Amazon India remains one of the fastest ways for a product-based business to reach customers across the country without opening a single store. But the process of actually becoming a seller — registration, documents, category approval, listing, pricing, and fulfilment — trips up most first-time sellers. This guide walks through it step by step.
1. Decide what you're selling and check the category
Before registering, confirm your product's category on Amazon. Most categories are open to all sellers, but some — like jewellery, certain grocery items, and a few electronics sub-categories — require approval or additional documentation. Check this early; it can affect your timeline.
2. Documents you'll need
Keep these ready before you start registration:
- GSTIN (GST registration number) — mandatory for most product categories
- PAN card (business or individual, matching your GST registration)
- Bank account details for receiving payments
- Business address proof
- A registered brand name (optional at this stage, but needed for Brand Registry later)
If you don't have a GSTIN yet, you can still sell certain exempt categories (like some books or handmade goods) without one — but for most product types, GST registration is required before you start.
3. Create your Seller Central account
Go to Amazon Seller Central and choose between the two selling plans:
- Individual plan — no monthly fee, but you pay a small fee per item sold. Suited to sellers just starting out or testing a product.
- Professional plan — a flat monthly subscription, better once you're selling in volume, and unlocks advertising, bulk listing tools, and reports.
You'll be asked to verify your identity, business details, and bank account. This verification step is where most delays happen — make sure every document name matches exactly across GST, PAN, and bank records.
4. List your first product
A strong listing has:
- A clear, keyword-rich title (product type, brand, key attribute — size/colour/quantity)
- 5–7 bullet points covering benefits, not just features
- High-quality images — at least one on a pure white background (Amazon's requirement for the main image)
- A complete product description or A+ Content if you're brand registered
- Accurate category and search terms (backend keywords)
5. Choose your fulfilment method
Fulfilled by Amazon (FBA)
You send inventory to Amazon's warehouses; they handle storage, packing, shipping, and customer service. Higher fees, but faster delivery (often next-day), which improves your ranking and Buy Box chances.
Self-ship (Easy Ship / Fulfilled by Merchant)
You store and pack inventory yourself. Amazon either picks it up (Easy Ship) or you ship it directly. Lower fees, more control, but slower delivery windows than FBA in most cases.
Many sellers start with self-ship to test demand, then move fast-moving SKUs to FBA once sales are consistent.
6. Price competitively — and understand the fees
Amazon charges a referral fee (a percentage of the sale price, varying by category), plus closing fees and shipping fees depending on your fulfilment method. Factor all of this into your price before you list — underpricing without accounting for fees is the most common early mistake.
7. Get your first reviews and stay compliant
Reviews and ratings heavily influence ranking and conversion. Focus on accurate listings (to avoid returns), fast dispatch, and responsive customer service. Avoid any shortcuts around review generation — Amazon's policies here are strict, and violations can lead to account suspension.
8. Plan for advertising once you're live
Once your listing is up and converting organically, Sponsored Products ads are usually the fastest way to grow visibility. Start small, watch your ACOS (advertising cost of sale), and scale what's working rather than spreading budget thin across every product at once.
Setting up an Amazon account correctly the first time saves months of avoidable delays. Our team handles registration, listing, and ongoing account management end-to-end.
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