How to Make Money With Drop Servicing

Have you heard of drop servicing? It’s a unique way to run a business. Instead of doing all the work yourself, you hire freelancers and professionals to do it for you.

What’s great about drop servicing is that it can possibly make you a lot of money, and it doesn’t cost much to start. In this business, your job is to find clients and make sure they’re happy. The people you hire do the actual work.

If you’re interested in starting a drop servicing business, you’re in the right place. In our guide, we’ll explain what drop servicing is, how it works, and why it’s a good idea. We’ll also give you some business ideas to help you get started.

What is Drop Servicing?

Drop servicing, also known as service arbitrage or white labelling, is a business model where you sells services to clients and then outsources the actual work to freelancers or other service providers at a lower cost.

In this business model, you act as a middleman and profit from the difference between what the client pays and what is paid to the subcontractor.

Common services that are drop serviced include website design, content creation, graphic design, social media management, and digital marketing services. These services are in constant demand and can be effectively outsourced to skilled professionals around the globe.

While you don’t have to be an expert in the services offered but you should understand enough to manage client expectations and freelancer quality. 

Dropshipping vs Drop Servicing 

Dropshipping is a retail fulfillment method where a store doesn’t keep the products it sells in stock. Instead, when a store sells a product using the dropshipping model, it purchases the item from a third party and has it shipped directly to the customer.

Drop servicing, on the other hand, focuses on selling services like writing, design, or social media management. You don’t provide these services yourself. Instead, you hire freelancers to do the job for you and then deliver the completed work to your clients.

While dropshipping and drop servicing may look similar, they have some key differences:

• Product vs. Service: Dropshipping deals with physical products, whereas drop servicing focuses on services.
• Startup Costs: Both models have low initial costs, but drop servicing can be even lower as it doesn’t involve any physical goods.
• Scalability: Both models are scalable, but dropshipping might offer faster scalability when you find a hot product that goes viral on social media.
• Skill Requirements: Drop servicing requires more skills in project management and client communication because you’re likely to have return customers. On the other hand, dropshipping puts more focus on running Facebook or TikTok ads to acquire new customers.
• Profit Potential: Drop servicing is usually B2B and therefore has higher profit margins, especially when you’re selling high-ticket services like web development. Dropshipping, as a B2C model, is hard to charge a higher price due to intense competition from Amazon and eBay.

Read more: How to Make Money Dropshipping

How to Set Up a Drop Servicing Business

Interested in starting a drop service business but not sure how to get started? We’ve got you covered with the essential steps to follow.

1. Choose a Service

To get started, you have to select a specific service or niche that you want to offer to your clients. This means deciding on the type of service you will provide through your business. Here are some options:

• SEO (search engine optimization)
• Link building
• Guest posting
• Ad copywriting
• Video creation
• Video editing
• Content creation
• Graphic design (like creating logos)
• Social media management
• Virtual assistant services
• User testing
• Voiceover services
• Résumé writing
• Lead generation or nurturing

It’s usually a good idea to offer a service you have some experience with. If you try to offer a service you don’t fully understand, it can be challenging to respond to clients’ inquiries and find quality freelancers.

While you don’t need to be an expert, having a good understanding of how the service works can help you promote your service and establish yourself as an authority in the eyes of your clients.

2. Build a Professional Website

Now, it’s time to build a professional and informative website to showcase your drop services. This website will be the primary platform through which you attract clients.

You can build a website using platforms like WordPress or Wix. These platforms offer user-friendly templates and tools to help you create a professional-looking site without technical expertise.

Make sure your website is easy to navigate, and that services are prominently displayed. If you’re not tech-savvy, you can use pre-designed themes or templates on WordPress.

On your website, provide detailed information about the services you offer. Include comprehensive descriptions, pricing, and any other relevant information that clients might need to make a decision.

For clients to reach out to you, remember to include a contact form. This should be simple and user-friendly, asking for only the necessary information.

If you plan to take payments directly on your website, you may integrate e-commerce functionality with plugins like WooCommerce (for WordPress). This allows you to integrate common payment gateways like PayPal or Stripe.

To gain trust from potential clients, add a portfolio or case studies section. For example, if you’re offering link-building services, include some screenshots of your clients’ website traffic growth over time to convince new clients that you deliver results.

