How to sell on Amazon US from Hong Kong

Key takeaways

• Hong Kong businesses registered as a sole proprietorship or limited company can sell on Amazon US using a Business Registration certificate, identity documents, a credit card, and a USD receiving account.

• Amazon offers Individual and Professional selling plans, alongside FBA logistics, so you can store inventory and fulfil orders remotely.

• An Airwallex Business Account lets you collect USD directly from Amazon and save up to 80% on FX fees when converting to HKD.

Many Hong Kong SMEs have expanded into the US to reach customers around the world. If you are considering launching your own cross-border brand, you can register an Amazon account online with local business documents, proof of identity, a credit card, and a multi-currency account.

This step-by-step Amazon guide explains how to register your seller account, choose a selling plan, and understand FBA fees. Pairing your Amazon shop with Airwallex’s unified financial platform for global businesses can simplify overseas payments and take your brand to new markets.

Choose the right Amazon US selling plan

Before you sign up, review Amazon’s two primary selling plans: Individual and Professional. The table below outlines the key differences.

Both plans charge a referral fee for every item sold. In popular categories such as apparel, accessories, beauty, and electronic accessories, these fees generally range from 5% to 17%.

Many Hong Kong merchants planning to sell on Amazon US from Hong Kong choose the Professional plan because it includes essential marketing tools. Once you have chosen a plan, gather the materials you need for onboarding.

Preparation checklist for Hong Kong Amazon sellers

Registering an Amazon seller account is free. You can sign up as a sole proprietor or limited company to publish product listings, manage orders, and receive payouts. Prepare the following before you start your application.

1. Credit or debit card: An internationally enabled card meets Amazon’s basic registration requirements. Airwallex Corporate Cards are free to issue online, available immediately, and charge 0% in foreign transaction fees.

2. US phone number: You may need a US phone number to receive verification codes. If you are based in Hong Kong, you can use a reputable virtual-number provider.

3. US receiving account: You can open a USD receiving account through an Airwallex Business Account without travelling abroad. Once approved, your account includes local US bank details, such as a routing number and dedicated account number, for Amazon payouts.

4. Company documentation: Prepare your business registration details, the legal representative’s passport or identity document, company address, phone number, and email address.

Once you have these materials ready, follow the setup steps below.

Six steps to complete the Amazon account registration

Follow these steps to complete your Amazon registration:

1. Create a user profile: Enter your name, email address, and password, then create a new user profile and verify your email address.

2. Verify your company information: Provide your business details, including your business type and legal name, then complete phone or SMS verification.

3. Submit the legal representative’s details: Enter the owner’s and beneficial owner’s information, then select the marketplaces you want to use.

4. Set up payments and billing: Add your bank account and credit card details to pay Amazon fees and receive payouts.

5. Choose your shop name: Enter the storefront name that will appear on Amazon.com.

6. Upload your documents: Submit your verification documents to complete identity verification.

After registration, you will then choose how to fulfil your orders.

Two fulfilment options: merchant fulfilment and Amazon FBA

Next, decide how you will store, pack, and ship your products, as well as manage customer returns. Review these operating costs carefully before you start selling.

If your business already has warehousing and transport arrangements, fulfilling orders in-house can give you more control over the customer experience and help protect your margins. This approach may suit brands with custom packaging requirements or established shipping infrastructure.

Alternatively, Fulfilment by Amazon (FBA) provides a more hands-off approach to logistics.

How Amazon FBA works

Fulfilment by Amazon (FBA) is available on both Individual and Professional plans, with no separate recurring subscription charge. First, ship your inventory to an Amazon FBA fulfilment centre in the US, then Amazon will manage warehousing, order packing, delivery, customer service, and returns.

FBA lets businesses sell on Amazon US from Hong Kong while making products eligible for Prime delivery badges. Review the main FBA cost components to calculate your margins accurately.

Amazon FBA fees: A logistic charge list for Hong Kong sellers

FBA costs fall into three main categories. Calculate these expenses before you launch so your pricing covers all operating costs.

1. Fulfilment fee

This per-item charge depends on product dimensions, shipping weight, and category. Rates vary between small standard, large standard, and oversized items. Review Amazon’s latest official FBA fee tables, as pricing is updated from time to time.

2. Monthly inventory storage fee

Storage costs depend on your average daily inventory volume in US fulfilment centres. Fees vary by month, item size, and whether products are classified as dangerous goods. Peak-season rates are higher from October to December. Check Amazon’s official rate sheets for current pricing.

