Selling Supplements on Amazon: Guide and Key Requirements
The focus on health and wellness continues to rise, driving demand for vitamins, probiotics, and other products that support well-being. This trend makes selling supplements an excellent opportunity, especially for online entrepreneurs. Among various platforms, Amazon stands out as one of the best places to sell supplements due to its vast customer base, seller-friendly services, and the convenience of running a business from home.
In this article, we’ll provide a comprehensive guide on how to start selling supplements on Amazon and share practical tips to help you succeed.
Amazon’s Requirements for Selling Supplements
If you are interested in selling supplements on Amazon, your first step is to get approved. While specific requirements may vary depending on the type of supplement, there are a few universal steps and guidelines to follow. Here’s a clear breakdown:
Amazon Seller Account
In order to sell supplements, you’ll need a Professional Seller Account, which costs $39.99/month. It’s crucial to demonstrate strong performance, such as a low rate of canceled orders and returns. While obtaining a business license is not mandatory, having one can provide tax benefits, particularly for new or small businesses.
Product Testing
As of 2024, Amazon requires that all new supplements be tested by independent laboratories (like Eurofins, NSF, or UL). Sellers must arrange for testing via the ‘Manage My Compliance’ dashboard, and they are responsible for all testing and shipping costs.
Required Documentation
To verify compliance and prevent the sale of illegal or unsafe supplements, Amazon may request the following:
Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) Certificate: Demonstrates adherence to FDA manufacturing guidelines.
510(K) Premarket Notification: Necessary for certain types of dietary, medicare and nutritional supplements.
FDA registration: Ensures compliance with the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
Manufacturer invoices: Invoices must be no older than 180 days and reflect the purchase of at least 10 product units.
Labeling Requirements
Amazon enforces strict labeling rules for supplements:
Labels must be in English and include all ingredients, the product name, quantity, and the manufacturer’s contact details.
Prohibited terms include claims like “miracle cure” or “disease prevention”.
You need to submit photos of all six sides of the product packaging. These must be original photos taken by the seller, clearly showing the manufacturer’s name and product details for Amazon to view and verify.
FBA-Specific Rules
If you’re using Fulfillment by Amazon (Amazon FBA), there are additional requirements:
Expiration date: Supplements must have at least 730 days remaining before expiration when arriving at Amazon’s fulfillment centers.
Packaging: Products must be sealed, unopened, and in their original packaging.
Once you submit all required documents and product photos, Amazon will review your application. The approval process can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks, depending on the complexity of the case.
With these requirements covered, it’s time to explore each step of how to sell supplements on Amazon.
How to Start Selling Supplements on Amazon
Running an Amazon business can be approached in two primary ways: reselling products from other brands or launching your own brand. In this article, we’ll focus on reselling, and more specifically, on the wholesale model. Wholesale enables sellers to execute a quicker launch since it eliminates the need for invention or production time, while also providing the bulk order invoices required by Amazon for approval.
Now, let’s review the three main steps to begin selling supplements on Amazon.
Step 1: Decide What to Sell
First and foremost, you need to decide which kinds of supplements you want to sell. Since the primary goal of any seller is to make money, it’s essential to focus on products with high potential. This requires thorough market research to identify trends, assess sales volume, evaluate competition, and consider other factors influencing profitability.
While Amazon’s product pages provide a general sense of performance, the sales data can be imprecise and doesn’t reflect long-term trends. This makes it harder to determine whether a product is a safe investment or how much stock to order.
The best way to conduct product research is by using analytical tools. One top choice among Amazon sellers is AMZScout, which offers a fast, user-friendly way to evaluate products. Let’s explore how to use this toolset to find promising items.
Find Top Selling Supplements
Here’s how:
1. Install the AMZScout PRO AI Extension. Enter your email address to start a free trial.
2. Search for a product. Enter a product name (such as “vitamin D”) in the Amazon search bar.
3. Open the extension. Click the icon in the top-right corner of your browser.
4. Select individual products for further evaluation. If a niche looks promising, take a deeper look at the products in the search results. Sort by criteria (like “Estimated Sales”) to identify strong candidates with high profit potential.
Tip: Save interesting products to your ‘Favorites’ by clicking the heart icon for easy reference later.
5. Analyze the competition. Check the "Number of Sellers" column next to the item you’re interested in. Products with 2-20 sellers might be suitable for resale, but over 20 sellers may indicate tough competition.
6. Estimate your monthly profit. Use the Profit Calculator under the product to input details (like the product price, shipping, and more). FBA fees are calculated automatically, and the tool provides an estimated monthly profit. Aim for products with a net margin exceeding 20% after all costs.
7. Assess whether a product is a good fit for your business. If a product seems profitable, click “AI Product Analysis” to review a summary of the product’s strengths and potential risks. Confirm that the opportunities align with your goals and that any risks are manageable.
8. Select the best products to sell. Add your top picks to your Favorites list, then use the “Product Comparison” tool to compare the products’ features and highlight winning metrics side by side. This makes it easier to choose the most promising products for your store.
This approach makes it easy to find the best supplements to sell. With a clear, AI-driven analysis of product features, you can quickly decide whether a product is worth selling. This not only saves you time but also allows you to allocate your resources wisely, driving business growth.
Step 2: Source Products
Once you decide on a product to sell, the next step is to find a supplier for your supplements. Here are a few resources where you can find suppliers:
Distributors: Platforms like Farm2Me, Bulk Apothecary, Bulk Supplements, and others offer wholesale options.
Brand websites: Visit the official website of the supplement brand you’ve chosen to see if they provide wholesale purchases.
Industry events: Attending industry events is a great way to meet distributors and brand representatives in person, allowing you to see products firsthand and build valuable connections.
Make sure to carefully verify that the product is authentic (keep the potential for fake products in mind) and ensure that the supplier has all necessary certifications required by Amazon. It’s also wise to place a test order to find out if you’ll be approved by Amazon. If you’re rejected and your supplier isn't helpful, you can still switch suppliers without incurring significant loss.
Step 3: List and Ship the Product
To sell a product on Amazon, you need to list it, which is a quick process for resellers. Simply join an existing listing from your Amazon Seller Central account by entering details like price and quantity.
Once your product is live, you can choose a fulfillment method—FBA or FBM. For supplements, FBA is often the better option, as it boosts credibility and offers faster delivery times, potentially leading to more sales. To use FBA, you'll need to send your products to Amazon’s fulfillment centers. There are two main options:
Using Amazon’s partnered services: You can take advantage of discounted UPS rates through Amazon's partnered service.
Arranging delivery yourself: You can have your supplier ship the supplements to FBA centers or hire a third-party logistics company.
Note: If you choose a non-Amazon solution, consider adding insurance to protect your goods during transit.
Keep in mind that you must follow Amazon's FBA rules, including packaging requirements, and ensure that your supplements are within their expiration dates. Failure to comply can result in your products being rejected.
By following these steps, you’ll establish a solid foundation for your business, enabling you to scale and grow effectively as you refine your strategy over time.
Conclusion
To maximize your success in selling supplements, it’s essential to set up your Amazon business effectively, with product selection being a critical factor. Consider using AMZScout to simplify the process by helping you identify the best supplements to sell. This approach helps you save time and effort while setting up your business for success.
