Learn how to sell on Amazon in 2025 with this practical, beginner-friendly guide. I walk you through every step needed to start and succeed as an Amazon seller, from setting up your account to fulfilling orders and growing your store.
Selling on Amazon is one of the fastest ways to launch an online business, but the platform’s rules, fees, and competition can be overwhelming if you don’t know what you’re doing. In this step-by-step guide, I’ll show you how to sell on Amazon in 2025, from choosing a selling plan to promoting your products. Whether you’re a first-time seller or looking to add another sales channel to your e-commerce store, you’ll find everything you need to start strong, avoid costly mistakes, and build a profitable Amazon store.
The first step to getting started on selling on Amazon is to choose a selling plan. Amazon offers two selling plans, Individual and Professional. If you’re just starting out, the Individual plan gives you a low-risk way to test the platform. You can upgrade to Professional once you’re ready to scale.
Both plans have the same Amazon product-related fees, allow you to sell existing Amazon products, add new products to the Amazon catalog, and give you access to the Amazon Seller App and Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA).
However, there are a few key differences:
| Amazon Professional Seller | Amazon Individual Seller | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | ||
| Product listing fee (charged when sold) | ||
| Number of product listings/sales per month | ||
| Listings eligible for the Buy Box* | ||
| Offer coupons, shipping specials, and gift wrap | ||
| Can apply to sell in restricted categories | ||
| Bulk upload products or feeds to Amazon | ||
| Access to inventory reports | ||
| Connect with third-party services and product feeds |
*Your listings are eligible for the Buy Box feature — this means your listing is the one that Amazon automatically sells when a customer clicks the “Add to Cart” button on a product listing sold by multiple sellers.
Once you decide which seller plan to sign up for, it’s time to create your seller account. The process is simple and straightforward, but having your documents ready will save you time. Have the following ready:
After gathering your documents, follow these steps:
Add your phone number and indicate if you are a beneficial owner of the business, a legal representative of the business, or both. A beneficial owner is a person who directly or indirectly owns more than 25% of the shares or voting rights of the business, or they own the business via other means, while a legal representative is legally authorized by your business to manage and act on its behalf.
After you upload all required documents and complete your registration, Seller Central will show a confirmation message. Amazon will review your submission and may follow up within two business days if anything needs clarification. If Amazon can’t verify your submission and requests updated documents, you’ll have 30 days to respond. Failing to provide the requested materials within that window will result in the closure of your onboarding process, and your account won’t be activated.
The verification process usually takes three business days if your documents meet all the requirements, longer if they need clarification. Amazon recommends that you use this waiting period to prepare for selling. It provides webinars and an extensive knowledgebase of videos and how-to guides you can learn from.
Once you get your seller account approved, you can start listing your products. There are three ways to create product listings: adding it to an existing product listing, creating a new listing, and using product feeds from an e-commerce platform like Shopify.
To understand how each method works, it’s important to understand how a product detail page works first. The product detail page shows everything a customer needs to know about an item. If multiple sellers offer the same product, Amazon groups their offers on one shared page so shoppers can easily compare options and make a purchase.


All seller offers for a product appear on the same product detail page. Each offer includes pricing, shipping details, and any available promotions. This arrangement sets you up with some tough competition, so you need to know how to stay on top when it comes to pricing, competitive offers (such as free shipping), or being a Featured Offer (I will discuss more pricing strategies after this section).
If a product is already being sold on Amazon, you don’t need to create a new listing from scratch. Instead, you can add your offer to the existing product detail page, which is shared by all sellers of that item.
While it may seem like a competitive disadvantage, many sellers only keep limited stock. Once they sell out, your offer becomes the next available, so you still have a strong chance of making sales. Offering a lower price, free shipping, or using FBA can also help your listing win the Buy Box.
Here’s how to add your product to an existing listing:
Make sure the product you’re listing matches the original exactly — same brand, model, size, and features. Listing against the wrong ASIN can lead to account issues.
If your item isn’t already being sold on Amazon, you’ll need to create a new listing. Only Professional sellers can do this, and while it takes more time than adding your product to an existing listing, it gives you full control over the product detail page, including the ability to optimize it for search and conversions.
Keep in mind: not all categories are open to all sellers. Some require category approval, while others are restricted entirely for third-party sellers.
To create a new product listing, you’ll need the following:
All of these will be used to build your product detail page, the page shoppers see when browsing Amazon.

Remember that Amazon is a search engine. Optimizing your product listings helps you rank higher and increase conversions. Here’s what to include for a high-quality product page, along with some best practices:
If you are a Professional seller, there is also an option for you to bulk upload your products through the product feed tool.

