HART Is The Most Trustworthy And Reliable Companion For Your Dropshipping In Kenya Services.

Dropshipping In Kenya | The Ultimate FAQ Guide

Introduction

Dropshipping in Kenya is a profitable business for the forthcoming entrepreneurs.

Drop shipping in Kenya is an e-commerce platform that allows you to build an online store and sell products virtually to customers.

You do not need to have goods in stock to establish a dropshipping business in Kenya.

In this FAQ guide, we will answer your questions regarding dropshipping Kenya business and every related information regarding it.

Table Of Content

1. What Is Dropshipping In Kenya?
2. What Are Drop Shipping In Kenya Costs?
3. How Does Dropshipping On Jumia Kenya Works?
4. How To Establish Dropshipping Business In Kenya?
5. Does The Government Of Kenya Allow Dropshipping From China To Kenya?
6. Can Fragile Goods Be Shipped In Dropshipping Kenya?
7. How Is Freight Cost Calculated By Dropshipping Companies In Kenya?
8. What Documents Are Needed For Drop Shipping In Kenya?
9. Do Drop Shipping Companies In Kenya Have Physical Offices?
10. Is There Any Weight Limit For Dropshipping From China To Kenya?
11. What Shipping Restrictions Are Followed During Dropshipping In Kenya?
12. Which Is The Best Freight Option For Dropshipping From China To Kenya?
13. Is FCL And LCL Shipping Allowed In Dropshipping In Kenya?
14. How To Avoid High Shipping Cost During Dropshipping In Kenya?
15. Is Door To Door Delivery Allowed In Drop Shipping In Kenya?
16. What Is The Customs Clearance Process During Drop Shipping Kenya?
17. How Does Incoterms Work In Dropshipping In Kenya?
18. Who Pays For Customs Clearance During Dropshipping Kenya?
19. How Long Does Customs Clearance Take In Dropshipping Kenya?

1. What Is Dropshipping In Kenya?

Dropshipping in Kenya is an online business platform where you can sell products to customers without having to buy inventory.

You do not have to pack goods or take the hassle of shipping products overseas.

Dropshipping business in Kenya is an excellent place to earn money without the need to spend a lot of money to organize your store.

You will display the products that you want to sell on your website and, upon receiving the orders, forward them to the suppliers.

The supplier will be in charge of packing and providing logistics; however, you have to keep track of the entire process.

You do not have to worry about any stuck inventory, warehouse costs, or freight costs.

Keep your profit and sell as many goods as possible on your website.

With the correct target on the market, having a good hold on dropshipping business in Kenya is not a difficult job.

For all your freight forwarding services, HART Worldwide Logistics can be your trusted freight partner.

We are experienced and professional in dealing with your dropshipping Kenya business.

2. What Are Drop Shipping In Kenya Costs?

The drop shipping industry has reached new limits worldwide.

Entrepreneurs are making a lot of money and securing a better future with the help of drop shipping in the Kenya business.

Worldwide, the dropshipping business has a net value of 15.64 billion US dollars, and every drop shipper has a contribution to this figure.

Dropshipping business in Kenya has a high chance of steady inclination in the upcountry years.

Drop shipping in Kenya costs is different for every business.

Some can spend more than others and vice versa.

However, some basic costs are fixed for every drop shipper, no matter what products they deal with.

Here are some basic costs you have to undergo in drop shipping in Kenya-

Essential Cost

Essential costs, as the name suggests, are the amount everyone needs to spend to create a business model for dropshipping business in Kenya.

Although dropshipping Kenya does not require a tangible shop, you still have to build a virtual marketplace.

And it is the amount you have to invest to create a website, upload products, etc.

As this is the only way your customers can visualize your business, this has to be tempting to attract more customers.

Quality Checking

Quality Checking of your products that you wish to sell in dropshipping in Kenya business is very crucial.

It would be best if you made sure that the products that you want to sell are of high quality.

When you personally use or inspect a product, only then can you assure product quality and gain your customers’ trust.

For that, you have to buy the product yourself and to buy the sample from the supplier, and you need to spend some money.

Advertise

Advertisement is a step where you tell the prospective buyers about your products and dropshipping business in Kenya.

This is one of the most important and rather costly steps in your dropshipping in Kenya business.

