Getting started
Do I need a US LLC to sell on Amazon USA from India?+
Technically no - you can sell as a sole proprietor with Indian documents. Practically yes, because Amazon US holds payouts in USD which Indian banks treat as inward remittance with FEMA + tax compliance overhead. A US LLC gets you a US bank account, simplifies tax compliance, and unlocks Amazon Brand Registry, all of which materially affect long-term economics.
How long does the full setup take?+
LLC formation: 5-7 days. EIN: 4-6 weeks if no SSN (we expedite via Form SS-4 fax). US bank account: 7-14 days once EIN is in hand. Amazon US Seller Central verification: 7-21 days. Total realistic timeline from contract signed to first FBA shipment: 8-12 weeks.
Can I keep my Indian company and still have a US LLC?+
Yes. Most of our clients run an Indian Pvt Ltd or proprietorship for India operations and a separate US LLC for US/global. The two stay legally separate. Inter-company transfers need transfer pricing documentation if material.
What states should I form my LLC in?+
For Amazon sellers: Texas (low franchise tax, no state income tax, where our warehouse is - saves sales tax compliance work). Wyoming for privacy. Delaware only if VC-backed. New Mexico for absolute lowest fees if you do not care about banking convenience. We default to Texas - see our LLC guide for full comparison.
EIN and banking
Can I get an EIN without an SSN or ITIN?+
Yes. We file Form SS-4 by fax with "Foreign" in the SSN field. IRS issues the EIN by fax/mail in 4-6 weeks. Online EIN application requires SSN/ITIN - we do not use that route. We have done this for 50+ Indian founders successfully.
Which US bank account works for Indian-owned LLC?+
Mercury (most popular, free, no SSN needed), Relay Financial (good for multi-currency), Wise Business (treasury features). Brick-and-mortar banks (Chase, BoA) require in-person visit. We do not recommend Brex for new sellers - credit requirements are tight.
Do I need to visit USA to open a bank account?+
No, not with Mercury/Relay/Wise. They are fully remote. Some traditional banks require an in-person visit. We have never had a client need to fly to the US just to bank.
What documents do I need to open a Mercury account?+
EIN letter from IRS, LLC formation document (Certificate of Formation), Operating Agreement (we provide template), founder passport, founder address proof, and a business description. Mercury approves 80%+ of well-documented applications.
FBA prep and warehouse
What is FBA prep and why do I need it?+
Amazon requires every unit sold via FBA to meet specific labelling, packaging, and barcoding standards. FBA prep is the work of receiving inventory, applying FNSKU labels, poly-bagging where needed, bundling, and creating shipments to Amazon fulfilment centres. Skipping it means your inventory gets rejected at the FBA dock and shipped back at your expense.
Do you store inventory for me?+
Yes. 12,000 sq ft owned warehouse in USA. Storage is $0.50/cu.ft per month. Scan-tracked inventory with real-time portal access. No minimums.
What is your FBA prep SLA?+
24 hours from receipt to shipment-ready for standard prep (label + poly bag + box). 48 hours for complex prep (bundles, multi-pack, custom inserts). Rush 4-hour available at 2x rate.
What does FBA prep cost?+
Standard prep: $0.45/unit (FNSKU label + standard packaging). Poly-bagging: +$0.20/unit. Bundling: $0.75/unit. See pricing for the full breakdown.
Do you handle returns from Amazon?+
Yes. Returns are received, inspected, re-prepped if sellable, and shipped back to FBA. ~60-70% of returned units are resellable as new. Non-resellable units are either disposed of or returned to you. Service fee: $1.25/unit inspected.
Freight and shipping
Air freight or ocean freight from India to USA?+
Air freight: 4-7 days, $4.50/kg (express) or $3.20/kg (deferred). Best for first shipments, restocks, high-margin items, or sub-300kg loads. Ocean LCL: 25-40 days, $90/CBM. Best for 1+ CBM regular restocks. Ocean FCL: 22-35 days, $2,800-4,500/20ft container. See our shipping calculator.
