How Much Does it Cost to Start Selling with Amazon FBA in 2025?

When selling on Amazon, many sellers choose to utilize FBA for its streamlined logistics and enhanced product visibility. While this is a powerful model, success requires planning and smart execution. That’s why it’s important to understand all potential costs in advance so you can plan your budget wisely, avoid surprises, and build a business that lasts.

In this guide, we’ll break down how much it costs to start an Amazon FBA business and share tips to help you launch effectively.

Before launching your Amazon store, you need to understand the various costs involved. See below for a breakdown of the Amazon FBA startup costs you can expect in 2025:

To become an Amazon seller, your first step is to create a seller account. You can choose between two options:

You can always start with the Individual plan and upgrade later. However, the Professional plan is more cost-effective for higher sales volumes, and also unlocks access to features like bulk listings, running discounts, creating promo codes, and access to advanced selling tools.

As Amazon FBA comes with multiple startup costs, it’s important to choose a product that can make money on this competitive online marketplace. Choosing a profitable product is the foundation of any successful business — and identifying one requires evaluating several key factors:

Since this type of data isn’t available directly on Amazon, most sellers turn to research tools like AMZScout, Jungle Scout, or Helium 10. The cost for these tools starts at around $50/month, but keep in mind that learning how to use them effectively takes time, and interpreting the data requires experience.

If you want a more streamlined and secure option, consider ordering professional product research services from Sellerhook.

For those looking to find profitable products quickly and efficiently, Sellerhook offers a tailored, done-for-you solution. For $187, their experts will find a product tailored to your budget, preferences, and goals — saving you time and helping you start your Amazon business with confidence.

Here’s how to get this service:

2. Fill out the questionnaire. Complete a brief questionnaire to share key details about your product preferences, such as ungated categories, price range, and other relevant factors. The more information you provide, the more effectively Sellerhook can tailor the research to match your goals.
3. Receive your report. Within 10 business days, you'll receive a comprehensive report featuring a product idea. This will include detailed data analysis to help you assess a product's potential for profitability and market fit.

While the cost is slightly higher than using basic tools, you save time, avoid costly mistakes, and get expert-backed product ideas. For $187, you don’t just get a product — you also receive a ready-to-use list of keywords and examples of suitable suppliers.

It’s a smarter investment. Instead of risking time and money on trial-and-error, you get a professionally selected product with a higher chance of success from the start.

When you set up your store on Amazon, you’re agreeing to operate under their fee structure, and it's important to understand how these charges affect your profit. Amazon charges several types of fees, and the full list is available on their official website. Some of the most common ones include:

Let’s say you sell a t-shirt for $20, move 50 units/month, and receive 4 returns monthly.

(Referral Fee + Fulfillment Fee) × Units Sold + Return Fee × Number of Returns + Storage Fee

Example: (3.00+3.50)×50+14.00+5.00=$344.00

To launch your Amazon store, you’ll need to purchase or manufacture inventory (unless you're dropshipping or hand-making products yourself). Many sellers turn to Alibaba, thanks to its wide selection of suppliers and flexible order options.

For example, let’s assume you order t-shirts at $3 each.

Formula: (Unit Price × Quantity) + Shipping + Customs/Insurance = Total Cost

Example: ($3 × 50) = $150

However, that’s only part of the total investment. You also need to factor in:

These additional costs often start from $300, depending on destination, delivery method, and product category.

Example:

($3 × 50) + $200 shipping/customs = $350 total

Tip: With recent trade tensions and tariffs still in place, importing from China may not always be the most cost-effective option. Consider sourcing from local suppliers. While the product price might be higher, you’ll save on shipping time and import fees.

Always place a test order first to check product quality before scaling.

If you're launching a private label product, building a strong brand is essential. First, you’ll need to register your brand with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Typically, this costs $250–$350, depending on your trademark class.

Registration takes about six to nine months, but Amazon allows access to its Brand Registry program earlier if you have a pending application. This is a free program that gives you access to features like A+ Content to enrich your visuals and brand protection tools.

Creating a consistent, professional brand also helps build recognition. This includes:

If you're not doing this yourself, hiring a designer is your best bet. You can find freelancers on platforms like Fiverr or Upwork, with an estimated cost of $200–$400 for a complete branding kit, depending on complexity and designer experience. If you're on a budget, you can also experiment with AI image generators. While some tools are free, many require a subscription, which typically starts from $10/month.

