How Old Do You Have To Be To Start Dropshipping?

How Old Do You Have to Be to Start Dropshipping?

How Old Do You Have to Be to Start Dropshipping? If you’ve been wondering about this, you’re not alone. You’ve probably seen young entrepreneurs making money online without ever handling inventory.

Maybe you’ve watched YouTube videos of their success and now you’re asking yourself:

“Can I start dropshipping at my age?”

The short answer? Yes, but there are some legal and practical hurdles to consider.

The long answer? It depends on where you live, how you set up your business, and whether you have an adult to help you navigate the rules.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know—age requirements, legal considerations, challenges, and real-life examples of young dropshippers who made it work.

What Is Dropshipping? (And Why Is It a Great Business Model?)

Before we jump into the age requirements, let’s first make sure we’re on the same page about what dropshipping actually is.

Dropshipping is an eCommerce business model where you sell products online without having to buy, store, or ship them yourself. Instead, you partner with a supplier (like those on AliExpress), and when a customer places an order, the supplier ships the product directly to them.

Here’s why dropshipping is so appealing—especially to young entrepreneurs:

• You don’t need thousands of dollars to buy inventory upfront.
• You don’t need a warehouse to store products.
• You don’t have to worry about packing and shipping orders.
• You can run it from anywhere as long as you have a laptop and an internet connection.
• It’s a low-risk way to start a business and learn the ropes of eCommerce—which is why so many young people are interested in it.

How Old Do You Need to Be to Start Dropshipping?

Technically, there’s no age restriction to learning about dropshipping, setting up a store, or even advertising products.

However, when it comes to the actual business side of things (accepting payments, handling finances, and registering a business), you will run into some legal age requirements.

1. eCommerce Platforms: Where You Build Your Store
   If you want to start dropshipping, you’ll need an online store. Some popular platforms include: Fathershops (No age restrictions, but payment processors may have them) So, while anyone can create a store, the real issue comes when you need to accept payments from customers—which brings us to the next point.
2. Payment Processors: How You Get Paid
   This is where things get tricky. To process transactions and receive money, you need to connect a payment gateway, and most of them require you to be at least 18 years old. Here’s what the age requirements look like for major payment processors:
   • PayPal – Must be 18 or older to create an account.
   • Stripe – Requires users to be 18+.
   • Other payment processors – Most follow the same rule due to financial regulations.
   Since these platforms deal with money, they require account holders to be legal adults.
3. Suppliers: Where You Get Your Products
   Most dropshipping suppliers, including those on AliExpress, don’t have strict age restrictions for browsing or placing orders. However, you still need a payment method to actually purchase products.
4. Business Registration & Taxes
   If you’re serious about scaling your dropshipping business, you may need to register it legally at some point. This depends on your country’s laws, but in most cases:
   • If you’re under 18, you can’t legally register a business without parental consent.
   • Some countries allow young entrepreneurs to register as sole proprietors with restrictions.
   • Regardless of your age, you must pay taxes on any income you earn.
   Now, you might be thinking: “If I’m under 18, am I stuck?” Not at all. There are ways to work around these age restrictions—and that’s what we’ll cover next.

How to Start Dropshipping If You’re Under 18

Even if you don’t meet the legal age requirements, there are still ways to start a dropshipping business. Here’s how young entrepreneurs have made it work:

1. Use a Parent or Guardian’s Account The most common solution is to ask a trusted adult (like a parent, older sibling, or guardian) to help you out. They can:
   • Create a PayPal or Stripe account under their name.
   • Register the business legally (if needed).
   • Help with any tax-related matters.
   Once you turn 18, you can transfer the business to your name.
2. Partner With Someone 18+ If you have an older sibling, friend, or business partner who is 18+, you can team up. They can handle the legal aspects while you focus on the business operations.
3. Focus on Learning & Preparing If you’re under 18 and can’t legally start just yet, don’t waste time waiting—use this period to:
   • Research profitable niches.
   • Learn how to advertise and market products.
   • Set up your store (so it’s ready to launch at 18).
   • That way, when the time comes, you’ll already have a huge head start.

Challenges Faced by Young Dropshippers

While dropshipping is a great way to start a business, young entrepreneurs face some unique challenges, including:

• Limited access to payment processors (since most require you to be 18).
• Lack of business experience (marketing, customer service, and product research take time to learn).
• Balancing school and business (managing your time is key).
• These challenges can be overcome with the right approach, patience, and persistence.

Real-Life Examples of Young Dropshippers

There are plenty of young entrepreneurs who started dropshipping before turning 18 and made it work. Here are two inspiring examples:

1. Harry Coleman (Beast of eCom)
   Harry started dropshipping at a young age and built multiple six-figure stores before he turned 20.
2. Kenzo Kash & His TikTok Store
   Kenzo grew his dropshipping store using TikTok, making thousands of dollars while still in high school.

What’s the takeaway? Your age isn’t a barrier if you’re willing to put in the effort.

How Fathershops Makes Dropshipping Easier for Young Entrepreneurs

If you’re looking for a beginner-friendly platform to start your dropshipping journey, Fathershops makes it simple.

With Fathershops, you can:

• Easily connect to AliExpress and import products with one click.
• Automate order fulfillment—no need to manually place orders.
• Track all your shipments in one place.
• Start selling faster—without worrying about technical headaches.

Whether you’re under 18 and preparing or already launching your store, Fathershops helps make dropshipping smoother and more accessible.

Final Thoughts: Is Age a Barrier to Dropshipping?

Not at all. While age-related challenges exist, there are always ways to work around them and get started.

If you’re under 18, focus on learning, planning, and finding the right support—because when the time comes, you’ll be ahead of the game.

Dropshipping is a fantastic opportunity, and if you start early, you’re setting yourself up for long-term success.