Sell

How to start selling on Amazon

For instructions on how to get started selling on Amazon, click here. Whether you’ve already got an established ecommerce business, a great idea for a new product, or you just have a passion for selling, here’s how to take that next step.
4,900 JPY a month (excluding tax) + selling fees
How to start selling on Amazon

Before you start

Select a selling plan

With the Individual plan, you’ll pay ¥100 every time you sell an item. The Professional plan costs ¥4,900 per month (excluding tax), no matter how many items you sell. Additionally, a referral fee is charged for each product sold in either plan option. Referral fees are calculated by multiplying the total item price (including shipping charges, etc.) with a percentage. Percentages vary by product category. Visit our pricing page for a summary of selling fees.
Amazon app that displays a list of water bottles that can be shipped with Amazon Prime

Consider your selling strategy

Resellers find popular products that already exist and offer them in Amazon's stores. Brand owners manufacture their own products—or source goods to sell under a private label—to offer a unique selection to shoppers. Lots of sellers do both. You can choose whichever method works for your goals.

Create an Amazon seller account

You can use your existing customer account to start selling, or you can create a new Amazon seller account with your business email. Before you sign up, make sure you’re ready with the following:
  • Government-issued ID with facial photo (e.g. passport, driver's license, etc.)
  • Statement issued by a bank or a credit card company within the last 180 days
  • Business email address or existing Amazon customer account
  • Phone number
  • Chargeable credit card
  • A bank account where Amazon can send you proceeds from your sales
Amazon Seller Central home screen interface
The procedure for creating an Amazon seller account is as follows.
1. First, go to the page to create an Amazon seller account. Registering an Amazon Seller Account
・ See the registration procedure in detail ・ See details about the identity verification procedure required when
registering

3. Provide information and undergo review on Seller Central to comply with the Installment Sales Act.
・ See the review procedure for the Installment Sales Act in detail Note: If you have not completed the Installment Sales Act review, your products will not be displayed

even if you have completed product registration. Please be sure to complete the Installment Sales Act review.

Amazon jargon:

Seller Central

Seller Central is the sales monitoring website where sellers log in to monitor their Amazon listings activity. You can manage inventory, update pricing, communicate with buyers, review account health, contact selling partner support, and add new products.
Woman in black blazer looking at account on Amazon seller app

Go mobile

Use the Amazon Seller app to track sales, fulfill orders, find products to sell, respond to customer questions, capture and edit professional-quality product photos, and create listings—all from your phone.
QR code to download the Amazon Seller app to your cellphone
Click here to download the Amazon Seller app on the Apple App Store
Click here to download the Amazon Seller app on Google Play

2. Register a product

Check out general product registration methods to start selling on Amazon.
How to add a product
What can you sell on Amazon? It depends on the product, the category, and the brand.

Some categories are open to all sellers, some require a Professional seller account, some require approval to sell, and some include products that cannot be sold by third-party sellers.

To sell branded products protected by copyright, trademark, or patent, you must be the legal owner of the brand or an authorized reseller. Visit Seller Central to learn more about Amazon’s intellectual property policy for sellers.

The table below provides an overview of Amazon's product categories. Visit Seller Central Help to learn more about restrictions, and how to request approval. If you ship orders with Fulfillment By Amazon, be sure to review the specific list of FBA product restrictions.

Product categories

Product category

Example products

Available conditions

Categories without restrictions
Books
Books, calendars, magazines, and other publications
New, Used, Collectible
Music (CD Records)
CDs, cassette tapes, records, and other recorded music
New, Used, Collectible
Video & DVD
Movies/TV shows
New, Used, Collectible
Electronics
TV, CD player, car audio, GPS
Brand New, Refurbished, Used
Cameras
Cameras, camcorders, telescopes
Brand New, Refurbished, Used
Computers & Accessories
Desktops, Laptops, Drives, Storage
Brand New, Refurbished, Used
Amazon devices accessories
Amazon devices accessories
Brand New, Refurbished, Used
Home
Furniture, Interior, Kitchen
Brand New, Refurbished, Used
Home Appliances
Small Home Appliances
Brand New, Refurbished, Used
Major Appliances
Kitchen Appliances, Refrigerators, Kitchen Parts/Accessories
Brand New, Refurbished, Used
Musical Instruments
Guitars, Keyboards, Band & Orchestra, Recording Equipment, Musical Peripherals
Brand New, Refurbished, Used
Office Products
Office Products, Office Electronics
Brand New, Refurbished, Used
PC Software
Business, Media Education, Utilities, Security, Children's Software
New, Used
Video Games
Game Consoles, Game Consoles, PC Games/Accessories
New, Used
Tools & Home Improvement
Power Tools, Machinery, Work Tools, Lighting Fixtures, Kitchen/Bath Equipment
Brand New, Refurbished, Used
Industrial & Scientific
Brand New, Refurbished, Used
Automotive & Powersports
Parts, Tires, Tools/Equipment, Accessories
New, Refurbished, Used, Collectible
Sports & Outdoors
Outdoor Equipment, Sportswear, Bicycle
New, Refurbished, Used, Collectible
Toys & Games
Toys for Toddlers and Preschoolers, Learning Toys, Riding Toys, Figurines, Dolls, Board Games, Arts, Crafts, Hobbies
New, Used, Collectible
Baby Products
Childbirth, Infant Care Products, Feeding Products
New, Used, Collectible
Pet Supplies
Pet food, Pet Supplies (for dogs, cats and small animals)
New, Used
Drug Store
First Aid, Supplements
New
Beauty
Fragrance, Skincare, Makeup, Hair care, Bath
New
Food & Beverage
Beverages, Breakfast, Canned Food, Snacks, Meat, Seafood, Chocolate, Dessert, Gift Set
New
Jewelry
Earrings, necklaces, rings, and bracelets
New
Watches
All watch product types
New
Clothing & Accessories
Clothing & Accessories
New
Shoes & Bags
Shoes & Bags
New
Categories with restrictions
Currencies, coins, and cash equivalents
Amazon Devices, Repair & Maintenance Accessories
Laser Pointers & Related Products
Medical Device Handling (for Marketplace Sellers)

