Let’s tackle the giant first. Selling books on Amazon can be an easy way to create a profitable stream of income, but the process involves more steps than other platforms. There are two fulfillment options, FBA and FBM—along with two seller options, Individual and Professional. What you choose depends on your personal preferences, how many orders you expect to have and whether or not you have any interest in pursuing a small online business.
Amazon FBA vs. FBM
FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) means the conglomerate stores your book inventory, then packs up and sends out your books once they sell. With FBA, you ship books to an Amazon Fulfillment Center and it takes care of everything else, including customer service and returns.
FBM (Fulfillment by Merchant) puts you completely in charge of the storage, sales and shipping of your books. Choosing FBM can mean more money in the long run, since you determine the final selling prices, but it does come with an additional fee that Amazon tacks on.
Individual vs. Professional
The Individual plan is for sellers who don’t plan to exceed 40 items per month. If you’re seeking to sell ten to 15 books every few weeks, go with the individual option. You’ll pay a 99-cent fee to Amazon when an item sells, plus be responsible for managing your inventory and following Amazon-set shipping rates.
The Professional plan is geared toward individuals who are planning to sell a good deal of books, essentially creating their own online store through Amazon. This plan will cost you a flat $39.99 per month, but you’ll avoid the 99-cent per item fee, plus be able to set your own shipping rates.
