Franklin Hatchett's eCom Elites program is one of the most affordable and comprehensive dropshipping courses out there and was updated in 2019. In 7 of the 10 training modules inside the course, Franklin shows you several methods that will help you generate traffic towards for your Shopify ecommerce store.
In this eCom Elites review, we're going to look at who Franklin Hatchett is and everything you learn in this course including how to leverage chatbot marketing in your dropshipping business. I'll answer some of the more common asked questions people have when it comes to dropshipping, if eCom Elites is worth it and why it's second among all dropshipping courses I've reviewed. Plus, why local lead generation might be a better opportunity to make money online in 2024 than dropshipping.
Pros
Franklin shows you real-world examples throughout the training as opposed to simply telling you what to do
Franklin has made over 7-figures in sales with dropshipping
Updated course has training on how to leverage email marketing, Instagram, and Chatbots to increase sales and scale your business
You learn the basics of business and sales
Live weekly coaching calls held by Franklin (Q&A)
Cons
Very slow and conservative approach to FB bidding in the Facebook training module
Some training videos feel long-winded and could have been condensed yet still get the point across
The income you earn with dropshipping is far from passive
Pricing:
Two pricing options:
eCom Elites Standard Package costs $197
eCom Elites Ultimate Package costs $297
30 day action-based money-back guarantee. You must have logged into the training at least once, have gone through at least 50% of the training, have joined the private Facebook group, and proof that you completed your store and that it's live. If not, you get no refund. This refund policy requires you to have learned something before quitting.
Training:
34+ hours of video training content (10 modules)
Group:
Private Facebook Inner Circle community for accountability and support
Origin:
Franklin Hatchett created Ecom Elites in 2017 and was update in 2019
Reputation:
This is one of the more popular dropshipping courses available and Franklin Hatchett is one of the authorities in this business model. If you check some of the eCom Elites YouTube Reviews, you'll find that the majority are all positive reviews.
Top 5 Dropshipping Problems
1. Not Finding Profitable, Quality Products
Online businesses like dropshipping can be an excellent idea for individuals like young adults to earn passive income. However, one of the top dropshipping problems you'll face is that it takes time before you find a profitable product. This is something beginners and experts deal with on the regular. Not every product will be a winner but if you do find one, it may not be profitable for long. This requires dropshippers to constantly be on the lookout for the next trending product and get to selling it before the competition does. Also, if can be difficult to find suppliers that are manufacturing quality products. If you're going to be selling products online, you want those products to be of great quality. If not, you're going to end up having to deal with lots of refunds and angry customers which doesn't bode well for your brand.
2. Expensive Paid Ads
According to Business Insider, the cost of running ads on platforms like Meta (Facebook), Google, and TikTok is increasing each year. Apple making new ad targeting changes has contributed to this increase. Meta's CPM has increased each year by 61%, Google's CPM has increased by 75% and TikTok's CPM has increased by 185% year over year. TikTok is the newest and cheapest ad cast of the bunch, but it's rise in ad cost is exponential and not slowing down. This increase in ad cost is the result of the increase in marketers and companies running ads. The higher the competition on a platform, the more you're going to have to pay. As a new dropshipper, this can hold you back from getting started and those who have been dropshipping for some time may call it quits on the business model.
3. Having to Deal Directly with Customers
A downside of dropshipping is that you have to deal directly with customers. From taking orders to handling any customer queries, complaints, exchanges or refunds. In a perfect world, your suppliers provides you with perfect products and all of your customers are happy. In the real world, there will be issues. It can be very uncomfortable to deal with these situations. If you have thick skin and don't mind helping people, it may not affect you. But it can be an inconvenience. For this reason, many marketers prefer to do Amazon FBA.
4. Long Shipping Times
Speaking of Amazon FBA, it's shipping times are another reason people avoid dropshipping. With Amazon FBA, your customers get their products within the week. That's not the case with dropshipping. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, shipping times from China were drastically delayed. Those effects are still felt to this day. Your best bet at having a profitable dropshipping business is not only to find a trendy, quality product, but to also find a supplier in the United States where shipping times are reduced. Your customers will love your brand for it.
5.Low Profit Margins
Dropshipping profit margins are around 10%-40%. That means if you generated $10,000, you'd only profit $1000 to $4000 at best. There is so much work and money you have to put in for minimal gains. For this reason alone, many people steer clear of the dropshipping business model.
