Why should I work with Forum Brands to sell my Amazon Business?

First, Forum offers a hassle-free close process for Amazon Sellers. We make sure there is a structure in place and a team that is experienced in all areas to allow the transfer of knowledge from you to Forum. This makes it easier for you to exit, and helps to significantly accelerate the growth of your FBA product and brand. Forum is also a very tech-driven company. We've built a horizontal technology platform that spans our entire business model, from M&A to Operations, that drives the growth of our brands. Finally, Forum offers an earn out and a LEARN out. We are on a mission to be a trusted resource for FBA sellers at all stages of their growth, whether or not you are ready to sell. We offer several resources, from an in-depth library of blogs, to a network of preferred partners, in order to help you optimize your business.

As an Amazon Seller, how much is my business worth?

If you are wondering how to value your FBA business, explore our blog discussing how to calculate an FBA Business ! A good approach begins with creating an analysis comparing your brand's financial metrics and operational qualities to those of similar companies. Several metrics should be examined, including earnings, market competitiveness, and room for product expansion.

What can I do to prepare my business for sale?

Discover some useful tips and tricks in our Checklist for Amazon Sellers . Preparing your FBA business for sale involves a few steps. You should organize your financials, scrub your contact lists, boost your sales, update your inventory, determine your business valuation, and finally find a buyer. You should also have a strategy or a goal in mind when it comes to selling your Amazon business.

How fast can we close a deal?

Forum offers fast and efficient payouts. Work with us and you can sell your Amazon FBA business in 30 days or less.

What types of Amazon fulfillment businesses does Forum Brands acquire?

Forum buys businesses in 6 FBA product categories: Pet, Family, Patio & Garden, Sports & Outdoors, Health & Personal Care, and Home & Kitchen. We look for brands that sell 70% or more on Amazon and have demonstrated financial success of at least $2M in revenue in the last year.

Amazon Ungated Categories: A Guide for Sellers

There’s never been a better time for online sales—and if you’re selling online, then you know that working with Amazon is a must. Amazon FBA sellers take advantage of the largest marketplace in the world and connect their businesses to the leader in fulfillment and distribution.

Deciding what to sell includes understanding the Amazon stock limits, Amazon seller FBA refund policies, and limitations on the product category as well as researching what products are popular and easy to transport. You need to know which products are banned, which can be sold under specific rules, and how to decide whether it’s worth it to sell the latter.

To begin, let’s unpack Amazon ungated categories.

What Is an Ungated Category?

When you’re trying to figure out whether you can offer a product for sale on Amazon, there are a few types of limitations to understand. These include:

Legality – If it’s illegal to sell under the laws of your country or other jurisdiction, it’s off limits. While Amazon Seller Central provides detailed information on product categories and examples, it’s not a comprehensive resource. You’re required to understand and follow product sale laws and regulations whether explicitly detailed by Amazon or not.

Amazon seller policies – Amazon policies impose an additional level of restriction on what can be sold and how. There are products and categories which are entirely off-limits as well as those which require following exhaustive checklists to sell. The permissions or category approval process is also referred to as gating. Gated product categories are items that can be sold after being granted permission, which turns them into ungated categories.

Amazon FBA seller policies – Amazon FBA sellers ship directly to Amazon warehouses to rely on their international fulfillment and distribution services. In addition to strict Amazon packaging requirements, labeling, and shipping practices, there are product types and categories which are included in the Amazon restricted product list, which you need to be aware of.

For an Amazon FBA seller, an ungated category is a specific product that is legal to sell, allowable for FBA sellers to list, and has gone through the steps to obtain permission from Amazon (which moves it from gated to ungated).

What Are the Open Categories?

Open categories are those that you can set up for sale on Amazon without any steps or limits on sale. Add them to your inventory and you’re good to go!

The downside is that these products generally have the most competition; if it’s easy for you to sell, it’s easy for everyone to sell. You may need to work harder or have a clear marketing or acquisition advantage to succeed over all the similar product listings.

