To create an Amazon seller account in 2026, go to sell.amazon.com , pick a selling plan (Individual at $0.99 per item sold, or Professional at $39.99/month), and register your business, billing, and deposit details. Before your account goes live you now have to pass an identity check that usually includes a government ID, a bank statement or utility bill for address proof, and a short facial video or live video verification. The registration flow and the verification requirements changed noticeably after the INFORM Consumers Act took effect, so a walkthrough written a few years ago will send you the wrong way — this guide covers the current 2026 process, plan costs, and what Amazon asks for at each step.
The first real decision is which plan to open, because that choice drives your fees. Everything below assumes you are selling to US customers on Amazon.com; other marketplaces ask for slightly different tax details.
- Individual vs. Professional Seller Account (2026 fees)
- What you need before you register
- How to create an Amazon seller account, step by step
- After you register
- Conclusion
Individual vs. Professional Seller Account (2026 fees)
Amazon still offers two plans, and the split is the same as it has always been: pay per sale, or pay a flat monthly subscription. The numbers below are from Amazon’s official selling plan pricing page (data checked 2026-07-22).
| Individual plan | Professional plan | |
|---|---|---|
| What you pay | $0.99 per item sold | $39.99 per month, no per-item fee |
| Best for | Fewer than ~40 sales/month, testing the waters | 40+ sales/month, running it as a business |
| Referral fees | Yes (5%–45% by category) | Yes (same rates) |
| Create brand-new listings | Limited | Yes |
| Bulk-upload listings | No | Yes |
| Advertising & promotions (coupons, deals) | No | Yes |
| Eligible for the Buy Box “Featured Offer” | No | Yes |
| Apply for gated categories | No | Yes |
The break-even is simple math: 40 items × $0.99 = $39.60, which is roughly the $39.99 monthly subscription. If you expect to sell more than about 40 units a month, the Professional plan pays for itself and unlocks the tools you will eventually need (advertising, the Buy Box, bulk listing). If you are testing one or two products, start Individual and upgrade later — you can switch plans inside Seller Central at any time without opening a new account.
Both plans pay the same variable fees on top of the plan cost, and those catch new sellers off guard more than the subscription does. The main ones (data checked 2026-07-22):
- Referral fees — a commission Amazon takes on each sale, ranging from 5% to 45% depending on category, with most categories around 15%. There is a per-item minimum referral fee (typically $0.30).
- FBA fees — if you let Amazon pick, pack, and ship your orders (Fulfilled by Amazon), you pay a per-unit fulfillment fee scaled by size and weight. See our full breakdown in Amazon FBA Fees Explained .
- Inventory storage fees — a monthly charge for the warehouse space your FBA stock occupies, higher in Q4.
Because the plan fee is the small part of the picture, model your referral and FBA fees on your actual products before you commit to inventory. A research tool such as AMZScout can estimate a product’s sales and fees so you can check the margin survives before you buy stock.
What you need before you register
This is where 2026 differs most from older guides. According to widely cited FTC guidance, the INFORM Consumers Act — a US federal consumer-protection law that reportedly took effect in 2023 — requires online marketplaces to verify certain high-volume third-party sellers, and Amazon has since applied identity verification broadly at sign-up. Have these ready before you start so you are not stuck mid-registration:
- A government-issued photo ID — passport or driver’s license. The name on it must match the identity you enter during registration.
- A bank account and routing number — this is where Amazon deposits your payouts, and it is also verified.
- A chargeable credit card — for the Professional subscription and any fees; Amazon may place a temporary authorization to confirm it is valid.
- Proof of address — a recent bank or credit card statement, or a utility bill.
- Tax information — Amazon runs an interview to collect your tax details (an individual or business tax ID).
- A phone number and email you control, for one-time codes.
- Business documents, if you register as a business rather than an individual — for example a business license.
Two verification realities worth planning for:
Identity / video verification. Amazon commonly asks new sellers to verify identity by recording a short facial video or uploading a facial photo, and in some cases a live one-on-one video verification appointment where you show your ID on camera. This is normal, not a red flag — but it means registration is no longer instant. Make sure the name, address, and documents you submit all match each other; mismatches are the most common reason accounts get stuck. If a submission is rejected, our seller account suspension appeal guide covers how to respond.
One account only. Never open more than one Amazon seller account without explicit permission. Duplicate accounts are one of the fastest ways to get suspended — see 11 Reasons Amazon Can Ban Your Seller Account for the full list.
How to create an Amazon seller account, step by step
Once your documents are in hand, the flow itself is quick. Amazon walks you through a small set of sections — business info, seller info, billing, store, and verification.
Step 1 — Choose your plan
Go to sell.amazon.com and start registration. Pick Individual or Professional using the fee logic above. This is not a permanent choice, so don’t overthink it — you can change plans later inside Seller Central.
Step 2 — Create your login and enter your details
Sign in with an existing Amazon customer account or create a new one for your business. Amazon then collects your legal name and, if applicable, your registered business name and address exactly as they appear on your documents.
Step 3 — Add billing and deposit details
Enter the credit card Amazon will charge and the bank account where your sales proceeds will be deposited. A debit card works too, but keep enough balance to cover the authorization check. Amazon verifies the bank account, so use one in the account holder’s name.
Step 4 — Complete the tax interview
Amazon runs an online tax interview to collect the information it is required to report. Answer the prompts for your situation (individual or business, US or non-US). It takes a few minutes and is required before you can sell.
Step 5 — Verify your identity
This is the gate that older guides skip. Provide your ID and address proof, then complete whichever identity check Amazon assigns — a facial photo, a recorded video, or a scheduled live video call. Verification is often approved within a few days, though it can take longer if a document is unclear or a detail doesn’t match.
Step 6 — Log in to Seller Central
Once Amazon emails that your account is verified, log in to Seller Central. Turn on two-step verification to protect the account, and you are ready to create your first listing. New to listing? Start with How to List Products on Amazon .
After you register
Being registered is the start, not the finish line. A few things to line up next:
- Create your first listing to move from “registered” to “active” seller, or add your offers to existing listings.
- Decide on fulfillment — ship orders yourself (FBM) or send inventory to Amazon (FBA). Your FBA and storage fees flow from this choice.
- Build a brand presence once you have a few products. If you enroll in Brand Registry you can open a free multi-page store — our guide on what an Amazon Storefront is and how to build one in 2026 covers that step.
- Keep learning. For structured next steps on product research, images, keywords, and profit, AMZBase collects seller playbooks and tools that pair well with a new account.
Conclusion
Creating an Amazon seller account in 2026 is still straightforward, but it is no longer instant: you choose a plan, submit your business and banking details, complete the tax interview, and clear an identity check that increasingly includes a facial photo or video. Get your documents matching and ready in advance and the whole thing usually clears in a few days.
The harder decisions are the ones the sign-up form doesn’t ask about — which products to sell, whether Individual or Professional fits your volume, and how you will fulfill orders. Settle those first, and the account itself is just paperwork.
Disclosure: This guide contains affiliate links (for example, AMZScout). If you sign up through one of them, amzfinder may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We do not accept paid placement or sponsored reviews, and our recommendations reflect our own analysis. Last updated: July 2026.
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