How to start an Amazon FBA business for 2021 and beyond.

1. Start An Amazon FBA Business
By:Andrew Williams

2. How to Start Selling on Amazon (with Pictures) - wikiHow
Go to the Amazon home page and click on the “Sell” link along the top bar. The link is small, featured on the top panel
between “Gift Cards & Registry” and “Help.” This will take you to their seller page, where you can find information and options for
the different types of selling accounts.
If you're logged into your Amazon Prime account, you may not be able to see this link. Log out to access it.
If you still can’t find the “Sell” button, you can also go to https://services.amazon.com/selling/getting-started.html, then click
on the “Start selling” button.
Select a Professional or Individual account. If you’ll be selling more than 40 items per month, select Professional. This plan is
free for the first month, then costs $39.99 per month, and lets you list items in up to 35 categories. Select Individual if you'll be
selling less than 40 items per month. Individual costs $0.99 per listing and limits you to 20 categories for all of your listings.
Create a seller account. Once you’ve decided on Individual or Professional, click “Create seller account” and start filling out
your account details. Enter information that will be visible to customers, such as your business name, contact information, where
the products will ship from, and shipping options.[1]
You’ll also need to provide information that will be kept private, such as bank account and routing numbers for Amazon to
pay you, as well as your legal name and address.[2]
Since the Seller Central site is separate from your Amazon account, you’ll need to create a seller account even if you already
have an Amazon or Amazon Prime account.
Fill out your seller profile to make your company more legitimate. Go to your seller profile, where all your information and
customer feedback will show up. Fill out this profile by adding your logo, return/refund policies, and an “About the company”
section. Having additional information will help make your company look more personable and credible to potential customers.[3]
A strong “About the company” section can create an emotional connection with the customer. To do this, tell the customer a
little about you or the story of how your company started.[4]
Decide what you want to sell. This can include original products, novelty items, or things around your home that you’d like to
clear out. Your listings must fall under Amazon’s predetermined categories, and keep in mind that some categories—such as
DVDs, footwear, handbags, and sports collectibles—will need approval from Amazon before you can sell them.[5]
If your item meets Amazon’s requirements, you can apply for approval by filling out their “Contact Us” form.
Use pre-existing item information for items already listed on Amazon. If you’re listing a product that other sellers offer, you
can use the descriptions and stock images already provided. Once you find a listing for the exact item you're selling, click the
"Sell yours here" button on the right-hand side of the page.
The only additional information you need to provide is how many products you’re selling, the item’s condition, and the
shipping methods you offer.[6]

3. Add item information for new products not already listed on Amazon. If you’re selling items that aren’t already available on
Amazon—such as a product specific to your company—you’ll need to complete a new item listing. This requires a UPC/EAN
Number (a unique barcode) and the item’s SKU (stock keeping unit). Add a product title, price, description, images, and search
terms to complete the listing.[7]
Original items mean less competition, but they do take longer to set up.[8]
Aim to sell items that don’t list Amazon.com as a seller. Third-party sellers automatically get bumped from the default first-
choice seller position when Amazon.com offers the item. Look for and sell items that are only offered through other third-party
sellers to improve your sales.[9]
This default seller position is also known as being in the “buy box,” and it’s the easiest way to get the most sales.[10] To get
the coveted “buy box” position, offer competitive pricing or build up your customer feedback rating.
Check and update your orders daily. Maintaining good communication with Amazon will ensure that you don’t miss any orders
or important information. Update your orders with shipping information daily and check in for any notifications.[11]
Pay Amazon shipping rates. When you fulfill orders yourself, Amazon calculates the shipping rates based on the product’s
category and the buyer’s selected shipping method, then charges you. These rates also vary based on the type of seller account
you have.[12]
If you sign up for an Individual Seller account, you’ll have to pay Amazon’s shipping rates on all of your products.[13]
If you sign up as a Professional Seller, you only have to pay shipping rates on media products like books, music, video, DVD,
software, and video games.[14]
Package up your orders efficiently. Use commercial packaging appropriate to the item you’re sending, such as a box or
padded envelope, and make sure to ship your items on or before the estimated ship date.[15]
Include a packing slip that identifies you as the seller. For every order, Amazon requires that you print out a packing slip with
the customer’s complete order. Place the packing slip inside with the products so the customer can easily find it.
You should also make sure you are listed as the seller on the packing slip, as well as any additional information included with
your products. This way, if the customer needs to return the item, they know who to return it to.[16]
Follow Amazon’s code of professionalism. Under Amazon’s guidelines for fulfilling orders, you can find the code of
professionalism expected of all sellers. Read these thoroughly to make sure you are following all seller expectations. You can
find the code under “Professionalism” at https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?ie=UTF8&nodeId=200259260.
Some aspects of the code include agreeing not to cancel transactions or send customers emails unless permitted. You also
agree to source, sell, and ship your products according to Amazon’s terms.[17]
Add FBA to your account when you list your items. Sending your items to an Amazon Fulfillment Center takes away the
stress of having to store your products and fulfill orders. To add FBA, create a new listing or go to one of your previous listings
and select “I want Amazon to ship and provide customer service for my items if they sell” under “Shipping Method.”[18]
Along with your seller account fees, you will pay additional fees for order fulfillment, storage, and optional services by
Amazon.[19]
To convert listed items in bulk, simply go to “Manage Inventory” and select these items, then click the “Change to Fulfilled by
Amazon” action.
Adding FBA also makes your items eligible for Prime and free shipping, which can draw customers and help boost your
sales.[20]
Create an FBA shipping plan. After adding listings to your FBA inventory, you’ll be prompted to set up a shipping plan. This will
determine how you send your items to an Amazon Fulfillment Center. Fill in your address and either select “individual products”
or “case-packed products.” Once you’re finished, select all of the items you want to sell and click “Add to an existing shipping
plan.”
Generally, you’ll choose “individual products.” Only select “case-packed products” if you’re sending a case full of the same
items, such as a box of 40 identical DVDs.