Before launching, thoroughly test your website for usability, load times, and responsiveness across different devices.

3. Set the Price for Your Services

You have different pricing models to choose from, including hourly rates, fixed project fees, regular payment plans, etc. Here are some tips to help you set the perfect price for your drop services:

• Understand Your Costs: Calculate all costs involved in delivering the service, including payments to freelancers, transaction fees, software subscriptions, and any other operational expenses.
• Research Market Rates: Conduct market research to understand the going rates for the services you’re offering. Look at what competitors are charging and the quality of service they provide. This will give you a benchmark for setting competitive prices.
• Consider Service Complexity: Take into account the complexity and scope of the services you’re offering. More complex services that require higher expertise should be priced higher.
• Markup for Profit: Decide on a markup that provides you with a reasonable profit margin. A common approach is to charge two to four times more than what you pay your service provider.
• Positioning and Brand Image: Your pricing should reflect your brand’s positioning in the market. If you’re positioning your drop servicing business as a premium provider, your prices should align with this image.

When presenting your prices to clients, clearly communicate the value and benefits of your services. This helps justify your pricing and can make clients more willing to pay a premium.

Make sure your pricing strategy is legal and ethical. Some practices like predatory pricing or bait-and-switch tactics can damage your reputation and are illegal in many jurisdictions.

4. Promote Your Services

There are various ways to promote your drop services and reach your desired audience, including:

• Social Media: Platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook are excellent for promoting your business. You can create business pages and share valuable content to engage with potential clients.
• Paid Advertising: Consider using platforms like Google Ads, Facebook Ads, or LinkedIn Ads to target your ideal audience with ads promoting your services.
• Email Marketing: Build an email list and send out newsletters or promotional offers to keep your audience engaged and informed about your services.
• Referral Programs: Encourage existing clients to refer new clients by offering incentives or discounts on future services.
• Collaborate with Influencers: Partner with influencers or industry leaders who can promote your services to their followers.
• Utilize Freelance Platforms: Showcase your services on platforms like Fiverr and Upwork to attract clients already seeking the services you offer.
• Optimize for Local SEO: If your services are relevant to local businesses, optimize your website for local search to attract nearby clients.

Before you spend a lot of money on promotion, make sure you understand your target audience. Identify the types of businesses most likely to need your services and tailor your marketing efforts accordingly.

If you’re just starting out, landing your first client can be challenging. Consider providing potential clients with a free trial or demo of your services to give them a firsthand experience of the value you can offer.

As you collect more customer testimonials, prospects will have greater confidence in your services.

5. Collaborate with Freelancers or Agencies

After you have received an order from your client, it’s time to find a reliable freelancer that specializes in the services you offer. Platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer can be excellent places to find talent. 

Look for freelancers with good reviews, a strong portfolio, and relevant experience. Before hiring, vet freelancers by checking their work history, portfolio, and client feedback. You may conduct interviews or ask for test tasks to assess their reliability and quality of work.

After that, you should communicate your project requirements clearly. Define the scope of work, deadlines, and quality standards. Make sure the freelancers understand what is expected of them. 

When it comes to pricing strategy, you should charge clients more than what you pay freelancers to maintain a profit margin. Be transparent with freelancers about payment terms and rates.

You may create contracts that outline the terms of your collaboration, including payment schedules, confidentiality, and the scope of work. This helps protect both your business and the freelancers you work with.

For quality control, always remember to review all work before delivering it to the client to ensure it meets the agreed-upon standards.

As your business grows, consider expanding your team of freelancers. This can help you manage increased workloads and offer a wider range of services.

Is Drop Servicing Legal?

Yes, drop servicing is a legal business model. It operates on the principle of service arbitrage, where a business sells services to clients and then outsources the actual work to freelancers or other service providers.

As long as you’re transparent with your clients about the nature of the services and fulfills your obligations in terms of quality and delivery, drop servicing does not violate any laws or regulations.

However, it’s important to make sure that you’re not infringing on any intellectual property rights, misrepresenting your services, or engaging in any deceptive practices.

To keep your drop servicing business on the right side of the law, you should:

• Draft clear terms and conditions on the services you offer
• Understand tax and VAT rules, especially when you’re dealing with “contractor” services.
• Get the right insurance, such as personal indemnity, to protect your business.

