Amazon FBA is one of the most popular ways to fulfill orders and operate an Amazon commerce business.
The question is: What is Amazon FBA, and how does it work?
You’ve come to the right place for answers.
I wrote this article to discuss Amazon FBA and how you can use it to streamline your ecommerce business. I’ll also answer these questions.
What is an Amazon FBA business?
How does Amazon FBA work?
What is fulfillment by Amazon?
What is Amazon fulfillment services?
How does Amazon FBA work?
What Is Amazon FBA?
Amazon FBA is a fulfillment program Amazon sellers use to streamline their ecommerce businesses.
This program foundation is Amazon’s fulfillment service, which handles fulfillment processes for Amazon FBA Sellers. Amazon packs and delivers orders for sellers who enroll in Amazon FBA.
Amazon FBA also manages customer inquiries, provides customer service support, and handles the entire order fulfillment process.
Unlike Amazon FBM (fulfilled by Merchant), Amazon FBA sellers store FBA inventory in Amazon warehouses. Once a customer places an order for a product on the Amazon marketplace, Amazon FBA fulfills customer orders as quickly as possible
Amazon FBA Meaning
What does FBA stand for in Amazon FBA? It stands for Fulfilled by Amazon, the full name of this Amazon order fulfillment program.
The Fulfilled by Amazon program also includes other benefits.
One of these benefits is Amazon Prime eligibility, which can drive sales and foster customer loyalty. You also get to use Amazon’s customer service for any order issues.
Amazon FBA has so many advantages, so, unsurprisingly, an overwhelming 78% of Amazon sellers today use Amazon FBA to sell online.
What is Amazon Fulfilled? It’s another term people use to refer to Amazon FBA.
Ecommerce businesses and online sellers Amazon FBA to streamline fulfillment and get more Amazon customers.
When it comes to your Amazon business, fulfillment is essential. Amazon FBA manages this aspect for you in exchange for a fee.
What Is Amazon Fulfillment Center?
An Amazon fulfillment center is a warehouse facility that stores and processes inventory for Amazon online sellers.
Amazon’s warehouses store millions of products from various sellers. When a customer orders, Amazon’s system sends the order to the closest fulfillment center with available stocks.
The Amazon fulfillment center packs the item, prepares it for shipping, and sends it to the customer.
Amazon fulfillment centers use automation and technology to ensure accuracy and speed when shipping orders.
Amazon strategically places hundreds of fulfillment centers throughout major cities and transportation hubs for quick and efficient product deliveries to customers. Some warehouses house Amazon’s customer service and returns processing teams.
Fulfillment centers are crucial because they help Amazon sellers provide fast and reliable deliveries. Thus, FBA sellers can focus on finding and promoting high-quality products.
Benefits of Amazon FBA
Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) is an excellent program for selling products on Amazon because it has many benefits.
Here are some benefits Amazon FBA sellers enjoy when they use Amazon FBA to fulfill customer orders.
Trust and Reliability
Amazon has mastered the art of reliably fulfilling orders for millions of customers worldwide.
Amazon delivered over 7.7 billion packages globally in 2021, equivalent to approximately one package for every person on Earth.
You gain access to Amazon’s proven system and the trust of millions of shoppers worldwide by working with Amazon FBA fulfillment centers.
Security
Amazon is one of the safest places to sell because the company gives you secure ways to accept payments, take orders, and communicate with your customers.
Buy Box Advantage
Being an Amazon FBA seller makes you more likely to win the Buy Box because of your reliable fulfillment program.
Over 83% of Amazon sales come through the Buy Box. Thus, taking advantage of Amazon FBA can boost your sales.
Convenience
Operating an Amazon FBA business is convenient for anyone selling on Amazon.
Since Amazon’s fulfillment centers handle the entire fulfillment process for you, you can focus on marketing your business and expanding your line of products.
Utilizing Amazon FBA also means you’ll spend less time and energy on inventory management.
Growth
Fulfillment consumes time—time you could spend researching high-demand products and marketing your online store.