Introduction to Franklin Hatchett
Franklin Hatchett is a famous online entrepreneur from New Zealand. He's a multimillionaire who' made his money online by dropshipping products on Shopify. Before dropshipping, Franklin started out making websites and ranking them. He would make some money off the advertisements he placed on his sites. But the money he made off of those advertisements wasn't enough to live the laptop lifestyle he always wanted.
So, Franklin tried affiliate marketing, where he earned a commission from selling other people's products. This worked great until the affiliate company closed down and he found himself right back at square one.
In 2009, he came across the dropshipping business model and, with the help of Facebook ads, he made over 7-figures in revenue. He also started a software company that generated over $300K and created the Online Dimes free resource blog. Franklin then created the eCom Elites dropshipping course to teach people how to get started with their own Shopify dropshipping store and scale.
The Franklin Hatchett YouTube channel has over 560K subscribers who benefit from the videos Franklin posts every week. All his videos are about the many ways you can make money online, and of course, there are plenty of videos about dropshipping.
Franklin Hatchett Net Worth
Franklin Hatchett has an estimated net worth between $1 million and $5 million.
How To Make Money Online With High Ticket Products Franklin Hatchett's Way
Challenges To Consider with High Ticket Products
What's not mentioned in the video: Franklin did not mention that high ticket items take longer to sell. According to HubSpot, B2B sales cycles for high ticket items can last 6-12 months or longer, compared to low-ticket items.
eCom Elites Course Breakdown
Welcome Video
The course kicks off with an eCom Elites Members Welcome Video, presented by Franklin Hatchett him. He summarizes who he is, where he comes from, and how eCom Elites differs from other dropshipping courses.
Module 00 - eCom Introduction
Franklin starts with a bold statement: “Welcome to the best dang money-making course online."
Franklin clarifies that this course is for people who are just starting out on their e-commerce journey. Therefore, more seasoned dropshippers might find a lot of the content irrelevant or basic to them.
Franklin tells you not to have unrealistic expectations, such as becoming a millionaire soon.
Module 01 - Setting Up Your Shopify Store
This module is all about how to get setup creating your Shopify store. It's pretty standard stuff and Franklin doesn't make any earth-shattering Shopify setup revelations but it's good to get walked through each step of the way.
Here's what you can expect from Module 2:
Module 03 - Facebook Traffic
Franklin goes into great detail on how to use Facebook to generate sales. This is one of the longest modules of eCom Elites. Franklin shows you the methods that have worked for him in his dropshipping business.
You learn things like...
This module takes time to work through and even longer to implement, but it is well worth it. Franklin is a little on the conservative side in his approach, so those who are well-versed in Facebook marketing shouldn't be surprised if they don't learn anything new.
Module 04 - Instagram Traffic
Many so-called Shopify gurus will mention Instagram, but won't go into much detail, let alone actually show you how to leverage the platform owned by Meta.
In this module, he shows you how to...
Module 05 - Email Marketing
In this module, Franklin shows you how to get more sales using email marketing.
You'll learn how to...
Franklin shares great insider info that has worked for him in the past and warns you of the pitfalls associated with email marketing.
Module 06 - ChatBot Marketing
What you learn in this course has not been taught in any other dropshipping course. Franklin shows you how to take your store to the next level by using his ChatBot system. You'll learn how to set them up, and how to use them to increase engagement with the goal of generating more sales.
Franklin teaches you which chatbot platforms to use and how to create automated chat sequences.
Module 07 - Funnel Traffic Foundation
Franklin teaches you how to build advanced sales funnels in module 7. You get access to a funnel template that he's used to generate 6-figures that you can upload and personalize.
Module 08 - Google Ads Traffic Explosion!
In module 8, you learn how to leverage Google to increase conversions while keeping ad cost low. Franklin teaches you how to upload your campaigns to begin making sales the same day you go live with them.
Module 09 - Organic Google Traffic
In this module, Franklin shows you how to create and drive free organic traffic to your store. It's a great introduction to organic Google traffic but it does fall a little short on the details.
There are lots of finer aspects that influence the Google algorithm that aren't covered, but at least Franklin gives you an introduction to this traffic source.
Module 10 - Top Secret Videos
In the last module, Franklin shares great bonus videos that cover a broad range of methods to improve your sales.
They include...
The goal of these videos is to help you gain an advantage over other Shopify dropshippers.
Updated Module Ongoing Videos
This is another great module from Franklin. Although most of the course videos were made in 2017, Franklin thought ahead far enough to make provision for the ever-changing internet, and this module was born. He has also subsequently released an updated 2019 version.
Because Facebook continually updates and improves, it only makes sense that your Facebook campaigns should also adapt and evolve.