4. Ship your products to an Amazon fulfillment center. Pack up and ship your items as directed by Amazon. Make sure to track
your shipment until it reaches the fulfillment center safely. From there, Amazon is responsible for storing your items and fulfilling
your orders.
Amazon will also serve as your customer service contact for any FBA-shipped items.[21]

5. 3 Ways to Grow Your Online Business with Amazon - wikiHow
Sign up for Amazon as an individual seller. One of the easiest ways to grow your business using Amazon is to create an
Amazon account as an individual seller. Sign up for an account on Amazon.com and start selling your products through your
Amazon account. This is ideal if you have a small number of items to sell as a merchant and are looking to build your business
slowly.[2]
As an individual seller, you will need to pay $0.99 per item that sells on Amazon.
Keep in mind that as an individual seller you will actually be competing with Amazon for customers. You also may not get the
sales proceeds right away through Amazon.com as an individual seller.
Go for the “pro merchant” option. This option is available through Amazon.com for a monthly fee and is ideal for online
businesses with a fairly large amount of product. As a “pro merchant” on Amazon, you will also need to pay Amazon a referral
fee that is a percentage or a fixed amount of each sale. But you will get access to selling and administrative tools on the site that
can help grow your business.[3]
The one potential downside of the “pro merchant” option on Amazon is that if you have a large inventory as an online
business, you will need to devote some time to the upkeep and maintenance of your account on Amazon, as you will have to
do it yourself.
Set up an online store through Amazon. This is a good option if you are looking for an ecommerce platform to help you get a
webstore off the ground. Having an online store through Amazon can make it easy for you to set up the store and market your
products to Amazon customers.[4]
To set up the online store through Amazon, you will need to pay a $24 monthly fee and two percent of your sales.
If you are already a “pro merchant” on Amazon, you can use the webstore services for free.
Offer checkout and payment through Amazon for customers. One way you can use Amazon to make running your online
business easier and more user friendly is to offer checkout and payment through Amazon.com. You can make “Checkout by
Amazon” a payment option for your customers by signing up for the hosted payment option through Amazon. This is a good
option if you have a lot of customers who buy from you on Amazon.com or who search for the items you sell through retailers like
Amazon.[5]
To set up the "Checkout by Amazon", you should follow the steps on the Amazon Help page. You may need to enter in HTML
characters onto your site to then link to the Amazon checkout page. The option will then appear as a small clickable button
on your site that will take customers to the Amazon checkout page.[6]
Keep in mind this payment option may be confusing for customers who are Amazon-savvy users. You may need to include
instructions on how to use checkout through Amazon for users.
When you sign up for the hosted payment platform through Amazon, you are giving Amazon access to your customers’
payment information. You will also need to make sure the Amazon payment process is integrated into your current process.
Use Amazon’s shipping services for your business. Another way you can utilize Amazon’s services to make running your
online business easier is to use their shipping services. This service is called Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA). When you sign up for
this service, Amazon will handle the shipping process for you, including customer service and returns. Your orders can also be
packed and shipped 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and any day of the year.[7]
To use FBA, you will need to send your items in one big shipment to Amazon’s fulfillment centers. From there, Amazon will
ship and fulfill your customer orders for you.
Using an FBA can also be a good cost saving measure, as you will not need to spend time and energy shipping the items
yourself or hire staff to do this for you.
Solicit reviews from customers on Amazon. Amazon.com gets a lot of traffic on a daily basis and is seen as a good source for
customer research on products and businesses. You can capitalize on this by asking your customers to post reviews of your
products on Amazon.com. Having good reviews from customers on Amazon can encourage other consumers to buy from you
and improve your sales.[8]

6. Encourage your customers to rate and review your products by including a note in their shipment requesting a review. You
could also send out an email to buyers asking them to review your products on Amazon.
To give your customers an incentive to review your products, you may include a discount code for future purchases from your
online business. Or you may run a contest where each person who writes a review is entered into the draw to win a big prize.
Buy an advertising package through Amazon. If you have an Amazon account, you can boost your sales by buying into an
advertising program on Amazon.com. This program can help you target specific types of customers and leverage Amazon’s high
traffic of potential customers on the site. This is a good option if you are struggling to reach your customer base and want to use
Amazon’s customer base to increase your sales.[9]
You can sign up for the advertising package through Amazon.com. The pricing for the advertising package will depend on the
level of advertising you need for your business.
Depending on the package you buy, the advertisements may appear as sidebars, as pop ups, or as advertisements on the
top bar of a site or page. You can choose from a variety of advertisements to boost your business on the advertising
information page on Amazon.com.[10]
Use Amazon’s revenue calculate tool. As an Amazon user, you can use Amazon’s revenue calculator to help you determine if
selling specific products through Amazon is cost effective. The calculator can help you determine your adjusted gross margin
after fees and expenses. You can then adjust your inventory, your pricing, or your advertising strategy based on these numbers.
[11]
As an online business owner, you should keep track of your sales on your own as well. Having a clear set of data can help
you analyze your sales and grow your business effectively.
Keep in mind if you use Amazon as your main platform your business, you will not get access to customer data as Amazon
will keep that information. This is why some business analysts recommend creating your own platform for your online
business and then using Amazon for services like shipping, payment, and advertising.
Identify and evaluate your competition on Amazon. You can improve your sales using Amazon by identifying and evaluating
your competition. Search for products or stores similar to yours on Amazon.com. Be aware of competing vendors and try to
make your pricing comparable to theirs. Consider how you can compete with them, whether it is through better customer service,
higher quality products, or a larger variety of products.[12]
For example, if you are selling iPhone cases on Amazon, you may search for other iPhone case vendors and look at the
types of iPhones cases they have in stock. Think about how you can make your store the one stop shop for iPhone cases
and how you can appeal to customers more than your competition can.
Keep your online business up to date and consumer friendly. A big selling point of using Amazon to sell your online
products is that the site is known to be user friendly and easy to navigate. You should keep your online business up to date and
just as consumer friendly as Amazon.com. If you are using Amazon as a platform for your business, make sure you have up to
date images for all of your products and that the product descriptions are accurate. Keep the descriptions specific and clear so
they are easy to search for online for customers.[13]
For example, if you are selling iPhone cases with watercolor paintings on them, you should write the product description as
“watercolor iPhone cases.” Or if you are selling iPhone cases that have a specific character on them, such as Pokemon, you
should have a product description that says, “Pokemon iPhone cases.”
You should also include a note on how and why the product will improve your customer’s life. Note the benefits of the product
as part of the listing so the customer knows why they should purchase the product.