If you fail to do your advertisement correctly, your business will not reach the desired prospects, and it may result in losing the money you spent on it.

To know more about dropshipping Kenya cost watch this YouTube video-

3. How Does Dropshipping On Jumia Kenya Works?

Dropshipping on Jumia Kenya is a fast-growing e-commerce platform allowing big and small businesses to do dropshipping business in Kenya.

Jumia has increased its profits each year since it started its operation.

As a result, several local and international brands have collaborated with Jumia and have been doing dropshipping on Jumia Kenya business successfully.

To do dropshipping on Jumia Kenya, the seller takes pictures of the goods they wish to sell.

Then they upload the pictures on Jumia website and wait for an order to get placed.

Once they receive an order, Jumia will send a transport to pick up the item from the seller and provide the delivery to the customer.

This way, the seller makes his profit by selling the goods but has to give an agreed amount of commission to Jumia for dropshipping on Jumia Kenya.

4. How To Establish Dropshipping Business In Kenya?

Before you start drop shipping in Kenya, you need to learn about it.

Needless to say, there are several dropshipping companies in Kenya making a good profit from their business.

To start up your own dropshipping Kenya business, you need to have a stronghold on your targeted market to survive the massive competition.

Here are a few steps to help you establish your dropshipping business in Kenya-

Step 1- What To Sell

This is the first step and perhaps the most important step to start your own drop shipping in Kenya business.

To survive the massive competition from other drop shipping companies in Kenya, you need to do your market research.

You can also start dropshipping on Jumia Kenya without launching your own website.

Look for products with a stable demand to make quick progress in your business.

Step 2- Find Suppliers

After you figure out what to sell in your dropshipping in the Kenya business, it is time to search for vendors who do dropship.

Always look for a reliable drop shipper who sells good quality products and provides on-time delivery.

Quick delivery will keep your customer satisfied, and do not forget to double-check your supplier for additional safety.

Step 3- Register With Your Supplier

Registration with the supplier is not a lengthy or complicated process.

After you find a supplier of your choice, complete your registration process.

Step 4- Marketing

As mentioned earlier, marketing or advertising plays a vital role in your drop shipping in Kenya sales.

There are several ways of promoting your business.

You can choose paid ads on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, etc.

You can also create blogs to promote your products by writing about them to generate traffic to your site.

This is an efficient and cost-effective way of promoting your products.

Step 5- Contact Supplier After A Sale

After you complete a sale and get payment, your job is to contact your supplier for the product delivery immediately.

In this step, you have to order the same product from your supplier but at a lower price to make a profit.

When your order is placed, you will give your customer’s address in the supplier’s form, and they will send the order directly to your customer.

Step 6- Keep Track Of The Order

Confirming a sale is not completing a sale.

You can not leave your responsibility and rest assured that your supplier will deliver the products.

Many problems can arise during delivery, and you will be solely responsible for that as the customer is buying from you and has nothing to do with your supplier.

You have to keep track of the shipment and ensure safe delivery.

You must also provide your contact information for any issue that they may face.

This way, you can win your customers’ trust, and your sales will increase.

You can track the delivery process by the tracking number provided by your supplier from their freight forwarder company.

HART Worldwide Logistics can provide safe and timely delivery for dropshipping business in Kenya.

We always ensure 100% customer satisfaction and provide you with a tracking code which you can monitor from our in-house software system.

5. Does The Government Of Kenya Allow Dropshipping From China To Kenya?

China and Kenya have been successfully doing business for many years.

According to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade, Kenya imported a total of 3.39  billion US dollars worth of goods from China in 2020.

This data shows that businesses between China and Kenya are permissible and the government of Kenya allows dropshipping from China to Kenya.

There are many drop shipping companies in Kenya, and dropshipping on Jumia Kenya is also popular.

Kenya’s main imports from China are machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum products, motor vehicles, iron, steel, resins, and plastics.

Other items like cosmetics, clothing, accessories, etc., are also imported from China to Kenya.

6. Can Fragile Goods Be Shipped In Dropshipping Kenya?

Yes, fragile goods can be shipped in dropshipping in Kenya.

Fragile goods are items that are prone to damage; if these products are not carefully handled, they can break and cause hazards for both you and your customer.