This module presents updated videos explaining new methods that you'll be able to use to keep pace with the times.
As a member, you will always have access to these updates, the latest trends, and methods as they are provided.
eCom Elites Frequently Asked Questions
Will this course make me a successful dropshipper?
As with any training, eCom Elites results will differ from person to person. Success all depends on what you put in...But just to give you an idea of what's possible, one of Franklin's most successful students has made over $3 million with his Shopify Store. You will find quite a few other ecom Elites success stories sprinkled around the internet, but on the opposite end of the spectrum, it's not uncommon to see other students drop out after a few weeks.
Is there an eCom Elites Discount available?
No. There is no discount or coupon available for eCom Elites. But it's only $197!
If you compare eCom Elites to other dropship courses--like Dropship Lifestyle, for example, which costs $2,997 for the cheapest version--then eCom Elites is a total steal. Can you really expect Franklin to offer a discount on such a low price? After all, the guy is trying to make a living just like the rest of us.
What's the difference between eCom Elites Standard vs Ultimate?
The first notable difference is the price. The Ultimate Package includes Franklin's Sales Funnel Academy, Google Ads Academy, a Done-4-You complete sales funnel, and two e-books covering Franklin's Top Selling Products and Top Selling Niches.
Is eCom Elites legit?
eCom Elites is legit and Franklin Hatchett is one of the most trusted dropshipping coaches out there. Remember that there is a 30 day money-back guarantee if you're unhappy with eCom Elites. But Franklin really goes out of his way to ensure that you get value for your money.
eCom Elites on Reddit: The Good and The Bad
I did some digging for some eCom Elites testimonials and eCom Elites reviews on Reddit to see what others were saying about the course. Predictably, I found some good and bad feedback, but the good definitely outweighed the bad. Here's what people are saying on Reddit:
The Good
This reviewer had some colorful remarks about some other dropshipping mentors out there, but mentioned that the investment in Hatchett's course was some of the best money they'd ever spent.
Once again, another comment from a Reddit reviewer about some of the best money spent. And also a nod to the amount of time and effort that Hatchett devotes to making sure that his students get as much value as possible.
The Bad
This person offered some feedback to the tune of "you can find this stuff for free on the internet." Though you can learn everything about anything online these days, the wealth of information on the internet is literally incomprehensible. Therein lies the problem. If you think a 30+ hour course is a long time, imagine how long it would take you to weed through all the BS, piece the important stuff together, and put it to practice.
Hint: Much longer.
Is eCom Elites worth it?
eCom Elites is worth buying because it's one of the best Shopify dropshipping courses in terms of content and price. It's a total steal in my opinion. Franklin Hatchett has gone out of his way to make sure that his students get their money's worth with comprehensive, updated content. This course teaches you the basics of getting started with Shopify dropshipping along with several ways that you can generate traffic to your stores. The ChatBot training is unique and sure to add an extra element to your brand. One that can set you apart from your competitors.
Despite the course begin released in 2017, there were some updates in 2019. In 2024, most of the content is still very relevant and the information will enable you to build a successful online business.
The answer is a definite yes.
Despite the course being released in 2017 with some updates in 2019, eCom Elites in 2020 is still very relevant and the information given will enable you to build a successful online business. At only $197, it really is a steal at this price, offering unparalleled value for your money.
The Standard package is a great starter pack and the eCom Elites Ultimate package is packed with more value because it focuses on ClickFunnels, Google ads, and also includes two of Franklin's books.
- Top Selling 6 Figure Products
- Top Selling Niches of All Time
If you're wondering how it compares to eCom Hacks, I'd say it's pretty neck-and-neck.
Although Franklin did a thorough job at explaining each step of the business, albeit a little long-winded at times, I feel that Jared Goetz from eCom Hacks has a more winning mindset, and approaches ad spend aggressively when it is warranted. In my opinion, it's worth it to take risks as long as they're calculated risks.
Jared's course is definitely more expensive at $3K, but to honestly, that's a drop in the bucket compared to the ad costs associated with starting and running this type of business.
I actually like the group inside his program a lot more, which is why I placed eCom Hacks #1.
And I believe a big part of the reason why they have a strong community in eCom Hacks, is because the price of the program kept a lot of people with that poor mentality out of the picture.
Even though I can see the appeal, I don't always agree with selling online courses at cheap prices for the reasons above. In my mind, a coach should price his course according to the value they feel they're delivering. That will attract people who are looking for value, not just the cheapest thing they could get their mitts on.