7. How to Make Money Using Amazon FBA: 10 Steps (with Pictures)
Study what is involved in the process. At a very basic level, you obtain a product (or products), ship it to Amazon Fulfillment
Centers, and wait for it to be sold. You get paid every two weeks.
Decide if you want to use your own personal checking account for your Amazon transactions, or a separate account.
You will need that information as part of the process for creating a seller account.
Create an Amazon Seller account. If you want to just sell some things around the house that will number less than 40, you
might want the basic, free account. This will also limit the number of categories that you can sell it. [1]
Look over the FBA Policies and Requirements. [2]
Decide how you want to obtain product to sell. There are a countless number of ways to do that. Here are a few:
Arbitrage - Buy Low - Sell High. Go to any place that you know has a clearance section. While shopping, do remember that
you will be limited from some categories.
Don't limit yourself to your geographical location. A lot of businesses have clearance sales on and off line, so look
around. Use your barcode apps to tell you how much something is selling for on Amazon. You'll be surprised at the profit
you can make. And it's fun to shop!
Find businesses that will sell to you at reduced prices (wholesale rates).
Your own home. Things you currently own may be something that you can sell. Or maybe you bought that 'stuff' and never
used it. Since there is no outlay (you already own it), any money you make is all profit.
Check out Amazon best sellers. These are the current best sellers that Amazon has to offer. These are updated several
times daily, so that is about as current as you can get.[3]
To get current with the technology of the day, use a smartphone and use apps like the Amazon app, Red Laser app, and
other scanning apps like them. These apps will give you basic information about your product.
Determine if your product has an ASIN number. It is the Amazon Standard Identification Number.[4]
Use the Amazon Revenue Calculator tool. It is a free tool that will allow you to estimate your profit.[5]
Don't be discouraged if it takes a while to sell, especially your higher end items, eventually they will sell. You can always
lower prices or hold occasional sales in order to clear out the old and add new. Just don't make it so low that you eliminate your
profit. Be cautious to mark up enough to have leeway.
Plan on sending Amazon approximately one large box per month in order to keep revenue coming in. You must continue
to add new items in order to sell and turn over your merchandise.

8. How to Sell on Amazon
Click on the "Your Account." drop-down box on the Amazon homepage. You can find this option under your name on the top
right-hand side of the page.
Click on "Your Seller Account." This can be found near the top of the menu on the right column on the page.
Click "Start Selling." This will take you to a new page where you can choose which type of seller you are. Click this option
under "Individual Sellers" or "Professional Sellers," depending on the type of seller you'd like to become. Individual Sellers tend
to be free from selling fees (with the exception of commission Amazon takes from each order) while the Professional Sellers are
fee-based and tend to mostly be used by those who own (rather profitable) offline stores otherwise.
Type in the relevant information. The next page will take you to a page where you can write down your seller information, such
as your credit card information (that will be used in the event the direct deposit from your funds has been released and you'll
need to refund an order without selling other items), seller (business) name, and billing address.
Verify your phone number. Just type in your phone number, press "Call now," and type the 4-digit pin you're given into your
phone after you receive and automated phone call.
Click "Register and Continue." This should finish setting up your seller account.
Log in to your Amazon account. If you haven't already created an Amazon account, then go to the log-on page, type your
email address in the email box, click no to the password available; click the Submit button then follow the prompts for other
information. You'll have to provide your name, email address, and a password you'd like to use. This will only take a few minutes.
Search for the item you want to sell on the Amazon website. Search Amazon's database by selecting the category that you
think best fits your item and by using keywords. Keywords could include the name of the item, title of the book or film, as well as
the edition of the product. You can also search by ISBN, UPC or ASIN. It is vital that you find the exact version and format of
your item, so that customers receive exactly what they ordered. Be warned: unsatisfied customers will dish out bad reviews for
poor service.
Amazon will also provide a list of recent items you purchased through its database, so if you'd like to sell one of those items,
you can select it from the list.
Click "Sell yours here" once you've found the item.
Select the condition of your item. Choose from a list of different condition types, which range from new to used to collectible.
Select the condition which best reflects the condition of your item. Although you can sell some items under a "Collectible" listing,
most sellers choose the Used-Like New, Used-Very Good, Used-Good, or Used-Acceptable listings. Certain terms and
conditions exist for selling things under Collectible that you can find when you try to sell these types of items.
Add a condition note, about your exact product. The condition note allows you to add extra information about the condition of
your item. Use this to inform customers about details which are not already explicit in the description given by Amazon. You may
also like to add a note about your service. Examples:
No box, cartridge only
Instructions are not included
Few scratches on front cover and disc
First class delivery
Select a price for your item. You can set your item at any price but you have more chance of selling if you set your price below
Amazon's selling price and that of competing individuals.
Select the quantity of the particular item you have at hand. Select how many of this item you would like to sell. For individual
sellers, this will usually remain at 1.
Select your shipping methods. This section allows you to expand your shipping zone to multiple countries and via multiple
methods other than the "Standard shipping". Expedited shipping is also offered to all sellers, but that includes additional
responsibilities. If you're an individual seller, it's easier to keep your shipments to your own country.
Click "Submit listing." This will put the item on sale on Amazon. If you don't have a seller account yet, then you'll have to create
the account and then submit the listing. If you want to know how to create a seller account, just follow the steps in the next
section.
Go to your Seller Account.
Click "View your recent Marketplace orders." You can find this option under the "Manage Your Orders" heading.
Locate the order.
Verify that the status is complete. This means your item is ready to be shipped. Click the order number of the item.
Access the Order Detail page.
Verify the method of shipment.
Print a packing slip and address label. You can do this by clicking the "view your current orders" link in your seller account and
then clicking on the "print packing slip" link next to your order. The packing slip provides the address the item is to be sent to and
a summary of the order.

