Professional vs. Individual Account
This post may contain affiliate links. Disclosure here. Written with Mariela Merino
Wait! How many items are you selling? That is the first question I consider when being asked; “What is the difference between an Individual and a Professional Amazon Seller Account?”
I will be giving a brief explanation of the main differences between an Individual and Professional Seller Account. As well as the main questions you should ask yourself when deciding which version is right for you.
Individual Amazon Seller Account
The first and most noticeable difference is the pricing. With an individual account you will not pay a monthly fee. Instead you will be charged .99 per item that you sell.
Now the items that you sell will have to fit into certain sales categories. For an Individual Account, you have 20 categories to choose from but some really popular item categories (i.e. Fashion/Fine jewelry, groceries or sports collectibles among others) cannot be found in the Individual options.
A couple of things that help set your account from others cannot be obtained through an Individual Account: Advertising and a “Buy Box.”
You can only sell items for the set price that you are advertising. Meaning no deals and no specials.
A “Buy Box” brings an easier “Add to cart” feature that makes purchasing simpler for the user. As well making your account seems more like an Official Amazon affiliate rather than an “Other Seller.”
Professional Amazon Seller Account
Now with a Professional Account you won’t be charged for every item that you sell, instead you will pay a monthly fee of $39.99. So if you think about it, if you plan on selling more than 40 items it’s really a no-brainer.
With a Pro Account you will have access to 10 additional sales categories that you didn’t have access to with the Individual Account like automotive parts and others that I mentioned earlier.
Unlike with the Individual Account you will be able to advertise in several different ways like having a posted “Sale” or having coupons that users can apply at checkout.
As I mentioned before, you will be able to obtain a “Buy Box.” For easier checkout and helping you look all that more official.
Conclusion
Remember, when you are vacillating between an Individual and a Professional Amazon Seller’s Account just ask yourself some simple questions.
How many items do I plan to sell? What type of items do I want to sell? Do I want to be able to advertise or slash my prices whenever I want?
Answering these simple questions will hopefully point you to which account you want for yourself, Individual or Professional.
Frequently asked questions -
Do you need a Business License to sell on Amazon? No you don’t need to be a registered business to sell on Amazon. - Startupbros.com
Can I change my Amazon seller account from Individual to Professional? Yes, go to your Amazon Central Seller Account and through the Settings and Account Info, you can find the Business Information where you switch your account at any time. - Quantifyninja.com
