Amazon FBA for Beginners: How to Start Selling on Amazon

Reselling can feel overwhelming at first. This guide breaks the process into clear steps you can actually follow.

Introduction

Selling on Amazon is one of the most popular ways to make money online, and for good reason. Amazon is

the world’s largest online marketplace – in 2022, Amazon accounted for 38% of U.S. e-commerce sales,

and millions of customers browse the site daily. For new entrepreneurs, Amazon offers a huge built-in customer base and robust infrastructure to support your business. If you’re a beginner looking to tap into

this opportunity, this guide is for you.

One of the best programs for new Amazon sellers is Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA). With FBA, you send your

products to Amazon’s warehouses, and Amazon handles shipping, returns, and customer service for those

products. This means you can focus on finding and marketing great products, while Amazon Prime’s fast

shipping and trusted service help you win customers. Essentially, FBA lets a one-person business leverage

Amazon’s logistics empire from day one.

In this “Amazon FBA for Beginners” guide, we’ll cover everything from setting up your Amazon Seller

account, finding a profitable product to sell, sourcing inventory, sending products to Amazon FBA, and tips

for launching successfully. We’ll keep it practical and beginner-friendly, with a friendly expert tone to walk

you through each step. Let’s get started on your Amazon selling journey!

Step 1: Set Up Your Amazon Seller Account

Your first move is to create an Amazon Seller account. Amazon offers two types of selling plans: Individual

and Professional. Here’s what that means and how to decide:

Individual Selling Plan: No monthly fee; instead, you pay a $0.99 fee per item sold, plus other

selling fees. This plan is best if you’re not sure how much you’ll sell or plan to sell fewer than 40 items

per month. It’s a low-commitment way to test the waters. With the Individual plan, you won’t have

access to some advanced seller tools and you cannot use certain advertising features. But it’s fine for

beginners starting slow.

Professional Selling Plan: Costs $39.99 per month, regardless of how much you sell. In addition,

you still pay referral fees on each sale (more on fees later). The Pro plan is ideal if you plan to sell

more than ~40 items a month, which makes the flat fee more economical than $0.99 per item. The

Pro account also unlocks features like bulk listing uploads, advanced reports, eligibility for the Buy

Box, and use of Amazon advertising. Most serious FBA sellers use the Professional plan because it’s

necessary for certain categories and for scaling up.

How to Register: Go to Amazon Seller Central (sell.amazon.com) and click “Sign Up”. You’ll need to provide

details including your business name (you can use your personal name if sole proprietor), address, phone

number, credit card, and tax information (Social Security number or Employer ID number for U.S. sellers).

Amazon will verify your identity – often via a postcard code to your address or a video call to check

documents. This is normal procedure to ensure security. Be prepared to scan/upload some ID and possibly

a bank statement or utility bill for address verification.

During setup, you’ll also choose your business display name (the name customers see on Amazon). It

could be your brand name if you have one, or something descriptive of what you sell. You can change this

later, so don’t stress too much – but choose something professional.

Bank & Tax Setup: You’ll enter a bank account for Amazon to deposit your earnings (Amazon pays out

every two weeks to your bank). Ensure the bank account name matches the business/individual name on

the account to avoid issues. For tax, U.S. sellers complete a W-9 form (or W-8BEN for foreign sellers) right

within the signup flow, which basically just provides your tax ID. This is so Amazon can send you a 1099-K form if your sales exceed the threshold (currently $20k and 200 transactions in the US, as of 2026).

Complying with these requirements is important to avoid account holds.

Once registered, you’ll have access to Seller Central, the dashboard where you manage all aspects of your

Amazon business (listings, inventory, pricing, reports, etc.). It can look overwhelming at first, but we’ll tackle

the key parts as we go.

Tip: Decide early on if you’re going to sell as an individual or form a business entity (like an LLC). It’s fine to

start as an individual/sole proprietor under your SSN. But if you have an LLC or plan to, you should use the

LLC’s info and EIN during registration. Amazon allows you to change tax identity later, but it’s a bit of

paperwork, so starting with the structure you intend to use long-term is simpler. If you’re unsure, starting as

an individual is okay for now.

