How to Start Selling on Amazon: A Roadmap for New Sellers
Find the right next step for your Amazon business, from account setup, business models, product research, fees, listing optimization, and advertising basics.
Start Selling on Amazon: Find the Right Next Step
Use this quick-start table to jump to the guide that matches where you are right now, whether you need help with account setup, product research, fees, listings, advertising, or choosing the right tools.
| What is your current goal? | Choose this if... | Start here |
|---|---|---|
| I'm brand new to selling on Amazon | You want to start an Amazon business but you don't know which steps you need to take to proceed. | How to Start an Amazon FBA Business in 2026 |
| I want to create my Amazon Seller Account | You want to know what documents you'll need, how signup works, and which seller plan to choose. | How to Create an Amazon Seller Account |
| I want to decide between using FBA or FBM | You want to understand which fulfillment method makes the most sense for your business. | Amazon FBA vs FBM: A Complete Guide |
| I want to understand startup costs | You want a clear picture of the various seller fees, FBA charges, storage costs, and other business costs. | How Much Are Amazon Seller Fees? A 2026 Guide |
| I want to find a profitable product to sell | You want help finding a private label product to sell and want tips on validating ideas, analyzing competition, and market demand. | A Complete Guide to Amazon Product Research |
| I want to find the best keywords to add to my listing | You have a product to sell, but you're not sure how to choose the right keywords that will help shoppers find your product. | Amazon Long-Tail Keyword Research Guide |
| I want to start an Amazon business with a small budget | You're interested in selling existing products instead of creating your own brand from day one. | Amazon Retail Arbitrage: A Beginner's Guide |
| I want to register my brand with Amazon | You're already selling a product on Amazon and you want to take advantage of A+ Content, Brand ads, copyright protections, etc. | How to Sign Up to the Brand Registry on Amazon |
| I want to improve my product page / listing | You want to optimize your product page with better images, bullets, title, etc in order to increase conversions. | Amazon Listing Optimization Guide |
| I want to learn the basics of Amazon advertising | You're interested in launching your first Amazon ad campaign but you're not sure where to start. | What Is Amazon PPC? A New Seller Guide |
| I want to get approved to sell in more categories / brands | You are ready to list a product, but Amazon says you need category or brand approval before you can sell it. | How to Get Ungated on Amazon in 2026 |
| I want help choosing the right tools for my business | You understand the basics of selling on Amazon and you want a curated list of free tools and premium software to help your business. | The Best Amazon Seller Tools in 2026 |
Amazon Business Models
Learn about the most common business models used by new Amazon sellers. Check out our complete guides to retail and online arbitrage, as well as private label selling on Amazon, and find what’s right for you.
How to Start an Amazon FBA Business in 2026
This is our 100% beginner guide to selling on Amazon. It guides you through choosing a business model, fulfillment method, finding a product, and more. It also includes an introduction into private-label selling on the platform.
A Guide to Amazon Online Arbitrage in 2026
Learn how to source products from online retailers to sell on Amazon. We guide you through the basics of sourcing products, checking your margins, pricing, and more.
Amazon Retail Arbitrage: A Beginner Friendly Guide
Interested in selling on Amazon with a smaller budget? Retail arbitrage might be for you. This guide walks you through the process of launching your business and finding winning products to sell, step by step.
What You Need Before You Start
Before you open your account or buy your first product, make sure you have these basics in place. You do not need every detail figured out yet, but you should know your setup well enough to avoid expensive beginner mistakes.
- ID and business details: Have your legal name, address, phone number, and government-issued ID ready. If you already have a registered business, keep the business name and registration details exactly as they appear on your documents.
- Bank account and chargeable card: Amazon needs a bank account to send your payouts and a chargeable card for plan fees and other seller charges. Double-check that the names on these match your account details.
- Tax information: Be ready to complete your tax setup during registration. This part is easier if you already know whether you are signing up as an individual or through a business entity.
- A product idea or sourcing path: You do not need your entire catalog planned out, but you should know how you intend to start, whether that is private label, retail arbitrage, online arbitrage, or another sourcing model.
- A rough starting budget: Know what you can realistically spend on inventory, Amazon fees, shipping, packaging, and tools. Even a simple budget range is better than guessing after you start ordering products.
- Your fulfillment choice: Decide whether you want to use FBA, FBM, or test both. This affects your costs, workflow, and the kind of products that make sense for your business.
If you want the full setup process, documents list, and account walkthrough, read How to Create an Amazon Seller Account.
Complete Amazon Seller Guides
From listing optimization, keyword research, A+ content, product sourcing, and more, Levis Toolbox is home to some of the most comprehensive, in-depth guides available for new Amazon sellers.