If you already sell on Shopify, you can connect your store directly to Amazon and avoid creating listings manually. Shopify’s Amazon channel app lets you sync your catalog in just a few steps.
Here’s how to do it:
Once synced, any changes you make to products in Shopify, like price updates or inventory counts, will automatically update on Amazon.
Shopify’s Amazon channel app makes it easy to sync listings, inventory, and fulfillment from a single dashboard. It’s the ideal platform for sellers building a multichannel strategy that includes both Amazon and direct-to-consumer sales. You can save time and reduce errors by syncing your Shopify catalog directly to Amazon.
Pricing directly impacts how often your product is seen —and whether it wins the Buy Box. The Buy Box is the featured offer on a product detail page — the box where customers click “Add to Cart” or “Buy Now.” Multiple sellers can offer the same product, but only one offer appears in the Buy Box at a time.

Winning the Buy Box means your offer is the default choice for shoppers. To improve your chances, focus on competitive pricing, reliable fulfillment, and strong account health. Amazon uses these factors to decide which seller’s offer is featured.
Amazon offers several pricing tools to help you stay competitive. I recommend using the Pricing Health dashboard available to you as an Amazon seller so you can make informed pricing decisions. To access it, go to the main menu in your dashboard, hover over Pricing, and select Pricing Health.
Here’s what you’ll find:
Here are some pricing strategies I recommend:
That being said, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Test your pricing strategy and adjust as needed to stay competitive while protecting your margins.
After listing your products, the next step is to choose your fulfillment strategy. Amazon offers several ways to fulfill orders:
Each method has trade-offs in terms of cost, control, and scalability. I’ll break them down so you can choose what works best for your store.
With FBA, you ship your inventory to Amazon’s warehouse, and they handle everything else — storage, packing, shipping, customer service, and returns. FBA listings are also Prime-eligible, which boosts visibility and can improve conversion rates.
Here’s how it works:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
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With FBM, you keep inventory in your own space (warehouse, home, or third-party facility) and ship directly to customers. You’re responsible for delivery, customer service, and returns. Amazon provides tools like Buy Shipping and printable labels inside Seller Central.
| Pros | Cons |
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Third-party fulfillment lets you outsource storage, packing, and shipping to a non-Amazon provider. It’s technically a form of FBM, but instead of handling fulfillment yourself, you hire a logistics partner, often called a 3PL (third-party logistics provider).
This option works well for multichannel sellers who want to streamline fulfillment across Amazon, their own website, and other marketplaces. Some partners, like ShipBob, cater to both small and high-volume sellers and offer fast, two-day shipping without requiring a minimum order volume.
Third-party fulfillment is ideal if you need flexibility outside of Amazon’s system, just be sure your partner can meet Amazon’s fulfillment standards, including delivery speed and reliability.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
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If you’re looking for a done-for-you fulfillment option that works beyond Amazon, consider Amazon’s own Multi-Channel Fulfillment (MCF). It’s a program under FBA that lets you use Amazon’s fulfillment network to ship orders from your other sales channels, including Shopify, Etsy, and your own website.
Amazon’s MCF offers:
MCF is especially useful if you want to centralize your inventory management while maintaining a presence across multiple sales platforms. Plus, you don’t need to be an Amazon Prime seller to use MCF — it works even if you’re primarily selling through other channels.
If you want to streamline your multichannel fulfillment even further, Shopify integrates directly with Amazon, letting you manage listings, inventory, and fulfillment across all your sales channels from one dashboard. With Shopify’s Amazon channel app, you can sync your product catalog, set up Amazon listings from within Shopify, and even automate order fulfillment using Amazon MCF. Start your free Shopify trial to simplify selling on both Amazon and your own website.
As you can see, each fulfillment method has its advantages. However, your fulfillment strategy should match your product type, sales volume, and business goals. Here are five things to consider before deciding:
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Many sellers start with FBA to leverage Prime and Amazon’s customer support. Others stick with FBM to avoid storage fees or maintain control over their fulfillment process. You can even use both for different product types.
I recommend monitoring your profit margins closely. Fulfillment costs vary depending on size, weight, and category — so what works for one product may not work for another.
Once your store is live, your work isn’t over. To stay competitive and in good standing with Amazon, you need to monitor your account activity, respond to buyers promptly, and keep a close eye on performance metrics.
Falling below Amazon’s standards can trigger warnings, suppress your listings, or even result in account suspension. Maintaining good performance improves your chances of:
So, stay proactive. Monitoring your account health regularly is one of the simplest ways to protect your store and build long-term success.
