The Shopify dropshipping model is a way of selling products online without owning inventory or handling shipping. Instead, third-party suppliers handle those tasks. Shopify is a popular platform for this, with over 4.4 million websites using it globally. It’s a top choice for dropshippers in 2023 because it integrates well with suppliers and has features to automate processes for scaling your online business.
Backlinko reports that about 1.75 million merchants sell on Shopify. Dan Vas promotes his course, Shopify Freedom, as a tool to succeed in Shopify dropshipping.
However, I came across some concerns when I visited the official website. Despite claiming expertise in branding, there was no logo on the landing page. This raises questions about trusting someone who neglects basic aspects of brand building. Is Dan Vas possibly running a scam?
Since I have experience with dropshipping, I was curious about Dan Vas’s system and spent hours researching it. In this article, I’ll share everything I’ve learned about Dan Vas and Shopify Freedom.
By the end of this article, I’ll also tell you another business model that has helped me make a full-time passive income from home.
Here’s what I’ll cover in the review.
Table of Contents
How Does Shopify Freedom Help You Make Money?
Shopify Freedom is a eCommerce course that teaches you how to make money online via dropshipping.
Dropshipping is a type of online business where you sell products through an online store, but you don’t need to handle the inventory or shipping yourself. Instead, you partner with a separate supplier who takes care of storing the products and shipping them to customers when they make a purchase.
With Shopify dropshipping, you create a storefront on the Shopify platform and choose a dropshipping provider to handle the packaging and shipping of orders.
Learn more: How to Make Money Dropshipping
Who is Dan Vas?
Dan Vas is a young entrepreneur in his early twenties who dropped out of college. In 2017, he started his business venture with Amazon. After some failures, he made some money and started a dropshipping store in 2018.
Shortly after that, he immediately launched his own Amazon Freedom Course.
What fascinates me is that he spent a year learning about eCommerce on Amazon and suddenly became a “master”.
He also claims that he came up with the idea of “branded dropshipping” that offers 2-3 day shipping, high quality products, logos and custom product packaging.
This is a ridiculous claim that will never exist with Shopify Dropshipping. If it really did, Amazon would be bankrupt by now.
That being said, Dan still has over 471k subscribers of his self-titled YouTube channel. If you want to get a taste of his teaching style, you can watch the video below:
What’s Inside Shopify Freedom?
Shopify Freedom consists of 9 modules, 75 videos just over 10 hours. I don’t know if the Dan can deliver his promises, but below is what Shopify Freedom claims to offer you:
- Unlimited lifetime 24/7 access
- Over 75 step by step training videos
- Complete training divided into 10 modules showing you how to start a successful 6-7 figure eCommerce business
- Downloadable PDFs + key points below every single course video
- Complete plan of action and full expert mentorship + guidance (eCommerce is too complex that no course can be complete)
- Unlimited mentorship with Dan Vas via his personal private Facebook to ask any question you have with Shopify & online business (some students complain that Dan only gives a Yes/ No or very curt answers in his replies)
- 2 hours of bi-weekly live mentorship group calls
- Access to private Facebook community to ask questions and receive additional support
- Bonus: millionaire mindset secrets course. Access to a complete mindset course with Dan Vas (which is the same content available on Dan’s YouTube videos)
Dan always posts his “student results” like this, but never tells you that they are total sales figures. After subtracting advertising costs and product costs, there could be a net loss.
Recommendation: Here’s The Best Alternative
Shopify Freedom Course Modules
The course includes 9 different modules, 75 videos and over 10 hours of content.
Module 1: Introduction
This module serves as an introduction to the course, explaining what you’re going to learn and providing an overview of the course contents. It sets the stage for what to expect in the subsequent modules.
Module 2: Mindset Strategies
Module 2 focuses on mindset strategies. It includes videos on how to maintain motivation throughout the dropshipping process and beyond.
While some may find dedicating an entire module to mindset unusual, the content aims to keep you motivated without being overly taxing on your mental energy.
Module 3: Product Research
Module 3 dives into the crucial aspect of product research. You’ll learn strategies to increase your chances of finding successful products and avoid less promising ones. The emphasis is on finding not just any products but “winning” products.
