Amazon and other online marketplaces have made it easier than ever to sell products online. You’ll instantly gain access to a massive customer base when you sign up. Amazon Business allows companies to register and give their employees access to Amazon’s business supply store. Even if you don’t have any money, you can still become an Amazon seller. This article provides a guide on how to start an Amazon business in 2023 and quick tips on creating and customizing your business account to meet your business needs.
How To Start An Amazon Business 2023
It has never been easier to start a business on Amazon. First, you’ll need an Amazon seller account, which almost anyone can create with just a few details. Also needed is a bank account, a government-issued ID, a credit card that can be charged, a phone number, and tax information. The entire process of creating a seller account is straightforward. You’ll be given verbal cues along the way, so all you have to do is fill in the blanks. You also do not have to build an online store website to sell on Amazon.
With your Amazon seller account, you’ll get an online storefront.
It should also not be too difficult to find products with sales potential to sell on Amazon. To determine the best products to sell, use a sales analytics tool like Jungle Scout. The tool also assists you in determining the profit potential of your chosen products.
Step #1: Sign Up for an Amazon Seller Account
To sell products on Amazon, you’ll need a seller account. However, the registration process is straightforward, and you can be up and running in minutes.
Select Your Plan
Amazon has two plans available: individual and professional. I strongly suggest the latter. Individual plans are charged per sale, whereas professional plans are charged a flat annual fee regardless of how much you sell. If you’re starting an Amazon business, it makes more financial sense. Individual plans are $0.99 per sale. The annual cost of the Professional plan is $39.99. Along with a lower price, the Professional plan gives you access to these extra features:
- Run promotions like free shipping.
- Add additional users to your Amazon account.
- Increase your selling efficiency by integrating APIs.
- Make a list in bulk.
- Create an Account
Step #2: Select Your First Product
The first challenge you’ll face when starting an Amazon business is deciding on your first product. There are infinite products to choose from, but only a few have the profit potential to make the venture worthwhile.
So, consider your first product carefully, as it could make or break your company.
Enroll in Jungle Scout
Amazon sellers must have Jungle Scout. This sales analytics tool ensures that you do not select your first product haphazardly. Instead, you’ll have all of the necessary information to make an informed decision about what to sell. Jungle Scout has three pricing options. These are some examples:
- Basic – Monthly fee of $29
- Suite – Monthly fee of $49
- Professional – Monthly fee of $84
The basic plan is adequate for getting started, but I strongly recommend the Suite plan. The reason for this is that the basic plan can stymie your progress. The Opportunity Finder feature, for example, is limited to three daily searches. However, upgrading to the Suite plan grants you unlimited searches.
With the Basic plan, you can only do three daily searches in the Keyword Scout, Product Database, and Supplier Database. Again, the Suite plan provides unlimited search on all of these features. If you don’t mind the limitations, you can stick with the Basic plan. If you are patient, it is still an excellent option.
Look for Your First Product
Jungle Scout’s catalog of over 475 million Amazon products is now available. The product database is in the navigation menu, which is on the left side of your screen. It will fall under the category of product research. Then, choose your preferred product category. The next step is to sort the outcomes by criteria that are most relevant to you, such as price, sales position, net price, reviews, revenue, and rating. Jungle Scout also displays potential products based on their minimum and maximum revenue. For example, you could set your desired monthly income between $4000 and $7000. Jungle Scout will show you which products generate that much monthly revenue.
Select Your Product
Jungle Scout is a fantastic tool for researching potential products. Make a list of all the products that meet your criteria first. Then, choose the one about which you are most enthusiastic. It’s challenging to sell a product about which you know nothing. Customers may look to you for advice or solutions with your products.
Keep an Eye Out for Seasonal Products.
You want products that will sell consistently throughout the year. Seasonal items reduce the consistency of your month-to-month sales. They also limit the number of profitable months you can have. Cash flow is likely to be an issue, particularly in the early stages. So pick a product that will bring in consistent sales.