Amazon FBA takes care of fulfillment, letting you spend more time finding ways to grow your online business.
Savings
Fulfillment by Amazon can help your business save money.
You won’t need to rent your own warehouse or storage facility because you’ll store your stocks in Amazon’s warehouses, significantly reducing inventory management costs.
Amazon sellers save on shipping costs because Amazon has one of the most efficient delivery systems in the world.
How Does Amazon FBA Work?
Here’s how Amazon FBA generally works.
An Amazon seller will register to be an Amazon FBA seller.
The seller sends products to an Amazon fulfillment center.
Amazon stores the products in a fulfillment center.
The team at the fulfillment center packs and ships the products to customers on the seller’s behalf.
Amazon will also handle returns or refund processing.
Throughout the experience, you, as the seller, can track your inventory through your Amazon Seller Central account dashboard.
As soon as products reach your customer, Amazon will process and send you the payment at specific schedules, excluding all Amazon FBA fees, discounts, and other costs.
How To Become an Amazon FBA Seller
Here’s how to join the FBA program.
Create an Amazon Seller Account
You must create an Amazon seller account to use Amazon FBA.
Go to the Amazon FBA page for more information.
Provide details about yourself and your business, including your name, address, and tax information.
List Your Products.
Once you have a seller account, you can list your products on Amazon’s marketplace. You must write Amazon product descriptions, upload high-quality photos, and set prices.
Ensure your products meet Amazon’s seller guidelines. Selling prohibited items on Amazon can result in account suspensions or outright bans.
Prepare Your Products.
Prepare your products for shipping before sending them to Amazon’s fulfillment centers.
Put unique barcodes (Fulfillment Network Stock Keeping Units or FNSKUs) on your products, package them securely, and prepare them for transport to Amazon’s fulfillment center.
Ship Your Products to Amazon’s Fulfillment Center.
Once your products are ready, you can ship them to Amazon’s fulfillment centers.
Create a shipping plan with this information.
The products you’re sending
The number of units for each product type or SKU
The originating location of the products
You must also print shipping labels before sending the products to Amazon.
Wait for Amazon To Receive and Store Your Products.
When Amazon receives your products, the team at the fulfillment center will store them in a specific area until your customers place orders.
Amazon handles all the logistics, including picking, packing, and shipping the products to the customer.
Your Products Appear on the Marketplace as Fulfilled by Amazon.
Customers who search for your product on Amazon will see Fulfilled by Amazon. This mark means Amazon handles the shipping and customer service for your product.
Promote Your Products.
You can promote your Amazon products once they appear in your store.
Here are channels you can use to promote your products on Amazon.
Social Media
Create social media accounts for your Amazon business on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Tiktok.
Your Website
Having your own website can give you more brand control and help you establish a solid online presence.
Use keywords and phrases your customers search for to optimize your product listings for search engines.
Affiliates
Affiliate marketing can be a cost-effective way to promote your Amazon Business.
Contact bloggers, social media influencers, and other websites in your niche to see if they would be interested in promoting your products.
Influencers
You can also reach out to influencers to see if they would be interested in promoting your products in exchange for complimentary products or other types of compensation.
Provide your influencers with clear guidelines for promoting your products. Use analytics tools to track your influencer marketing campaign’s performance and adjust your strategy when necessary.
Sponsored Ads and PPC Campaigns
Use Amazon Advertising to create sponsored ads and PPC campaigns. Target specific keywords and audiences to ensure your ads reach the right people.
You can also use Facebook, Google, Tiktok, and Instagram Ads.
Email Marketing Newsletters
Collect your customers’ email addresses.
You can use a professional email marketing service like Mailchimp or ActiveCampaign to create and send newsletters.
Calculating Your Amazon FBA Fees
You must pay specific fees to use Amazon FBA.
Be aware of Amazon FBA fees and factor them into your margins and operations.
Here are the common costs you’ll incur with Amazon seller fulfillment services.
Amazon FBA Account Subscription
You must sign up for an Amazon seller account to sell through Amazon FBA.
Here are the two pricing plans for sellers on Amazon.
