How to Open an Amazon Seller Central Account Step by Step

HOW TO START AMAZON FBA · 2026

How to Open an Amazon Seller Central Account Step by Step

By Brandhunterz Ltd | Company No: 15342697 | 13 minute read

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Opening an Amazon Seller Central account is the first real step in your Amazon FBA journey. Without it you cannot list products create shipments or receive payments. Yet despite being a straightforward process many new sellers get confused by the account types the verification requirements and the setup steps — and make costly mistakes at this early stage that delay their business launch by days or even weeks.

We are Brandhunterz Ltd — a UK registered wholesale sourcing company (Company No: 15342697) — and in this complete step-by-step guide we walk you through exactly how to open an Amazon Seller Central account in 2026. From choosing the right account type to completing identity verification and configuring your account settings every step is covered so you can get set up correctly the first time.

💡 Quick Summary

Opening an Amazon Seller Central account requires a registered business, a business bank account, a valid photo ID, and a phone number for verification. Choose the Professional plan at £25 per month — not the Individual plan — and complete Amazon’s identity verification process within 30 days of registration to avoid your account being suspended before you have sold a single item.

Before You Start — What You Need to Register

Amazon requires specific documentation and information to open a Seller Central account. Gathering everything before you start the registration process prevents you from having to stop midway through and potentially triggering account flags. Here is the complete list of what you need:

Requirement	Details	Status
Email Address	A professional business email — not shared with another Amazon account	Essential
Mobile Phone Number	For SMS or voice verification during registration	Essential
Business Registration Details	Company name, registered address, and Companies House registration number	Essential
Government-Issued Photo ID	Passport or driving licence — must be valid and not expired	Essential
Bank Account Details	Business bank account with sort code and account number — must match your registered business name	Essential
Credit or Debit Card	For billing the monthly Professional plan fee — must be internationally chargeable	Essential
VAT Number	Only required if you are VAT registered — optional for new businesses below the threshold	If applicable

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Do Not Use a Personal Bank Account

Amazon requires a bank account that matches your registered business name for payment disbursement. Trying to use a personal bank account for a limited company will cause your account setup to fail and delay your ability to receive payments. Open a business bank account through a provider like Starling Monzo Business or HSBC Business before starting your Seller Central registration.

Individual vs Professional — Which Selling Plan Should You Choose?

Amazon offers two selling plans when you register a Seller Central account. Choosing the wrong one is one of the most common and costly beginner mistakes — so understanding the difference clearly before you register is essential.

Feature	Individual Plan	Professional Plan
Monthly Fee	No monthly fee	£25 per month plus VAT
Per Item Fee	75p per item sold	No per item fee
Buy Box Eligibility	Not eligible	Fully eligible
FBA Access	Very limited	Full access
Create New Listings	Cannot create new ASINs	Full ASIN creation
Bulk Listing Upload	Not available	Available
Advertising Access	Not available	Full access to Sponsored Products
Best For	Casual sellers only	All serious FBA sellers

💡 The Professional Plan Pays for Itself Immediately

At 75p per item the Individual plan costs the same as the Professional plan the moment you sell 34 items per month. But the more important point is that the Individual plan does not give you Buy Box eligibility — which means customers cannot add your items to their basket from the standard product page. Without Buy Box access your sales will be near zero regardless of your pricing. Always choose the Professional plan from day one.

Step-by-Step Registration Process

With all your documents ready follow these steps to complete your Seller Central registration. Take your time at each stage — rushing through the process and entering incorrect information is one of the leading causes of account verification failures and delays.

Go to sell.amazon.co.uk and Click Start Selling

Navigate to sell.amazon.co.uk and click the Start selling button. Make sure you are logged out of any personal Amazon customer account before you begin — registering from within a personal account can cause complications. Use an incognito browser window if you want to be absolutely certain.

Create a New Amazon Account With Your Business Email

Enter your professional business email address and create a strong password. This email becomes the primary login for your Seller Central account so choose one you will actively monitor. Amazon will send account alerts payment notifications and policy updates to this address.

Select Professional Selling Plan and Enter Business Information

Select the Professional selling plan when prompted. Enter your business legal name exactly as it appears on your Companies House certificate. Enter your registered business address. Select United Kingdom as your business location and Limited Company as your business type.

Enter Your Company Registration Number and Director Details

Enter your Companies House registration number when prompted. You will also be asked for the full legal name, date of birth, home address and nationality of the primary business contact — which is typically the director. This information is used for identity verification and must match your government-issued ID exactly.

Enter Your Bank Account Details

Enter your business bank account sort code and account number. This is the account Amazon will send your sales payments to every 14 days after deducting fees. The account holder name must match your registered business name exactly. Amazon may make a small verification deposit to confirm your account.

Add Your Billing Credit Card

Enter a valid credit or debit card for billing the monthly Professional plan fee and any other Amazon charges. This card must be internationally chargeable as Amazon charges from Luxembourg. Prepaid cards and some debit cards are not accepted — use a standard credit card if you encounter any issues.

Choose Your Store Name

Enter your Amazon store name — this is the name customers see on your seller profile and product listings. It does not need to match your company name but must be unique on Amazon. Avoid using brand names you do not own as this can cause immediate account issues. Your store name can be changed later from account settings.

