Selling on amazon singapore based businesses take on is one of the more accessible ways to reach shoppers well beyond our small home market. Amazon runs a local marketplace and connects to large international ones, which means a well run listing can put your product in front of customers you could never reach through a shopfront alone. The trade off is that you are playing on someone else’s platform, by their rules, so it pays to understand how the system works before you commit stock and money.
This guide walks through the practical steps of getting started as a seller from Singapore: setting up your account, listing products, choosing how to fulfil orders, staying on the right side of platform rules, and handling tax. It is general information rather than professional advice, so confirm the current requirements directly before you trade.
Setting Up Your Seller Account
Everything starts with a seller account. You register through Amazon’s seller portal, choosing a selling plan that matches your expected volume. Smaller sellers often begin on a lighter plan and move up as orders grow. During sign up you will be asked for business and identity details, a contactable address, a bank account that can receive your payouts, and a card for any charges.
Take care with the information you enter, because Amazon verifies sellers and mismatched details can delay your approval. Decide early which marketplace you want to sell on. You might focus on the regional marketplace closest to home, or aim at a larger overseas one where demand for your product is stronger. Each marketplace has its own audience, competition and requirements, so research where your product actually sells before choosing.
Be aware that fees exist at several points, including selling plan charges, referral fees on each sale, and optional costs for extra services. Amazon publishes its current fee schedule in the seller portal, so read it there rather than relying on figures you find elsewhere, and build those costs into your pricing from the start.
Listing Your Products
A listing is your shopfront on Amazon, and its quality directly affects your sales. Each listing needs a clear title, accurate product details, good photographs and an honest description. If your product already exists in Amazon’s catalogue you may be able to add your offer to an existing listing. If it is new, you create the listing yourself and provide the required product identifiers.
Write for the customer first. Explain what the product is, who it is for, and why it is worth buying, using the specific details shoppers search for such as size, material, compatibility or quantity. Clear photos on a plain background, showing the product from several angles, help buyers feel confident and reduce returns.
Pricing needs thought. Look at what comparable products sell for, then set a price that covers your product cost, your fees, your shipping and a sensible margin. Underpricing to win the sale can leave you losing money once every cost is counted, so do the full sum before you publish.
Choosing How to Fulfil Orders
You have two broad ways to get orders to customers. You can fulfil them yourself, storing the stock and posting each order when it sells, which gives you full control but takes your time and handling. Alternatively, you can send stock into Amazon’s own fulfilment network and let the platform pick, pack and ship on your behalf, which can speed up delivery and free your time but adds storage and handling fees.
The table below sets out the trade offs so you can choose what fits your business today.
| Factor | Fulfil it yourself | Use Amazon’s network |
|---|---|---|
| Control over packing | High | Lower |
| Your time per order | More | Less |
| Delivery speed | Depends on you | Often faster |
| Extra fees | Fewer | Storage and handling apply |
| Best for | Low volume, fragile or custom goods | Steady volume, standard products |
Many sellers start by fulfilling themselves to keep costs low, then switch to the platform’s network once volumes rise and packing every order by hand becomes a bottleneck. Cross border shipping adds customs and delivery considerations, so factor those in when you sell into an overseas marketplace.
Following Platform Rules
Amazon enforces its policies firmly, and breaking them can get your listings removed or your account suspended, so treat the rules as part of your business plan rather than fine print. Sell only genuine products you are entitled to sell, describe them honestly, and avoid restricted or prohibited categories unless you hold the right approvals.
Customer experience carries real weight. Respond to buyer messages promptly, dispatch on time, and handle returns fairly, because your metrics and reviews influence how visible your products are. Never try to manipulate reviews or ratings, as this is against the rules and risks your whole account.
Handling Tax and Getting Set Up Properly
Selling online is still running a business, so the normal obligations apply. Register your business appropriately and keep proper records of your sales, fees and costs. Tax applies to your business, so understand your responsibilities to IRAS, including whether and when Goods and Services Tax obligations arise for you. Cross border sales can bring additional tax and customs duties in the destination country, which is another reason to research each marketplace before you enter it. When in doubt, speak to an accountant who can advise on your specific situation.
Start small and learn. List a handful of products, watch how they sell, refine your listings and pricing, and reinvest as you grow. The sellers who last are the ones who treat Amazon as a serious sales channel, keep their costs honest, and build a reputation for reliable, accurately described products.
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