Step 2: Choose What to Sell (Product Research)

Success on Amazon heavily depends on what product you choose to sell. This step is crucial – picking a

good product can mean steady profits, while a poor choice can lead to frustration. Here’s how to approach

product research for Amazon FBA:

Look for Market Demand: Use tools and research methods to find products that have strong

demand but not an impossible level of competition. On Amazon, a quick indicator of demand is the

Best Seller Rank (BSR) in a category – lower BSR (closer to #1) means more sales. You can browse

Amazon categories or use third-party tools like Jungle Scout or Helium 10 to see estimated sales for

products. Aim for items that sell at least a few hundred units a month across the market; that

indicates consistent demand. Also, check Google Trends or Amazon search autocomplete for popular

searches related to your product idea.

Avoid Overly Saturated or Dominated Niches: If you find a product where the top results are

dominated by big brands or tons of identical listings, it may be tough for a beginner to break in. For

example, electronics like phone chargers might have huge competition and well-known brands. Look

for niches where you can differentiate. Sometimes a slight twist on a popular product works – e.g.,

instead of generic water bottles, maybe water bottles designed specifically for hikers with a certain

feature. Long-tail niches (more specific subcategories) are friendlier to new sellers.

Consider Size and Weight: As a beginner, it’s wise to start with products that are small and

lightweight. Why? Because they’re cheaper to ship to Amazon and store. Amazon FBA fees are lower

for small, light items (think things that fit in a shoebox and weigh under 2-3 pounds). Oversized

items incur much higher fulfillment fees and storage fees, which eat into profit. So while that patio

furniture set might sell for a lot, it will cost a lot to fulfill – maybe save such bulky ambitions for later.

Many first-timers start with items like kitchen gadgets, beauty accessories, pet supplies, or small

electronics accessories.

Aim for a Healthy Profit Margin: A common guideline is the rule of thirds – roughly one-third of

the selling price goes to your product cost, one-third to Amazon fees, and one-third is profit. For

example, if a product sells for $30 on Amazon, you’d hope the product cost is around $10, Amazon

fees maybe around $10 (including referral fee and FBA fee), leaving $10 profit. This is a rough

heuristic, but it helps filter out ideas. If a product can only be sourced for $15 and sells for $20,

there’s likely not enough margin after fees. Look for products where you could make at least 25-30%

profit margin. Keep in mind Amazon’s referral fee is usually ~15% of the sale price for most

categories, and FBA fulfillment fees might be another few dollars per unit depending on size/weight. Use Amazon’s free FBA Revenue Calculator (available online) to plug in a product’s price, weight,

etc., to estimate fees and profit.

Check for Restrictions: Amazon has some gated categories and restricted products. As a new seller,

you should avoid products that require approval to sell (at least initially). For example, categories like

Beauty or Topicals, Toys (during Q4 holiday season), and brands like Disney or Apple are restricted

without authorization. There are also products Amazon prohibits (hazardous goods, certain

electronics with batteries unless certified, etc.). Always verify that the product you want to sell isn’t

on a restricted list. You can find this in Seller Central or via a quick search in Amazon’s Seller forums.

An easy test: try to create a listing for the product (or check if existing similar products have a

message like “Available by approval only”). If it’s gated, pick something else to start with.

Private Label vs. Reselling Existing Brands: There are two main approaches on Amazon. Private

label is creating your own brand of a product (often by finding a generic product from a

manufacturer, adding your branding/packaging). Reselling is buying products from known brands

(wholesale or retail) and selling them on Amazon (this is also called arbitrage or wholesale model).

Beginners can do either, but they differ. Private label requires developing a brand and often a larger

upfront buy (e.g., ordering 200 units from Alibaba with your logo). The advantage is you have your own listing with no competition on the “Buy Box” except other sellers of your product. Reselling

existing brands (like buying LEGO sets on clearance and selling on Amazon) means you might

compete for the Buy Box with other sellers of that item, but you leverage an existing listing. Private

label is a common FBA path because it can be scaled and you build an asset (your brand), but it

needs careful product selection and marketing. If going the private label route, definitely identify a

way to stand out (better quality, bundle with an accessory, improved design, etc.). If going the

arbitrage/resell route, ensure the products are authentic and sourced legitimately – Amazon takes

counterfeits seriously and you’d need invoices from wholesalers if challenged.