Step #3: Discover Your Product
Finding a product to sell is only the first step. You must now determine where to obtain it. Fortunately, this step should be simple. Jungle Scout can help you find suppliers.
When starting your Amazon business, you may want to start with a domestic supplier. At this stage of your business, this route may even be less expensive than international suppliers. You can also get products to your customers faster and avoid the complexities of dealing with international suppliers.
Jungle Scout can also assist you in locating suppliers. The tool includes a global supplier database with confirmed shipments and customer volumes. Jungle Scout can also help you find niche suppliers and those who can fill small orders.
Determine Shipping
You must also figure out how to get your products to your customers. The first possibility is to do it yourself. In Amazon circles, this is referred to as merchant-fulfilled. You’ll have to store and ship your products here. In addition, the customer specifies the delivery date. Based on this timeline, you will be expected to ship the product.
You Can Also Select Fulfilled by Amazon (FBA).
You can send your inventory to Amazon using this option. Your products are scanned and made available for sale by the company. Amazon will then package and ship your products directly to customers. The service also handles payment and customer service on your behalf. The latter is more appealing, but it can take some time to set up. FBA may also be out of reach for many new sellers who do not have a track record of high turnover. In any case, it’s an option worth considering for your Amazon business.
Product Size.
Your products should ideally be simple to handle and ship. Avoid fragile items, especially if you are starting a new business. Consider starting with small and light items to reduce shipping costs.
Obtain Product Samples
Before committing to a supplier, request product samples; product samples are cheap and will confirm that you are selling high-quality goods. If your products are eligible for FBA, you may want to have your supplier send them directly to an Amazon warehouse.
Step #4: Organize Your Products
It’s time to start selling your wares. When you list your products on Amazon, they are immediately available for purchase. Amazon has a large audience, so there’s a good chance of making a profit, but it still takes work.
Product Listing
Navigate to Seller Central > Inventory, and then add an Amazon that lets you list all your products simultaneously, but I think it’s better to list each separately. This way, you’ll get a detailed look and an intimate understanding of the products you’re selling, which is essential for a new business. You must enter three pieces of information: the price, the quantity of the item, and its condition. Then you’ll upload high-resolution images of your product. If you don’t have good images from your supplier, take the time to photograph the samples you ordered from various angles and in different lighting.
Your Products’ Prices
When pricing your product, your desired profit margin is the first thing to consider. Consider all of your expenses in this regard. Include FBA fees, Amazon referral fees, storage fees, and any other expenses you incurred. To make your business profitable, you should aim for a profit margin of 25% to 30%. Jungle Scout can determine your product’s average Amazon sale price. You can then use that figure to determine your maximum price. Finally, consider your starting point. This figure should be the amount required to break even after deducting all costs.
Step #5: Start To sell
You are now ready to start selling on Amazon through your Amazon business. However, work must be done to improve your chances of running a successful business.
Consider Branding:
Many manufacturers provide white-label options. This means that the products can be branded with your logo or label. This is an excellent opportunity to distinguish yourself from the competition. Consider branding the packaging with your logo as well. Again, many manufacturers provide this flexibility at little or no additional cost.
Promote Your Company
Amazon ads are the best place to start marketing your Amazon business. They have reasonable conversion rates. If you don’t have much money to spend on advertising, that’s fine. Start small and slowly grow the size of your advertising campaigns as your business and income grow.
Pay-per-click (PPC) campaigns and advertising on social media are two other types of advertising.
Collect Product Feedback
Product reviews are an excellent way to establish your authority in the Amazon marketplace. You can ask customers nicely to review your products in the product inserts or the order confirmation email. However, you may need to consider how to make leaving reviews worthwhile for your customers, such as by offering a small discount on a future purchase.
You can also ask for customer feedback on your product through social media sites like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Best Ways to Start an Amazon Business With No Money
#1. Sell Your Used or Old Items.