9. Package the item. Your item needs to be packaged well so that it stays in good condition on its journey to your buyer. The order
summary should be placed within the package and the address should be stuck or written on the outside.
Mail the item. You can send your order however you want. Remember that the quicker the customer receives their item, the
better the review they are likely to give you.
Confirm shipment. Back on the "view your orders" page, click the "confirm shipment" button and type in the delivery
information.
Receive payment. Only once shipment has been confirmed will the buyer's account be charged. For legal reasons, first time
sellers have to wait 14 days before money is disbursed to their accounts. After this period, you are allowed to request one
disbursement per day.
Visit your seller account. The seller account link is in the "your account" page on the right hand side. Your seller account page
lists all the links that you need for your selling needs. These are the main links you will be using as an Amazon seller:
View your current inventory. This feature will help you see how many items you're selling.
View your orders. This link will help you see your existing orders.
View your payments account. You can track your payments from existing orders here.
Change or add to your account information by using the "seller account information" link. Use this link to update any
account information that would be relevant for Amazon or for your buyers.
Search for a specific order. If you're wondering about the status of a specific order, you can use the search box to look for it.
Wait for an item to be sold. When one of your items is sold, you will receive a confirmation email from Amazon giving the
details of the order. How long you have to wait will depend on the popularity of your item. Popular items will sell in a matter of a
few hours (assuming the price is set just right to the buyer).
View your ratings and feedback routinely. This feedback is a valuable tool after you've sold your item. The more ratings you
have and the better they are, the more likely future customers will be to buy from you. Review ratings on the "view your ratings
and feedback" page in your seller account.
Sell more items. Continue to create more listings for items you'd like to sell, and continue to provide your buyers with stellar
customer service.
Issue a refund for an order, should the need arise. In the unlikely event that a customer is dissatisfied by your service and
you agree to give a refund, you can give a full or part refund on the "issue a refund for an order" page in your seller account.

10. How to Start a Drop Shipping Business (with Pictures) - wikiHow
Choose a niche. There are hundreds or more drop shipping businesses and it can be difficult to compete on price alone.
Accordingly, you need to find a niche and decide what sets you apart from the competition.
Find a niche where you can add value. For example, you can sell electronics equipment and run a blog that shows people
how to put the equipment together.[1] Or you could sell pet supplies and accessories on a website where you blog about the
topic.
Plan on selling products that are hard to purchase locally but instead are bought online.[2]
Your products shouldn’t be too cheap. Ideally, a good niche is one where the products cost $100-200. This price point allows
you to make a solid profit from each sale without having to provide a lot of customer support. When you charge more,
customers usually want to talk to a person before buying.
Identify suppliers. After choosing your niche, find suppliers who are willing to drop ship. There is no one place to look to find
suppliers. Instead, try the following:
Search online for “wholesaler” and then the product you want to sell. Because wholesalers don’t invest much in online
advertisement, you might have to dig through 20 or more pages to find results. If you can’t find anything, then swap out
“wholesaler” for other terms like “distributor,” “bulk,” “reseller,” and “supplier.”[3]
You can also look through your Yellow Pages under Suppliers or Wholesalers to see if there are any in your area.[4]
If you know the manufacturer of the product, then you can contact the manufacturer directly and ask for a list of distributors.
Check which suppliers your competitors use. One good way to find a reliable supplier is to locate your competitors and then
find out who they use. You can find other drop shipping sellers by searching the Internet. If the business has only one location
listed on its “Contact Us” page, then it is probably a drop shipping business.[5]
They may even highlight their bestselling brands. Chances are these are reliable suppliers you also can contact.
If they don’t highlight any brands, then scroll through the products that they offer. Write down the names of any brands that
offer products you want to sell.
Ask suppliers questions. After identifying possible suppliers, reach out to them and ask if they handle drop shipping. Not every
supplier is willing. Suppliers might be hard to reach, so plan on sending emails and making regular phone calls until you reach
the right person.[6] When you do, ask the following questions:[7]
How long does it take them to ship after you’ve placed an order with them?
What shipping methods do they offer? For example, ask if they ship overnight or internationally.
Do they offer warranties on their products? If a product is defective, then you want them to replace it.
What quality control systems do they use?
Do they set minimum advertised prices? Ideally, they will. If not, then other drop shipping businesses could lower the prices
too low for you to compete.
Do they charge a monthly or annual fee? If so, then you might want to avoid them.
Can you put their product photo on your website? Preferably, they will allow you to use their picture.