I believe this is why I see students that are much more committed and driven inside eCom Hacks. So yes, I'd much rather pay a premium to be surrounded by a circle of winners than get a deal and be stuck in the bargain bin with a bunch of complainers.
eCom Elites Alternatives
eCom Success Academy by Adrian Morrison is the #1 dropshipping course alternative. It's the best for beginners and you'll learn about Facebook ads, email marketing, funnels, and more. Aside from getting setup on Shopify, he focuses on showing you how to craft your FB ads in a way that is going to trigger an emotion in your audience. There are 7 training modules and live coaching calls held each week for Q&A. Adrian has ties to Facebook which is why his Facebook ads training is top-notch. After your Shopify stores are profitable, you then learn how to sell your dropshipping business for maximum profit. The community in this program is great because of the level of support you get and there is plenty of engagement each day.
Price: eCom Success Academy Review costs $2,495
More Info: eCom Success Academy Review
Dropship Lifestyle by Anton Kraly is another great alternative to Franklin's course. Anton teaches you how to dropship high-ticket products to generate the most profits. It's a course with 7 training modules just like eCom Success Academy and you learn how to automate your dropshipping business so you can scale faster with other Shopify stores and products. He assists you with product research and provides you with supplier request templates. There are 3 packages you can choose from and even one-on-one coaching available to you.
Price: Dropship Lifestyle costs $3,497
More Info: Dropship Lifestyle Review
To view more alternatives to Franklin Hatchett's dropshipping course, ready my article on the best dropshipping courses in 2022.
Is Dropshipping worth it in 2024?
Dropshipping is worth it in 2024 but you first need to comprehend the amount of work you're going to have to put in before you see any kind of revenue. There are also many issues you're going to face in this business model.
To generate sales, you're at least going to be relying on paid ads on Facebook, Instagram, Google and more. You have no option but to spend money everyday for your ad to be seen. That means that if you're not converting at a high enough percentage, you're losing money. You find yourself struggling to find the perfect ad that's going to make you profit.
Now, to make good money in this business model, you can't just stick to selling one product. You've got to always keep an eye out for the next product that's trending.
This is how much money my shark onesie store made in one month.
I went with this product because at the time, the Baby Shark song was taking the world by storm. Of that $48K, I netted $3000. I had to spend thousands of dollars on Facebook ads. I also had to do order fulfillment and customer service for each customers, not to mention, deal with chargebacks. When it was all said and done, profiting only $3000 after all that trouble was completely unacceptable to me.
Facebook ad cost continues to rise each year and margins are becoming slimmer. More competition is flooding the market which makes it easy for any other dropshipper to copy your product, your store, and your ads. You also have to factor in ad exhaustion. People will get tired of looking at your ads and Facebook can even ban your account is you happen to violate their terms of service
My problem with most "dropshipping geniuses" is that they post the revenue their generating, but they don't tell you how much profit they've actually made. Dropshipping is just not stable or long-lasting for many reasons. Let's say you found a winning product, such as fidget spinners, eventually the product will go out of trend. You must always look for the next trendy product.
Last, your suppliers may not product the best products, they may run out of inventory after you've received many orders and their shipping times can be horrendous. All of these issues make this business model a hassle to run. You won't earn a passive income like most gurus say you can.
I believe this is why so many dropshippers try to sell a course. Don't be surprised if the dropshipping gurus you're learning from aren't active and focus on selling their knowledge through their online course.
Similar to the other popular online business models, dropshipping can make you money, but it doesn't have all the glaring benefits local lead generation does.
Local Lead Generation is Better Than Dropshipping, here's why...
With local lead generation, your success isn't based on finding the right trending product each week or each month. There's no need to run Facebook ads, or Google ads to generate traffic. You don't even have to worry about any inventory or the logistics involved with shipping or returns. Your success is simply determined by how you rank and rent your lead generation sites.
All you do is choose a niche, build your website, rank it at the top of the search results in the city/town of your choice, and choose which local small business owner to send leads to. Once you come to an agreement about how much commission you're going to make, as long as your sites are at the top of page 1 search results, your income will be passive.
Over 7400 students from around the world are busy ranking and renting their digital properties with the goal of reaching financial freedom by living the laptop lifestyle. We love this business model because you are the one that is in control of the majority of the aspects of your business, unlike dropshipping.
What's great is that once your sites are ranked and generating leads, you don't need to do much else to the site unless there are any major updates to Google's core algorithm. Even then, nothing changes much and the fundamentals of this business continue to remain the same. As long as the internet and small businesses exist, you'll always be in business.
To learn how to earn a recurring income without having to deal with the hassle that comes with dropshipping, check out the local lead generation training program.