Amazon Individual Account – $0.99 per item sold (if you sell fewer than 40 units monthly)
Amazon Professional Account – $39.99 monthly (if you sell over 40 units monthly)
Inventory Storage Fees
Amazon charges Amazon FBA sellers a monthly fee for storing their products in Amazon’s fulfillment centers.
This fee depends on the volume of space your products take up and the time of year.
Fees generally increase during the holiday season and decrease for the rest of the year.
If your products remain in Amazon’s fulfillment centers longer than 365 days, you may also be subject to a long-term storage fee.
Fulfillment Fees
Amazon charges sellers a fee for each unit they sell that Amazon FBA fulfills.
This fee covers the cost of picking, packing, and shipping your products to customers. The exact fee depends on the size and weight of your products and the shipment destination.
Returns Processing Fees
If a customer returns a product fulfilled by Amazon, you must pay a returns processing fee.
This fee covers the cost of inspecting and repackaging the returned product. The exact fee depends on the size and weight of the product and the reason for the return.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can You Make Money With Amazon FBA?
Yes. Making money with Amazon FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) is possible. Many Amazon sellers have built successful businesses using this program.
However, the level of success you can achieve depends on various factors, including the quality of your products, your niche’s competition, and your marketing efforts.
To make money with Amazon FBA, research your niche and products.
The best Amazon product research tools can help you find the most profitable things to sell in your store. Use these tools to discover niches with high demand and low competition.
You must also develop a solid marketing strategy to make your products and Amazon FBA store stand out. Try different marketing tactics and invest more time, energy, and resources in the ones with the best results.
It will take time and effort to build a successful Amazon FBA business. The best Amazon FBA courses can guide you on how to succeed.
Is Amazon FBA Good for Beginners?
Yes. Starting an Amazon FBA business requires little technical knowledge.
You only have to create a shop, add products, send products to a fulfillment center, and promote your store.
There are more advanced lessons for streamlining and growing your business, but they don’t require extensive technical skills. Thus, anyone can sell on Amazon with FBA.
Do Amazon Fulfillment Centers Handle Customer Service?
Yes. Fulfillment centers also handle customer service for products Fulfilled by Amazon (FBA).
Customers who have issues with products Fulfilled by Amazon can contact Amazon’s customer service directly for assistance.
The Amazon FBA customer service team handles product returns, refunds, exchanges, and questions about delivery.
When a customer contacts Amazon regarding an FBA product, the team will do its best to resolve the issue and provide a satisfactory resolution.
How Much Does It Cost To Start an Amazon FBA Business?
The cost to start an Amazon FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) business can vary depending on the type of products you plan to sell, your marketing strategies, your experience with selling on Amazon, and other factors.
Here are some costs to consider when starting an Amazon FBA business:
Product Costs
The cost of the goods you sell is a crucial cost to consider. Find products with a lower cost per item and sell them at higher prices to increase your net profit per sale.
Amazon Fees
Calculate Amazon fees when setting your prices to ensure your products are profitable.
Marketing Costs
Marketing costs might include paid advertising, social media marketing, or influencer outreach. These costs can vary depending on your marketing strategy and the competition in your niche.
Business Registration and Legal Fees
Register your Amazon FBA business with your state or local government and obtain the necessary licenses or permits.
Software and Tools To manage your Amazon FBA business effectively, you may need Amazon inventory management software, shipping labels, and bookkeeping tools to streamline and automate your business.
What Is Seller Fulfilled Prime?
Seller Fulfilled Prime (SFP) is a program from Amazon that allows sellers to offer Prime-eligible products they fulfill and ship themselves.
With SFP, you can offer products to Prime members with the same fast, free shipping benefits as FBA products while retaining control of your inventory and shipping processes.
The Bottom Line
I hope my guide made it easier for you to understand the ins and outs of Amazon FBA.
Consider the information in this guide when starting an Amazon FBA business.
If you’re interested in another business model, you can learn more about dropshipping and how it works to determine if it’s better for you than Amazon FBA.