Take your time in product research. Many FBA experts say they spend more time on research than anything

else, because a poor product choice is hard to rescue even with good marketing. There are plenty of

resources (blog posts, YouTube videos) showcasing how to find “Amazon FBA product ideas” – often using

software that analyzes sales rank and competition. Feel free to use those tools if you wish, but even

manually you can find opportunities by browsing Amazon’s best-seller lists, new releases, or even going to

stores and noticing what kinds of items are trending.

Example: Suppose you notice that collapsible silicone travel cups are popular, but all top sellers are plain

colors. You research and see they sell thousands per month. You also notice no one is selling a version with

cute printed designs or inspirational quotes. This could be a private label opportunity: you contact a

supplier to produce silicone cups with unique prints. The demand is proven, but you found a way to

differentiate slightly for a niche (e.g., outdoor enthusiasts with nature prints, or kids with fun patterns).

That’s a thought process for finding a product.

Step 3: Source Your Product and Prepare Inventory

Once you have a particular product in mind, you need to get inventory to sell. How you source depends on

whether you’re doing private label, wholesale, or retail arbitrage:

Private Label Sourcing: Typically involves finding a manufacturer (often in China via Alibaba.com, or

domestically if possible) to produce your product. You’ll reach out to suppliers, request quotes,

maybe order samples, then place a bulk order (often 100-500 units to start). Negotiate pricing, ensure the supplier can meet Amazon’s packaging requirements (each unit needs a scannable

barcode, for example), and consider quality control. It’s crucial to vet suppliers – look at their Alibaba

ratings, trade assurance, and communicate clearly about product specifications. Once produced,

you’ll ship the products to your location or directly to an Amazon FBA warehouse (some suppliers

can send directly to Amazon, but you might want to inspect the goods yourself first especially on the

first batch). Keep in mind manufacturing and shipping lead times – it might take 30-60 days to get

your products in hand, so plan accordingly.

Wholesale/Existing Product Sourcing: This could mean contacting brand manufacturers or

authorized distributors to buy inventory in bulk. For example, you could reach out to a distributor of

pet supplies to buy 100 units of a popular dog toy at wholesale price, then resell on Amazon. You will

usually need a reseller certificate or business license for this. Margins can be thinner, but it’s a way to

leverage known brands. When you go this route, ensure the product is not restricted on Amazon and

that you’ll have legitimate invoices (in case Amazon asks for proof of authenticity). Buying wholesale

means an upfront investment but you skip product development.

Retail/Online Arbitrage Sourcing: If you’re starting with arbitrage (buying from retail stores or

websites on discount and reselling), start hunting for deals! Use store apps, deal websites, or scanning tools. For retail, once you buy the items, you’ll need to prep them for Amazon: making sure

they’re in new condition, removing any retail price stickers, and packing them appropriately. Each

unit will need an Amazon FNSKU label (a barcode Amazon uses to track your item as yours) – for

arbitrage, you’ll usually label items yourself unless using a prep center. You can print these barcodes

from Seller Central and stick them over the original UPC. We’ll cover sending to FBA next, but note

that arbitrage can be a fast way to get started with lower quantities, though you must be careful

about Amazon’s rules (e.g., some brands don’t allow resellers or might issue IP complaints – always

good to do a quick search if others are successfully selling that item on Amazon already).

Packaging and Prep: However you source, to use FBA you must prepare products according to Amazon’s

guidelines. For private label, this means each item needs a scannable barcode (either the manufacturer’s

UPC or an Amazon-generated FNSKU) – most private label sellers use Amazon’s FNSKU labels on each unit

to track inventory. You can have your supplier print these labels on the packaging or you can apply stickers

later. Items must be packaged securely – if it’s a set of items, mark it as a set. If the item is fragile or liquid,

follow Amazon’s specific prep rules (e.g., poly bag with suffocation warning for plush fabrics, or leak-proof

sealing for liquids). Amazon has a prep requirement matrix (available on Seller Central help) listing how

different product types should be prepped. It’s worth reviewing so you don’t get inventory problems. For

instance, plush toys might need poly-bagging to protect from dust, and adult products need opaque

bagging. Following these ensures your inventory gets checked in smoothly.

