What You Need to Sell on Amazon: The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide (2025 Edition)

Selling on Amazon has become one of the most popular and profitable ways to start an online business in 2025. With over 300 million active users and a presence in dozens of countries, Amazon gives entrepreneurs an unmatched opportunity to reach global customers. But before diving into the marketplace, it’s important to know what you need to sell on Amazon effectively.

In this guide, we’ll cover everything from account setup and product sourcing to branding, fulfillment, and launching your product successfully.

Why Sell on Amazon in 2025?

Amazon continues to dominate the global eCommerce market. Whether you’re starting a side hustle, building a full-time business, or expanding your existing store, Amazon offers:

Global reach
Built-in trust
Access to Prime customers
Automated fulfillment via FBA
Scalable growth potential

But to succeed, you must understand what you need to sell on Amazon the right way.

1. A Product Idea

First and foremost, you need something to sell. This sounds obvious, but not every product will succeed on Amazon. Great product ideas are:

In demand
Lightweight and easy to ship
Not overly competitive
Profitably priced (ideally $20–$50)

2. An Amazon Seller Account

To sell on Amazon, you’ll need to create a Seller Central account.

Requirements:

A valid email address
Government-issued ID (passport or driver’s license)
Phone number
Credit/debit card
Bank account
Tax information (SSN or EIN)

Selling Plan Options:

Individual Plan: $0.99 per item sold — best for small-scale sellers
Professional Plan: $39.99/month — best for serious sellers with more than 40 sales/month

Create your account at https://sell.amazon.com

3. A Legal Business Structure (Recommended)

While not required to get started, many sellers form a legal business entity for protection and professionalism.

Common Options:

Sole Proprietorship – easy and fast, but no personal liability protection
LLC (Limited Liability Company) – most popular for Amazon sellers
Corporation – better for larger or multi-owner businesses

You’ll also need an EIN (Employer Identification Number) from the IRS if you’re setting up an LLC or corporation.

4. A Supplier or Inventory Source

After validating your product idea, the next thing you need to sell on Amazon is inventory.

Options for Sourcing:

Private Label: Source from manufacturers (e.g., Alibaba) and create your own brand.
Wholesale: Buy branded products in bulk from authorized distributors.
Retail/Online Arbitrage: Buy products at a discount from stores and resell them.
Dropshipping: List products without holding inventory — supplier ships on your behalf.
Handmade: Create custom or artisan products.

Always request samples, verify the quality, and test the supply chain reliability.

5. UPC Code or GTIN

Amazon requires a product identifier like a UPC to create a new listing. You can buy authentic UPCs from GS1.org.

Alternatives:

Apply for a GTIN exemption if you’re selling handmade or unique products without barcodes.

FBA sellers will also need to print and label products with FNSKU barcodes for inventory tracking.

6. Branded Packaging (for Private Label)

If you’re building a private label brand, strong packaging is essential. It communicates quality, builds trust, and helps prevent returns.

Key Elements:

Logo and brand name
FNSKU label
Instructions or inserts (optional)
Eco-friendly or protective materials

Consider including a thank-you card with a QR code to join your mailing list or request a review (within Amazon’s policy).

7. An Optimized Amazon Listing

A well-crafted product listing determines whether shoppers click Buy Now or move on.

Your Listing Should Include:

Keyword-optimized title – use Amazon SEO tools to find search terms
Bullet points – focus on benefits, not just features
Description – tell a compelling story or answer FAQs
High-quality images – use professional lifestyle shots
Backend search terms – invisible keywords that boost visibility

Tools like Helium 10 or ZonGuru can help you optimize for search and conversion.

8. Choose Fulfillment Method: FBA or FBM

One of the most important decisions you’ll make when deciding what you need to sell on Amazon is how to handle shipping.

Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA)

Amazon stores and ships your products
Prime-eligible = more sales
Handles returns and customer service
Storage and fulfillment fees apply

Fulfillment by Merchant (FBM)

You store and ship products
Full control but more work
Less expensive for bulky items

For most beginners, FBA is the easier and more scalable option.

9. Set Competitive Pricing

Use tools like CamelCamelCamel, Keepa, and Jungle Scout to track historical prices and competitor pricing.

Pricing Tips:

Don’t race to the bottom
Consider all fees when setting prices
Use coupons or lightning deals for promotions

Your pricing should cover:

Product cost
Shipping
Amazon referral fee (8%–15%)
FBA fees (if applicable)
Profit margin (aim for 30%+)

10. A Launch Strategy

Once your product goes live, you’ll need a plan to get it in front of buyers.

Ways to Launch:

Amazon PPC – Pay-per-click ads help drive traffic to new listings
Giveaways or Discounts – Use launch platforms or your own email list
Social Media – Promote through TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook groups
Influencer Marketing – Send products to influencers for reviews
External Traffic – Drive traffic from YouTube, blogs, or Google Ads

The more visibility you get early on, the faster your product ranks in Amazon search results.

11. A Review Strategy

Reviews are vital to Amazon success. They provide social proof and influence conversion rates.

Ways to Get Reviews:

Use the “Request a Review” button in Seller Central
Include a polite request in packaging inserts
Use Amazon’s Vine Program (for FBA sellers with fewer than 30 reviews)

Note: Never offer incentives for reviews — Amazon strictly forbids this and may suspend your account.

12. Track Metrics and Optimize

What you need to sell on Amazon doesn’t stop after launch. Ongoing optimization is key to long-term success.

Monitor:

Sales and conversion rates
Ad performance (ACoS, ROAS)
Keyword rankings
Inventory levels
Customer feedback

Tools like SellerBoard, ManageByStats, or DataHawk help track performance and automate tasks.

13. Maintain Account Health

Amazon rewards sellers who maintain excellent performance and penalizes those who don’t.

Key Metrics:

Order Defect Rate (ODR) < 1%
Late Shipment Rate < 4%
Pre-fulfillment Cancellation Rate < 2.5%
On-time delivery
Customer communication

Use the Account Health Dashboard in Seller Central to monitor your performance and respond quickly to any issues.

14. Expand and Scale

Once you find success with one product, you can:

Launch more variations
Expand into new categories
Sell in international Amazon marketplaces
Enroll in Brand Registry and access A+ Content
Build a brand for long-term resale value

Final Thoughts

So, what do you need to sell on Amazon?

You need more than a good idea—you need a well-planned foundation. Here’s a quick recap of what you’ll need:

A product idea with proven demand
An Amazon Seller Central account
Legal business structure (optional but smart)
Reliable inventory or supplier
UPC or GTIN (or exemption)
Professional packaging and branding
A keyword-optimized listing
Chosen fulfillment method (FBA or FBM)
Competitive pricing strategy
A launch and promotion plan
Review collection strategy
Performance tracking and optimization
Solid account health maintenance
Growth and scaling mindset

If you follow this roadmap, you’ll be ready to succeed in one of the most exciting online marketplaces today.

Why Sell on Amazon in 2025?

1. A Product Idea

Popular Product Research Tools: