Dropshipping income varies enormously, but here's what's realistic.
Realistic income ranges:
- Months 1-3: $0-$500/month — testing products and learning ads
- Months 3-6: $500-$2,000/month — found a winning product, dialing in ads
- Months 6-12: $2,000-$5,000/month — scaling campaigns and adding products
- Year 2+: $5,000-$10,000+/month — branded store, email list, multiple winners
Key stats (2026):
- Success rate: 10-20% achieve consistent profitability
- Some studies: as low as 1-5% for long-term success
- Profit margins: 10-20% after ad costs, COGS, and fees
- For every $10,000 in revenue, expect $1,500-$2,000 in profit
The biggest variable is ad spend efficiency. A 3x ROAS is considered good. Below 2x, you're likely losing money after all costs.