If you’re wondering what goes into Amazon FBA prep… you’ve come to the right place. Many FBA sellers massively struggle with optimizing & streamlining their FBA prep process to maximize profitability – but we have a few tips and pointers to set you in the right direction.
When you sign up for Amazon’s FBA program, you will be given a list of prep work that you need to do before sending your inventory to Amazon. This prep work is important in making sure that your products are ready to sell on Amazon and that they are properly labeled and packaged.
If you follow these guidelines, your products will be ready to sell on Amazon as soon as they arrive at the FBA warehouse – without eating huge penalty fees or suffering from FBA removals or defects.
Figuring out FBA prep can seem like a lot of work, but it’s worth it in the end when you see your products selling successfully on Amazon.
Use this outline to skip to any section of this page:
- Prepare before getting started
- Understand how FBA prep works
- Avoid costly & unreliable FBA prep options
- Consider in-house vs. outsourced
- Understand the costs
- Realize FBA prep is a positive ROI investment
Prepare before getting started
FBA prep is the process of preparing products for shipment to Amazon. This includes removing any stickers or labels from the packaging, checking the condition of the product, and ensuring that all components are included in the package. It is important to pay close attention to detail when preparing products for FBA, as any mistakes can lead to delays in shipment or even product returns.
And if you’re wondering how to get started with FBA prep and what’s the best service, check out this guide.
The safest way to ensure that your products are ready for FBA is to create a prep checklist and follow it closely (or simply keep close contact with your FBA prep center, if you’re outsourcing). This will help you to avoid any mistakes and ensure that your products are ready for shipment. When it comes to FBA prep, it involves:
- Checking the condition of the product and packaging
- Removing any stickers or labels from the packaging
- Ensuring that all components are included in the package
- Checking for damage or defects
- Packing the product securely to avoid damage in transit
Researching FBA prep is important before getting started. You need to be aware of what is involved in order to make sure that you are fully prepared for the process. There are a few things to think about when preparing to do FBA prep.
The first thing is the actual product that you will be selling. You need to make sure that you have a good understanding of what Amazon allows and does not allow. There are many restrictions on what can and cannot be sold through Amazon, so it is important to be familiar with these before you start preparing your product.
Getting your packaging and labeling ready
Amazon requires all products to be labeled correctly with specific information, including a barcode. If your product does not meet Amazon’s labeling requirements, it will not be accepted into the fulfillment center and will not be sold through Amazon.
Finally, you need to consider the shipping process. Amazon requires all products to be shipped in accordance with their shipping guidelines. If your product does not meet their requirements, it will not be accepted into the fulfillment center and will not be sold through Amazon.
By doing your research and preparing properly, you can ensure that your inventory is ready for sale on Amazon through the FBA program.
Understand how FBA prep works
First off – if you haven’t already, check out this guide on how FBA prep works if you haven’t already. That will give you an important first-look at the process – along with a few details below:
FBA prep is a crucial step in the Amazon selling process – helping ensure that products are delivered to Amazon warehouses with accurate packaging and labeling. The prep work begins by receiving the shipment of products at the FBA prep warehouse/facility (either owned by you, or by a 3rd party FBA prep company).
Then, the product must be physically inspected to ensure that it meets all designated specifications. After inspection, the inventory is placed into storage in the facility.
Once it’s time to get your products sent off to Amazon, it now enters the primary FBA prep phase. This is where your inventory enters the prep process for shipping – by packaging it in an Amazon-specific box and attaching the FBA shipping label.
Once your inventory is packaged, labeled and ready to go, shipping/freight is arranged and the final distribution phase starts. It’s simply a matter of getting your inventory to Amazon’s warehouse(s), where they will now handle everything from there.
Avoid costly & unreliable FBA prep options
When it comes to Amazon FBA, it’s important to find a supplier that can provide reliable and efficient service. Your supplier should be able to handle all your sourcing and production needs so you can focus on growing your business – but while some suppliers offer FBA prep services too… it’s important to note: they typically cannot offer reliable prep services.