List of Amazon Restricted Categories

There are many Amazon restricted brands and product types Amazon restricts from its marketplace. Unlike gated categories, which require you to follow certain steps or provide certain proofs, restricted categories are built on a combination of things that are largely illegal or simply too difficult to legally distribute, including:

Alcoholic beverages (except from pre-approved wine sellers) and raw alcohol
Products specifically marketed to customers over 21 years of age
Animals and animal byproducts (with limited exceptions such as shellfish and bait)
Fine art sculptures, textiles, and many types of paintings and prints
Products in violation of any copyright or trademark including unauthorized artwork
Many vehicle parts and accessories including used and prohibited components
Noncompliant composite wood products
Cosmetic or beauty topical products that do not meet strict labeling, ingredient, and other requirements
CPAP cleaning and disinfecting devices
Currency, coins (except for collectible), cash equivalents, and gift cards
Dietary supplements that don’t meet labeling, ingredient, and other requirements
Drugs, controlled substances, products imitating them, and most drug paraphernalia
Noncompliant and prohibited electronics
Explosives, weapons, and related items other than BB, paintball, and air ammunition
Items subject to International and Export Trade Regulations
Foods and beverages not compliant with strict labeling, FDA, and other requirements
Gambling and lottery tickets and machines
Hazardous and prohibited items such as non-consumer chemicals and fireworks
Human parts and burial artifacts, except for wigs and limited medical use exceptions
Noncompliant jewelry and precious gems
Laser products except for some consumer products that can be sold with permission
Noncompliant light bulbs, lamps, and conversion kits
Lock picking and theft devices
Medical devices and accessories except for some authorized over-the-counter products
Offensive/controversial materials other than books, music, video, and DVD products
Other restricted products—this is a long list, from coupons to presidential seals
Pesticides and pesticide devices unless compliant with applicable laws and regulations
Plant and seed products not sold by licensed U.S. vendors under certain conditions
Postage meters, counterfeit stamps or equipment, and USPS U.S. Flag Forever stamps
Recalled products
Recycling electronics
Refrigerants: ozone-depleting substances and substitutes
Strike anywhere matches
Subscriptions and periodicals
Surveillance equipment with some exceptions such as baby monitors
Tobacco and many tobacco-related products including marketing (i.e., hats, t-shirts)
Warranties, service plans, contracts, and guarantees
Upholstered furniture, bedding, and other quilted products not properly labeled

How to Get Approved for Amazon Gated Category

Once you have reviewed the applicable policies and found a product that can be sold after obtaining permission, there are a few steps beyond normal inventory setup to follow. These include:

1. In your Seller Central account, click on the Inventory tab located and, from the dropdown menu, click on Add a Product.

2. Once you select the desired item, click on the Show limitations link by the product information.

From here, you’ll either see:

1. Notification that applications aren’t being accepted for this product at the time.

2. A Request Approval button that gets you started on the application process.

Selling a World-Class Consumer Brand

Are you overwhelmed with the research and steps involved in getting your inventory in buyers’ hands? Forum Brands can help. Sell your Amazon FBA business to us and ditch the checklists. We acquire FBA businesses and offer entrepreneurs a way to quickly turn a business into cash to fund new ventures.

Sources:

Amazon Seller Central. Alcohol. https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/external/help.html?itemID=200164340&language=en_US&ref=efph_200164340_cont_200164330

Amazon Seller Central. Animals & Animal-Related Products. https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/external/help.html?itemID=200164370&language=en_US&ref=efph_200164370_cont_200164330

Amazon Seller Central. Art - Fine Art. https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/external/help.html?itemID=201279060&language=en_US&ref=efph_201279060_cont_200164330

Amazon Seller Central. Art - Home Decor. https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/external/help.html?itemID=200164390&language=en_US&ref=efph_200164390_cont_200164330

Amazon Seller Central. Automotive and powersports. https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/external/help.html?itemID=200164410&language=en_US&ref=efph_200164410_cont_200164330

Amazon Seller Central. Cosmetics & Skin/Hair Care. https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/external/help.html?itemID=200164470&language=en_US&ref=efph_200164470_cont_200164330

Amazon Seller Central. Restricted products. https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/external/200164330?language=en_US&ref=efph_200164330_cont_G201730840

Amazon Seller Central. Currency, Coins, Cash Equivalents, and Gift Cards. https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/external/help.html?itemID=200164450&language=en_US&ref=efph_200164450_cont_200164330

Amazon Seller Central. Dietary Supplements. https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/external/help.html?itemID=201829010&language=en_US&ref=efph_201829010_cont_200164330

Amazon Seller Central. Drugs & drug paraphernalia. https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/external/help.html?itemID=200164490&language=en_US&ref=efph_200164490_cont_200164330

Amazon Seller Central. Explosives, weapons, and related items. https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/external/help.html?itemID=200164950&language=en_US&ref=efph_200164950_cont_200164330