3. Return processing fee

Amazon applies return processing fees to items with high return rates relative to category benchmarks, excluding apparel and shoes. This fee applies only when returns exceed specific thresholds. Charges depend on item dimensions and shipping weight.

Managing products in the US from Hong Kong

Once you have estimated your potential margins, prepare your products for the US market with the following steps.

Create an Amazon listing

Creating an Amazon listing is the first step in setting up your shop. It also establishes a shipping plan, including the destination FBA warehouse and the location from which your products will be shipped.

Select a customs broker

Licensed customs brokers can help import your products into the US and move shipments through regulatory checks. They manage entry declarations, duties, and paperwork. You can find licensed brokers through the Hong Kong Freight Forwarders and Logistics Association or commercial trade directories.

You can also use courier providers such as FedEx, DHL, and UPS for air express shipments. Their air freight services include customs clearance options.

Import your products

Work with a reliable freight forwarder to coordinate customs declarations, cargo transport, and temporary warehouse storage. Research providers carefully and look for a partner with relevant experience.

Running US operations remotely from Hong Kong takes planning. Standard quality checks can help keep inventory moving safely.

Inspect product samples

If you cannot inspect your products in person, ask suppliers to send physical samples. Physical checks are more reliable than reviewing digital photographs. You can also request test reports, consult past trade references, and hire third-party inspection firms to verify quality.

Conduct quality assurance

Remote selling creates operational distance, but inspection agencies in manufacturing hubs can audit goods before export. This helps confirm that your products meet Amazon’s quality guidelines before shipment.

Prepare products for shipping

Prep centres ensure that products are packaged, labelled, and bundled according to Amazon’s requirements. Non-compliant packaging can lead to warehouse rejections or penalty fees. Using a prep service can help keep inbound deliveries on track.

Arrange warehousing

Amazon provides storage space, but it sets inventory limits based on storage capacity and item size. Sellers handling oversized items may need additional storage from a third-party logistics (3PL) provider.

Following these steps lets you manage US inventory from Hong Kong while maintaining product quality.

Expand to Amazon US with Airwallex

International transfer and currency conversion costs can eat into your profits when you convert USD earnings into HKD. Traditional banks in Hong Kong may charge handling fees or apply wide FX spreads, which reduce your net returns.

With an Airwallex Business Account, you can retain more of your US profits when you sell on Amazon US from Hong Kong. Airwallex provides USD receiving account details that are compatible with Amazon, with no minimum balance requirement. You can save up to 80% on FX fees when converting USD to HKD, with fast access to funds for reinvestment and growth.

Airwallex Checkout also lets eCommerce businesses accept 160+ local payment methods in 130+ currencies across 180+ regions. You can also issue virtual Corporate Cards to manage team spend from one unified financial platform.

Ready to grow your business internationally? Register for an Airwallex Business Account online. Approval can take as little as 48 hours, so you can start collecting international payments quickly.

Frequently asked questions

1. What documents do Hong Kong sellers need to open an Amazon US account?

Hong Kong businesses need a valid Business Registration certificate, identity documents for the legal representative, such as a passport or HKID copy, an international credit card for Amazon fees, and a multi-currency account to collect USD payouts.

2. What is Amazon FBA, and is it mandatory for Hong Kong sellers?

FBA is Amazon’s end-to-end logistics service. It manages storage, packing, delivery, customer service, and returns. FBA is optional, but it removes the need to arrange individual international express shipments from Hong Kong.

3. How can Hong Kong sellers reduce FX costs when receiving USD from Amazon?

Traditional banks in Hong Kong may charge international transaction fees or apply wide FX spreads to USD transfers. An Airwallex Business Account lets you receive USD directly and save up to 80% on FX fees.

Sources:

Information was sourced as of October 2026 for reference purposes. For the latest details, please visit each provider’s official website.

1. https://sell.amazon.com/zh/sell

2. https://sellercentral.amazon.com/help/hub/reference/external/200405020?locale=zh-TW

3. https://sell.amazon.com/zh/build-an-online-store

4. https://www.wenweipo.com/a/202502/07/AP67a59d53e4b08dce34c51c5b.html

Disclaimer: This article was prepared in October 2026 based on voluntary online research and publicly available information. We have not personally tested every tool or provider mentioned. This article is for educational purposes only, and readers should independently evaluate each service provider based on their specific business requirements. Content is updated every six months. To request an update, please contact us at [email protected].