Complete the Identity Verification Process

Amazon requires identity verification for all new seller accounts. This involves uploading a photo of your government-issued ID and completing a short video verification call where you hold your ID up to the camera. The process typically takes 5 to 10 minutes. Complete this within 30 days of registration or your account will be suspended pending verification.

After Registration — Essential Account Settings to Configure

Once your account is open and verified there are several critical settings you need to configure before you start listing products or sending inventory to FBA. Many new sellers skip these steps and create problems for themselves down the line.

Set Up Two-Step Verification

Enable two-step verification immediately after opening your account. Amazon accounts without two-step verification are significantly more vulnerable to being hijacked — a growing problem in the FBA seller community that can result in your listings being changed, your payments diverted, and your account suspended. Go to Login Settings in your account and enable two-step verification using an authenticator app rather than SMS for maximum security.

Configure Your Return Address

Set your return address in Account Info under the Returns and Refunds section. For FBA sellers Amazon handles returns directly — customers return items to Amazon’s fulfilment centres rather than to you. However some products such as dangerous goods or oversized items may be returned directly to you, so having a valid business return address configured is essential.

Set Up Your Shipping Settings

Even as an FBA seller you need to configure shipping settings for the rare occasions when you fulfil orders yourself — for example if an item is out of stock at FBA. Go to Shipping Settings and configure your default merchant-fulfilled shipping rates. Amazon provides template shipping settings you can use as a starting point and customise as needed.

Add Your VAT Number if Applicable

If you are VAT registered add your VAT number in the Tax Settings section of Seller Central. This ensures Amazon calculates VAT correctly on your sales and allows you to download VAT invoices for your purchases. If you are not yet VAT registered you can leave this blank and add it later when you register.

Common Account Registration Mistakes to Avoid

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Registering From an IP Address in a Different Country

Amazon’s systems flag registrations where the IP address does not match the registered business country. If you use a VPN during registration switch it off first. Register from a UK IP address for a UK Seller Central account to avoid triggering automated verification holds that can delay your account opening by days.

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Using the Same Email Address as an Existing Amazon Customer Account

Using an email already associated with an Amazon customer account for your Seller Central registration creates complications and can link your selling account to your personal purchase history. Always use a fresh business email address that has never been associated with any Amazon account.

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Having Multiple Amazon Seller Accounts Without Permission

Amazon strictly prohibits operating multiple Seller Central accounts without explicit written permission. Opening a second account because your first was suspended or because you want to sell in a different category is a serious policy violation that results in permanent suspension of all related accounts. One account per seller per business — no exceptions.

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Delaying the Identity Verification Process

Amazon gives you 30 days from registration to complete identity verification. Many new sellers ignore the verification emails thinking they can complete it later and find their account suspended on day 31 before they have made a single sale. Complete identity verification on the same day you register — it takes less than 15 minutes and protects your account immediately.

What to Do After Your Account is Verified

With your Seller Central account open verified and configured you are ready to start the most important part of your Amazon FBA journey — finding products to sell. For wholesale sellers this means researching brands validating demand and applying for trade accounts.

Start your product research immediately using Keepa to check sales history and pricing data for products in your target category and Helium 10 to estimate monthly revenue and keyword demand. Then use the Brandhunterz Brands Directory to find verified trade contact details for the brands whose products you want to source.

📅 Your First Week Action Plan After Opening Seller Central

Day 1: Complete identity verification and configure all account settings
Day 2: Subscribe to Keepa and explore the product research tools
Day 3: Browse Amazon Best Sellers in your target category and shortlist 10 strong brands
Day 4: Validate shortlisted brands on Keepa and Helium 10
Day 5: Find trade contact details for your shortlisted brands using the Brandhunterz directory
Day 6: Write and send your first 5 wholesale trade account application emails
Day 7: Review responses follow up on sent applications and add 5 more brands to your list

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Does Amazon Seller Central Registration Take?

The registration process itself takes 30 to 60 minutes. Identity verification adds another 10 to 15 minutes on the same session. Amazon then takes 24 to 48 hours to fully activate your account after verification is complete. In total you should expect to be fully active and able to list products within 2 to 3 business days of starting registration.

Can I Open an Amazon UK Account and Sell on Amazon USA?

Yes — Amazon offers a unified account structure through their North America and European marketplace programmes. From a single Seller Central account registered on Amazon UK you can activate selling permissions on Amazon Germany France Italy Spain and other European marketplaces. Selling on Amazon USA requires a separate Seller Central registration through Amazon.com but you can link your UK and US accounts under the same login credentials.

What Happens if Amazon Rejects My Identity Verification?

If your identity verification fails Amazon will send you an email explaining what went wrong. Common reasons include a blurry ID photo, an expired document, or information that does not match exactly what was entered during registration. You can resubmit your verification documents through Seller Central — use a well-lit environment and ensure all ID details are clearly visible on your camera before uploading.

Do I Need a Website to Open a Seller Central Account?

Amazon does not require you to have a website to open a Seller Central account. However having a basic business website or at minimum a professional LinkedIn company page significantly improves your credibility when applying for wholesale trade accounts with brands. Many brands will check your online presence before approving trade applications — so invest time in building even a simple one-page business website early in your journey.