If you’ve ever dreamed of starting your own business from the comfort of your home but didn’t know where to begin, dropshipping might be the perfect fit. And for Filipinos, the best place to launch is right where most of us shop every day: Shopee and Lazada.
These platforms are not only user friendly, but they’re also trusted by millions of Filipinos nationwide. In fact, Shopee and Lazada command over 70% of the Philippine ecommerce market, with Shopee accounting for 47.3 million monthly web visits and Lazada with 36.2 million, according to a 2023 iPrice report1.
What is Dropshipping?
Dropshipping is a business model where you sell products online without keeping inventory. When someone buys from your store, the item is shipped directly from your supplier to your customer. That means you never have to deal with packing, shipping, or stock management.
With dropshipping, you focus on choosing products, managing your listings, and marketing your store. Everything else is automated.
Why Start on Shopee and Lazada?
Filipinos already trust these platforms. You don’t need to educate your audience about payment methods or delivery times. The trust is built in.
Here’s why Shopee and Lazada are perfect for beginners:
- No need for your own website. You can start your store directly on their platforms.
- Built-in traffic. Millions of users browse Shopee and Lazada daily.
- Cash on delivery options. In fact, 81% of Filipino online shoppers prefer COD according to a Statista report in 20232.
- Simple seller tools. Their systems are beginner-friendly and localized.
Low Capital, High Potential
One of the biggest advantages of dropshipping on Shopee or Lazada is that you don’t need a huge amount of money to start. You can begin with as little as ₱5,000 to ₱10,000, using that budget for:
- Product listings and ads
- A trusted supplier
- Basic branding or packaging (optional)
There’s no need to rent a space, buy bulk inventory, or hire staff. According to DTI data, nearly 70% of MSMEs in the Philippines are home-based, and online models like dropshipping are helping new entrepreneurs break into the market with minimal risk3.
But Isn’t It Too Competitive?
Yes, there is competition. But the real issue is not how many sellers are on Shopee or Lazada. It is how many are doing it correctly.
Most sellers do the bare minimum. They upload low-quality photos, copy-paste generic product descriptions from suppliers, and completely ignore optimization and automation. This is where you can outperform them, even as a beginner.
Here is why competition should not stop you:
1. Most sellers don’t optimize their listings
Shopee’s internal data shows that listings with proper SEO, good formatting, and clear titles get up to 3x more conversions compared to poorly made ones. That means just taking the time to write your own descriptions and using the right keywords can already put you ahead of most competitors.4
2. Few use automation or data tools
Many sellers are still doing everything manually. If you use automation tools for responding to messages, syncing inventory, and updating order status, you save time and improve the customer experience. Platforms like Shopee and Lazada also give free access to analytics that help you understand which products are performing well. Most sellers ignore these tools, but they are your shortcut to smarter selling.
3. Buyers in the Philippines notice effort
Filipino shoppers care about fast replies, clean layouts, and trustworthy reviews. If you respond quickly, write helpful product details, and ask happy customers to leave ratings, your listing will perform better. Trust is everything, and effort builds that trust.
4. You can still find untapped niches
You don’t have to sell trending gadgets or cheap accessories. There are still many local niches where the demand is high, but few sellers are targeting them. Inside our ebook, we show step-by-step how to find these hidden opportunities using real data from the platform and social trends.
The reality is this: competition only becomes a problem if you copy what others are doing without strategy. If you take the time to learn how to list properly, use automation, and pay attention to what your customers actually want, you will rise above the noise.
Your All-in-One Guide to Dropshipping in the Philippines
At K+ Collective, we created The Only Blueprint to Hands-Off Dropshipping in the Philippines to help Filipinos like you get started the smart way.
This ebook is localized, step-by-step, and focused on Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop. Not Shopify, not Amazon. Just the platforms Filipinos already use and trust.
You’ll learn:
- How to set up your seller account
- How to find winning products for the Philippine market
- How to automate order fulfillment and customer service
- How to increase visibility using in-platform SEO
- How to avoid mistakes most beginners make
And best of all, this is designed to help you avoid manual labor and build a store that runs even while you sleep.
Start Where Your Market Shops
Shopee and Lazada are where most Filipinos already shop. So why not meet your market where they are?
If you’re serious about earning online, want low startup costs, and want to skip the trial-and-error phase, dropshipping on Shopee and Lazada is the smart move.
Start with The Only Blueprint to Hands-Off Dropshipping in the Philippines and launch your store the right way.
You don’t need a background in business or tech; just the right guide, a bit of time, and the willingness to start.
Your online business journey begins now.
Date posted: June 1, 2025
Author: K+ Collective
References:
- iPrice Group. (2023). Southeast Asia Map of E-Commerce. https://iprice.ph/insights/mapofecommerce
- Statista. (2023). Most popular payment methods used by online shoppers in the Philippines. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1220400/philippines-online-shopping-preferred-payment-methods/
- Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). (2022). MSME Statistics. https://www.dti.gov.ph/resources/msme-statistics
- Shopee Seller Education Hub. (2023). Optimizing Listings for More Sales. https://seller.shopee.ph/edu/home