If dealing with expiration-dated goods (like food or topicals), each unit’s expiration date must be formatted

and displayed per Amazon policy, usually on the label, with at least 90 days left.

One more thing: if you’re doing private label, consider branding and packaging design. While not

required, having an attractive brand logo and package can elevate your product. Simple choices like a

colored box with your logo, or an instruction insert thanking the customer and providing support contact,

can enhance the customer experience and differentiate your product. Also, having a trademarked brand

eventually lets you enroll in Amazon Brand Registry which unlocks enhanced marketing tools – not crucial

on day one, but something to aspire to. Step 4: Create Your Amazon Listing

Before sending products to FBA, you’ll want to create the product listing on Amazon. This involves inputting

all the details for the product page that customers will see. If you’re selling a product that already exists on Amazon (say, a known brand item), you generally find that listing in Catalog and indicate you want to sell it

(and just set your price and quantity). In that case, you’d match to the existing ASIN (Amazon’s product ID).

However, if you’re launching a new product (new ASIN) – which will be the case for a private label product

or something not currently sold on Amazon – you will create a new listing from scratch.

Here’s how to create a great listing (some of this echoes our listing advice from the previous article, but

focusing on Amazon-specific elements):

Product Title: Amazon allows quite long titles (often up to 200 characters, though they recommend

shorter for readability). Use this space wisely for keywords. Include brand name, descriptive

keywords, and key specs. Example: “TravelMug 16 oz Stainless Steel Insulated Tumbler – Leakproof

Coffee Travel Mug with Lid, Copper Vacuum Insulation – Blue”. Notice it has brand + what it is +

features, and maybe color/size. Amazon’s style guides differ by category (some require certain

format like start with brand). Check the style guide for your category to format correctly.

Bullet Points (Key Product Features): Amazon gives you 5 bullet points to highlight features (in

Seller Central these are the “Key Product Features”). Use all five if possible. These should be benefitdriven and include relevant keywords. For instance: * Insulated All-Day: Double-wall stainless steel keeps drinks hot for 8 hours or cold for 12 hours. Each bullet

can be a short sentence or two. Capitalize the start of each bullet for readability, but do NOT use all-

caps for the entire bullet (that’s against guidelines). Include dimensions, materials, uses, etc., across

your bullets. Think: what does the customer care about most? Address those points.

Product Description/Enhanced Content: You have a description field where you can write a

paragraph or two about the product. If you are brand-registered, you can use A+ Content (enhanced

images and text modules) to make a fancy description. As a beginner without Brand Registry, you’ll

stick to plain text. Use this area to further sell the product – perhaps a little story, instructions, or

detail that didn’t fit in bullets. Avoid marketing fluff that’s prohibited (no external links, no

mentioning of deals or other sellers, etc.). Also, do not include phrases like “100% satisfaction

guarantee” – Amazon doesn’t like extraneous promises here. Keep it factual, engaging, and accurate.

Keywords (Search Terms): In your listing backend (in Seller Central, under the Keywords section for

your listing), there’s a field for “Search Terms.” This is where you put additional keywords that you

didn’t explicitly include in the public title or bullets, especially alternate phrases or spellings.

Separate words by spaces (no need for commas). For example, if you’re selling a “backpack”, you

might include “bookbag school bag rucksack” in search terms if those aren’t in your content. Do NOT

repeat keywords excessively – Amazon ignores duplicates. Just throw in relevant words that might

help your product show up in more searches. There’s a limit (often 250 bytes) to how much you can

put here.

Images: Amazon allows several images (usually 7-9 images slots including a main image). The main

image must have a pure white background and show the product clearly, no props (unless product

is a multi-piece set), and the product should fill ~85% of the frame. This is per Amazon’s image policy.

Additional images can show the product in use (lifestyle shots), different angles, size scale, features

(maybe infographics or text highlighting features), etc. Invest in decent photography if you can – it

pays off. If you can’t hire a pro, at least ensure good lighting and clarity. Many new sellers use a light tent or a DIY setup for a white background. There are also services to render a 3D image if it’s a

private label product. Good images can significantly boost conversion rates.

