Is Your Brand Ready to Sell on Amazon or eBay? A Pre-Launch Checklist

Marketplaces like Amazon and eBay put your products in front of millions of shoppers who are already looking to buy. That reach is attractive, but marketplaces are also competitive and have strict rules. Brands that prepare properly before launch save a lot of time, money and frustration.

Work through this checklist before you open your store.

1. Choose the right marketplace and region

Amazon and eBay run separate sites for different countries and regions, and each has its own rules, fees and buyers. Decide:

• Which countries you want to sell to
• Whether the marketplace allows sellers from your country and your product category in that region
• How you will receive payments

Always check the current requirements on the marketplace’s official seller pages, because they change over time.

2. Check that your products are allowed

Some categories are restricted or need approval before you can list them, and some products cannot be sold at all. Common examples include certain health, beauty, food and branded items. Confirm your category requirements before you invest in stock or photography.

3. Prepare your business documents

Marketplaces verify sellers before accounts are approved. Have these ready:

• Identity documents for the account owner
• Business registration details, if you are registering as a business
• A bank account or payout method the marketplace supports
• A phone number and email you check regularly

Use accurate, consistent information. Mismatched details are a common cause of delays.

4. Protect your brand

If you sell your own brand, look into trademark registration. On Amazon, a registered or pending trademark in an eligible country is needed to apply for Brand Registry, which gives you more control over your listings and access to extra brand tools.

5. Get your product information right

Good listings sell. For each product, prepare:

• Product identifiers such as barcodes (GTIN/EAN/UPC) where required, or the exemptions you are eligible for
• Clear titles with the brand, product type and key details
• Bullet points that explain benefits and important specifications
• A detailed description answering the questions buyers usually ask
• Accurate dimensions and weights for shipping

6. Invest in product images

Shoppers cannot touch your product, so images do the selling. Prepare a clean main image on a white background that follows the marketplace’s image rules, plus extra images showing the product from different angles, in use, with size references and with key features highlighted.

7. Work out your real profit

Marketplace selling has more costs than it first appears. Before setting a price, add up:

• Product cost and packaging
• Marketplace selling fees and any monthly subscription
• Shipping or fulfilment fees
• Advertising on the marketplace
• Returns and damaged items
• Currency conversion and payout fees

If the numbers only work at a very high price, it is better to know before launch.

8. Plan fulfilment and customer service

Decide whether you will ship orders yourself or use a fulfilment service such as Fulfilment by Amazon (FBA). Either way, plan how you will:

• Keep stock levels accurate
• Ship on time and upload tracking
• Answer customer messages quickly
• Handle returns and refunds

Marketplaces measure seller performance closely, and slow shipping or replies can put your account at risk.

9. Plan your launch

New listings have no reviews and little visibility. A launch plan usually includes competitive pricing at the start, marketplace advertising, and driving some traffic from your own social media and website.

Need a hand?

Our Amazon & eBay store management service covers seller account setup, product listings, listing optimisation, product content and images, and ongoing store support. Get in touch and we will first check whether your products and business are ready for the marketplace you have in mind.