11. Choose the best-selling products. Once you’ve found a supplier, you should go through their product pages and see what
items you want to sell. Ideally, you will want to sell products that are in high demand. You can use a couple of different
techniques to gauge a product’s popularity:
Perform market research. You can find out the demand for the product by using Google’s Keyword Tool. This tool provides
data on the number of people who have searched for a term.[8] For example, if you want to sell cat sweaters, then check how
many people have searched for that term.
Look at the completed listings on eBay. Go to “advanced search” and check the “completed listings” box. Then enter
keywords and category. As you scroll through the pages of listings, check items that sell 60% or more. These items are
usually popular.[9]
Create an account with the supplier. You should call or go online to set up your account. Some suppliers will require that you
complete an application. They may also request a copy of your reseller’s certificate, business license, or other document.[10] In
that situation, you should form your business first.
Also discuss payment methods. You can pay upfront or pay on terms. When you pay upfront, you pay at the same time as
you place your order. With pay on terms, you pay all of your orders at a later date, such as at the end of the month.
Because you are just starting out, suppliers might only agree to work with you if you pay upfront. After you establish your
reliability, they might be willing to change their billing.
Select a business structure. Every business has a certain legal structure, and you must get your government’s permission to
create some of them. In the United States, you will register with the state where you are located. Each structure has advantages
and disadvantages, which you should discuss with a lawyer or accountant:
Sole proprietorship. This business is run by one person and is easy to set up. Most drop shipping business are probably sole
proprietorships. You don’t need to file paperwork with your state to form a sole proprietorship. Instead, you can use your
Social Security Number as your business ID and report business income on your 1040 form. You are personally liable for all
of your business’s debts.[11] This means that if your business is sued, you might lose personal assets like your car or home.
Limited liability company. You can form an LLC by filing Articles of Organization with your state’s Secretary of State. An LLC
is a separate legal entity and shields its owners from personal liability for business debts.[12]
Corporation. You form a corporation by filing Articles of Incorporation with your state. Like an LLC, a corporation shields its
owners (called shareholders) from personal liability for business debts. Corporations pay their own taxes.[13] However, if you
form an S corporation, then the business’s profits and losses pass through to the shareholders.
Obtain necessary licenses and permits. To find what you need, visit the Small Business Administration website at
https://www.sba.gov/starting-business/business-licenses-permits/state-licenses-permits and click on your state.
Don’t forget to get a reseller’s certificate. Suppliers will usually want to see that you have either a state sales tax ID or a
resale certificate.[14] This certificate exempts you from paying sales tax when you buy items from your supplier.
Not every state requires a reseller’s certificate, but most do.[15] It can go by different names, such as certificate of resale,
reseller’s permit or license, or resale license.
If your state doesn’t require the certificate, then tell the wholesaler. They could have paperwork you need to fill out.
Apply for a federal tax ID. You need to pay taxes to the federal government, so you need a tax identification number (also
called an employer identification number). You can apply for one here: https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-
employed/apply-for-an-employer-identification-number-ein-online.
If you run a sole proprietorship, then you can use your Social Security Number instead.
Select your selling platform. You have two options. You can create your own eCommerce site, or you can sell on an existing
online marketplace, such as eBay, Amazon.com, or Bonanza.com.[16] Selling on an existing marketplace will require less work,
but you might get lost in the crowd of sellers.
You can create your own eCommerce store using websites such as SaleHoo. Alternately, you could purchase a domain
name and create your own website.
If you choose to sell on an online marketplace, then diversify and list on several. Not everyone buys on eBay.

12. Set up your website to accept credit card payments. Marketplaces like eBay and Amazon will process payments for you.
However, if you create your own eCommerce site, then you will need a merchant account and a payment gateway account so
that your clients can pay with credit cards.[17]
Several companies offer both as a bundle. Contact CyberSource, Verisign, or Authorize.net.
PayPal might be the easiest way to process payments. Go with PayPal and avoid getting merchant and payment gateway
accounts altogether. Instead, you can add their Shopping Cart feature to your website for free. Your clients can then pay with
credit cards or their PayPal account.
Obtain a toll-free number. You’ll look more legitimate as a business if you have a toll-free number customers can call to lodge
complaints or ask questions. You can buy an 800 number from many different providers. Look online. Some providers even allow
you to link the number to your cell phone.[18]
If you don’t want to use your home address as your business address, then get a mailbox at a post office or at a UPS store.
List your products for sale. Pricing right is important. You don’t want to price too high and lose customers to competitors.
However, if you price too low, then you won’t make much of a profit. Always factor in how much you must pay your supplier when
setting your sale price. Remember that your supplier also charges for shipping.[19]
Also remember to clearly tell your customers about your shipping and return policies in your listing.[20] Customers need to
know that information upfront.
Online platforms, such as eBay, will require you to identify where the product is located. For example, if your supplier is in
Mexico, then include this information in your listing.[21]
Purchase from the supplier when you get a sale. As a drop shipper, you wait for a customer to order from you. Then you turn
around and order from your supplier. Make sure not to delay, since your delay will only cause a delay for your customer.
Pay the supplier using a rewards credit card. In this way, you will reap all of the points for the purchase.[22]
If you receive a tracking number, then hold onto it and track the product so that you know when it has arrived.
Notify your customer when their product ships. You should stay in contact with the customer after they purchase a product.
Send a follow-up email telling them when the product has shipped. Also provide your contact information so that they can contact
you if a problem arises.[23]
Troubleshoot problems. All kinds of problems can arise in the drop shipping business. For example, a supplier might not be
trustworthy and will mail something too late. Or the supplier doesn’t package the product securely and it breaks on the way to
your customer.
You can protect yourself by having multiple suppliers for most of your products. This way, you’ll have a fallback option if your
primary supplier can’t deliver.
When a product is sold out, you can give the customer an upgraded product for free instead of cancelling the order outright.
[24]
Remember to stay in contact with your suppliers. You want a good working relationship with them so they will help remedy
problems.
Market your business. There are many ways you can reach potential customers, even if you are selling on an auction site like
eBay. You should try several marketing techniques and find out what works best.
You can create a mailing list customers can sign up for. Put a link in your email confirmation after the sale, and tell them to
sign up to receive special email offers. You can use MailChimp to build and keep track of your mailing list.[25]
You can also run Google or Facebook ads, though these can be expensive.
Another way to increase your visibility is to run a blog or to guest blog. Look for blogs in your niche, and include a link to your
website or your email address.