Your Account Health dashboard gives you a real-time look at how well you’re meeting Amazon’s performance standards and policy compliance.
Here are some performance metrics to watch:
Use this dashboard to catch potential issues before they affect your seller status.

Amazon expects timely, professional communication. Buyers can message you directly, and you must respond within 24 hours, even on weekends and holidays. Turn on message notifications so you don’t miss a deadline. Late or missed responses can hurt your seller rating.
When a buyer files an A-Z claim or credit card chargeback, act quickly:
Tip: Keep a complete record of buyer communication and shipping details. You’ll need these if you need to dispute a claim.
Once your listings are live and your operations are in place, it’s time to start driving traffic. Amazon offers a range of tools, from no-cost promotions to advanced ad placements, to help sellers reach more customers, increase conversions, and build brand recognition.
Promotions give shoppers a reason to buy now. You can create several types of offers directly in Seller Central, including:
Amazon Ads let you pay to boost visibility for your products and brand. According to Amazon, small businesses using these tools attributed 30% of their sales to advertising.
You can access the following ad types through Seller Central:
Tip: Start with Sponsored Products to boost your top listings, then expand to Sponsored Brands as your catalog and brand presence grow.
With Amazon Stores, you can build a custom, multi-page storefront within Amazon. This branded space helps you tell your brand story, group related products by collection or use case, and provide a more immersive experience for shoppers. Amazon has a comprehensive creative guideline for Amazon Stores. This is especially useful if you’re selling multiple items under a single brand and want to establish long-term recognition and customer trust.

Your marketing doesn’t end at the sale. Earning positive product reviews and seller feedback helps reinforce trust and drive repeat purchases. To improve your chances:
When done consistently, these practices support both sales growth and long-term brand credibility.
Great reviews start with delivering what you promise — accurate listings, on-time delivery, and responsive service. To actively encourage reviews and improve your store’s credibility, Amazon offers several built-in tools:
Amazon already sends review requests automatically, but if you want to follow up on a specific order, you can use the Request a Review button on the Order Details page. This sends a standardized message asking for both a product review and seller feedback.
Note: Avoid sending additional review requests through email or Buyer-Seller Messaging. These are considered unsolicited and may be blocked based on the buyer’s communication preferences.
The Amazon Vine program helps generate high-quality, trustworthy reviews by inviting a select group of reviewers, Vine Voices, to test your product and share honest feedback.
The Customer Reviews tool in Seller Central lets you track reviews across your product catalog and respond when needed.
Consistently using these tools helps you build trust with buyers and strengthen your long-term performance on Amazon.
Even experienced Amazon sellers run into setbacks. To protect your store and increase your chances of success, avoid these common mistakes:
Poor product research: Jumping into a product category without understanding demand, competition, or profitability is one of the most common missteps. Some sellers rely solely on gut feeling or anecdotal trends. Instead, use keyword tools, study competitor listings, and calculate margins after fees. A product might sell well but still lose money once fulfillment and advertising costs are factored in.
Neglecting customer service: Amazon expects prompt, professional communication. Ignoring buyer messages, missing the 24-hour response window, or handling disputes poorly can lead to negative feedback, lower ratings, or even account suspension. Sellers should treat every buyer interaction as a chance to build trust and protect their seller metrics.
Underestimating Amazon fees: FBA storage costs, referral fees, and advertising expenses can erode your margins fast if you haven’t accounted for them. Many new sellers price too low and end up operating at a loss. Before listing any product, run it through Amazon’s FBA calculator and understand your break-even point.
Violating Amazon’s policies: Amazon has strict rules around listings, communication, and reviews. Common violations include using copyrighted images or brand names without permission, creating misleading or inaccurate product descriptions, and offering incentives in exchange for positive reviews.
Even unintentional mistakes can result in listing suppression or account deactivation. Review Amazon’s selling policies regularly and audit your listings to stay compliant.
Tip: Set up regular reminders to check your Account Health dashboard. Staying proactive is the best way to catch issues before they escalate.
Part of selling products on Amazon is understanding the associated costs of selling on the platform. To build a profitable Amazon business, you need to understand how Amazon’s fees work and how they affect your margins. Amazon deducts all applicable fees from your sales earnings before making payouts every 14 days.
