Found in AI answers?Get a free review
Theory Road.
US market entry

Launch on Amazon US from outside the United States.

Amazon US is where a large share of American product searches begin, and Amazon Global Selling lets companies based abroad open a US seller account without a US entity.

The account is the easy part. A launch that sells needs a completed tax interview, a way to receive payouts, a trademark filed for Brand Registry, inventory cleared through US customs into FBA, listings written in natural US English, early reviews, and Sponsored Products that find profitable keywords fast. We run our own Amazon Seller Central accounts with Brand Registry, and we run yours the same way. Your customs broker, trademark attorney and accountant handle their parts. We coordinate the calendar and run the channel.

Questions this page answers

  • How do I sell on Amazon US from Europe?
  • Can a foreign company sell on Amazon USA?
  • How do I get inventory into Amazon FBA from abroad?
  • Do I need a US trademark for Amazon Brand Registry?
  • How do I get reviews for a new Amazon US listing?
  • How much should I spend on Sponsored Products at launch?

Step 1 of 2

How can we help you get found?

What do you need help with?

Next: name, email and budget. That’s it.

Amazon US launch

What the US market asks of you.

Amazon US asks a foreign brand to behave like a local one. Buyers compare you against American sellers with hundreds or thousands of reviews, fast Prime delivery and listings tuned over years. Amazon itself rewards sales velocity, conversion rate and in stock history. So a launch needs every piece ready on day one: FBA inventory in place, a listing that converts, Brand Registry for A+ content and brand protection, and an advertising plan that buys early sales without burning the margin. The account can be opened in weeks. The launch has to be planned in months.

What goes wrong is usually operational. Inventory ships before anyone has arranged an importer of record or a customs broker, and sits at the port. Listings are translated from another marketplace and read awkwardly to American buyers. The trademark was never filed at the USPTO, so Brand Registry waits. Sponsored Products campaigns run on broad match with no negative keywords and consume the budget in days. And since the US suspended duty free de minimis treatment, small parcel shortcuts some sellers relied on no longer work the way they did.

We run it as one project. Your trademark attorney files the US mark early so Brand Registry is ready at launch. Your customs broker and forwarder handle import, and we build the FBA shipment plan, prep and labeling requirements with them. We research US keywords, write the listings and A+ content, plan reviews through Amazon's own programs, and launch Sponsored Products with tight structure and daily bid management. Then we manage pricing, the Buy Box, inventory levels and reporting every week, in plain numbers.

The launch, phase by phase
  1. Months 1 to 2Account, tax interview and trademark filingGlobal Selling registration, identity verification, payout setup, tax interview, and your attorney files the USPTO application.
  2. Months 2 to 3Keyword research, listings and pricingUS search terms, titles, bullets, images and A+ content drafts, plus pricing checked against landed cost and competitors.
  3. Months 2 to 4Import and FBA inboundYour broker and forwarder clear customs, we build the FBA shipment plan, prep, labels and inventory targets.
  4. Launch weeks 1 to 8Sponsored Products and review programsTight campaign structure, daily bid and negative keyword work, Vine where eligible, and conversion fixes from real data.
  5. Month 4 onwardScale, protect and restockBrand Registry tools, Sponsored Brands, Buy Box and price monitoring, restock planning and weekly reporting.
Amazon US launch

Where US launches stall.

  • Registration from abroad

    Global Selling needs identity and business documents, a chargeable credit card, a bank account that can receive payouts and a completed tax interview. Mismatched names or addresses across documents are a common cause of verification delays.

  • Getting inventory into FBA

    Amazon does not act as your importer of record. You need an importer of record, a customs broker and a forwarder, plus FBA prep and labeling done right, or shipments are delayed or refused.

  • Brand Registry needs a trademark

    Brand Registry requires a registered or pending trademark from an eligible office. Foreign-domiciled applicants at the USPTO must be represented by a US-licensed attorney, so filing should start months before launch.

  • Zero reviews against incumbents

    A new listing competes with American sellers holding years of reviews. Early reviews must come only through Amazon approved routes, because incentivized or manipulated reviews risk listing removal and account suspension.

Theory Road

What we run for you.

Talk to us about your US launch
  • Seller Central setup and health

    Global Selling registration, verification support, payout and tax interview guidance, account health monitoring and case handling with Seller Support so small issues do not become suspensions.

  • US listings and A+ content

    Keyword research on US search behavior, titles, bullets and backend terms in natural US English, image briefs, A+ content and a Brand Store once Brand Registry is approved.

  • FBA inbound planning

    Shipment plans, prep and labeling requirements and inventory targets worked out with your customs broker and forwarder, so stock arrives sellable and avoids stockouts.

  • Sponsored Products launch

    Exact, phrase and auto campaigns with clear budgets, daily bid management, negative keywords and harvesting, measured on ACoS and total ad cost of sale rather than clicks.

