Carl

5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Starting a Dropshipping Business

By Carl 2 weeks ago


7 min read

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.


Trial and error are an inevitable part of doing business. As entrepreneurs, we find that mistakes are sometimes needed to produce breakthroughs. As the ancient Chinese proverb says about learning from our mistakes, “Failure is the mother of success.”

Indeed, there is no replacement for hands-on experience when dealing with real-world problems while running our own businesses. Some missteps may be unavoidable, but you can save yourself from costly mistakes and years of wasted time by learning from these lessons that I learned the hard way.

Related: 4 Actionable Tips To Start Your eCommerce Journey via Dropshipping

With the clarity of 20/20 hindsight, here are five things I wish I knew before starting a dropshipping business:

1. Put emphasis on product quality

If I could go back to the time when I first started dropshipping, I would have told my younger self to put product quality above everything else.

I wish I knew I shouldn’t trust product quality without seeing the product itself.

A lot of dropshippers source their products from AliExpress and Alibaba, which are great platforms. However, don’t do what I did, which was choosing the supplier with the cheapest prices.

That was a big mistake, because suppliers would compromise product quality

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Covid Relief Gives You Something to Whet Your Appetite

By Carl 2 weeks ago


7 min read

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.


Now that President Trump signed the new Covid relief bill during the holiday break, it’s not surprising to see that everyone is focused on the provisions for the Paycheck Protection Program, unemployment benefits and stimulus checks. However, it’s important to take notice of a hidden gem in the 5,500-page legislation that will undoubtedly help every small business owner in America, no matter what their situation may be.

That little gem is the dining write-off, otherwise known as the business-meals deduction.

Yes, Congress had countless problems to solve due to the pandemic, but one that was obvious to everyone was the severely impacted, if not decimated, restaurant industry. So politicians, in their infinite wisdom, decided that the best way to get more business for restaurants was to dish out a bigger incentive for business owners to dine in or order out. Or in other words, a tax deduction — and a whopper at that.

Thus, the Federal Government has directed the IRS to allow for a 100% dining write-off for business owners when ordering food from restaurants for tax years 2021 and 2022. 

On the face of it, the provision sounds pretty straightforward, but there’s actually a lot to chew on….

Related: New Stimulus Bill

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Make Money in the Stock Market By Identifying the Best Stocks to Invest In

By Carl 2 weeks ago

Here are some top factors to consider when building your portfolio.

Free Book Preview Money-Smart Solopreneur

This book gives you the essential guide for easy-to-follow tips and strategies to create more financial success.


4 min read

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.


Trading on the stock market is something that many of us would like to try. Yet, there’s an air of mystery and intrigue about it, as if there’s some dark art involved. The truth is that while there is a lot to consider if you want to succeed in investing in stocks, there are some simple rules to study that even the major players follow. Even if a diversified portfolio is recommended for minimizing risks, particularly if you’re starting off with stocks, the best way to secure benefits is to look for quality rather than quantity.

Good stock investments are based on timing and stock selection. In this article, we focus on the latter, although it is important to mention that long-terms investments on average are more profitable compared to short ones. Expert investors such as Warren Buffet advise to keep stocks for a minimum of five years, and if you don’t have any immediate need for cash, possibly never sell them. Never be impacted by what the market is offering, and

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This Highly-Rated Fitness App Helps You Start Your New Year’s Resolution

By Carl 2 weeks ago

Get in great shape and start a healthier diet and fitness regimen.

Grow Your Business, Not Your Inbox

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2 min read

Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners.


This past year has been an unhealthy one for many of us — not just from a mental health standpoint, but from a physical standpoint, as well. An extended quarantine isn’t exactly conducive to an active lifestyle, and with so few things operating like normal, many of us have turned to Netflix and food for comfort. There’s no shame in that, but if you want to get back in shape and improve your health in 2021, it’s time to start planning. That’s why now is a great time to get BetterMe Home Workout & Diet.

BetterMe is a straightforward app that can help you get into the best shape of your life without completely overhauling your routine. Whether you’re looking to lose a little weight at home, improve your diet, drink more water, or even work out with a personal trainer, BetterMe can help. With personalized sets of exercises

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Save Money on Marketing by Learning the Adobe Creative Cloud

By Carl 2 weeks ago

Get crash courses in Photoshop, Lightroom, Premiere Pro, and more.

Grow Your Business, Not Your Inbox

Stay informed and join our daily newsletter now!


2 min read

Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners.


Entrepreneurs owe it to themselves to develop creative skills. In an increasingly crowded digital marketplace, it’s more important than ever for businesses to create marketing materials that stand out. That’s why designers are in constant demand. But, why outsource when you can do it yourself? Learning design skills can be a huge plus for entrepreneurs, helping you save money on marketing materials and potentially even help you start a side hustle.

To become a designer, however, you need to get up to speed with some of the industry’s most important tools. That’s where The All-in-One Adobe Creative Cloud Suite Certification Course Bundle comes into play.

This eight-course, 60-hour bundle is your one-stop shop to learn the Adobe Creative Cloud. Adobe’s Creative Cloud is one of the leading software suites for designers of all levels and areas of business. In this extensive bundle, you’ll delve into Adobe’s top photo editing tools, Photoshop and Lightroom,

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Need a Boost for 2021? Here Are 8 Books to Get You Started.

By Carl 3 weeks ago

Bolster your confidence and gain business ideas for the new year from these eight authors.

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5 min read

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.


The year 2020 was full of challenges, but the coming year brings with it the possibility to start anew. With the Covid-19 vaccine in the early stages of deployment, a return to normalcy is hopefully around the corner. 

Still, 2021 is full of uncertainties. Forecasting has become next to impossible, and business leaders will need to be on their “A” game if they want to come out on top. By reading some top entrepreneurial insight now, you can prepare yourself for the challenges of tomorrow. Here are some of the best books to boost your entrepreneurship in 2021.

1. Becoming MindStrong: The Truth About Health, Fitness, and the Bullsh*t That’s Holding You Back by Rachel Freiman

Being a great entrepreneur isn’t an occupation; it’s a mindset. You need to be completely on it if you want to compete, and Rachel Freiman’s new book can help you get there. Becoming MindStrong: The Truth About Health, Fitness, and the Bullsh*t That’s Holding You Back is a guide to adopting the holistic lifestyle necessary for successful entrepreneurship, from mental

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