There are three primary types of seller fees:
Amazon may also apply miscellaneous fees, such as for high-volume listings or refund processing, depending on how you operate.
| Sale-related fees | ||
| Referral fee | Percentage of total item price, including shipping and gift wrap. | Typically 6%-15% (up to 45% in rare categories) |
| Closing fee | Applies to media products (books, DVDs, etc.). | $1.80 per item |
| Account fees | ||
| Selling plan fee | Charged monthly or per item sold, depending on your plan. | Individual: $0.99/item Professional: $39.99/month |
| Shipping & fulfillment fees | ||
| Fulfillment fee (FBA) | Per-unit charge for picking, packing, and shipping. | Based on size and weight |
| Storage fee (FBA) | Monthly fee for inventory stored in Amazon’s warehouses. | $0.75-$2.40/cu ft (varies by season and inventory age) |
| Returns processing fee (FBA) | Applies to certain product categories when Amazon handles free returns. | Varies by category and item |
| Miscellaneous fees | ||
| Refund administration fee | Charged when issuing a refund. | $5.00 or 20% of refunded amount (whichever is lower) |
| High-volume listing fee | For inactive ASINs above 100,000 listings. | $0.005 per listing/month |
| Optional program fees | Includes optional services, rentals, or premium tools. | Varies |
Before you list any product, run it through Amazon’s FBA Revenue Calculator. This tool lets you input the item’s sale price, cost of goods, shipping, and fulfillment method to estimate your net profit per unit.
Always calculate profitability at the per-unit level. Overlooking even small fees can shrink your margins, especially if you’re selling low-cost or heavy items.
Once your Amazon business is up and running, the next step is growth. Whether you’re looking to expand your catalog, reach new markets, or streamline your operations, Amazon provides tools and programs to help you scale without losing control.
Amazon’s New Seller Guide helps you build momentum in your first 90 days. According to Amazon, sellers who follow the guide generate approximately 6x more first-year sales on average.
To get started, you need to be under a Professional selling account. Then, complete the following actions within your first 90 days:
AI-powered tools like Jungle Scout help you predict demand using keyword traffic, sales trends, and seasonality data. These insights make it easier to plan purchases, avoid slow-moving inventory, and identify which products are worth scaling.
Registering your brand unlocks tools to protect your listings and improve conversion rates.
Amazon Business opens the door to bulk buyers like companies, schools, and government agencies. These customers typically purchase in larger quantities, return items less frequently, and look for volume discounts or business-only pricing.
You can enable business pricing, quantity discounts, and access analytics tailored to B2B behavior directly in Seller Central.
The Product Opportunity Explorer gives you insights into what Amazon customers are searching for, and more importantly, what they aren’t finding. You can spot unmet demand based on real-time Amazon search and purchase data, and analyze pricing, reviews, and competition across categories. Use these insights to launch profitable new products that meet actual customer needs.
With Amazon Global Selling, you can expand into international marketplaces like Canada, the UK, and Germany using Amazon’s infrastructure. Amazon helps simplify language localization, currency conversion, and shipping logistics, and you control where and how your listings appear internationally. Start by testing your best-performing products in new markets to gauge demand before scaling up.
There are three main ways to sell on Amazon: by matching existing listings, creating new product listings as a Professional seller, or syncing your catalog from an e-commerce platform like Shopify. Each method has its pros and cons, but syncing through Shopify is often the most efficient if you already have a store.
Start by signing up for a Seller Central account, choosing the Individual plan if you’re testing the platform. From there, list your first product by matching an existing listing or creating a new one. Amazon also provides webinars and a New Seller Guide to help you navigate your first 90 days.
Yes, but only if you understand the fees, competition, and marketing strategies. Using tools like Amazon’s Pricing Health dashboard and automating pricing can help you stay competitive. Many sellers also find success by combining FBA with promotions or multichannel tools like Shopify.
Yes. You don’t need to register a business to sell on Amazon. During account setup, you can select “None, I am an individual” under business type. That said, creating a registered business can offer tax advantages and simplify things if you plan to scale.
No, it isn’t. While creating an account is free, Amazon charges per-sale fees and may apply monthly subscription or fulfillment charges depending on your setup.
With FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon), Amazon stores and ships your products. With FBM (Fulfilled by Merchant), you handle storage, shipping, and customer service yourself.
Amazon deposits your earnings directly into your bank account, usually every two weeks, after deducting applicable fees.
Agatha Aviso is a seasoned expert in retail, eCommerce, and order fulfillment, with a specialization in payments, POS systems, and eCommerce software. She has collaborated with startups and service-based entrepreneurs on content strategy, offering digital marketing expertise and guiding small business owners in launching their online storefronts. Beyond consulting, Agatha applies her knowledge firsthand—building her own website as well as ecommerce sites for the platforms she reviews.