Formula: Trademark Registration + Branding Kit Design

Example: $250 (average USPTO cost) + $300 (average branding kit) = $550

The minimum required effort for reselling is joining an existing Amazon listing. However, if you're launching your own private label brand, you'll need to create a new listing from scratch, which involves several essential steps:

Formula: Photography + Design + Copywriting = Total Cost

Example: $100 (photos) + $100 (design) + $100 (copywriting) = $300

Finding and managing professionals for each step can be time-consuming and inconsistent, especially if you're doing this for the first time. You can reduce the hassle by using Sellerhook’s listing creation service.

This includes product text creation, keyword research for both listings and ads, SEO optimization, and full compliance with Amazon’s guidelines. With Sellerhook, you save over $100 and get everything handled by experts, helping you launch faster, boost visibility, and increase your sales potential from day one.

You’ll need to pack your products before sending them to an Amazon FBA fulfillment center. Basic packaging materials (like polybags, bubble wrap, or boxes) may cost anywhere from $0.10 to $0.50 per unit, depending on the product.

In addition, Amazon requires each item to have a scannable barcode ($0.55/item) to identify and track your inventory throughout the fulfillment process. This also helps to protect your product from counterfeit issues.

If you’re selling your own brand, packaging isn’t just about protection — it’s a key part of the customer experience. You can create custom boxes or sleeves (starting at $0.20–$2/unit) that feature your logo, product information, and branded design elements.

Formula: (Packaging + Labeling + Custom Packaging) × Number of Units

Example: ($0.30 + $0.55 + $1.00) × 50 = $92,5

So, for 50 products, you’ll spend around $185 on packaging and labeling alone.

Tip: Ordering packaging in bulk helps reduce your per-unit cost. Also, consider using eco-friendly materials — customers increasingly value sustainability and this can be a selling point for your brand.

Once your product is live on Amazon, listing it isn’t enough — you need to drive traffic to get visibility and sales. Below are some of the most common and effective marketing strategies:

Let’s say you’re selling a t-shirt for $20 and plan to run a basic PPC campaign with a budget of $400 and collaborate with 2 micro-influencers.

Formula: PPC Budget + Influencer Cost + Promo Discounts = Total Monthly Marketing Spend

Example:

$400 (PPC) + $20 (influencers) + $40 (promos) = $460/month

Tip: Monitor your ACoS (Advertising Cost of Sale) in your PPC campaigns to ensure that you're spending profitably.

With careful planning and smart spending, your Amazon FBA investment can pay off quickly as your business begins to grow. Be sure to check out our guide on 16 costly mistakes to avoid when starting your business, and set yourself up for a smoother, more successful launch.

Let’s break down the average costs you can expect when launching your Amazon FBA business with 50 products:

This might seem like a lot, but there are ways to reduce it if you’re just starting out:

Minimum Budget: ~$1,250

As your sales grow, you can scale up, reinvest your profits, and build a strong, sustainable business over time.

Yes, there are a few basic costs to sell on Amazon. These include a seller account fee ($0.99/sale or $39.99/month) and referral fees, which average around 15%. If you choose to use Amazon FBA, you’ll also need to pay additional fees for storage, order fulfillment, and returns.

Starting an Amazon business with no money isn’t really possible, as there are still basic costs like the seller account fee to consider. However, you can keep expenses low by exploring budget-friendly models such as dropshipping or Amazon Merch, which require little to no upfront investment in inventory.

Yes, you can make $1,000/month on Amazon with the right strategy. In fact, over half of sellers reach this milestone within four months of launching their store. To accelerate your success, consider using Sellerhook’s professional services — the experts will find profitable products for you and help optimize your listings for better performance.

FBA fees are what Amazon charges to store, pack, and ship your products. Costs vary depending on the size and weight of each item, with the minimum fulfillment fee starting at $3.06 per unit. You’ll also pay referral fees (typically 15% of the order price), optional long-term storage fees if inventory sits too long, and return processing fees.

While many FBA sellers try to minimize their costs as much as possible, saving on everything isn’t always the key to success. Skipping important steps — or doing them poorly — can lead to missed opportunities and expensive mistakes. Consider using Sellerhook’s professional services to make the most of your investment. With expert support, you’ll increase your chances of making money on Amazon and growing a successful, scalable business.