14. How to Sell Electronics on Amazon (with Pictures) - wikiHow
Decide between a professional and individual plan. The main difference between these 2 plans is whether you pay a per-
item fee when you sell or a monthly fee. The professional plan is $39.99 per month, which covers all the items you sell, while the
individual plan is $0.99 per item.[1]
If you sell more than 40 items per month, the professional plan is a better choice. If you sell less than 40 items per month, the
individual plan is a better option.
More fees apply when you sell, such as the shipping fees, referral fees, and variable closing fees. The difference between
these 2 plans only applies to the selling fee.
Choose fulfillment by merchant (FBM) for fewer fees. One way you can sell and ship on Amazon is to simply fulfill any orders
yourself. You don't have to pay fees like the warehouse storage fee. However, you must keep up with your own inventory.[2]
You also keep lower cost items from being lumped into the "add-on" category, which is done automatically if you send your
items in to be fulfilled by Amazon. If an item has to be added on in Prime shipping, some customers won't buy it.
You'll also handle returns if you sell in this category.
Pick fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) to allow for Prime shipping. With this method, you send your items to be stored in an
Amazon warehouse. When an order comes in, Amazon handles packaging and handling, and customers can have items
shipped for free with Prime shipping, Amazon's membership program.[3]
In addition, some customers search for "Prime Only" items, meaning your potential pool of customers increases with this
option.
However, Amazon charges added fees with this program, including storage fees and fulfillment fees.[4]
Both FBM and FBA are available on the professional and individual plan.
Create an account on Seller Central. If you already have an account with Amazon to buy items, you'll start by logging into that
account at https://services.amazon.com/content/sell-on-amazon.htm?ld=SCSOAlogin. You need to provide more information for
a seller's account, but you can log in with your buyer's account information. If you don't have an account to buy items, you'll need
an email and a password. Then you can create a seller's account from there.[5]
You'll need your full name, and on the next page, the legal nomenclature for your business, which could be your full name
again, if you'll be paying your business taxes as an individual rather than as a business.
You'll also need a display name (what your customers see), a business address, and "electronics" as the main category
you're selling under.
Add a credit or debit card number for verification and verify your cellphone number by having a text sent to you.
Complete the tax interview. This portion of the setup process lets Amazon know who you are for tax purposes. Click "yes" or
"no" under "For U.S. tax purposes, are you a U.S. person?" On the next page, pick the appropriate company type for your
business. If you don't have a company, sign up as an individual or sole proprietor.[6]
Add your Employment Identification Number (EIN) if you're a business or your Social Security number if you're an individual.
These numbers identify you for tax purposes.
Submit the information to complete setting up your account.
Check your products to ensure they follow Amazon's policies. Amazon prohibits the selling of electronics that enable illegal
activities. For instance, you can't sell digital music players that actively encourage music pirating. Similarly, you can't sell items
that block radio signals, such as GPS jammers, wifi jammers, cellphone jammers, or radar jammers.[7]
You also can't sell items like DVD players that have region coding blocked or cellphone-unlocking devices.
You can find more restricted items here: https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/external/200164510?language=en-
US&ref=mpbc_200277240_cont_200164510.
Review the fee schedule for electronics. Before you price your items, you need to know how much you're going to spend on

15. each item you post and sell on Amazon. You'll be paying either $39.99 a month or $0.99 per item for the professional or
individual account, but you'll also pay a referral fee.[8]
For electronics, the fee is 15% up to the first $100 and 8% after that or $1, whichever is greater.
On media items, you'll also pay an extra $1.80. Video game consoles fall under this category, for instance.
Price your electronics by checking out competition. Look at similar products to help gauge your range. Also, take into
account the pay-per-item fees of selling on Amazon, as well as any handling charges you'll incur. Price your item to be
competitive, as you're more likely to make a sale.[9]
However, do a cost analysis to make sure you're still turning a profit on your electronic item.
Add listings for existing products by searching the main bar. One simple way to add a listing is to search for a product from
the main search bar on every Amazon page. Once you find a matching product, open the page for more details. On that page,
click on "Sell on Amazon" to add your own information.[10]
On the next page, add the details about your specific item. You'll enter the quantity, price, and condition of your item.
Create new listings for products that aren't already on Amazon. In your inventory page, click on "Add a Product" using the
drop-down menu. Press the button "Create a New Listing." Click on the "Electronics" category for your product, and then
continue to choose subcategories as appropriate.[11]
The more you narrow the category for your electronic item, the better your customers will be able to find your product.
Add a keyword-driven title to your listing. The title must be 200 characters or fewer. Identify your product clearly, adding
primary keywords to the beginning of your title. The primary keywords are the main ones you'd use to describe your product and
that customers would be searching for.[12]
For instance, if you're selling a Sony flat screen television, your title might be "Flat Screen Television, Sony, Fifty-Six Inches."
Capitalize the first letter of each word, and use numerals in your title with the exception of measurements, which you should
spell out.
Write your product features in bullet points. In this area, include just the most important information about the product, such
as what exactly comes in the box and the main features. This area is organized with bullet points.[13]
Be concise and to the point. Instead of saying "In this box, you'll find the product includes the television, HDMI cable, and a
power cord, which is a bargain," write "Box includes television, HDMI Cable, and power cord."
Add a fuller product description below. Further down the page, add in the main description. Include the product size, a full
description of the electronic item, and its major features. Try to address any questions your customers may have about the
product.[14]
In this section, discuss the condition of the item, such as whether it's new or refurbished.
Include information such as any operating systems the item runs, as well as compatible items.
Add as many keywords for your product as you can.
Include clear photos on a white background. The main photo is the one that appears on the search page, and it should
clearly show the whole item on a white background. Other photos can show zoomed-in sections of the item or different angles.
[15]
You can also include photos of people using the item, as well as short videos.
Promote your product with a sponsored ad. These ads are called Sponsored Products or Seller Central Advertising. They
use your existing product page, and they run it as a sponsored ad when someone searches for a product.[16]
Sign up for the ads at https://services.amazon.com/advertising/overview.html.

