Comprehensive comparison and conversion process between Amazon individual sellers and corporate sellers

As the world’s largest e-commerce platform, Amazon has attracted countless sellers. In this huge market, sellers can choose to become individual sellers or corporate sellers to meet different sales needs and business goals. So, what are the differences between individual sellers and corporate sellers?

1. Differences in account types and fees

Personal seller accounts are primarily aimed at smaller sellers with limited sales and are suitable for those who want to try selling on Amazon. Individual sellers pay no monthly subscription fees and only pay a flat fee per item. In contrast, enterprise seller accounts are suitable for merchants with larger scale and sales volume and require a fixed monthly subscription fee. In addition, when enterprise sellers sell products, Amazon will charge a certain percentage of transaction fees.

2. Quantity of product releases

There is a limit to the number of products an individual seller can publish on the Amazon platform. For this type of seller, they may encounter the problem of limited sales volume, which affects the speed and scope of their business expansion. Enterprise sellers can publish an unlimited number of products, which will help them increase sales and market share.

3. Sales channels and operational tools

Enterprise sellers can enjoy richer sales channels and operational tools. For example, corporate sellers can use Amazon’s advertising services to promote products and increase their exposure and click-through rate. In addition, corporate sellers can also use Amazon’s brand registration service to strengthen brand protection and management. In contrast, individual sellers have relatively few resources and support in these areas.

4. Warehousing and Logistics

Amazon provides sellers with a wealth of warehousing and logistics solutions. Among them, both individual sellers and corporate sellers can use Amazon logistics services. However, enterprise sellers usually enjoy more favorable logistics rates due to their larger sales scale. In addition, enterprise sellers can also use Amazon’s multi-channel delivery service to quickly deliver products to buyers around the world.

5. Customer service and after-sales support

Amazon differentiates between individual sellers and corporate sellers in terms of customer service and after-sales support. Enterprise sellers typically receive a higher level of customer support, including a dedicated account manager and priority after-sales processing. These advantages help enterprise sellers better maintain customer relationships and improve customer satisfaction. In contrast, individual sellers may be somewhat limited in customer service and after-sales support and need to rely on the Amazon platform’s standard customer service.

6. Payment and Settlement

Amazon has different payment and settlement methods for individual sellers and corporate sellers. Individual sellers usually have a longer settlement cycle and need to wait for a while to receive payment. Corporate sellers can enjoy a shorter settlement cycle, which helps improve capital turnover efficiency. In addition, enterprise sellers can also apply for Amazon’s loan services to meet their funding needs for inventory, marketing, and expansion.

7. Data analysis and reporting

Enterprise sellers can get richer data analysis and reporting capabilities to better understand sales and market trends. These data reports help corporate sellers optimize product strategies, develop marketing plans, and improve competitiveness. In contrast, individual sellers have relatively few features in terms of data analysis and reporting.

8. How to upgrade a personal account to a business account

Upgrade steps

1. Log in to Amazon Seller Center: Log in to your Amazon personal account and enter Amazon Seller Central.
2. Click to upgrade to a business account: Find “Account Information” or similar options in the navigation bar or settings options of Seller Center, and click to enter.
3. Choose to upgrade to a business account: On the Account Information page, you will see the option to upgrade to a business account. Click the appropriate button or link to start the upgrade process.
4. Fill in company information: During the upgrade process, you need to provide detailed company information, including company name, registered address, tax information, etc. Make sure this information is filled out accurately for verification and validation.
5. Submit supporting documents: Amazon may require you to provide relevant supporting documents when applying for a business account. This may include a certificate of incorporation, tax registration certificate, business license, etc. These documents should be submitted upon request so that Amazon can review and confirm the identity of the business.
6. Waiting for review and confirmation: After submitting the application, you need to wait patiently for Amazon to review and confirm the account upgrade. Review times can vary, usually taking anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. During the waiting period, continue to use your personal account for sales and management.
7. Complete Upgrade: Once the enterprise account upgrade is completed, Amazon will notify you and provide relevant upgrade details and account access rights. Log in to your business account to enjoy more features and benefits, such as enhanced seller tools, advanced reporting, advertising services, etc.

Notes

1. Prepare the necessary corporate documents and certificates: Make sure you prepare the necessary corporate documents and certificates before upgrading to a corporate account. This includes but is not limited to company registration certificate, tax registration certificate, business license, etc. Preparing these documents can speed up the review and upgrade process.
2. Accurately fill in the company information: Ensure that the company name, registered address, tax information and other relevant information are filled in accurately during the upgrade process. This information will be used to verify the identity of the business to ensure its accuracy and consistency.
3. Provide authentic and reliable supporting documents: Amazon may ask you to provide supporting documents to verify your business identity. Be sure to provide authentic and reliable documents, such as company registration certificate, tax registration certificate, business license, etc. Make sure these documents are valid, not expired, and consistent with the business information you filled out.
4. Comply with Amazon’s regulations and requirements: After upgrading to a business account, you need to comply with Amazon’s regulations and requirements, including sales policies, product quality standards, compliance requirements, etc. Make sure your business and products comply with Amazon’s regulations to avoid violations and possible penalties.
5. Update bank and payment information: After upgrading to a business account, update bank and payment information to facilitate fund settlement and payment operations. Make sure to provide accurate bank account information and contact information to ensure safe and timely collection of funds.
6. Learn and use business account features: Once the account upgrade is completed, Amazon provides more features and tools for business accounts. Learn and master advanced reporting, advertising services, inventory management tools and other functions to better manage and promote products and improve sales performance.

To sum up, there are obvious differences between individual sellers and corporate sellers on the Amazon platform. From the perspective of fees, number of product releases, sales channels, operational tools, warehousing and logistics, customer service, after-sales support, payment settlement, and data analysis, corporate sellers enjoy more advantages and resources than individual sellers. However, for those smaller sellers who are just starting out, a personal seller account is undoubtedly a lower-cost and convenient option. In actual operations, sellers need to reasonably choose the identity of individual sellers or corporate sellers based on their own needs and development stages to achieve the best operating results.