Your customer will return the product to you, which will incur a loss in your business.

So to be on the safe side, it is better to handle the fragile items with extra caution.

Packaging is especially important while handling fragile items in dropshipping from China to Kenya.

Make sure your products are adequately packed and labeled before proceeding to ship.

Packaging materials like packing peanuts, bubble wraps, foam, etc., can be used for better protection.

Labeling the parcel with caution notice can also inform the shipper that the cargo has fragile items.

Air freight is one of the best freight methods for fragile goods shipping in drop shipping in Kenya.

Due to the high security and less cargo load in airports, goods are carefully handled, and there is less chance of damage for shipping wear and tear in air freight.

7. How Is Freight Cost Calculated By Dropshipping Companies In Kenya?

Freight costs are the amount charged by the freight forwarder company to provide logistical support in dropshipping business in Kenya.

This amount is paid by the customer to the drop shipper during dropshipping Kenya.

However, the drop shipper does not keep this amount, and they have to pay this to the supplier to provide the delivery to the end customer.

The drop shipper calculates the freight cost depending on what goods they are selling.

They categorize the goods in sections and calculate a flat rate for each of them.

For regular goods shipping, the cost is much lower than shipping fragile items and bulky goods.

The flat rate is calculated by the average freight cost for each type of product.

8. What Documents Are Needed For Drop Shipping In Kenya?

To successfully complete dropshipping from China to Kenya, you need to ensure that your cargo is accompanied by the necessary documents to clear the customs without any hassle.

Several documents are required by the port of origin and the port of destination to let go of your cargo during customs clearance.

If you are shipping restricted items, additional paperwork is needed, and without them, you will face problems during clearing and forwarding.

Your freight forwarder company will help you arrange for the shipping documents needed for successful dropshipping Kenya.

In HART Worldwide Logistics, we help you assemble your shipping documents and additionally do customs clearance in both ports.

We also provide inland transport and deliver your goods straight to the final location.

The documents you need for dropshipping from China to Kenya are-

• Commercial Invoice
• Bill Of lading or Air Waybill
• Packing List
• Freight Invoice, etc.

9. Do Drop Shipping Companies In Kenya Have Physical Offices?

It is not compulsory to have physical stores for drop shipping companies in Kenya.

Drop shipping companies in Kenya can operate remotely from any location as long as they have internet connectivity and a device.

However, if someone wants to hire a place to sit and work, it is their individual choice.

Dropshipping companies in Kenya do not require physical offices to work from.

Dropshipping on Jumia Kenya has corporate offices in several countries to operate their activities as they deal with many different vendors and work on a giant scale.

10. Is There Any Weight Limit For Dropshipping From China To Kenya?

No, there is no weight limit for drop shipping in Kenya.

You can send any quantity of goods using different freight methods in dropshipping from China to Kenya.

Sea freight is excellent for delivering large-scale goods.

It is a cost-effective method of transportation for goods that weigh 500 kilograms or more.

Sea cargo has the capacity to hold up to 30 metric tonnes of goods in a single shipment.

No matter what you want to ship in dropshipping Kenya, sea freight can bring them to you without limiting your cargo weight.

11. What Shipping Restrictions Are Followed During Dropshipping In Kenya?

Countries all over the world follow some shipping restrictions while dropshipping in Kenya.

Drop shipping companies in Kenya must abide by the rules to perform dropshipping Kenya successfully.

There are some goods that are restricted, and some are prohibited from entering the Kenyan borders.

Restricted goods can enter the country following some additional restrictions and completing a few additional documents.

However, prohibited goods can not enter the Kenyan borders under any circumstances.

Dropshipping companies in Kenya can not trade such items.

These items, if found on board, will be sent back by the Kenyan customs authority.

Here is a list of the prohibited items-

• Tobacco
• Alcohol
• Art and craft
• Explosives
• Animals
• Weapons
• Mobile phones
• Firearms
• Used clothing
• Drugs
• Used cosmetics, etc.

12. Which Is The Best Freight Option For Dropshipping From China To Kenya?

The best freight option for dropshipping from China to Kenya for you is the freight that best suits your commodity.

There can not be one freight method that can be chosen for all types of goods.

So naming one best freight for drop shipping in Kenya is not possible.

