Because we have the whole world literally at our fingertips with the internet, we have new and better ways to make money, too. One of these ways is by drop shipping. Sure, this idea has been around since well before the advent of the internet, but it is even more popular now due to the online marketplace. There are a number of things to look for in a drop ship company and keeping these things in mind when choosing the right products and companies to drop ship can add to your chances of success in a huge way.

A good drop shipping company is one of the most important things to look for when starting this business. Check the drop ship company you're researching against its competitors and asses the overall ranking. You should also be able to buy products directly from the drop ship company at wholesale or drop ship prices. Whatever the product might be, it may be advantageous to see if you can have a free sample or trial. The product should be accessible without a lot of red tape involved.

Check to see if the company is BBB listed and in good standing. You should be able to find out this information relatively easily if the company is reliable. Check out the support or help desk; find out if there is a forum. Is there a knowledge base or FAQ with a good amount of information? You should also be able to directly contact the drop ship company.

Ideally the company will be upfront about the markup percentage. And the company should be able to ship products using your name and address as the sender. It is advisable to find a drop shipper who allows PayPal payments, as these are more secure and you have a guarantee. And make sure you find out how long they've been in business and see if they have a good reliable track record with their affiliates.

You should be able to easily locate some great drop ship companies simply by doing an online search. Be aware of any fees involved in drop shipping. Reliable companies will not usually charge for the service as you are basically doing them a favor by retailing their products and marketing them. But, there might be smaller companies who do not receive enough revenue from drop shipping individual products to your customers and might need to charge you a monthly subscription fee. This is fine as long as you can find some good, popular products that you can add a nice markup to and expect big returns.

The products that you choose to sell are very important as they are representative of you as a retailer and the quality of your business. The quality of the drop ship company in delivering your products intact, in good working order, undamaged and in a reasonable amount of time is also a major key to your success as a drop shipper. If you keep all of these things in mind when you start your new drop shipping business you will enjoy great success.