How to Start Amazon Wholesale: A Step-by-Step Guide
Not what wholesale is, not whether it is worth it, just the actual steps in order. If you already know you want to do this, here is exactly what to do.
Set up an LLC, a resale certificate and a business email first, then open a professional Amazon seller account. Apply to brands and authorized distributors as a retailer, analyze the price list they send, get ungated where needed, place your first order, then reorder what sells. Most people reach their first order within 2 to 3 months.
If you are still deciding whether wholesale is the right model or whether it fits your budget, start with how Amazon wholesale works or whether it is worth it for your situation. This post assumes you have already decided and just want the steps. For the full breakdown, here is my guide to reselling products on Amazon.
Here is the order I walk every new mentee through, from zero to a placed order.
Setting up the business side takes one to two weeks. Getting your first distributor account can take days to a few weeks depending on the brand. Most people reach their first placed order within 2 to 3 months of starting, not immediately. Anyone promising faster than that as typical is not being straight with you.
Not sure which step you’re on? Book a free call → and I’ll map it out with you.
Can you become a distributor for Amazon?
Not in the way most people mean it. Amazon doesn't appoint distributors. When people search for this, they usually mean one of three things:
- Selling to Amazon itself. That's Vendor Central, where Amazon buys stock from you at wholesale prices. It's invitation only, and the invitations go to brands and manufacturers with proven demand, not to resellers starting out.
- Becoming an authorized distributor for a brand. The brand has to appoint you, and that usually takes volume and a track record. Some sellers get there over time. It isn't a starting point.
- Buying from distributors and selling on Amazon yourself. That's Amazon wholesale, and it's what the 7 steps above get you to. You become an Amazon wholesaler by running them in order.
So if the goal is to make money selling real brand products on Amazon, the third one is the door that's actually open to you. If you want the basics of the model first, here's how Amazon wholesale works.
What trips people up in this order
Skipping step one is the most common mistake. People rush to email distributors from a personal Gmail account with no LLC, get ignored or rejected, and conclude wholesale does not work. It is not the model, it is the order of operations. Before you start, it is worth knowing why most sellers actually fail in year one so you can avoid the same traps.
The second most common mistake is spending the entire budget on step six and having nothing left for step seven. This and other early mistakes are worth reading before you start, they are cheaper to avoid than to fix. It is also exactly the kind of mistake a second pair of eyes catches before the order goes out, which is the actual point of doing this with an Amazon FBA mentor instead of alone.
How much this actually costs
These steps do not have a fixed price tag by themselves, business registration is inexpensive, but your first inventory order is the real cost. The full cost breakdown, including the cash reserve you need for reordering, is here.
How the model works, finding real suppliers, getting approved, checking the numbers, and placing your first order. Free, no credit card.