If you’re watching your margins shrink and worried about your cost of inventory, you might be looking for other ways to save. Specifically, what’s the cheapest way to do Amazon FBA prep? This process can get expensive, and the cost of preparing your products for Amazon FBA can quickly add up. However, there are ways to shrink these costs and maintain solid profit margins.
In this article, we are going to cover ways you can reduce FBA prep costs by running FBA prep in-house versus using an FBA prep service. By following these tips and understanding the basics of FBA prep, you can save money on operations and have more cash flow to reinvest back into your business.
Use this outline to skip to any section of this page:
- How much does FBA prep cost?
- Using Amazon’s FBA prep services
- Running FBA prep in-house
- Outsourcing FBA prep
- What’s the cheapest way to do Amazon FBA prep?
- Is there a way to reduce costs?
How much does FBA prep cost?
There is no one definitive answer to the question of how much FBA prep costs, but we go further into detail with how much does Amazon FBA prep cost elsewhere on our blog.
The price of preparing your product for Amazon FBA will vary depending on a number of factors, including;
- The size and weight of your product: Heavier, bulky goods sometimes require additional handling and can get pricey.
- The shipping materials you need: Do you want simple polybags or a branded, customized box?
- The level of service you require: Is it a simple and straightforward job, or is there a detailed process book?
However, as a general rule of thumb, each product will cost a small fraction of your margins to complete the FBA prep process (with different rates, depending on how you go about FBA prep).
We cover a few of the differences between doing FBA prep in-house vs. outsourcing to a 3rd party prep company here.
Overall, preparing and shipping your products to Amazon can be quite expensive, but if you plan carefully and use a reliable FBA prep option, you can avoid many of the costs and complications associated with selling products online (while also streamlining the FBA prep process, allowing you to focus on growing & scaling your business).
Amazon FBA prep options
1) Using Amazon’s FBA prep services
Previously, Amazon provided their own FBA prep services. This was often used as a last resort option, or for anything that slipped through the cracks, due to high fees. However, starting in 2026, Amazon has eliminated this option and will be focused on storage, picking, and shipping rather than prep.
That means you must ensure all of your items are perfectly prepped for FBA before sending them in to the Amazon network. Otherwise, you’ll reduce your margins even further with stockouts, penalties, and possibly lost inventory.
2) Running FBA prep in-house
Running your FBA prep in-house means being responsible for the entire process. You need to be FBA experts, know which mistakes to avoid, have your own facility, and so on.
Here’s what you must be prepared for when running FBA prep in-house.
- Securing your own facility that’s suitable for FBA prep
- Training and managing staff
- Quality control and doing spot checks of the work being done
- Ordering supplies and negotiating discounts
- Preparing inventory for shipment (this includes knowing all Amazon regulations)
- Dealing with customer service issues that might arise from the prep process
In some cases, this may be less expensive in the short term, but unless you’re a larger company that can start a new division to focus on FBA prep, it can be difficult to grow and scale your business. You also wouldn’t benefit from the economies of scale that come with a 3PL or outsourced partner (for example, can you get bulk discount pricing on your inventory alone?)
There are many companies that offer FBA prep services, which can take some of the burden off of you. This allows you to focus on expanding your business and increasing sales – since you can now focus on the growth activities of selling on Amazon (product sourcing, marketing, etc).
3) Outsourcing FBA prep
When it comes to preparing your products for Amazon FBA, most sellers prefer to use a service like ZonPrep FBA prep (assuming you have a reliable and trustworthy option). Not only does it save you time and energy, but it also doesn’t cost a lot of money.
In fact, since prep services specialize in FBA prep and offer relatively-cheap rates, this can be a great option if you’re short on time or simply don’t have the experience or knowledge to do it yourself.
The best part is that prep services take care of everything for you – from sorting and packing your products to labeling them correctly. All you need to do is provide them with your products and they’ll take care of the rest. This can be a huge relief, especially if you’re new to Amazon FBA and aren’t sure where to start.
Using a prep service is a great way to save time and money – while preparing your products for Amazon FBA. If you’re looking for a hassle-free solution, this is definitely it.
The bottom line is that outsourcing your FBA prep is often (for many Amazon sellers) the greatest lever to expanding & sourcing new products, developing marketing strategies, and driving more sales. It opens up more time to focus on your core business functions – making it easier to grow and scale your operation.
What’s the cheapest way to do Amazon FBA prep?
While doing FBA prep yourself will always be the cheapest way to do FBA prep… most sellers prefer to use an FBA prep center to outsource FBA preparations.
This means that you can focus on other aspects of your business while someone else takes care of the tedious task of getting your products ready for shipping. There are several prep services available, so it’s important to do your research and find one that fits your needs.
When choosing a prep service, you’ll want to consider the following factors:
- The cost of the service
- The turnaround time for orders
- Dedicated support
- The range of services offered
- The company’s experience and reputation
- Location and warehouse capabilities
Once you’ve chosen a prep service, you’ll need to provide them with your products and specifications. They will then take care of getting your products ready for shipping, which can save you a lot of time and hassle.
Is there a way to reduce costs?
Always seek-out discounts & bonuses for anything FBA prep – including sign-up deals with your new FBA prep service, or packaging materials if you choose to run FBA prep in-house.
Opting for FBA prep with Amazon won’t result in any cost savings – and as mentioned above, it’s a “no-go” for almost all sellers (due to significantly-higher fees compared to a 3rd party service or running FBA prep in-house).
However, in general… there are a few different ways to reduce your overall FBA costs. The first is to be strategic about the products you send in for fulfillment.
Make sure that you are sending in products that are likely to sell and have a high margin – ensuring that your costs are minimized and you are making a profit on each sale.
Another way to reduce your FBA costs is to be mindful of your shipping weights and dimensions. Make sure that you are only sending in products that fall within the weight and size limits for Amazon’s fulfillment program. This will avoid any unnecessary fees from Amazon – and you should always aim for small and lightweight products anyway (especially if they’re high-value items too, such as premium portable speakers that have small dimensions and weight).
Finally, consider alternate shipping methods. Your FBA prep service may be able to help you find a cost-effective shipping partner to deliver your inventory from supplier to prep center. However, make sure that the shipping time is comparable, as fast shipping speeds are a major factor that go into having success on Amazon (along with avoiding low inventory & stockouts).
Published: August 12, 2022
Updated: March 11, 2026