Price: When creating the listing, you’ll set your price. Research what similar items sell for and price

competitively. As a new seller with no reviews, sometimes pricing a bit lower to attract early buyers is

a strategy. You can always raise price later once you have some positive reviews or if demand is

good. Also decide if you want to run any launch promotions (like coupons or a temporary sale price)

– these can be set in Seller Central. But be careful with very low prices; if you price far below market,

customers might perceive it as low quality. Find a fair price point for your entry. We’ll discuss fees in

the next article, but remember Amazon will take its cut from this price, so ensure it still yields profit.

After filling out all required info (category, brand name, etc.), you’ll save the listing. If it’s a new product, it

may take 15 minutes or so to appear in your inventory list. You might see a status like “Inactive” because

you have zero stock – that’s fine. The listing is there; it will go live on Amazon’s website once you have

inventory available (or if you set it to FBM you could list quantity immediately, but for FBA it’ll be inactive

until stock arrives).

Pro Tip: Pay attention to category selection when creating a new listing. Choosing the correct category

and sub-category is important for visibility and to ensure you’re in the proper browse sections. Sometimes a

product could fit in multiple categories – pick the one that best matches where customers would navigate.

Amazon might change it if they think it’s miscategorized, but you can usually request category changes if

needed through support.

Alright, now you have a listing created in Seller Central. Next, it’s time to send your inventory to Amazon

FBA so Amazon can fulfill those orders!

Step 5: Send Your Inventory to Amazon (FBA Inbound Shipment)

If you are fulfilling orders yourself (FBM – Fulfilled by Merchant), you can skip this step and just make sure

your listing is active with stock. But since this guide focuses on FBA for beginners, we’ll walk through

sending your products to Amazon’s warehouses. It may seem daunting the first time, but Amazon provides

a workflow to guide you – the Send to Amazon shipment workflow .

Here’s a step-by-step of sending inventory to FBA:

Prep Your Products: As mentioned, ensure each unit is properly packaged and labeled. For each

unique product, you’ll need either the UPC barcode visible or an Amazon FNSKU label on it. Most

private labelers use FNSKU labels to avoid commingling with other sellers’ stock. You can generate

these labels in Seller Central: go to your Manage Inventory, find your new listing, click on the

dropdown on the right “Edit” -> “Send/Replenish Inventory” or “Send to Amazon”. During that

process, it will ask how you will label products. If you choose “Amazon to label”, they charge a fee per

unit (like $0.30) to label for you. If you choose “I will label”, you’ll get a PDF of labels to print and stick

on each item. Print them on address label paper or plain paper and tape them (making sure barcode

is flat and scannable, not covered by tape). Ensure no other barcodes are showing on the outside

except Amazon’s. If the product packaging has a UPC, cover it with the FNSKU label so only the

FNSKU is scannable.

Case-Packing vs Individual: Decide if you’re shipping items in individual boxes with mixed SKUs or

sending a case of identical items. For example, if you have 50 units of one product, you can ship them in one big box – that’s a case of one SKU. If you have multiple SKUs in the same box, you’ll

choose “individual products” in the workflow. Amazon’s workflow will ask you about this. If it’s case,

you’ll provide units per case, number of cases, etc.

Create Shipment in Seller Central: Using the Send to Amazon (or sometimes the older Send/

Replenish Inventory workflow), you will create a shipment plan. You’ll select the products and

quantities you want to send. Amazon will assign the destination warehouse – often they’ll split

shipments among different warehouses. E.g., they might have you send 30 units to an FC (fulfillment

center) in California and 20 units to one in Texas. This is normal; they distribute stock. As a new seller,

you might be able to enable Inventory Placement Service (for a fee) to send all to one warehouse

and let Amazon distribute internally, but most just follow the plan given. Pack the units accordingly if

split (it will tell you how many to each).