The module guides you on the criteria for identifying such products and provides examples to illustrate effective research methods. It stresses the importance of focusing on products that are trending or have high potential in the market.
Module 4: Finding Suppliers
Module 4 focuses on finding suppliers for your dropshipping business. Before engaging with a supplier, the module guides you on understanding how to establish a good working relationship. It introduces a supplier checklist to ensure compatibility with your chosen suppliers.
Furthermore, the module provides training on acquiring product samples before launching them to the market. The goal is to ensure your product sourcing is competitive and meets high standards.
Module 5: Building Your Store
Module 5 is all about setting up your online store. It covers standard elements found in most Shopify courses, such as acquiring a domain name, creating a logo, building your brand, and setting up various pages.
Beyond the basics, the module delves into additional training, including setting up email campaigns, addressing abandoned carts, and implementing product re-marketing through SMS.
Module 6: Setting Up Facebook Ads
Module 6 is dedicated to the crucial aspect of advertising through Facebook.
It includes lessons on setting up your Facebook ad account, installing the pixel, creating lookalike audiences, establishing retargeting funnels, optimizing ads, scaling ad campaigns, and targeting interests.
This module is key for effectively promoting your products on the social media platform.
Module 7: Scaling Facebook Ads
Module 7 focuses on scaling your successful Facebook ad campaigns. Once you’ve identified ads or groups of ads that are performing well, the next step is to scale them up for greater reach and impact.
The module guides you through effective scaling strategies, including duplication, side-step scaling, carpet bomb scaling, and breakdown optimization. These strategies aim to help you expand your advertising efforts efficiently as your business grows.
Module 8: Influencer Marketing and Ads Secrets
Module 8 is dedicated to influencer marketing and reveals secrets to utilizing influencers effectively in your marketing strategy.
Influencers can be powerful partners for promoting your products, provided you find the right ones to collaborate with. The module offers insights into finding influencers and setting up effective influencer ad campaigns.
Module 9: Store Automation and Scaling
Module 9 shifts the focus to store automation and scaling. This training becomes relevant when your store starts generating sales and becomes more challenging to manage manually.
Topics covered include setting up customer service processes, managing cash flow, and learning how to calculate profits and losses at scale. It provides guidance on handling the operational aspects of a growing dropshipping business.
How Much Does Shopify Freedom Cost?
The Shopify Freedom Course comes with a price tag of $497, or you can opt for two payments of $298.
This course is designed for beginners, regardless of skill level.
Recommendation: Here’s The Best Alternative
Praise for Shopify Freedom
1. Dan is a Successful Dropshipper
Despite Dan’s claim of “inventing” dropshipping (as seen on the official course website), his track record proves he’s no stranger to success in the Shopify dropshipping game.
Through the course and his channel, he generously shares detailed insights on setting up different aspects of your online store, drawing from his own achievements.
2. Mastering the Dropshipping Basics
This course equips you with the essential skills needed for dropshipping success.
From conducting thorough product research to crafting a unique brand identity, you’ll be well-prepared to launch and promote your online store.
The Facebook Ads section is a standout, providing detailed guidance on multiple techniques.
If your goal is to establish a functional and profitable Shopify store, this course covers the foundational aspects comprehensively.
3. 24/7 Private Chat Group
Any private support group that actively addresses the needs of its members is invaluable.
If you are looking for people who can relate to what you are going through, you will find them.
4. Bi-Weekly LIVE Mentorship Group Calls
Picture this: engaging in two-hour live group sessions every two weeks.
While direct interaction might be limited due to the number of participants, the opportunity to submit questions in advance is a significant advantage.
Criticism of Shopify Freedom
1. Not the Most Comprehensive Course
While Shopify Freedom appears to cover the essentials, it falls short in terms of depth. The discussions on various topics lack in-depth exploration, with each chapter only skimming the surface of broader subjects.
Despite a thorough dive into Facebook Ads marketing, it’s crucial to note that success requires a more comprehensive approach beyond this single tactic.
2. High Price Tag for Content
The course’s cost might not align with the value it delivers, especially when compared to others in a similar price range. Evaluating the content against the investment, some may find that the course doesn’t quite measure up to its price tag.