Look around your house for old clothes, books, mobile phones, accessories, and other items. Make a list of unwanted items and list them on Amazon.
Amazon houses millions of products. If you search for a product you want to sell on Amazon, you will almost certainly get a pre-created listing. Put your product on the same page. Include the price, condition, and listing type (FBM). Ship the order to the customer as soon as you receive it.
If there are no active listings for the product, you will need to purchase an ASIN to list it on Amazon. On eBay, you can get 100 UPCs for $3-10.
#2. Dropshipping
Dropshipping is another excellent model for peers who want to start an Amazon business with no money. Check out a product on Amazon and compare prices on eBay, Walmart, and other online retailers. Make a list of products that sell at low prices outside of Amazon and have a high-profit margin.
List your product on Amazon’s existing FBM listing (as shown in the screenshot above). When you receive an order, pay the vendor/drop shipper, and they will process it and ship it to the customer’s address. You only need an approved seller central account to begin your Amazon journey.
#3. Obtain Funding to Start an Amazon Business Online.
Apply for an FBA loan. Banks, lending institutions, and Amazon provide FBA loans to people who want to start an Amazon business with little or no money. You can Meet with these groups, show them your plan and the documents you need, and get the money you need to start your Amazon FBA business.
#4. Investment/Partnership
Amazon FBA is a lucrative business. The majority of investors and people prefer it. Things will require 6-7 months of hard work from you. However, you’ll need a fund to get your feet wet as an entrepreneur in the Amazon world.
How Much Does It Cost to Start an Amazon Business?
According to Jungle Scout’s research, new Amazon sellers spend an average of $3,836 to get started, which includes product costs, Amazon fees, and other necessary preliminary investments.
However, many Amazon sellers begin with $500 or less, while others invest five figures or more in new ventures—both extremes can succeed.
Is It Profitable to Sell Things on Amazon?
As a result, many enterprising people have found success by starting their businesses on Amazon. Many have attempted and failed. Profit margins should be as high as possible. Small businesses frequently struggle to become profitable in their first few years, but Amazon SMB sellers enjoy healthy profit margins. Nearly two-thirds see profit margins of more than 10% of sellers (65%). Even better, 32% expect profit margins to exceed 20%. 8%, on the other hand, said their businesses are not yet profitable, and 8% were unsure.
Can I Run an Amazon Business From Home?
You can start a successful Amazon business if you follow the proper steps and put in the effort. You might even be able to quit your job and work from home full-time, giving you a lot of wiggle room.
What Should I Start Selling on Amazon?
Amazon keeps its list of best-selling games, books, and toys right now, and it is updated every hour. Here are a few of the most popular product categories:
- Books Electronics
- Toys and Games
- Household and Kitchen
- Gardening and Lawn Care
- Personal Care & Beauty
- Sports and Recreation
This is not to say that you cannot succeed in other areas. However, given how many sales they consistently generate over time, these categories are generally a safe place to start your search. Whether you choose one of these niches or not, it’s a good idea to pick one that interests you.
How Can I Make Money From Amazon at Home?
- Amazon allows you to sell your private-label products.
- Create your books with Kindle Direct Publishing.
- You can sell wholesale goods.
- Deliver items for Amazon.
- Make a career as a blogger.
- Using retail arbitrage, you can resell store-bought items.
- Using online arbitrage, you can flip products from online retail stores.
How Long Does It Take To Start Selling on Amazon?
To successfully sell on Amazon, you must put in the necessary time. If you’re consistent, you can release your first product to Amazon customers in as little as three months, just like 55% of other sellers there have done. 29% of projects were completed in less than 6 weeks! But don’t feel obligated to get up and running right away. 14% of Amazon sellers took 6 months to a year to get their businesses up and running.
Conclusion
There are many more ways to sell on Amazon (for example, dropshipping might be more your style), but this article should get you started on the right track. Use whatever method best suits your needs and preferences.
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