How to Create an Amazon Seller Account (Step-by-Step Guide – 2026)

Selling on Amazon is one of the fastest ways to start an online business with global reach. Whether you want to sell private-label products, wholesale items, or handmade goods, everything begins with creating an Amazon Seller Account.

In this detailed guide, Mahnoor LLC Services walks you through the exact step-by-step process to open your Amazon Seller account correctly, avoid common mistakes, and get approved faster.

What Is an Amazon Seller Account?

An Amazon Seller Account allows individuals and businesses to list products on Amazon marketplaces such as:

Amazon.com (USA)
Amazon.co.uk (UK)
Amazon.ae (UAE)
Amazon.sa (Saudi Arabia)
Amazon.ca (Canada)

You can sell as:

An Individual seller (pay per item sold)
A Professional seller (monthly subscription, more features)

Starting an Amazon business in 2026 offers more tools than ever before—from AI-driven inventory forecasting to advanced brand analytics. However, the registration process has become stricter to combat fraud.

This guide will walk you through the entire process, highlighting the specific “exact match” verification requirements that are critical for approval in 2026.

Phase 1: The Pre-Registration Checklist

Do not skip this. 90% of account rejections happen because documents are blurry, expired, or have mismatched names. Before you even open the Amazon website, gather the following files on your desktop:

Valid Government ID: A passport or driver’s license. It must be valid (not expired) and color-scanned (front and back).
Bank or Credit Card Statement: Must be issued within the last 180 days.
- Critical: The address on this statement must match the address you type into Amazon exactly (character for character).
Chargeable Credit Card: A standard credit card (Visa/Amex/Mastercard) that can be charged internationally. Debit cards are sometimes accepted but often cause issues; a true credit card is safer.
Tax Information: Your SSN (for US individuals) or EIN (for US businesses). If you are international, have your local tax ID ready.
Mobile Phone: For two-factor authentication (2FA).

Phase 2: Choosing Your Plan

Go to sell.amazon.com. You will see a big “Sign Up” button.

Clicking “Sign Up” immediately puts you on the Professional Plan ($39.99/month).
To start for free: Scroll down the page to find the text link that says “Sign up to become an individual seller.”

Which should you choose for 2026?

Feature	Individual Plan	Professional Plan
Cost	Free subscription + $0.99 per item sold	$39.99 / month
Best For	Testing the waters; selling < 40 units/mo	Serious sellers; selling > 40 units/mo
Advertising	❌ No access to PPC Ads	✅ Full access to Amazon PPC
Buy Box	❌ Harder to win	✅ Eligible for the “Buy Box”

Pro Tip: If you are serious about building a business, start with the Professional plan. You cannot run advertising or use third-party software tools with an Individual account.

Phase 3: The Registration Process

Step 1: Account Creation

Enter your name, email, and password. You will receive an OTP (One Time Password) via email to verify your address.

Step 2: Business Location & Type

Amazon will ask: “Where is your business located?”

Select your country of residence or where your business entity is registered.
Business Type:
- If you have an LLC: Select “Privately-owned business.”
- If you do not have a company: Select “None, I am an individual.” (This is perfectly fine for beginners).

Step 3: Personal Information

Enter your full name, date of birth, and citizenship details.

Warning: Ensure your name is spelled exactly as it appears on your ID. If your ID says “John A. Doe,” do not type “John Doe.” Type “John A. Doe.”

Step 4: Billing Information

Credit Card: This is for Amazon to charge you seller fees if your sales balance is zero.
Bank Account: This is where Amazon will send your payouts. You can use a personal bank account or a business one.

Step 5: Store Information

Store Name: You can change this later. It does not have to be your legal business name.
UPC Codes: Amazon will ask if you have UPC codes for your products. If you are private labeling (creating your own brand), select “Yes.”

Step 6: Identity Verification (The Hardest Part)

You will need to upload the documents you prepared in Phase 1.

ID Upload: Ensure no corners are cut off in the image. No glare/flash.
Bank Statement Upload: Ensure the address matches your application address exactly.

Phase 4: The Video Verification Call

In 2026, almost all new sellers must complete a live video verification.

Scheduling: You will be prompted to join a queue for an instant call or schedule one for later.
The Call: An Amazon associate will join via video. They will ask you to:
- Hold up your ID to the camera.
- Bend the ID to show the hologram (proving it’s real).
- Confirm your email and banking details.
Duration: usually less than 5 minutes.

Postcard Verification:

Sometimes, Amazon will physically mail a postcard with a code to your address to verify it exists. If they do this, you must wait 5-7 days for the card to arrive and enter the code in Seller Central.

