Starting your Amazon journey can feel overwhelming, especially with all the moving parts involved. Whether you’re launching your first product or bringing your DTC brand onto the platform, setting things up the right way matters more than most people realize.
We put together this step-by-step Amazon Seller Checklist to help you get it right from the beginning—and avoid common mistakes that can slow your growth.
Step 1: Choose the Right Amazon Seller Account
Amazon offers two types of seller accounts:
Individual Plan – No monthly fee, but you’ll pay $0.99 per item sold. Good for small-scale or trial sellers.
Professional Plan – $39.99 per month with no per-item fee. This plan is required if you want to run ads, upload listings in bulk, or win the Buy Box.
If you’re building a real brand or plan to scale, go with the Professional Plan from day one. You’ll unlock the tools that matter most for growth.
Step 2: Gather Your Documents
Amazon’s verification process is detailed, so have your paperwork ready. You’ll need:
A valid government-issued photo ID
Legal business registration documents (LLC or Corporation)
A bank account and credit card for fees and payouts
Your tax information (EIN or SSN)
One important note—make sure the information on your documents matches across the board. Even small mismatches can delay your approval.
This is where your business officially becomes part of the Amazon ecosystem, so take your time and double-check everything.
Step 4: Build Product Listings That Actually Convert
Listings are more than just product descriptions—they’re your sales team on Amazon. A great listing does three things well:
Uses the right keywords to show up in search
Includes high-quality images (ideally 6+ plus one video)
Clearly explains why your product is better than the rest
Think of your listing as a pitch to your ideal customer. Are you making it easy for them to say yes?
Step 5: Choose How You’ll Handle Fulfillment
There are two main options:
FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) – Amazon stores, ships, and handles customer service. You get access to Prime customers and faster shipping.
FBM (Fulfilled by Merchant) – You store and ship orders yourself, or work with a third-party logistics provider.
If you’re focused on scale and want fewer logistics headaches, FBA is often the better route. Just make sure you’re set up for labeling, packaging, and inventory prep.
Step 6: Enroll in Brand Registry (If You Own a Trademark)
If your brand is trademarked, you’ll want to join Amazon Brand Registry. It gives you:
Access to A+ Content and Brand Stores
Protection from unauthorized changes to your listings
Sponsored Brand Ad formats
Valuable analytics on search terms and customer behavior
It’s one of the most important steps for serious brands looking to protect and grow their presence on Amazon.
Step 7: Understand Your Costs Before You Launch
Amazon selling costs can add up quickly if you’re not prepared. Here’s what to expect:
Referral fees (usually 8%–15% depending on category)
FBA fees for warehousing and shipping
Ad spend if you’re running PPC campaigns
Professional plan fee of $39.99/month
Knowing your full landed cost—including packaging, shipping, duties, and fees—will help you price smartly and protect your margins.
Step 8: Launch With a Clear Game Plan
When everything’s ready, don’t just hit “go” and hope for the best. Plan your launch like a campaign:
Test your listings internally first
Set up your PPC campaigns ahead of time
Monitor your inventory and fulfillment setup
Have a plan to gather early reviews (like Vine or post-purchase emails)
A strong launch gives you a better shot at momentum, reviews, and early ranking.
Final Thoughts
Setting up your Amazon store isn’t just an admin task—it’s the foundation of your business. When done right, it gives you a clean runway to scale. When rushed, it can lead to unnecessary delays, fees, and customer issues.
If you’re in the early stages, take your time and get the fundamentals right. It’s worth it.
And if you’re further along but want help optimizing or relaunching the right way, there’s no shortage of tools, resources, and agencies that specialize in this. Do your homework, find the right partner, and build with intention.
www.marketplaceops.com
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Amazon Seller Checklist 2025: Everything You Need to Set Up Your Store (Step-by-Step Tutorial)
Starting your Amazon journey can feel overwhelming, especially with all the moving parts involved. Whether you’re launching your first product or bringing your DTC brand onto the platform, setting things up the right way matters more than most people realize.
We put together this step-by-step Amazon Seller Checklist to help you get it right from the beginning—and avoid common mistakes that can slow your growth.
Step 1: Choose the Right Amazon Seller Account
Amazon offers two types of seller accounts:
If you’re building a real brand or plan to scale, go with the Professional Plan from day one. You’ll unlock the tools that matter most for growth.
Step 2: Gather Your Documents
Amazon’s verification process is detailed, so have your paperwork ready. You’ll need:
One important note—make sure the information on your documents matches across the board. Even small mismatches can delay your approval.
Step 3: Set Up Your Seller Central Account
Head to sellercentral.amazon.com and begin the setup process. You’ll enter details like:
This is where your business officially becomes part of the Amazon ecosystem, so take your time and double-check everything.
Step 4: Build Product Listings That Actually Convert
Listings are more than just product descriptions—they’re your sales team on Amazon. A great listing does three things well:
Think of your listing as a pitch to your ideal customer. Are you making it easy for them to say yes?
Step 5: Choose How You’ll Handle Fulfillment
There are two main options:
If you’re focused on scale and want fewer logistics headaches, FBA is often the better route. Just make sure you’re set up for labeling, packaging, and inventory prep.
Step 6: Enroll in Brand Registry (If You Own a Trademark)
If your brand is trademarked, you’ll want to join Amazon Brand Registry. It gives you:
It’s one of the most important steps for serious brands looking to protect and grow their presence on Amazon.
Step 7: Understand Your Costs Before You Launch
Amazon selling costs can add up quickly if you’re not prepared. Here’s what to expect:
Knowing your full landed cost—including packaging, shipping, duties, and fees—will help you price smartly and protect your margins.
Step 8: Launch With a Clear Game Plan
When everything’s ready, don’t just hit “go” and hope for the best. Plan your launch like a campaign:
A strong launch gives you a better shot at momentum, reviews, and early ranking.
Final Thoughts
Setting up your Amazon store isn’t just an admin task—it’s the foundation of your business. When done right, it gives you a clean runway to scale. When rushed, it can lead to unnecessary delays, fees, and customer issues.
If you’re in the early stages, take your time and get the fundamentals right. It’s worth it.
And if you’re further along but want help optimizing or relaunching the right way, there’s no shortage of tools, resources, and agencies that specialize in this. Do your homework, find the right partner, and build with intention.
www.marketplaceops.com
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