Launching with instxnt: A quick start for dropshippers

Last updated: February 17, 2026

This guide walks you through a fast validation and launch workflow optimized for dropshippers who want to test products and start taking orders in days, not weeks.

Phase 1 — Validate demand (Pre-store)

Before building anything, confirm people actually want what you're selling:

• Create a landing page: Use Figma, Webflow, or even Notion to mock up a simple product page (4-6 hours).
• Drive traffic: Spend $10-20 on TikTok ads or Instagram ads to that landing page. Or use organic posts if you have a following.
• Track engagement: Monitor clicks, add-to-cart, and clicks to "out of stock" message. Aim for 1-3% click-through rate on paid ads.
• Survey your audience: If possible, ask 5-10 people directly: \"Would you buy this for $X?\" Raw feedback beats assumptions.
• Goal: See 50+ clicks or positive verbal commitments from real people. This takes 24-48 hours.

Phase 2 — Create your store (24 hours)

Once you've validated demand, launch on instxnt. The setup takes minutes:

Total setup time: 10-30 minutes. The Free tier costs nothing. Premium costs $19/month for faster generation and no per-transaction fees.

Phase 3 — Connect payments (15 minutes)

To accept money, you need a Stripe account:

• Sign up for Stripe: Go to stripe.com, click \"Create Account.\" Takes 5 minutes.
• Complete verification: Stripe will ask for your ID, bank account, business info, and tax info (if applicable). This takes 15-60 minutes depending on how prepared you are.
• Connect to instxnt: In your instxnt dashboard, click \"Connect Stripe.\" Authorize the connection in one click.
• You're live: Stripe will now collect payments from customers. Every sale routes to your bank account (takes 2-5 business days).

Phase 4 — Sell and fulfill (Ongoing)

Orders arrive in your instxnt dashboard in real-time. Here's what to do:

• Monitor orders: Check your dashboard multiple times daily (for first week, at least).
• Forward to supplier: Place an order with your supplier using customer's address and deliver-by date. Keep the supplier's order number for your records.
• Share tracking: As soon as you get tracking from the supplier, send it to your customer. They'll trust you more.
• Monitor returns: If a customer says the product arrived damaged or incorrect, handle it quickly—offer a partial refund or replacement.
• Iterate: After 5-10 orders, you'll see patterns. Adjust your description, pricing, or supplier based on feedback.

Key Success Metrics

Track these to know if you're on the right track:

• Conversion rate: (Orders / Visitors) × 100. Aim for 0.5-2% for first products.
• Refund rate: Track how many customers request refunds. Above 15% means your product description needs work.
• Time to fulfillment: How long between order and ship? Aim for <24 hours.
• Customer acquisition cost (CAC): Total ad spend / number of orders. If CAC < profit per order, you're profitable.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Next Steps

1. Start validation: Pick a product. Create a simple landing page.
2. Run a small test: Spend $20 on ads or share with 10 friends. Measure response.
3. If positive: Sign up for instxnt, create your store, and launch within 24 hours.
4. Monitor closely: Track your first 10 orders. Adjust based on feedback.
5. Scale: Once you hit 10+ orders/day consistently, consider adding more products or upgrading to Premium.