Trying to find suppliers for an (startup) online business when you have no prior experience with dropshippers or internet businesses can be hard to put your hand on.  I want to share a few things that you must have set in place that should make it easier for you.

You want to make sure you have access to a list of suppliers so you can browse through all different type of products because you may find some product that relates to what you are doing and adds some more value to your catalog.  Having more in your catalog is going to give people visiting your site reasons to stay longer.  My wife is always telling me that she will stay longer at websites with bigger catalogs.  Keeping people on your site longer is one of the biggest keys to getting them to buy from you, and its a good sign if they are staying longer and longer.

Make sure you do your research before contacting suppliers.  Go to Ebay and see what products are selling for, go to other websites and see what products are selling for and get a good idea of the high and low ends with regards to the products you want to sell.  Make sure you are getting the best prices from your supplier and if they are to hard to work with then move on to a better one.  There are many options and you do not have to feel like you are stuck with one.

One of the most important key elements when setting up relationships with suppliers is to make sure that you have a business name and tax ID already set up and established.  Most suppliers will not work with you if you do not have a legal registered business.

Working with suppliers is really not that hard.  They want to make you happy and you want to make them happy.  You prove to them you can make them money and they will always be more willing to work with you. (and eventually give you better deals then others working with them)  Just remember they are a business, but people are behind that business and setting up a good relationship with your supplier could turn out to be a huge advantage for you.

Don't make a hasty decsion.  Most of the problems I see with start-ups is they are way to eager to work with the first supplier that will get back to them, only to realize later on they have made a bad choice.  Again, do your homework, and find the best match for you, and work on establishing the relationship with your supplier.

Following even these simple steps can greatly increase your chances for your internet business to actually work and be profitable.