to your company’s Facebook account and click on the Marketplace icon on the left side of your homepage. Provide your location to confirm you’re selling in an area where Facebook Marketplace operates.
To ship products, you’ll also need to offer your bank account details as well as tax information like your Social Security number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).
4. Post engaging product listings
Create your first Facebook Marketplace listing by selecting “Create new listing” on the left side of your Marketplace account. Select “Item for sale” as your listing type and add all of the relevant details about your product, including its name, description, and category tags. Write product listings with compelling product descriptions and make sure to focus on the product’s benefits for the buyer.
For example, if you’re dropshipping skin care products, you might highlight the anti-aging benefits of a moisturizer. Include shipping costs in your Facebook Marketplace listings to avoid surprise fees for your customers.
5. Market your listings on Facebook
Develop a digital marketing strategy for your Facebook Marketplace dropshipping store. You might consider running paid ads directly in Facebook Marketplace. These ads allow up to 10 images or videos, each of which will feature a link to the associated listing on your Facebook Marketplace online store.
When you’re creating your Facebook Marketplace ad, choose your campaign objective (like earning traffic or conversions) and select your target audience by specifying demographics, interests, and behavior patterns. Once you’ve established your ad targeting, the Facebook algorithm uses that information to place your ads before relevant potential customers.
6. Fulfill orders
Once a customer buys one of your products, send the order information to your dropshipping supplier, who then issues you a tracking number and ships the product directly to the customer. From there, click “Shipping orders,” input the tracking number, and mark your item as shipped.
Facebook requires merchants to ship items within three days of the order being placed, so monitor your Commerce Manager page consistently to review new orders. You can also use the Commerce Manager page to issue a refund, cancel items, or contact customers directly.
Tips for dropshipping on Facebook Marketplace
Here are a few tips to consider for effective Facebook Marketplace dropshipping:
Build a good reputation
To run a successful dropshipping business on Facebook Marketplace, you need to earn positive seller ratings. Once you’ve received five ratings from buyers, your average rating becomes public. Buyers might have questions about your products or shipping methods, so develop your customer service skills to ensure positive interactions and, eventually, stellar reviews.
The more positive reviews you can garner from customers, the more trust customers will have in your Facebook dropshipping store, which can lead to more sales. Respond to customers promptly, ship products on time, handle any problems that arise, and ask for feedback from customers to better understand the customer experience you’re delivering.
Manage your cash flow
After a customer purchases one of your dropshipping products through Facebook Marketplace, it takes 15 to 20 days for the money to arrive in your bank account. Since the dropshipping model requires you to purchase products from suppliers, there will be a window between when the order is placed and when the sale is processed in which you won’t have the money in your account.
Manage your cash flow by ensuring that you have enough resources to keep your business operating while you’re waiting for Facebook Marketplace to process sales.
Use automation tools
Invest in automation software with a Facebook Marketplace integration to simplify the process of sending orders to your suppliers. Automated dropshipping tools can save you time and reduce the odds of human error when it comes to sharing important information, like a customer’s address.
Facebook dropshipping FAQ
How do you find products to dropship on Facebook Marketplace?
Find products to dropship on Facebook Marketplace by performing product research about trending products on other online marketplaces and social media platforms. Look for products you can sell at a competitive price on Facebook Marketplace.
Is dropshipping on Facebook Marketplace profitable?
Dropshipping on Facebook Marketplace can be profitable if you find a good product niche, develop a strong digital marketing strategy, and build a reliable reputation as a merchant on the platform.
Which social media platform is best for dropshippers?
TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook are all good social media platforms to explore listing products for your dropshipping business.
