How to Start Selling on Amazon - Is Selling on Amazon Right for You?

If you’ve just started poking around to see what it’s like to run an Amazon business, there’s a high chance you’re bombarded with hype. We’ve seen a lot of content on the interwebs - from YouTube videos to blogs - hyping up their Amazon businesses. There’s a ton of information out there highlighting their sales and how they can work from home, and while you’re interested in starting an Amazon business, you’re not sure where and how to start, or if it’s right for you. Don’t worry! We understand this struggle, and we’re here to help.

First, let us answer the most common questions we get from people interested in staring their own Amazon business. 

What is Fulfillment on Amazon (FBA)?

When participating in the FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) program you will list products for sale, label and package them according to Amazon’s speculations and ship all the items in large boxes to the Amazon fulfillment centers (aka warehouses), where Amazon will store and ship your products when a customer makes a purchase.

With FBA, you will prepare larger shipments by sending in all your inventory at once to warehouses where Amazon will store and ship your products on your behalf until you make a sale. When a sale comes in because Amazon will ship your product to the customer on your behalf.

Who can do Amazon FBA?

• Anyone in the world (kids, teens, moms, dads, disabled, veterans, seniors, empty nesters, retirees, full-time workers, small town, big city, international)
• anyone with a tax ID number, internet connection, and products to sell
• anyone NOT previously suspended from Amazon

Why choose Amazon FBA?

• the relatively small learning curve
• can start with very little money and time
• worldwide
• compared to starting other businesses this is low-risk low-cost startup with built-in customers
• if proper methods and products are chosen, competition can be small
  tons of free (and paid) help and support out there

What kind of time does Amazon FBA take?

• (depends on the level you’re at)
• Research
• product sourcing
• prep
• shipping
• account management
• bookkeeping
• learning

What kind of investment can you make?

• education
• tools & equipment
• shipping & prep supplies
• Inventory

What is your reason or purpose?

• need cash asap
• looking to earn an income from home
• looking to replace current income
• want to start a business
• to put a kid through college
• to finally own something of my own
• because I like shopping and want to make a living at it
• for a sense of accomplishment

Just because you CAN doesn’t mean you should!

Analyze the time it will take to learn, practice and perfect
Are you willing to risk time and money, learn the necessary rules and processes to become successful?
Are you self motivated?
Are you willing and able to learn and care for every aspect of your business?
Are you willing to be legit and pay taxes and do proper bookkeeping?
Do you have plans and goals?
Are you willing to put in extra hours to make it work?
Realistic expectations?

WATCH:

“Failure isn’t the opposite of success. It’s part of the journey.” - Amy Feierman 

This week on the Amazon Files:

• How to start selling on Amazon
• What is the Fulfilment-By-Amazon program and what makes it different?
• The benefits of using Amazon FBA
• Why we recommend starting as a sole proprietor
• How much time and money you need to invest on Amazon
• Starting an Amazon business for $500 or less
• The learning curve involved with starting an Amazon store
• Why Kristin switched from eBay to Amazon
• Product research, prepping, and other processes involved in running an Amazon business
• The role data plays in your online business
• The benefits of selling on Amazon
• Free tools you can use for your Amazon business
• How much money we spend on advertising and pay-per-click
• Why we encourage beginners to start with wholesale bundles on Amazon 

Related Content: 

• Wholesale Bundle System
• Amazon Tools & Resources
• Dream Big, Step Small: Learn to Reduce Overwhelm While Building the Business of your Dreams by Kristin Ostrander

Tune into our upcoming YouTube videos & podcasts where we will dive into each of these topics in more detail so that you have a realistic expectation of what it takes to start and grow your Amazon business!