Entering the Amazon marketplace is an exciting step for any entrepreneur — but jumping in too quickly without the proper process can lead to costly mistakes. Whether you’re brand new or already have some experience, this beginner-friendly guide walks you through the smartest steps every FBA seller should take, from factory audits to Amazon shipment prep.
Let’s dive into how to minimize risk and maximize results.
What Are The Amazon FBA Steps That Smart FBA Sellers Take in Order To Minimize Risk and Error?
Don’t Skip Due Diligence: Yes, speed is valuable, but skipping key steps in sourcing and shipping could lead to long-term losses. Always balance efficiency with thoroughness.
Factory Audit
A factory audit, which is done by a 3rd party company, ensures that not only the factory itself is legitimate, but also looks at the processes and procedures to establish its compliance according to internationally accepted standards.
FBA Tip for Beginners: Choose audit providers with experience in your product category.
Ordering Multiple Samples
Order from 3+ suppliers
Order 2-3 units per supplier
Buy and test your competitors’ products for comparison
Doing this helps you see whether your supplier’s output is competitive and consistent
Labeling
Anyone that has sold anything through Fulfillment by Amazon knows the importance of correctly labeling your products. You’ll need to decide whether you’ll use a UPC code or an Amazon FNSKU label. Affixing labels can either be done by your manufacturer, a third party company or even Amazon.
TIP: To save yourself some time and money on labeling, get your graphic designer to add the barcode as part of the product’s packaging.
Pre-Shipment Inspection (PSI)
Getting the products you’ve ordered checked before shipping them out and paying the balance of your invoice is not only smart but absolutely necessary for FBA sellers.
This step requires a third party company to organize a time to visit the factory, usually when the products are at 80% completion.
TIP: For complex items, schedule inspections at 30%, 60%, and 100% of production.
Shipping
Once your product is ready, it’s time to ship to Amazon’s warehouse. Here’s what to have ready:
Inventory limits reviewed
Amazon listing live
Shipping plan created in Seller Central
Product dimensions and weights confirmed
Consider splitting shipments — send a portion by air for faster selling, and the rest by sea to reduce costs.
Pro Tip for Beginners: Always double-check if your product is considered oversized by Amazon. Oversized items come with additional fees and limit restrictions.
Selling on Amazon is one of the most scalable ways to build a product business in 2025. By following these essential steps — from sourcing to labeling and shipping — you’ll avoid rookie mistakes and grow confidently.
At Wayfindr, we help Amazon sellers like you source, audit, prep, and ship products globally with our 4PL e-commerce logistics service. Let us handle your:
As Wayfindr's Director, he draws on 10+ years of experience in corporate finance and cross-border operations across the Asia Pacific region—helping build the systems behind Wayfindr’s global, carbon-neutral 4PL model.
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