16. To pay for ads, you set a daily budget, and you are charged per click, based on an auction system where the highest bid gets
the click. To be at all competitive, set a minimum of $0.05/click, but in electronics, you may want to bid as much as
$0.50/click.[17]
These sponsored ads may be above, below, or integrated into the other results, though they are labelled as sponsored
products.
Choose between automatic and manual targeting for your ad. Automatic lets Amazon choose search terms that will bring up
your ad, while manual allows you to choose the search terms. Automatic targeting is a good way to get started, but you may
want to switch to manual targeting as time goes on.[18]
When you use manual targeting, you must establish how much you want to spend on each keyword/search term, so you'll
need to know how you want to advertise your product.
Pick appropriate search terms for your ad. Pick some search terms that are generic. In other words, they just name what the
item is, such as "television" or "flat screen." Add in other words that are specific to the brand, such as "Emerson television."[19]
You don't have to use your brand for the more specific terms. In fact, if your electronic device is comparable but cheaper than
another brand, use that search term to target your ad. That way, your sponsored ad will pop up when users search for the
other brand.
You can track which words get you better results over time on Amazon, whether you choose them yourself or let Amazon do
it.
Choose 3 or 4 complementary products for your ad. Another place your ads may display is on pages with items that go with
your product, such as a keyboard with a mouse. Amazon gives you the option to choose complementary products, so you have
some control over where your product ad appears.[20]
To find complementary products, simply use the provided search box to locate and tag items.
Use deal seasons to gain customers when using a sponsored ad. "Deal" seasons, such as Black Friday and Christmas, are
a good time to run specials and promote your products. Consider running promotions on your electronics during these times
because customers will be looking for deals.[21]
Amazon's Deals of the Day and Lightning Deals are by invite only. However, you can take steps to increase your chances of
getting an invite.
For instance, Amazon usually wants to see a reduction of 15% or more for a product to be featured as a deal. Also, build up
your inventory, and make sure your pictures are clear and easy to see.
Run sponsored ads during this period, so your deals will pop up when customers search.
Manage bad reviews to gain customers. The optimum solution is to not get bad reviews in the first place, but people will
always complain. Therefore, the best you can do is offer a solution to the customer that satisfies them enough to take down the
review.[22]
When you see a bad review on your product, respond to it. Start with an apology and offer a solution. Alternatively, ask what
you can do. Leave an email address or a link so they can get back to you.
Discuss removing or changing the bad review only after the customer is satisfied. For instance, once the issue is resolved,
write an email saying the following: "Thank you again for your patience. If you feel we've resolved this issue to your
satisfaction, would you consider changing or removing your bad review?"
Attempt to get Amazon to remove the review if it violates their policies. For instance, if the review has bad language or
doesn't justify a negative review, you can use the "Report Abuse" button to ask Amazon to review it.[23]

17. How to Sell Products From Home (with Pictures) - wikiHow
Brainstorm what type of products you have knowledge of and could succeed in selling from home. What do you enjoy
doing? Most people enjoy working on projects where they feel skilled in. What's yours?
If you are skilled in crafting, sewing or cooking you may decide to make and sell home décor, accessories, jewelry or edible
items.
If you have an eye for bargains you may be interested in buying and re-selling antiques or other items.
If you enjoy working with a network of business owners and socially interacting with your customers, you may consider
becoming a consultant for an existing home-based direct sales company.
Know what makes really good products. To have the most possible success as a home entrepreneur, you want to make sure
you're not just selling any old product. You want to make sure you're selling awesome products — products that are convenient,
portable, and cheap to manufacture:
What makes a home product really good:
Convenience. Your product makes life easier for your customers
Portability. It ships easily. That also usually means it's easier to manufacture.
Cost. It doesn't take an arm and a leg to manufacture. Try to get your margins at or above 50%.[1]
What makes a home product not so good:
Overly mechanical and liability-prone. If your product demands super high quality standards or puts you at a liability, stay
away. No mechanical drills.
Imported by big retailers. If the product you're trying to sell at home already is being sold at Walmart, don't expect much.
Trademarks. Unless you want to spend all your profit fighting legal battles with huge corporations, stay away from items
that are protected under trademark.
Determine the size and competitiveness of the market. Okay, so you've decided to sell miniature craft accessories —
miniature chairs for doll collectors, perhaps. The next question you should consider is how good of a business proposition is
this? You may be the best miniature craftsman (or -woman) that money can buy, but it won't mean very much if no one buys
miniatures for dolls, or if the market for doll miniatures is already really competitive and margins are razor thin.
The size of the market is effectively how much money people are spending today on whatever product you're selling. You can
usually research market size online by consulting market studies, journals, and government reports.[2] The bigger the market
size, the bigger the market opportunity.
How competitive a given market is should be a big consideration in your choosing to step into it. If there are a lot of players
vying for a piece of the pie, your job is going to be very hard. If there are not as many players vying for a piece of the pie,
you're going to have an opportunity to make more money.
If you can, stock up on the product by buying wholesale. Wholesale is buying the product or things necessary to build the
product directly from the manufacturer, thereby avoiding a markup from any middlemen. If you can buy whatever you need to
make your product without involving any middlemen, your profit margins will be much bigger.
You can get the best wholesale prices by shopping around. Reach out to several possible suppliers (with a junk email, unless
you love spam; or by telephone) and ask them about getting a tester sample of whatever it is you're ordering. A tester will let

18. you determine the quality of the product you're ordering.
Be sure to ask about the minimum order, as well. If you need to buy 1,000 sets of dish drying racks in order to get the deal, it
may not be a great investment, especially if you're just starting out.
If you are joining a direct sales company, get signed up on its website or through another consultant and order your starter kit
of inventory.
Start making your product. Very few retailers successfully buy wholesale and then flip the product(s) without changing it in
some significant way. What you'll probably find yourself doing is buying the raw materials from a supplier or host of suppliers and
then spending time and manpower fashioning your product into reality.
Test, test, and then test some more. You may think you've got a really reliable product on your hands, but no one is as
discerning as the customer. The customer uses the product, sometimes on a daily basis, sometimes the "wrong way." The
customer is constantly asking herself, "did I get my money's worth?" Testing your product on focus groups, friends, or even
(especially) strangers might give you insight into how to make it even better.
Say, for example, that you order 100 vegetable peelers wholesale, stick your name on them, and then sell them with a 100%
markup. That's not necessarily a bad idea if you can get swift sales. But what if the vegetable peelers dissolve under hot
water, and a week into your new sales venture, you've got dozens of angry customers whose dishwashers have been ruined
by the peeler? If you had tested them, you'd know they weren't a good product. If you hadn't tested them, you'd be giving
refunds, losing money and having your brand take a hit.
Apply for a tax identification number. A tax ID will allow the government to set up taxes associated with your sales. In most
cases, you'll need to register your tax ID number in each state you plan on selling your goods.
Open a new bank account to keep your business earnings separate from the rest of your family income. This makes it
easier for you to track your profit and expenses, though you can transfer your earnings into your personal account once your
records have been noted.
This also makes things a whole lot easier come tax season, when you need to be exact about what expenses you had and
how much you were paid.
Link a PayPal account to your business bank account in order to make online transactions more efficient.
Purchase business software for your home computer or laptop that will allow you to keep an organized database of
inventory, invoices and accounting. It may sound boring, but boring is better than fines or jail time when the IRS comes
auditing.
You may choose to hire an accountant or bookkeeper to track these records for you.
Advertise your new business and the products you are selling. A product will usually sell in one of three ways: repeat buys
(meaning the customer enjoyed it the first time and went back for more); word-of-mouth (rave reviews from trusted influencers);
and advertising. If the quality and usefulness of your product is already high, there's not much you can do to affect repeat buys
and word of mouth. That's where advertising comes in. Advertising is a way to build interest in a product by selling a dream of
how to use it.
Order business cards and distribute them to everyone you know or meet.
Create business pages on social media sites and invite your friends and family to follow you. Encourage them to invite
others, and make frequent status updates to keep your followers up to date on your business.
If you joined a direct-sales company, review your materials for promotional ideas customized for your brand of products.
Experiment with, but don't rely solely on, PPC or Social. PPC stands for "pay per click," where you (the advertiser) pay the
website on which your ad appears (the publisher) anytime a customer clicks on the link. Increasingly, however, many people are
finding it difficult to generate leads with PPC. Social networks, like Facebook and Twitter, offer promotional content or
advertisements as well. Social networks like these may be good at branding, but they don't necessarily translate into swift sales.
Try both of these methods for yourself, but don't make them your entire advertising budget.
Arrange a way for customers to access and buy your products. Unless you truly want to sell products from your physical
home (not recommended), you'll probably want to put the product up for sale online. There are several upsides and several
downsides about selling online:
The advantages:
Lower startup costs.[3] You don't have to pay nearly as much for an online domain as you do for a retail store. Listing
items on eBay is relatively cheap.
Farther reach. Even if you're in New York, you can reach customers from all over the world.