Provide Box Details: You’ll need to tell Amazon the shipment packing details – number of boxes,

weight, and dimensions. If using the old workflow, you may have to enter this, and then you’ll be

offered shipping rates. If using the new “Send to Amazon” workflow, you might first confirm

contents, then later finalize boxes. It’s important to weigh and measure your cartons accurately

because shipping cost and compliance depend on it. Amazon partnered carrier (UPS for most) is often the cheapest option for small to medium size boxes, and you can buy deeply discounted UPS

labels through Amazon. For example, sending a 40 lb box might cost $10-$15 via Amazon’s rate

which is very cheap. If you have pallets worth of goods, you might use LTL freight – but as a

beginner, you’ll likely use small parcel delivery (SPD).

Print and Attach Box Labels: After you’ve entered box info and accepted the shipment, Amazon

generates box shipping labels. These are different from the product labels – these are for the

carrier and Amazon’s warehouse. You’ll get typically a PDF with two labels per box: one is the UPS/

FedEx label, one is the Amazon FBA shipment ID label for their internal tracking. Print them and affix

to each box. Ensure these labels don’t cover seams and are easy to scan. Remove any old labels if

reusing boxes. Every box must have its unique FBA label so they know what shipment it belongs to

on arrival.

Ship Out the Boxes: Drop off the packages with the carrier or schedule a pickup. Through the

Amazon workflow, if you bought UPS labels, you can drop them at any UPS location. Keep the

tracking info. The shipment will be tracked in Seller Central; it will show as In Transit, then Delivered,

then Checked-In, then Receiving, then eventually Closed. This process can take several days to a

couple of weeks depending on distance and how busy the warehouse is. Be patient – once delivered,

Amazon still needs to scan and shelve your items (receiving can take a few days).

Congratulations, your inventory is on its way to FBA! While you wait for it to become fully available for sale,

you can polish your listing if needed (maybe work on getting some initial reviews lined up, which we’ll

discuss). Note: Do not try to get cute and send anything not in your plan or misdeclare contents – Amazon

may randomly inspect boxes and if they find discrepancies (like missing units or wrong products), it can

cause problems. Always ensure what you said you sent is what’s actually in the box.

Monitoring Inventory: In Seller Central’s Inventory screen, FBA items will show statuses like “Inbound” (on

the way), “Fulfillable” (in stock ready to ship), or “Reserved” (allocated to orders or being transferred

between warehouses). Keep an eye to know when you can start selling. You might also see “Stranded

inventory” if something’s wrong (like a listing issue) – fix those promptly. Step 6: Launch Your Product and Get Initial Sales

When your product goes live on Amazon (inventory is in stock), the next challenge is to actually generate

sales. A new product with no reviews or sales history is like a needle in the haystack on Amazon’s massive marketplace. You need to give it a push to gain visibility and social proof. Here are strategies for a

successful launch:

Promotions and Discounts: One common method is to offer a limited-time discount or coupon to

spur purchases. You can set a coupon (which appears as a green badge “Save $X” on your listing) –

this can attract deal-savvy shoppers. Or run a Launch Sale by simply pricing low initially. Some

sellers use promotional codes to give to a group of people (like 50% off codes shared in a small

Facebook group, etc.) to get some sales velocity going. Be careful with extreme discounts though –

Amazon has rules about how much of a discount can be given in exchange for reviews (and you

cannot demand a review in exchange for a discount – that’s against policy). However, the goal of

promotions is more about ranking: Amazon’s algorithm favors listings that get sales. Even a few

sales a day can start moving you up in search results for your keywords. So it can be worth slim or

zero profit on your first batch just to rank up.

Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Advertising: Amazon has its own internal ads (Amazon Sponsored Products).

You can pay to have your product show up in search results or on competitor listings. For beginners,

a simple Auto campaign (where Amazon decides when to show your ad based on your listing

content) is a good start. Allocate a small budget (say $10-20/day) and let it run. You’ll get visibility

and hopefully some sales, and the auto campaign will also reveal which search terms convert for

your product (you can see this in reports). Additionally, you could set up a manual campaign

targeting your main keywords once you identify them. PPC will cost money – expect that you might

spend more on ads than you profit initially – consider it a launch investment. Many new FBA sellers

spend a few hundred dollars on ads in the first month to “buy” some traction. The upside is, those

sales can lead to organic rank improvement, and some of those buyers might leave reviews.