Is Drop Servicing Profitable?

Yes, it’s a lucrative business model, especially since it has low-entry requirements and the possibility to start with zero budget.

The income from a drop servicing business is generally earned through the markup added to the cost of outsourcing services. For example, if a service is outsourced for $500 and sold to a client for $1000, the profit is $500 per transaction.

Ideally, you should charge two to four times more than what you pay your service provider. This means if you pay a contractor $5 for a project, you should charge the end user $10 to $20. This allows room to cover any marketing costs incurred in attracting new customers.

Successful drop servicing businesses can generate substantial income, but like any business model, it carries inherent risks, primarily related to managing service quality and client satisfaction.

If the outsourced providers fail to deliver as promised, it can lead to client dissatisfaction, harm your business reputation, and result in potential financial losses.

Read more: Best Side Hustle Ideas

How Much Does It Cost to Start a Drop Servicing Business?

Starting a drop servicing business is typically budget-friendly, and the total cost can vary based on your approach. Here are the main expenses to consider:

• Website Costs: You’ll have ongoing monthly expenses for your website, including hosting, domain registration, and any other digital essentials.
• Freelancer Fees: These are the charges your freelancers or service providers ask for when they complete tasks for your clients.
• Marketing Expenses: This includes the cost of promoting your services through various channels like email, content creation, SEO, PPC (pay-per-click) advertising, and social media campaigns.
• Other Business Costs: You might need to factor in additional expenses, such as setting up a home office or buying office supplies e.g. printing equipment and stationery.

Pros and Cons of Drop Servicing

Starting a drop service business offers great income potential, but it’s not without its challenges, especially when you’re acting as the middleman. Here’re the advantages and disadvantages you should consider:

The Pros

• Low Start-Up Costs: Drop servicing businesses can be started with minimal initial investment, as there is no need to invest in equipment, inventory, or personnel
• High Profit Margins: A single transaction can yield significant profits, especially if services are marked up appropriately.
• Recurring Income: Some clients may agree to regular payments for ongoing services, providing a stable income stream.
• No Specific Skills Required: You don’t need to have the skills to perform the services they offer, as all work can be outsourced.
• Scalability: The business model is highly scalable, allowing for multiple services to be outsourced simultaneously.
• Broad Range of Services: You can offer a wide variety of services, making it easier to establish a niche in the market.
• Control of Workload: You can choose how much you want to work and which projects to take on.
• No Shipping or Return Hassles: Since services are digital, there are no concerns about shipping or returns.

The Cons

• Quality Control: It’s challenging to control the quality of outsourced work since you don’t directly handle the tasks.
• Moral and Ethical Considerations: There may be moral questions regarding the transparency of using undisclosed contractors.
• Client Acquisition: For new drop servicing businesses, it’s hard to attract new clients and compete against established agencies. You may have to spend a lot of money on advertising. 
• Dependency on Service Providers: The business model relies heavily on the reliability and availability of freelancers or agencies, which can be a risk if they fail to deliver.
• Project Abandonment: There is a risk that freelancers may abandon projects for higher-paying clients, leaving the business owner to manage the fallout.

Is Drop Servicing Right for You?

Starting a drop servicing business is worthwhile. This business model comes with low startup costs and doesn’t demand specialized skills, making it accessible to aspiring entrepreneurs.

As a drop service owner, you can leverage platforms like Upwork and Fiverr to connect with skilled professionals who can deliver services to your clients.

However, you must be realistic about the work required to build a profitable drop servicing business. You need to have hands-on experience with the services, build professional websites, promote your offers, and create content to demonstrate your expertise for client acquisition. As your business grows, you’ll also face the challenge of managing multiple projects and a team of freelancers.

That said, if you’re determined to overcome all these obstacles, then this is the business model for you.

Anthony Smith

Anthony Smith is an internet entrepreneur. He created the Side Hustle Ideas Database to help people find side hustles for making extra money, with the potential of turning into a full-time income.

After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania with a business degree, he gained business experience at a consulting firm. At the same time, he tried various side hustles including freelance writing, blogging, and eCommerce. He managed to turn his side hustles into a full-time business, earning over $3 million. Now, he enjoys financial freedom and travels around the world as a digital nomad.