Amazon Seller Account (USA): How to Register, What It Costs & the Compliance Landmines

This article is a summary of a post originally published at - ave7LIFT

By ave7LIFT

Most sellers think opening a US Seller Central account is “just paperwork.” In reality, it’s an automated verification gauntlet that treats small inconsistencies as fraud signals. A single typo, formatting difference, or “almost-right” document can flip your application into deactivated/stuck in review before you ever list an ASIN.

The core lesson (as we discuss in more detail on ave7LIFT) is the Exact Match Rule: what you type during registration must match your documents character-for-character. Humans forgive “St.” vs “Street.” Amazon’s systems often don’t.

What you must have ready (and why most people fail)
Before you click Register, build a clean verification stack:

• Government ID (color, unexpired, readable)

• Official bank/credit card statement PDF (recent, unedited, not a screenshot)

• Chargeable credit card (avoid prepaid/virtual cards that trigger risk scoring)

• Tax info (SSN/EIN/ITIN or local tax ID, depending on seller type)

• Phone for 2FA (don’t improvise this mid-flow)
  If even one item has a name or address variation, Amazon may interpret it as multiple identities—and that’s when applications get blocked.

“Behavioral” traps that trigger fraud systems
Even with perfect docs, sellers accidentally spike risk by acting “unstable” during setup:

• Using a VPN or masked IP

• Repeated failed attempts (“keep trying” makes it worse)

• Re-uploading / renaming/cropping documents multiple times

• Switching devices, browsers, locations, or using a VA’s computer

• Mixed-country signals (entity, bank, phone, and IP don’t align)

The approval gates you can’t ignore
Registration often includes two major choke points:

• Video identity verification: you may need to show original documents live and prove they’re not photocopies.

• Postcard address verification: Amazon mails an OTP; guessing wrong can lock verification and delay activation.

Costs, timelines, and why “free” isn’t free
Your plan choice matters, but compliance comes first:

• Individual: pay per unit sold (best for low volume)

• Professional: monthly subscription plus referral/FBA fees (best for serious sellers)
  Approval can be fast when everything matches—or drag into manual review when it doesn’t.

About ave7LIFT
ave7LIFT helps Amazon sellers protect their Presence (searchable, clickable, buyable) by monitoring account signals, spotting verification risk early, and guiding compliant next steps when Amazon’s messages are vague. Find more at https://ave7LIFT.

You’ve just seen the highlights. For the complete guide, checklists, and deeper troubleshooting, read the full article on ave7LIFT.