2026 Specific Updates You Must Know

FBA Inbound Placement Service Fees: Amazon now charges extra if you send inventory to only one warehouse. To avoid this fee, you must agree to split your shipment to 4+ warehouses or use Amazon’s specific warehousing distribution service (AWD).
Strict Inventory Limits: New accounts in 2026 often have lower initial storage limits. Do not buy 5,000 units for your first order; start with 200–500 units to prove your “sell-through rate.”
AI Tools: Once inside Seller Central, look for “Amazon Bedrock” integrations and the new “Listing Builder” which uses GenAI to write your product descriptions for you automatically.

Common Pitfalls (How to Avoid Rejection)

The “Wifi” Trap: Do not register using public Wifi (like a coffee shop). Amazon tracks IP addresses. If a banned seller previously used that IP, your account could be instantly flagged. Use your home or office Wifi.
The “Related Account” Ban: If someone else in your household (spouse/sibling) already has a seller account, you must contact Seller Support before opening yours to get an exception. Amazon strictly limits one account per household unless there is a legitimate business need.
Inconsistent Data: Address on ID says “123 Main St” but bank statement says “123 Main Street“? This can trigger a bot rejection. Be obsessively consistent.

Amazon Seller FAQ (2026 Edition)

Costs & Fees

Q: How much money do I need to start? A: Realistically, you should budget between $2,500 and $5,000 for a private label business. This covers your initial inventory, branding, legal formation, and the Professional Seller fee ($39.99/mo). If you are doing arbitrage (reselling existing brands) or dropshipping, you can start with as little as $500, but the margins are generally lower.

Q: Can I downgrade from Professional to Individual later? A: Yes. If you sign up for the Professional plan ($39.99) to get approved but aren’t ready to sell yet, you can downgrade to the Individual plan (Free) in your Account Settings to stop the monthly charge. You can upgrade again whenever you are ready.

Q: What are the “hidden” fees I should know about? A: Besides the referral fee (usually 15%), watch out for:

FBA Storage Fees: Charged monthly based on volume. These triple during Q4 (Oct-Dec).
Aged Inventory Surcharge: Charged if items sit in the warehouse for 180+ days.
Inbound Placement Fees: New in recent years; charged if you don’t split your shipment to multiple fulfillment centers.

Requirements & Legal

Q: Do I need an LLC to sell on Amazon? A: No, you do not need one to start. You can start as a “Sole Proprietor” using your personal tax ID. However, most serious sellers form an LLC (Limited Liability Company) eventually to protect their personal assets from business lawsuits and to access better tax benefits.

Q: Can I sell on Amazon.com if I live outside the USA? A: Yes. Amazon accepts sellers from over 100 countries (including the UK, Canada, Australia, India, Saudi Arabia, etc.). You will need a credit card that accepts international charges and a bank account that can receive funds (or use a service like Payoneer or Wise to receive USD).

Q: Do I need a business license? A: Amazon typically does not ask for a general business license during registration. However, depending on what you sell (e.g., topicals, supplements, food), they may ask for specific FDA documentation or invoices later on.

Logistics & Selling

Q: What is the difference between FBA and FBM? A:

FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon): You ship all your stock to Amazon’s warehouse. When a customer buys, Amazon packs and ships it. Prime badge included.
FBM (Fulfillment by Merchant): You keep the stock at your house or warehouse. When a customer buys, you pack and ship it yourself. Harder to get the Prime badge.

Q: Can I open more than one seller account? A: Generally, no. Amazon’s policy is strictly one account per household/business unless you have a “legitimate business need” (e.g., you own two completely different brands, like a plumbing brand and a makeup brand). Opening a second account without permission is the fastest way to get banned.

Troubleshooting & Verification

Q: My documents were rejected. What do I do? A: Do not panic, and do not simply re-upload the same file. Check the rejection email for the specific reason. Common fixes:

Ensure the file is a PDF or high-quality JPG/PNG.
Make sure the name and address match your Amazon entry character-for-character.
Ensure the document is in a supported language (or includes a certified translation).
Check that all 4 corners of the page are visible in the scan.

Q: Why do I have to do a video call? A: Identity theft and fraudulent accounts are major issues. The video interview (which takes about 5 minutes) is Amazon’s way of verifying that you are a real human and that you physically possess the ID documents you uploaded.

Q: How long does the whole process take? A:

Registration: 30–60 minutes.
Verification: 1–3 business days (after the video call).
Total: Most sellers are up and running within 7 days if their documents are correct.

Disclaimer

This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or financial advice. Amazon policies may change. Always consult professionals for personalized guidance.

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Mahnoor LLC Services
📧 Email: contact@mnoorllc.com
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