Friends & Family Purchases (Carefully): It’s natural to want your friends to buy your product and

leave a review. Amazon, however, is very strict about “verified purchase” reviews that are not

genuine. If Amazon detects that a review is from someone related to the seller or somehow biased

(they have algorithms for this, including checking if the reviewer shares your last name, address, or

is linked on Facebook, etc.), they might remove the review or worse, penalize you. So the official

stance: do not orchestrate fake reviews. That said, if you have a friend who truly wants your product,

they can buy it at full price and try it, and leave an honest review – one or two of those is usually fine.

Just don’t do anything like reimburse them outside Amazon or use a bunch of family members; that

can get messy. There are also launch services or rebate services out there, but use extreme caution:

many are against Amazon’s terms. It’s safer and more sustainable to use advertising and small

coupons to get genuine customers.

Early Reviewer Program/Vine: Amazon used to have an “Early Reviewer Program” for new SKUs,

but that’s been retired. Now, if you have Brand Registry (requires a trademark), you can enroll in

Amazon Vine, where you give away some units to Amazon-picked reviewers in exchange for reviews.

As a beginner without a trademark yet, you likely can’t use Vine. So you have to earn reviews the old-

fashioned way. Ask buyers politely (via the “Request a Review” button in orders page or automated

email if you have a tool) to leave feedback. Many won’t, but some will.

Optimize Based on Feedback: Once you start getting a few sales, watch for any early feedback. If

customers ask questions in the Q&A section or if someone leaves a critical review, use that to

improve your listing or product. For instance, if someone says “smaller than I expected”, you might add the exact dimensions to the description or an image. Respond to reviews (politely, from your

seller account) if needed to show good customer service – e.g., “Sorry it didn’t meet expectations –

please reach out to us [contact] and we’ll make it right.” This can impress future shoppers that you

care.

Monitor Inventory and Restock: If all goes well, you’ll start selling your inventory. Keep an eye so

you don’t run out of stock, especially if this product is your main breadwinner. Running out can hurt

your sales rank momentum. It’s a balance though – don’t send 1000 units first time and then find

they don’t sell. Better to sell out a small batch (it creates urgency too, showing customers it’s

popular) and then restock quickly, than to overstock and tie up cash and incur storage fees. Use

Amazon’s reports or just track manually how fast things are selling and estimate when you need to

reorder or send more to FBA.

Launching on Amazon is often the hardest phase – it takes effort and money to gain visibility. But once you

have, say, 5-10 good reviews and a steady daily sales rate, it gets easier. The Amazon flywheel kicks in: sales

lead to higher ranking, which leads to more sales, etc. Many beginners feel discouraged if they don’t hit it

out of the park in week one. Don’t worry – keep tweaking and marketing. Sometimes it takes a few weeks or a couple of months to really get traction on a new product. Patience and persistence are key.

Step 7: Master Amazon’s Rules and Optimize for Growth

As you begin to make sales on Amazon, remember that you’re operating on Amazon’s platform, so you

must play by their rules. Amazon has strict policies for sellers – violating them can risk your account. Plus,

you’ll want to continuously optimize your business for more profit. Here’s how:

Follow Amazon Policies: Make sure you’re familiar with Amazon’s seller code of conduct and specific

rules. For example: don’t ask customers for positive reviews (you can ask for a review, but not

specifically a positive one, and never offer incentive), don’t include marketing materials in the box

that violates terms (like directing customers to your own site for reviews or offering future discounts

for review), don’t attempt to game the Buy Box by creating duplicate listings, etc. Also, abide by

product safety and description rules – if selling toys, ensure they meet regulations, if selling anything

ingestible, be very clear on ingredients and expiry. If Amazon sends policy violation warnings (maybe

a customer complained item is used or fake), address them immediately with a plan of action.

Keeping a good account health rating is crucial for long-term success.

Watch Your Metrics: Amazon tracks metrics like Order Defect Rate (ODR), Late Shipment (if you do

any FBM), Inventory Performance Index (IPI) for FBA stock management, etc. As an FBA seller, most

customer-facing metrics are handled by Amazon (they ship on time, handle customer messages

about delivery, etc.), which is a boon. But you still need to monitor customer feedback and any

returns. If you start seeing multiple returns for the same issue (e.g., “item not as described”), fix your

listing or quality control. If someone leaves negative seller feedback complaining about the product

(not your service), you can request Amazon to remove it (since product review should go in product

reviews, not seller feedback). Protect your seller rating by being proactive.