The freight methods sea, air, and express delivery serve different purposes.

Sea freight is best for large-scale cargo transportation.

Air freight is good for shipping sensitive, medium to high weight cargo, and express is good for small and urgent packages.

It is up to you what freight method to choose for your commodity.

13. Is FCL And LCL Shipping Allowed In Dropshipping In Kenya?

Yes, FCL or full container load and LCL or less than container load shipping is available in dropshipping in Kenya.

Drop shipping companies in Kenya can choose FCL and LCL cargo according to the type of goods they are dealing with.

FCL cargo is best for a giant load of goods.

In FCL, one full container gets loaded with the goods from one importer.

Whereas LCL is a shared container, and two or more importers can share the container to import goods.

The two most commonly used containers for LCL and FCL are 20ft and 40ft containers.

14. How To Avoid High Shipping Cost During Dropshipping In Kenya?

You can avoid high shipping costs in drop shipping in Kenya by following some simple tricks.

Although there is no way you can avoid paying for the shipping cost, and you are obliged to pay whatever amount comes, you can avoid excess billing.

There are some factors that might cause your shipping cost to rise

Here we are mentioning some of them-

• Choosing the correct logistics for your cargo.
• Lower your packaging cost by packing the goods in accurate boxes and labels to avoid any damage.
• Do not ship during government holidays and weekends (emergency deliveries costs higher).
• Check if your freight forwarder company offers any discounts.
• Speak with your freight company for shipping advice to lower your shipping cost.

15. Is Door To Door Delivery Allowed In Drop Shipping In Kenya?

Yes, door to door delivery is allowed in dropshipping in Kenya.

Dropshipping companies in Kenya, dropshipping on Jumia Kenya, they all offer door to door delivery to their customers.

In door to door delivery, the customer receives the package in their desired location (home, factory, office, warehouse, etc.).

Here, all the customs clearance formalities and paying taxes and duties are taken care of by the freight forwarder company.

None of the hassles comes to the supplier, drop shipper, or the customer; this is a comfortable method of importing goods.

16. What Is The Customs Clearance Process During Drop Shipping Kenya?

The Customs clearance process for dropshipping in Kenya is the same as standard goods shipping.

All kinds of products pass through customs clearance in both ports.

Both the port of origin and the port of destination check for your cargo’s documents, authenticity, buyer’s information, supplier’s information, freight information, etc.

Make sure your customs paperwork is ready before you proceed with your shipment.

17. How Does Incoterms Work In Dropshipping In Kenya?

Incoterms are established by the International Chamber of Commerce to assign responsibility to both the buyer and the seller throughout the international transaction.

These rules help to clarify any misunderstanding and divide the tasks of shipping between the parties involved.

During shipping, the supplier and the buyer agree on a term in which they are willing to act upon the responsibilities of shipping.

There are several Incoterms to choose from.

Some are good for the buyer, and some give the supplier fewer responsibilities.

Delivery Duty Paid (DDP), Delivery Duty Unpaid (DDU), Free On Board (FOB), Cost, Insurance, and Freight (CIF), are some examples of Incoterms.

To know more on this, you can check out this YouTube video-

18. Who Pays For Customs Clearance During Dropshipping Kenya?

The importer pays for customs clearance during dropshipping Kenya.

The drop shipper puts the cost of the products’ all-inclusive on their website.

When the buyer purchases the goods, they pay for freight cost, import duty, tax, and other shipping charges.

19. How Long Does Customs Clearance Take In Dropshipping Kenya?

The customs clearance in dropshipping from China to Kenya will not take too long if everything is okay with your shipment.

However, if the customs authority finds some problem the situation may change.

The size of your cargo plays a big role in the customs clearance time.

The larger your cargo load is, the more time it will take in customs clearance.

Fragile goods, restricted items may also stretch the customs clearance time.

If everything is okay, your customs clearance during dropshipping in Kenya should not take more than 7 days.

Final Words

We hope we were able to provide you with answers relating to drop shipping in the Kenya business.

Dropshipping business in Kenya can be very profitable with the right market knowledge and correct products.

Feel free to knock HART Worldwide Logistics for any further questions.

We are providing logistical support for dropshipping from China to Kenya at an affordable cost.