It has become nearly impossible to remember a time before Amazon. Today, Amazon ships out roughly 1.6m packages every single day. As such, many are naturally interested in trying to get a piece of the business opportunities this offers.
An Amazon Seller Central account is the way independent sellers approach Amazon. As Amazon itself reports, over half the units sold on Amazon are from these suppliers. Understanding how to start selling on Amazon begins here.
If you’re wondering how to create a selling account on Amazon, we’re here to help. Seller Central Account creation comes down to a five-step process:
Step #1: Choose Your Products
Before you can begin selling, the first step is to know what you’ll have on sale. It’s important to pick something you’re passionate about without many current options. Very few products are off-limits today, and it’s generally possible to start a business with any product you enjoy.
After picking a product you want, browse through the listings on Amazon and get to know the competition. If too many products are already on the market and yours doesn’t offer something new, it might be best to pick something else.
Step #2: Pick a Business Model
There are several models of business on Amazon. The five main business models to choose from on Amazon are:
- Arbitrage – The retailer finds underpriced or on sale items and resells them for a profit. Depending on the product, this may mean a large amount of profit on the item, but their sourcing can be unreliable.
- Private Label – With a private label, businesses take on existing products and rebrand them with their logo. The products are then produced elsewhere for you before applying your label. The downside of this is that they are not often very customizable.
- Dropshipping – The seller doesn’t have to worry about keeping or mailing any inventory with dropshipping. Instead, they collect payment and arrange for the product’s shipping from a third party.
- Wholesale – involves buying items in bulk to get a better price and then reselling them for a profit.
- Handmade – Selling items that are handmade by the seller.
Each of these methods has its own advantages and disadvantages. What makes one the best option for you depends on your specific needs and desires.
Step #3: Choosing Your Fulfillment Method
Once you have decided on your product and how you will sell it, the next step is to determine fulfillment. When selling on amazon, this comes down to two main choices: fulfillment by Amazon or the merchant.
Both options are great for different crowds, and the right one for you depends on a host of factors. Here is more on the main options to choose from:
Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA)
With FBA, Amazon handles fulfillment, customer service, and logistics. This method is for packages that are small-to-medium in size and lightweight. Depending on your product and situation, this may be a less expensive option to store and ship your products.
Fulfillment by Merchant (FBM)
If you’d prefer controlling your interactions with customers and inventories, FBM might be the right option. With this form of fulfillment, merchants handle their customer service, storage, and shipping. They also are in charge of finding a storage solution for their back stock.
Step #4: What Type of Seller Are you?
After starting your account, you will need to choose between the two different options for sellers. These two choices are:
Professional
Apply for this when you plan to sell more than 35 products per month. Professional also offers access to data and reports and allows the use of other programs like Handmade or Launchpad.
Individual
The individual is a better option for smaller sellers that are not interested in reporting tools or external programs.
Step #5: Hire Outside Help
Setting up and managing your Amazon Seller Central account can be complicated. It is imperative that it is set up correctly and utilized appropriately, but best practices aren’t always easy to do.
That is why many seek help from professionals like the ones at Anata. Our dedicated team of experts is here to set up and manage your Amazon Seller Central Account. Once you’re up and running, we will provide you with market analysis, keyword research, ranking strategy, etc.
Using a blend of marketing innovation and network collaboration, Anata is here to help you shine in the marketplace. The amount of competition on Amazon can make standing out seem impossible, but we’ve got the tools to get your products seen.
Call us today at (801) 901 0620 or contact us online to see how our team can help grow your business into what you’ve always wanted it to be!