Product listing details

To start selling a product on Amazon, you’ll create a product listing in Seller Central (or via API.) A product listing includes:
  • A product identifier (such as GTIN, UPC, ISBN, EAN.) This is used to specify the exact item you’re selling. For UPC codes, you can request an exemption.
  • A SKU, which is a product ID you create to track your own inventory
  • Offer details, including price, product condition, available quantity, and shipping options
  • Product details like name, brand, category, description, and images
  • Keywords and search terms to help buyers find your product
If another seller already offers the same product, you’ll match an existing listing (which means some details will already be in place, like the product identifier). If you’re the first seller to offer a product, you’ll create a new listing.

Amazon jargon:

ASIN

Every product offered for sale on Amazon gets an automatically generated ASIN (Amazon Standard Identification Number). However, GTIN and SKUs are not automatically generated. Multiple sellers may offer the same ASIN.

Product detail page

Amazon Seller Central product detail page showing where descriptions go
Product description on the product detail page in Amazon Seller Central
Your offer details will be displayed on a “product detail page.” If you’ve ever shopped on Amazon, you’ve seen one. Product detail pages are where customers find all of the relevant information about a particular item.

When multiple sellers offer the same product, Amazon combines data from those various offers on a single detail page. Sellers who offers the product can contribute to detail page information - or request detail page reviews if the information displayed is incorrect.

If you sell your products under a registered trademark, consider enrolling in Amazon Brand Registry. Amazon Brand Registry is a free service that gives you increased control over product detail pages that use your brand name.
1.
Title
200 characters max, capitalize the first letter of every word
2.
Product images
500 x 500 or 1,000 x 1,000 pixels to increase listing quality
3.
Item Variations
Such as different colors, scents, or sizes
4.
Bullet points
Short, descriptive sentences highlighting key features and benefits
5.
Featured offer ("Buy Box")
The featured offer on a detail page. Customers can add to their cart or “Buy Now”
6.
Other offers
The same product sold by multiple sellers offering a different price, shipping options, etc.
7.
Product description
Keywords improve the chances that people will find your listing

Amazon jargon:

Featured Offer

Featured Offer (“Buy Box”) If more than one seller offers a product, they may compete for the Featured Offer (“Buy Box”), the most visible offers on the product detail page. Sellers must meet performance-based requirements to be eligible for Featured Offer placement.

Attracting customers

Once your products go live in Amazon's stores, there are a number of things you can do to attract customers. Here’s Amazon’s method for driving growth. It’s called the “Amazon Flywheel.”

Act according to the principles of the “Amazon Flywheel” and drive the growth of your business. Here are some specific ways:
Amazon Prime shipping screen with “Get it today”
CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE

Provide fast shipping

Customers often shop products with the Amazon Prime badge. You can get it by using Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) to ship products from one of our fulfillment centers.
Graphs showing the automatic repricing and bulk pricing tools in Amazon Seller Central
PRICING

Set competitive prices

Many customers shop for the best price. Seller Central tools like automated repricing and bulk pricing for Amazon Business customers. Use these tools to set a price that lets you stay competitive against other sellers.

After your first sale

The moment you’re selling on Amazon is the moment you can start growing. We have tools in place to help you take things to the next level and then some.

Get customer reviews

Customer product reviews benefit customers and sellers. There right and wrong ways to get more product reviews. Also, avoid policy violations.
A 4.5-star product review from an Amazon customer

Grow your business

Selling in Amazon stores enables you to build a worldwide company from your laptop. Advertising, promotions, and global selling are just a few ways to expand.
Seller Central screen showing growth opportunities for the Amazon Business Seller Account
Graph showing the health of an Amazon seller account

Stay successful

Amazon is committed to providing a trustworthy, delightful shopping experience. In order to achieve this, we set a high bar for Amazon sellers as well.

Would you like to learn more about Sell on Amazon?

Official social media accounts

Sell on Amazon operates official social media accounts.
Official YouTube Account
Sell on Amazon
Our official YouTube account distributes free videos explaining important points of listing, selling, and sales promotion on Amazon.co.jp in an easy-to-understand manner.

You can watch our videos from the button below.
Official Twitter Account
@SellOnAmazonJP
LINE Official Account
@sellonamazonjp
Our official Twitter account shares Sell on Amazon’s newest updates for Sellers and individuals who want to start selling on Amazon.

If you would like to receive information on Sell on Amazon’s newest promotions, tools, events and seminars, please follow the Twitter account from the button below.
Our LINE Official Account sends selected notifications sent via email and Seller Central requiring actions by Sellers regarding topics such as your account’s status, listing status, and payment disbursement.

You can add the Sell on Amazon LINE Official Account as your friend by clicking the button or by reading the QR code below.

*Not all notifications from the categories above are available on LINE. Please continue to check your email and Seller Central.

Start selling today

Put your products in front of the millions of customers that search Amazon every day.
¥4,900 a month (excluding tax) + selling fees
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