Use Analytics and Tools: In Seller Central, explore the reports available. The Business Reports can

show you your conversion rate on your listing, sessions (visits), etc. If you see you have a lot of page

views but low conversion, that signals an issue (price too high? images not convincing? product not

meeting expectations?). If you have low views, then your issue is traffic (need better keywords or

more advertising). Amazon’s Search Term Report from advertising can show which search queries

led to sales; use that to refine your keywords and bids. There are third-party analytics tools (many paid) that can help with keyword tracking and spying on competitors’ sales – optional but can be

useful as you expand.

Expand Your Product Line Strategically: Once you get the hang of one product, you might launch

related products to build a brand portfolio. Frequently, sellers find success with one item and then

add complementary items. For example, if your travel mug sells well, maybe add a thermos or a set

of reusable straws. Leverage the brand recognition and customer base you’re building. On Amazon,

having multiple products can also cross-sell (customers see “Brand X also makes…” and might add to

cart). Just ensure each new product still goes through the same research scrutiny – don’t assume it’ll

sell just because your first did; research it too.

Manage Inventory and Costs: As you grow, keep an eye on inventory turnover. Amazon charges

storage fees, especially high during Q4 for stored goods. Don’t let stuff sit unsold for too long – it’s

money tied up and fees accruing. If something isn’t selling, you may need to run a clearance sale or

even arrange a removal order to get it out of FBA (Amazon can ship it back to you or dispose, for a

fee). Aim to keep about 1-3 months of stock at Amazon for each product based on sales velocity to

balance between not stocking out and not overstocking. Also keep track of your financials – software

like QuickBooks or specialized Amazon accounting tools can help once transactions get complex. You’ll want to know your true profit after ads, fees, cost of goods, etc. Many new sellers

underestimate costs (like import duties if you import from China, or paid tools subscriptions) –

maintain a profit & loss sheet so you know if you’re truly making money and where to cut waste or

invest more.

Stay Current on Amazon Changes: Amazon is dynamic. Fees change (they often update FBA fees

annually), policies get updated, and new programs roll out (e.g., new advertising options, new

inventory restrictions, etc.). As a serious seller, it’s good to occasionally read Amazon seller news, join

forums (the Amazon Seller Forum, or communities on Facebook), or follow a reputable FBA blog/

YouTube channel to hear about changes. For instance, Amazon might introduce a new storage limit

or a new ad type – knowing these can give you an edge or at least prevent surprises.

Selling on Amazon FBA can feel like a lot of moving parts, but you don’t have to get it perfect right away.

Start small, learn as you go, and scale up gradually. Thousands of people have gone from beginners to

thriving Amazon business owners – with patience, continuous learning, and smart execution, you can too.

Conclusion

Starting on Amazon FBA as a beginner is an adventure – there’s a learning curve, but the payoff can be

substantial. You’ve learned how to set up your seller account, find a promising product, source inventory,

create compelling listings, and send your products to Amazon’s fulfillment centers. You’ve also got tips on

launching and growing your sales on the platform.

Remember, every big Amazon seller was once a newbie. They asked the same questions and faced similar

challenges. By reading this guide, you’re already ahead of many who jump in without preparation. Keep the

customer’s experience front and center, adhere to Amazon’s guidelines, and focus on delivering value with

your products. It might take some trial and error to find that hit product or to hone your marketing

strategy, but each step will teach you something.

With Amazon’s huge customer base and FBA handling the heavy logistics, you have an incredible

infrastructure at your disposal. Combine that with your own effort in product selection and brand building,

and you have a recipe for a potentially thriving online business. So take action: do your research, get your first product out there, and learn by doing. Before you know it, you’ll get that exciting notification: “You

made a sale on Amazon!” – and that could be the first of many.

Wishing you success on your Amazon FBA journey. Happy selling!

If you want to keep leveling up, browse more guides on ResellerStartKit and use the calculators in our Tools section to sanity-check every deal.