19. Seamless marketing and convenience. Market online, and allow customers to buy with a click or two from the comfort of
their living room.
The disadvantages:
Security issues. Credit card or other payment information can be breached, making for angry customers.[4]
Difficulty and time associated with delivering goods. It may be difficult and take weeks to ship a product to Tanzania, for
example.
Consider creating your own website. If you plan to do online sales, create a website that customers can shop from. Link your
PayPal account to the website. Make sure that the layout and design of the website make it dead simple for customers to buy the
product. People who are familiar with their product and website layout often find it much easier to understand than people with
no knowledge of the product or website.
It's becoming increasingly easy to build your own sales channel online. Many online services now exist, like Shopify, that let
you pay for someone else to build and maintain your sales tools for you. The less commission you need to give eBay on
each sale, the more money stays in your own pocket.
Sell your product on eBay. There are a lot of things that do into selling on eBay, the internet's biggest auction place. But the main
idea is simple: Create a listing, decide how you want to sell it, and then ship it when the listing is sold. Here are some other
things to keep in mind:
Pictures are important! Take attractive, useful, clear pictures. Your products will sell more if people feel like they can
understand them through pictures.
Choose an auction format or fixed price format. Auction format works best for rarer items that people are likely to fight over,
while fixed price format works best for more common items where the supply outstrips demand.
Be kind and courteous to everyone — even jerks — in order to keep your feedback rating high. Your reputation may well be
the selling point if a competitor lists an item like yours at the same price.
Sell on Amazon. Selling on Amazon is much like selling on eBay, except that the auction format isn't available on Amazon. To
sell on Amazon, all you need to do is create a profile, list your item (along with descriptions, condition, and price), and then ship
the product once it's sold. As on eBay, pay attention to your ratings and feedback.
If you want to start selling a whole range of products on Amazon, you can develop your own storefront that's brand-
personalized and allows customers to easily search for several items at a time.
Sell your product on Etsy. Etsy is a digital marketplace designed for crafts. Unlike eBay and Amazon sellers, who sell anything
and everything, Etsy sellers focus on handmade crafts with a personal touch. So if you have a talent at crafting something like a
fabric coaster, platinum jewelry, or folk art, Etsy might be just the place you're looking for.
If you're adventurous, consider selling door-to-door. Whether you want to supplement your online income or rely on your
personal charm, selling door-to-door is still a viable way of hawking products. It's certainly not easy, and it's not for the faint of
heart, but with a bit of know-how and a lot of determination, it can bolster your bottom line.
Ship the product out expeditiously. If you want to make the best possible impression on your customers, package the product
elegantly (making sure it won't break during shipping), bring it to the post office, and ship it off. It's really as simple as that.
Offer refunds and exchanges. Unfortunately, sometimes the customer isn't going to like what they bought. Make the
return/exchange policy clear, but don't burn bridges by refusing a refund. Eating these refund costs will be a good business
practice, and should keep your Amazon/eBay/Etsy ratings high.
Cycle the feedback you get into making your products even better. Iterate on bad designs, negative interactions, or product
flaws.
Remember that the customer is always right, even when they aren't. It's one of the hardest parts of doing business, but it's
one of the oldest rules in the book. If you treat your customers like undeserving bums, they'll feel like that. And while that may
feel good after a brutal exchange, it certainly doesn't pad the wallet.
After a while, branch out to new products. In the beginning, it can be a good strategy to stay focused on one or two products,
so that you get a hang of the process and don't spend too much time juggling pictures, descriptions, demographics, etc. After
you've gotten a foothold in a market and developed confidence in an e-commerce platform (such as eBay), it could be profitable
to start selling distinct, but related, products.
Slowly but surely, start to sell bigger and better. If you're serious about making money, you'll want to look at your sales after a
couple months and figure out how to increase them. Here are just a few ideas you can use:

20. Negotiate better prices from wholesale. As you buy more in bulk, your power to negotiate goes up. Don't be afraid to use it!
The wholesalers want your business.
Look for recurring revenue sources. Think about ways you can ensure repeat business. Could email, snail mail, a
subscription pack, or something else creative get you return business?
Ask for help, or outsource. Could a few more pairs of hands and legs help you deliver more packages and increase the sales
you make? Especially if you're only selling part-time, constant trips to the post office and regular time sunk into payment
processing could be eating away at your profitability.