This is a great question, and does worry a lot of drop shipping "start ups", but shouldn't.  It is ideal to get a website at least started first to show a supplier, not necessary.  Some suppliers will actually require it first (yes), but if you can prove to a supplier that you have a website design firm working on your project, and give them mock-up trial versions, (if you are working with a designer - make them give you some) then that is usually enough to make all parties that you will be dealing with happy.  They just want to make sure they are spending time dealing with someone that is not wasting their time.

The suppliers that are listed in The Shipper dropship directory are dropshippers that are already aware that most new people coming to them are working on a website, and they are ok with it.  That is a benefit to working with the suppliers that are listed in our dropshipping directory.  If you happen to come across a supplier that is not listed in our directory, and they require you to have a website set up before working with them, that is still ok.  Here is why;  The biggest problem is dropship Internet business owners face is finding suppliers.  You have already found a supplier, and as long as they are willing to work with you once your site is complete, there is not a problem.  You may want them to send you in writing that once your site is done, they will work with you.  Other then that, there is not much you can do.

You must understand that there are a lot of would be "business owners" that think they want to start up an Internet business and waste so much of the suppliers time, (because they never do anything) and that it is not funny.  These guys are just trying to sift through the people that are serious, and the people who will bail out on them, and waste their time!

I have never had a supplier not work with me once they knew how serious I was.  So, my biggest suggestion is to make sure the supplier knows how serious you are about working with them.  You can accomplish this by;

• Working with their time-tables
• Give them what they ask for
• Ask for suggestions as to what they need to prove your seriousness
  
• Show them any created logos
  
• Show them any mock-up design you created
• Show them anything your designer has sent you (if you are using a designer)
  

Once they see you are serious, they will never have a problem working with you, and you have just set up a long lasting relationship with a supplier that will probably end up taking care of you for a long time to come!