  • Reviews and Vine

    Early review volume through Amazon's own programs such as Vine where eligible, compliant follow up, and listing fixes driven by what early reviewers actually say.

  • Buy Box, pricing and protection

    Price and Buy Box monitoring, coupon and deal planning, and Brand Registry reporting of counterfeit or hijacked listings, with MAP issues flagged to you early.

United States

How US demand gets built.

Sponsored ProductsBuys early visibility on exact US search terms and feeds organic rankLaunch day onward
Amazon organic searchThe long term source of profitable sales once reviews and velocity buildBuilds over months 1 to 6
Vine and review programsEarns first reviews through Amazon approved routesFirst weeks after launch
Sponsored Brands and Brand StoreBrand search defense and cross selling across the catalogAfter Brand Registry approval
Coupons and dealsConversion lift and velocity at key moments like Prime eventsMonth 2 onward, selectively
External traffic with attributionGoogle and social traffic to listings, measured through Amazon AttributionMonth 3 onward
Compliance

US rules to plan for.

  • Customs and importer of record.

    Amazon will not be your importer of record. Your customs broker handles entry, classification under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule and current duty rules, which changed repeatedly in 2025 and 2026.

  • USPTO trademark.

    Foreign-domiciled applicants must use a US-licensed attorney at the USPTO, a rule since 2019. Your trademark attorney owns the filing and any office actions.

  • Product rules and category approval.

    Some categories need approval or documents, and FDA, FCC, CPSC or Prop 65 rules may apply. Your compliance advisor confirms requirements; we prepare the listing to match.

  • Sales tax and income tax.

    Amazon collects sales tax on its sales in most states under marketplace facilitator laws. Your accountant advises on the tax interview, treaty questions and any other obligations.

  • Review and claim rules.

    Amazon policy and FTC rules ban paid or manipulated reviews and unsupported claims. We keep listings and review requests inside both, at the time of writing.

A good fit

  • Consumer product brands with proven sales at home and packaging and labeling that can meet US requirements
  • Companies selling on Amazon in Europe, the UK or Latin America that now want the US marketplace run properly
  • Brands that will engage a US trademark attorney and a customs broker, with us coordinating the launch calendar
  • Sellers with enough margin after Amazon fees and landed cost to fund a real advertising launch

Probably not a fit

  • Sellers hoping to ship small parcels duty free from abroad, since de minimis treatment was suspended for all countries in 2025
  • Brands that want fast reviews through gifting, rebates or review groups, which breaks Amazon policy and risks the account
Perspectives

Reading before a US launch.

FAQ

Questions from founders abroad.

Q01
How do I sell on Amazon US from Europe?
Register through Amazon Global Selling with your company and identity documents, a chargeable credit card and a bank account that can receive payouts, then complete the tax interview. File a US trademark through a US-licensed attorney for Brand Registry. Arrange an importer of record and customs broker to get stock into FBA. Then launch listings and Sponsored Products. We run the Amazon side and coordinate the rest.
Q02
Can a foreign company sell on Amazon USA?
Yes. Amazon Global Selling allows businesses based in many countries to open a US seller account without forming a US company. Some sellers still choose a US entity for banking, payments or tax reasons, which is a decision for your accountant and attorney. We handle the account, listings, advertising and day to day management either way.
Q03
How do I get inventory into Amazon FBA from abroad?
You need an importer of record, a customs broker and a freight forwarder, because Amazon does not import goods on your behalf. Your broker classifies the product and clears customs under current tariff rules. We build the FBA shipment plan with your forwarder, confirm prep and labeling requirements, and set inventory targets so stock arrives sellable and in time for launch.
Q04
Do I need a US trademark for Amazon Brand Registry?
You need a registered or pending trademark from an office Amazon accepts. For the US marketplace most brands file at the USPTO, and foreign-domiciled applicants must be represented by a US-licensed attorney. Registration can take many months, so filing early matters. Your attorney owns the filing. We handle the Brand Registry enrollment and use its tools once approved.
Q05
How do I get reviews for a new Amazon US listing?
Only through routes Amazon allows. Vine can place units with trusted reviewers for eligible Brand Registry sellers, the Request a Review button and compliant follow up help over time, and a listing that matches what buyers receive keeps ratings high. Paying for reviews, rebates in exchange for reviews and review groups break Amazon policy and FTC rules.
Q06
How much should I spend on Sponsored Products at launch?
It depends on keyword competition and your margin, so we size it after keyword research. We set a fixed launch budget per campaign, start with exact and phrase match on the terms most likely to convert, add negatives daily and cut waste fast. We report ACoS and total ad cost of sale weekly so you see the real cost of each sale.
Work with us

Let’s plan your US launch.

A short note on where the business is and where it needs to go. A senior partner replies within one business day.

t@theoryroad.com