Amazon FBA lets you sell on Amazon without packing and shipping orders yourself: you send inventory to Amazon, and Amazon handles delivery, customer service and returns. For beginners it is one of the simplest ways to start selling online, as long as you understand the costs. This guide walks through the whole process, from choosing a product to your first sale.
Step 1: Understand how FBA works
You buy or make products, label them and ship them to Amazon’s warehouses. When a customer orders, Amazon ships it, usually with Prime. You pay fulfillment and storage fees on top of Amazon’s selling fees. Read what Amazon FBA is for the full picture.
Step 2: Choose a selling plan
Amazon’s Individual plan costs $0.99 per item sold, and Professional costs $39.99 a month. Professional pays off above about 40 sales a month and is needed to advertise and win the featured offer. Compare them in Individual vs Professional.
Step 3: Pick your first product
- Small and light, so FBA fees stay low.
- Steady demand all year, not a one-time fad.
- A price that leaves room for fees, ads and returns.
- Not restricted or gated in your category.
See how to find winning products, and check the numbers in our Amazon FBA calculator.
Step 4: Get barcodes and create your listing
Most products need a UPC from GS1 to list. Then you label each unit with an Amazon barcode, the FNSKU, unless it qualifies for the manufacturer barcode. See FNSKU vs UPC.
Step 5: Send your first shipment
Create a shipment in Send to Amazon, enter box contents, print a label for every box and ship to the warehouses Amazon assigns. Start small to test demand. Our guide to FBA box labels covers the details.
Step 6: Launch and watch your numbers
- Price competitively and consider a small Sponsored Products campaign.
- Watch your real profit per unit after all fees.
- Restock before you run out, but don’t send so much that storage fees pile up.
- Check that every unit you sent was received, and claim any that went missing. See our FBA reimbursements guide.
Beginner mistakes to avoid
- Ordering a large first batch before testing demand.
- Forgetting fees, ads and returns when pricing.
- Choosing oversized or fragile products first.
- Buying cheap UPCs that don’t come from GS1.
Planning to sell beyond Amazon?
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We have a business relationship with CrazyVendor.
Questions beginners ask
How much money do I need to start Amazon FBA?
It depends on your product. Budget for inventory, samples, barcodes, your selling plan, shipping to Amazon and a small ad budget, and start with a test order to limit your risk.
Can I do FBA part-time?
Yes. Because Amazon handles shipping and customer service, many sellers run FBA alongside a job.
Sources: Amazon Seller Central pages on FBA, selling plans and labeling, checked November 2026. Fees change regularly, so confirm current rates in Seller Central.