3. Filler Material Overload
While each new segment initially grabs your interest, it becomes apparent that Dan struggles with content depth.
Instead of offering more profound lessons within his supposed “area of expertise,” he opts for sharing opinions and philosophies in piecemeal fashion.
This includes motivational videos and mindset methods that might come across as filler material.
4. Not the Ideal Business Model
From my observations, dropshipping might not be the optimal business model for beginners.
You’ll immediately encounter numerous challenges, such as shipping delays and high advertising costs, once you kickstart your dropshipping store.
Is Shopify Freedom a Scam?
I don’t believe Dan Vas’s Shopify Freedom is a scam. Dan is just really good at picking up skills quickly, and he managed to learn all about eCommerce in just a year.
However, there’s always a question about where he made his money. It’s unclear whether he got rich from dropshipping and Amazon FBA or solely from selling dropshipping courses.
Now, the big question: Is Shopify Freedom really worth the $497 price tag? Honestly, the content doesn’t cover enough to help you launch a super profitable dropshipping store.
If you’re a total beginner to dropshipping, you might pick up a thing or two from Dan.
But, to save $500, you can actually grab a free dropshipping guide from places like Oberlo and learn the basics on your own.
Personally, I don’t see dropshipping as a worthwhile side-hustle anymore.
Is Shopify Dropshipping Still Profitable in 2023?
Yes, it is! But here’s the lowdown: with the current economic situation, people are a bit cautious about spending. The recession has made folks prioritize needs over wants. According to the latest data, the global dropshipping market is projected to hit $243 billion by the end of 2023.
So, what’s the profit picture for a Shopify dropshipper? On average, they’re pulling in between 10% and 30% profit. In 2023, your Shopify dropshipping store could rake in anywhere from $100 to $100,000 per month. But let’s keep it real – a more down-to-earth figure is probably in the range of $1000 to $2000 monthly. Data says newbie Shopify dropshippers usually clock in at around $1300 per month in their first year.
The secret sauce to making that green is tapping into products that people are into right now – think home health and fitness items (you know, the ones that can replace expensive gym memberships).
But here’s the kicker: go for dropshipping products that customers see real value in. Choose things that solve a problem or are top-notch and not easy to find. The goal is to offer products that make customers feel good about shelling out their hard-earned cash.
Is There A Better Way to Make Money Online?
If you want to make a full-time passive income, I’d suggest you to start an affiliate marketing business online.
In affiliate marketing, you can run your business almost at zero cost without any trouble from sourcing products or managing inventory.
Also, since you don’t need to spend hours after hours selling things over the phone, it can save you a lot of time.
If you want to learn affiliate marketing, I’d recommend you to get started with the most reputable platform for affiliate marketing: Wealthy Affiliate.
Wealthy Affiliate is an all-in-one platform for building your affiliate marketing business from scratch. It offers you a free account (including a free website) with comprehensive training on SEO (free traffic methods), which enables you to get started with affiliate marketing right away without paying a penny.
But How Much Can You Earn with Wealthy Affiliate?
A 21-year old student from Wealthy Affiliate was able to earn $7,395 in just 1 week, which means he made more than $1k a day…all while using free traffic methods.
Where to Join Wealthy Affiliate?
Wealthy Affiliate has a very simple pricing scheme. It has free and premium membership.
If you want to feel about Wealthy Affiliate, you can sign up for the free starter membership here (no credit card required). You can select to be a free member with no time limit.
James Johnson, the founder of DropshippingCourse.org, launched his first ecommerce store in 2008 with just a $500 investment. Through dedication, his initial store generated over $500,000 in sales in the first year. By the second year, the store’s sales had reached $1 million, and by the third year, sales soared to $1.5 million, granting him the financial freedom he had always dreamed of.
Motivated by his own success, James aimed to help others achieve similar financial freedom. So, he created the free Dropshipping Course. In this course, he offers comprehensive guidance on launching a dropshipping business, covering essential topics such as niche research, market analysis, store building, supplier approval, conversion optimization, traffic generation, and business automation.
For those seeking more personalized guidance, James also offers a 1-on-1 dropshipping coaching service. Through this mentorship, he shares his secret strategies with those eager to achieve extraordinary results in their own businesses.