Amazon seller account setup: how to open one, step by step

How do you open an Amazon seller account?

1. Pick the marketplace (sell.amazon.com for the US).
2. Pick a plan: on Amazon US the Individual plan is $0.99 per item sold and Professional is $39.99 per month (current fees on Amazon's selling page).
3. Enter ID, address, company, bank and card details that match each other exactly.
4. Complete identity verification by video call or document upload.
5. Complete the tax interview (W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E for non-US sellers).
6. Set up shipping templates, return address and first listings.

What documents do you need to open an Amazon seller account?

Amazon's official seller registration guide asks you to have the following ready before you start:

• A government-issued ID.
• An email address.
• An internationally chargeable credit card.
• A bank account and routing number.
• A business license or registration.
• Proof of residential address from the last 180 days, such as a bank or credit card statement.
• Tax information.

Individual vs Professional: which Amazon selling plan should you choose?

The Individual plan is Amazon's pay-per-sale plan; the Professional plan is a flat monthly subscription with the full selling toolset. The comparison below follows Amazon's pricing page at sell.amazon.com.

What does Amazon ask for at each registration step?

1. Business details: business location, type, name, registration number, registered address and phone number.
2. Primary contact: full legal name as shown on your ID, citizenship, country of birth, date of birth, residential address and phone number.
3. Banking and payment: bank account details and credit card information.
4. Store and products: store name, product codes, certifications, and whether you are the manufacturer or brand owner.

How does Amazon's video identity verification work?

Amazon identity verification starts once you submit your store details and upload your ID and proof of address. Amazon's registration guide then offers two options: take a photo of your face and your government-issued ID, or join or schedule a video call with an Amazon associate. If you choose the call, bring the same ID and proof of residential address you uploaded.

• Amazon says verification usually takes three business days or less.
• The name and address on every document should match the registration form exactly.
• The primary contact named on the ID should be the person on the call.

What do you need to sell on Amazon US from outside the United States?

Sellers based outside the US, including many in Turkey, need a tax ID, the right IRS form for Amazon's tax interview, and a bank account Amazon can pay out to. Many choose to form a US LLC; it is not required, but it can simplify banking, taxes and sourcing.

An EIN (Employer Identification Number) is the tax ID the IRS issues to businesses. The IRS states you never have to pay a fee for an EIN, but applicants whose principal place of business is outside the US cannot use the online tool and apply by phone, fax or mail instead.

Form W-8BEN-E is the IRS form foreign entities use to document their status for US tax purposes, and Amazon's tax interview may ask for it. Which form applies depends on how your company is set up and classified. This is general information, not tax or legal advice; confirm structure and forms with an accountant or US tax professional.

How do you open an Amazon US seller account from outside the US?

You register at sell.amazon.com, and neither a US company nor a US bank account is a registration requirement. Amazon's registration guide says you don't need to be an LLC or registered business to sell in the Amazon store, and that unincorporated sellers choose "None, I am an individual" on the form. The same guide says the bank account doesn't have to be in the US, but it must be in your name or your business's name.

Opening the account has no separate charge; you pay the plan fee below, per Amazon's US pricing page, plus a category-based referral fee on each sale.

Do you need a company or a local tax registration to sell on Amazon?

It depends on the marketplace. Amazon US accepts individual sellers, while Amazon Turkey asks for a tax-registered business. Amazon's US registration guide states that an LLC or registered business is not required. Amazon Turkey's seller FAQ on satis.amazon.com.tr says sellers must be taxpayers operating a legal business, such as a sole proprietorship or a limited or joint-stock company, and lists a tax certificate or trade registry document among the registration documents.

Meeting Amazon's registration rules is not the same as settling your tax position. Whether a US LLC, a UK company or a home-country sole proprietorship fits your situation is a legal and tax decision. Cloverlight does not give that advice; get it from an accountant and, where needed, a lawyer.

How do you get paid by Amazon through Payoneer, Wise or a non-US bank?

Amazon pays out to the account you add under Deposit Methods in Seller Central, and that account must be in your name or your business's name. There are three common routes:

• Amazon Currency Converter for Sellers (ACCS): Amazon says it converts payouts for 20 Amazon stores into 20+ currencies and deposits them in your local bank account. The fee is tiered on the past 12 months of converted proceeds, starting at 1.50% below $100,000.
• A payment service provider (PSP): if you use a virtual account from Payoneer, Wise or a similar company, the provider must participate in Amazon's Payment Service Provider Program. Amazon announced it would stop disbursements to non-participating PSPs from July 15, 2021, and lists participating providers in the Selling Partner Appstore.
• A direct bank account issued to you by a deposit-taking bank, which the PSP program does not affect.
• In every case, the name on the account has to match the seller or business name on your registration.

Is opening an Amazon seller account free? The costs people miss

Opening the account is free; plan fees and referral fees start when you sell. A few other costs don't appear on the registration form but shape the first months.

How much are Amazon FBA storage fees?

FBA storage is charged monthly based on the cubic volume your inventory takes up in Amazon's warehouses, and the rate is higher in October through December. Inventory that sits unsold for a long time can carry an additional surcharge. Rates change by product size and season, so check the FBA section of Amazon's pricing page on sell.amazon.com for current figures.

Dropshipping accounts that use a forwarding warehouse don't send stock to Amazon, so FBA storage fees don't apply; the warehouse's handling fee and shipping take their place.

How much does seller account setup cost?

Seller account setup starts at $150 per marketplace. The final price depends on your company structure, how ready your documents are and your target marketplaces. This is our service fee; Amazon's plan fee and referral fees are separate. Amazon approves the account; we don't guarantee it.