How to Start an Amazon Business in 2026
When people ask me how to start on Amazon, they usually expect a short answer. Something like “find a product, list it, run ads.”
That answer is technically correct.
It’s also completely useless.
Because when I started Weldon Family Farms, the hardest parts weren’t the obvious ones. The hard parts were the small decisions you don’t even know exist until you’re already halfway in. Stuff like naming the brand, realizing you can’t register for Brand Registry without a trademark, or figuring out why Amazon suddenly froze your listing for no reason at all.
So instead of giving you a surface-level guide, I’m going to walk you through this the way I’d explain it to a friend sitting across the table from me. Slowly. In order. With context.
If you read this all the way through, you should be able to start your Amazon business while you’re reading it.
Step 1: Decide What Kind of Amazon Seller You’re Actually Going to Be
Before you even think about products, you need to understand something Amazon doesn’t explain very well:
There isn’t just one way to sell on Amazon.
Most beginners fail because they mix strategies without realizing it.
Here are the main paths in 2026:
Private label (build your own brand – what I did with Weldon Family Farms)
Wholesale (resell other brands with permission)
Retail arbitrage (buy low locally, sell higher on Amazon)
Online arbitrage (same idea, but sourcing online)
Handmade / small batch
Print-on-demand
If your goal is:
A real brand
Long-term value
Something you could potentially sell one day
Then private label is still the best route in 2026. It’s harder upfront, but easier long-term.
That’s what this blog will focus on.
Step 2: Don’t Start With “What Product Should I Sell?”
This is where almost everyone gets it backwards.
They open Amazon, scroll, see something random like “silicone spatulas,” and think, yeah maybe I’ll sell that.
That’s how you end up competing with 400 sellers from Shenzhen.
When I started Weldon Family Farms, I didn’t start with “beef tallow.”
I started with:
A story
A values-based brand
A clear customer
The product came after.
So instead, ask yourself:
Who am I selling to?
What do they already buy?
What do they care about more than price?
In 2026, brand matters way more than it did five years ago. Amazon shoppers aren’t just searching for “cheap.” They’re searching for:
Clean ingredients
USA-made
Family-owned
Natural
Sustainable
Niche-specific solutions
You don’t need a perfect answer yet. You just need a direction.
Step 3: Product Research (The Part Everyone Overcomplicates)
Here’s the honest truth:
You don’t need advanced software on day one.
When I started, I spent way too much time staring at graphs instead of asking simple questions.
When researching a product, look for this:
Is it lightweight?
Is it non-electronic?
Is it not fragile?
Does it sell for $18–$40?
Can I make at least 30–40% margin after fees?
Open Amazon. Type in something related to your niche. Then:
Scroll past the first few sponsored listings
Click into the middle sellers (ranked 5–20)
Read the 1-star and 2-star reviews
Those bad reviews are literally customers telling you how to improve the product.
That’s how brands are built.
Step 4: Naming Your Brand (This Matters More Than You Think)
This is one of the biggest mistakes people make.
They pick a random name that:
Sounds cool
Has no meaning
Can’t be trademarked
Doesn’t scale
When I named Weldon Family Farms, I knew I wanted:
A name that sounded trustworthy
Something that could expand into multiple products
Something that didn’t box me into one SKU
Before you settle on a name:
Search it on Amazon
Search it on Google
Search it in the USPTO trademark database
If it’s already trademarked in your product category, move on.
This step saves you months of pain later.
Step 5: Why You Actually Need a Trademark in 2026
This is where things changed a lot compared to earlier Amazon days.
In 2026, Brand Registry is basically non-negotiable if you’re serious.
Without it:
Anyone can hijack your listing
You can’t fully control images or A+ content
Amazon support treats you like a second-class seller
When I launched Weldon Family Farms, one of the first “grown-up” steps I took was filing a trademark. Not because it was fun — but because it unlocked:
Brand Registry
Better protection
More credibility
You don’t need the trademark approved to get started anymore.
Amazon accepts pending trademarks through IP Accelerator or standard filing.
This is one of those steps that feels expensive or annoying… until you don’t do it and regret it.
Step 6: Setting Up Your Amazon Seller Account (Do This Slowly)
When you create your Amazon Seller Central account, don’t rush.
Use:
A dedicated email
A business bank account (even if it’s just you)
Accurate business info (Amazon verifies more aggressively now)
Amazon will ask for:
Government ID
Bank account
Credit card
Utility bill (sometimes)
If something doesn’t match, they will pause your account. Take your time.
Step 7: Sourcing Your Product (This Is Where Reality Hits)
You basically have three options:
Overseas manufacturers
U.S. manufacturers
Hybrid (import raw, finish/pack in U.S.)
Each has tradeoffs.
For Weldon Family Farms, sourcing domestically mattered for branding, even though it cost more.
If you go overseas:
Expect longer timelines
Be very clear with specs
Order samples (always)
If you source domestically:
Margins may be tighter
Lead times are shorter
Branding is usually easier
No right answer. Just be honest about your goals.
Step 8: Packaging Is Marketing (Whether You Like It or Not)
Amazon is visual.
Your packaging does a lot of selling before the customer reads anything.
You don’t need fancy. You need:
Clear
Trustworthy
Professional
When we launched our first Weldon Family Farms product, the packaging wasn’t perfect — but it was clean, honest, and matched the brand.
Avoid:
Overcrowded labels
Too many claims
Tiny unreadable text
Amazon customers scroll fast. Give them clarity.
Step 9: Creating Your Listing (This Is Where Sales Happen)
Your listing has five jobs:
Get clicked
Build trust
Answer questions
Reduce doubt
Make buying feel safe
Focus on:
Main image (white background, clear product)
Bullet points that explain benefits, not just features
A description that sounds human, not corporate
Don’t keyword-stuff like it’s 2016. Amazon is smarter now.
Write like you’re explaining the product to a real person.
Step 10: Your First Launch (Keep Expectations Low)
Your first launch probably won’t be exciting.
Mine wasn’t.
A few sales here and there. Ads that didn’t convert. Constant refreshing of Seller Central.
That’s normal.
Your job at the beginning isn’t to “win.”
It’s to collect data.
What keywords convert?
What questions do customers ask?
What complaints show up early?
Every answer makes your product better.
Step 11: Ads, Reviews, and Momentum
In 2026, ads are part of the game.
Not aggressive ads. Smart ones.
Start small. Let Amazon tell you what converts. Don’t panic.
As reviews come in, your listing gets stronger. This part compounds over time, even if it doesn’t feel like it at first.
Final Thoughts (The Part People Don’t Like Hearing)
Starting an Amazon business isn’t “easy money.”
But it is one of the most accessible ways to build something real.
The biggest difference between people who succeed and people who don’t isn’t intelligence or capital.
It’s follow-through.
Weldon Family Farms didn’t start as some massive plan. It started as a product, a brand name, and a willingness to figure things out as I went.
If you read this and take action — even imperfect action — you’re already ahead of most people who never get past the idea phase.
Start messy. Learn fast. Improve constantly.
That’s how real Amazon businesses are built.