When selling on Amazon, it’s important to understand the different fees involved. These fees directly impact your profit, ROI, and pricing strategy—so knowing how they work helps you make better decisions.
📦 Types of Fulfillment
Before diving into fees, there are two main ways to sell:
FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon): Amazon stores, packs, and ships your items
FBM (Fulfilled by Merchant): You store and ship items yourself
Each comes with its own set of fees.
🏷️ Common Amazon Fees
1. Referral Fee (Applies to Both FBA & FBM)
This is Amazon’s commission for each sale.
Usually ~8% to 15% depending on category
Automatically deducted when your item sells
👉 Example:
If you sell an item for $20 and the referral fee is 15%, Amazon takes $3.
📦 FBA Fees (Fulfillment by Amazon)
If you use FBA, you’ll pay additional fees for Amazon handling your order:
2. Fulfillment Fee
Covers:
Picking and packing
Shipping to the customer
Customer service
👉 Based on item size and weight
3. Storage Fees
Charged monthly for storing inventory in Amazon warehouses
Higher during peak season (Oct–Dec)
4. Additional FBA Fees (Possible)
Low inventory fees
Aged inventory fees
Removal or disposal fees
🚚 FBM Fees (Fulfilled by Merchant)
If you fulfill orders yourself:
2. Shipping Costs
You pay for shipping to the customer
3. Packaging & Supplies
Boxes, labels, tape, etc.
👉 No FBA fees, but you handle everything.
📊 FBA vs FBM Fee Comparison
Fee Type | FBA | FBM |
Referral Fee | ✅ | ✅ |
Fulfillment Fee | ✅ | ❌ |
Storage Fee | ✅ | ❌ |
Shipping Cost | Included in FBA fee | You pay separately |
💡 Why Understanding Fees Matters
Knowing your fees helps you:
Price items correctly
Avoid losing money on sales
Calculate accurate profit and ROI
Choose between FBA and FBM
⚠️ Common Mistakes
Ignoring fees when sourcing items
Assuming all categories have the same fee
Not accounting for storage or shipping costs
👉 These can significantly reduce your profits.
💼 How It Helps in AccelerList
AccelerList factors in Amazon fees when calculating:
Profit
ROI
Margins
👉 As long as your buy cost is entered, you’ll get a clearer picture of your earnings.
✅ Summary
Amazon charges different fees depending on whether you use FBA or FBM. Understanding these fees is essential for pricing, profitability, and making smart selling decisions.