Amazon Listing Optimization: The Complete Guide
Take your product listing to the next level. Our guide covers how to optimize your product title, bullets, images, A+ content, back-end keywords, and more.
A Guide to the Amazon Brand Registry
Amazon’s Brand Registry is a free program that gives brands extra protections, marketing tools, analytics, and more. Learn about the basics of the registry, how to sign up, and all the free benefits that come with it.
What is Amazon PPC: A Beginner's Guide to Advertising on Amazon
Not sure where to start when it comes to advertising on Amazon? Learn how Amazon ads works, the different campaign types, and how to set up your first campaign in this new seller guide.
A Guide to Amazon Product Research in 2026
Looking for a new private label product to sell on Amazon? This guide covers the steps of finding potential winning products, to validating demand and competition. By then end you’ll have everything you need to start sourcing your next product idea.
Amazon Product Launches in 2026: A Step-by-Step Guide
This article goes through each step it takes to successfully launch a new product on Amazon. From finding your product, setting up your listing, to organizing your first ad campaigns. We cover everything in a beginner-friendly way.
How to Win the Amazon Buy Box in 2026
Take your arbitrage business to the next level by learning how to consistently win the buy box. We cover every major factor that goes into Amazon’s buy box algorithm, and include expert tips to help you get an edge on the competition.
Our Free Amazon Seller Tools
Our collection of 100% free tools for Amazon sellers. No email sign-up or account requirements.
Free Amazon FBA Profit Calculator
Quickly estimate your true profit after Amazon fees, FBA costs, shipping, and COGS.Useful for validating product ideas, checking margins, and determining a rough ROI before you commit to launching a new product.
Free Amazon PPC Calculator
Calculate break-even ACoS and a safe target CPC based on your product’s price, costs, and conversion rate. Great for preplanning new ad campaigns or setting up bidding guidelines.
Free Amazon Ads Search Terms Report Analyzer
Upload your Search Terms Report to quickly spot wasted ad spend, find negative keywords, and harvest new winning keyword ideas faster. Helpful if you don’t like working with bulky spreadsheets or Excel files.
Free Amazon Product Image Checker
Compare your product listing images against Amazon’s image requirements and best practices. Avoid potential issues or suppressed listings before launching your product.
19 Best Tools for Amazon FBA in 2026 (Free & Paid Options)
Want to grow your Amazon business faster? This guide covers the best tools for product research, keyword tracking, inventory management, and more. Find the right software to boost sales and save time!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do I start selling on Amazon as a beginner?
To get started selling on Amazon, you’ll need to first choose an Amazon business model, sign up for a Seller Central account, pick a product to sell, and then create or add your product to a listing. If you’re brand new, don’t get overwhelmed by trying to learn everything at once. I recommend checking out our beginner guide on How to Start an Amazon FBA Business for more information.
What do I need to open an Amazon seller account?
To create your Amazon seller account, you’ll need a government-issued ID, phone number, email address, chargeable credit card, bank account, proof of address, and tax information. Having those ready before you start the sign-up process can make things much smoother and helps you avoid any preventable delays. For more information, check out our Amazon seller account setup guide.
Do I need an LLC or business license to sell on Amazon?
No. You can start selling on Amazon as an individual without forming an LLC first. A business entity can be a good idea for liability, taxes, or brand-building, but it is not required when you’re just getting started.
How much money do I need to start selling on Amazon?
For most new sellers, a recommended starting budget is about $400 to $1,000 for retail or online arbitrage and roughly $2,500 to $5,000 for a lean private-label product launch.
Retail and online arbitrage let you start with a small budget and reinvest into your business, while private label requires product samples, inventory, packaging, freight, and ad costs up front. Your exact costs will come down to the product you choose, your supplier’s MOQ, and how aggressive you plan to be at launch.
Is Amazon FBA or FBM better for beginners?
I always recommend FBA for new Amazon sellers since Amazon handles all of your storage, shipping, returns, and customer service needs. FBM can still be a good choice if you already have your own 3PL or fulfillment setup and want more direct control over your costs. The better option will ultimately come down to your product, margins, and your time. You can learn more about both of these methods in our guide on Amazon FBA vs FBM.
How do I find a profitable product to sell on Amazon?
When you’re trying to find a product to sell on Amazon, I recommend focusing on 3 main things: demand, competition, and profit margin. A product is not worth launching just because it’s trendy or looks popular. You need to verify there is enough search demand, room to compete in the niche, and a healthy profit margin after Amazon fees. I would create a shortlist with a few good ideas, and then take time to verify each idea by checking your numbers, analyzing competitors, and more. Check out our in-depth Amazon product research guide for more info on how to finding potential product ideas.