Do I need customs documentation?+
Yes. Commercial invoice, packing list, AWB or BL, and HTS classification minimum. For first-time importers we file Form 5106 with US Customs. We handle 100% of import documentation as part of our freight service.
What about US import duties?+
Depends on the HTS code. Apparel: 7-32%. Home textiles: 2.7-11.4%. Beauty: 0-6.5%. Kitchen ware: 0-7%. STEM toys: 0%. India had GSP duty-free access until 2019 - that is gone for most products. We give you exact duty before you ship.
Who is the Importer of Record?+
Your US LLC. We assist with the documentation but legally your LLC is the importer. This is why having the LLC + EIN before first shipment matters.
Tax and compliance
Do I need to collect US sales tax?+
Mostly no. Since 2018 (Wayfair ruling), marketplace facilitator laws require Amazon to collect and remit sales tax in 47 states automatically. You are only liable for: (a) the 3 states without MPF laws, (b) sales outside Amazon, (c) registration thresholds in specific states. See our sales tax guide.
What is BOI and do I need to file?+
Beneficial Ownership Information report - every US LLC formed or registered after Jan 1, 2024 must file with FinCEN within 90 days. Reports owners with 25%+ stake. Penalty for non-filing: $500/day. We handle it.
What is Form 5472 and Form 1120?+
Form 5472 + Form 1120 (pro-forma) - required for single-member LLCs owned by foreigners. Reports transactions between you and the LLC. Penalty: $25,000 for non-filing. Annual filing.
Do I pay US income tax as an Indian founder?+
Single-member LLC = pass-through. Profits flow to you personally. Without US presence (ECI), you generally owe 0% US federal income tax. You still pay Indian income tax on global income. State income tax: 0% in TX, FL, WY. Always check with a CPA - we coordinate one as part of Brand tier.
Amazon account and growth
Can you help me get my Amazon US seller account approved?+
Yes. Approval needs: US LLC + EIN, US bank account, US phone number (we provide), valid passport, utility bill matching address, credit card. Approval typically 7-14 days once docs are submitted. Verification fails are usually due to mismatched names - we coach you through.
How does Amazon PPC work for new sellers?+
For new listings, we start with auto-targeted Sponsored Products to find converting keywords (week 1-3). Move to manual campaigns once data builds. Then Sponsored Brands once Brand Registry is in. Typical first-3-month ACOS for our clients: 28-42% (high, by design - buying initial reviews). Target TACoS at 90 days: 15-22%.
When should I file Amazon Brand Registry?+
After your USPTO trademark application is filed and you have a serial number (typically 1-2 weeks post-filing). You do not need the trademark fully approved - just the application accepted. We help file the trademark + Brand Registry as part of Brand tier.
What categories work best for Indian sellers?+
Top 5 by GMV in our book: home textiles (bedsheets, towels), kitchen and dining (copperware, steel containers), beauty (Ayurvedic, natural), apparel (kurtis, fusion wear), STEM toys. See our category guide.
Pricing and engagement
How are you priced?+
One-time setup ($1,499-$4,999 depending on tier) + monthly operations ($499-$1,597) + per-unit FBA prep ($0.45-$0.75) + storage ($0.50/cu.ft). No setup fees beyond the one-time package. No lock-in. Full breakdown at /pricing.
Is there a minimum contract length?+
No. Cancel monthly services with 7 days notice. The one-time setup fee is non-refundable once LLC filing has started (see Refund Policy).
Do you take equity or revenue share?+
Never. We are a service business, not a partner. You own 100% of your brand, listings, and revenue. We earn fixed fees only.
What happens if I leave?+
You take everything with you - LLC, EIN, bank account, Amazon account, trademark, brand assets, all client data. We help you transition to in-house ops or another 3PL. No exit fees.
Couldn't find your answer?
WhatsApp us at +91 88883 24275 or send a message. We answer within 1 business day.