In most cases, it’s best to find a dedicated 3rd party FBA prep service that specializes in preparing products for Amazon FBA. This will ensure that your products are ready to sell when they arrive at Amazon’s fulfillment center.
Should I use Amazon as my FBA prep solution?
Don’t be fooled by Amazon’s FBA prep services – their fees are extremely high, and will severely eat into your margins (most of the time). It’s much more affordable to outsource your FBA prep with a dedicated 3rd party FBA prep company. These companies have years of experience preparing shipments for Amazon, and they know the best practices for getting your products ready for sale.
Working with a 3rd party prep company like zonprep.com also gives you access to their state-of-the-art warehousing, storage and distribution services. This means that your products will be delivered to the correct Amazon warehouse at the cheapest costs, no matter where you are located. This can save you a lot of time and hassle when it comes time to ship your products.
So if you’re looking for an affordable and reliable way to get your products ready for Amazon, outsourcing your FBA prep is the way to go.
Consider in-house vs. outsourced
When it comes to Amazon FBA prep, you have two main options: in-house or outsourcing to a 3rd party. Both have their own benefits and drawbacks, so it can be tough to decide which is the best option for you. If you want the full breakdown, read this article on in-house vs. outsourcing FBA prep.
In-House Preparation
The biggest benefit of in-house preparation is that you have total control over the process. You can decide how your products are packaged, what labeling requirements are met, and how strict you want your quality control guidelines to be. This also gives you more flexibility when it comes to product selection, as you can choose products that are a good fit for your brand and your target market.
However, there are some downsides to in-house preparation. It can be expensive to set up the necessary infrastructure (e.g., packaging materials, labeling equipment, employees, etc.), and it can be time-consuming to learn all the necessary steps involved in the process. You also need to have enough staff on hand to handle all the preparation tasks, which can be difficult if your business is still growing.
Outsourcing to a 3rd Party
Outsourcing your FBA prep to a 3rd party has several benefits:
- It’s more affordable than setting up your own in-house prep operation
- It’s less time-consuming than doing everything yourself
- It allows you to focus on other areas of your business
- 3rd party prep companies have years of experience preparing products for Amazon FBA – so they know exactly what needs to be done to get your products ready for sale
However, there are some drawbacks to outsourcing. You’ll need to find a reputable 3rd party prep company that meets all your needs (e.g., quality control standards, pricing, turnaround time, etc.). Plus, you’ll need to trust that the company will correctly prepare your products according to Amazon’s requirements – if they make any mistakes, it could lead to lost sales and delayed shipments.
Understand the costs
When it comes to factoring in the costs to do FBA prep, you need to consider every step that goes into the process. We recommend checking out these guides on FBA prep costs – which will cover everything you need to know about the expenses of preparing your products (for both in-house and outsourced):
- How much does FBA prep cost?
- What’s the cheapest way to do FBA prep?
- Does a 3rd party FBA prep service help save money?
Realize FBA prep is a positive ROI investment
At the end of the day… if you’re looking for a way to save money and reduce your operating expenses, FBA prep needs to be top-of-mind for your business. By using a dependable FBA prep company, you can save time and money on shipping and inventory management. Keep in mind – using FBA prep services can help you avoid common mistakes that can lead to lost sales and unhappy customers.
When it comes to choosing a FBA prep service, it’s important to choose one that is reputable and experienced. A trustworthy and reliable FBA prep center will make it far easier to grow and scale – which includes:
- Inspecting your inventory
- Packaging & labeling your inventory
- Checking your inventory for compliance with Amazon’s requirements
- Setting up distribution
- Saving costs on storage
- Preventing FBA removals, returns, defects and account suspensions
By getting your FBA prep process optimized & streamlined, you’ll be able to reduce your supply chain costs and boost your bottom line – helping you grow and scale far quicker than most FBA sellers.
