Amazon Individual vs Professional selling plan: which one and how to switch
Every Amazon seller picks a selling plan. It’s the only monthly fee Amazon charges just for having a seller account — and choosing wrong either wastes $39.99 a month or leaves you without tools you need.
The two plans
| Individual | Professional | |
|---|---|---|
| Plan fee | $0.99 per item sold | $39.99 per month, however many items you sell |
| Selling fees | Referral fees (and FBA fees if you use it) | Same |
| Tools | Essential tools | Adds bulk listing, advertising with Amazon Ads, brand-building tools, detailed sales reports, automated pricing, B2B and global selling, apps and APIs |
| Amazon says it suits | New or casual sellers selling under 40 items a month | Sellers expecting more than 40 items a month, or who need the tools |
The break-even
$39.99 ÷ $0.99 ≈ 40.4. So on the plan fee alone:
- 40 items a month or fewer → Individual is cheaper;
- 41 or more → Professional is cheaper.
But volume isn’t the only factor: if you want to advertise, list in bulk or use Brand Registry, you need Professional regardless. To see the full cost of each sale — referral fee, FBA fee, plan fee — use the Amazon fee calculator.
How to switch plans
Amazon says you can switch or cancel your plan at any time after registration, with no extra fee for switching:
- In Seller Central, select the gear icon (top right) → Account Info.
- Under Manage Your Services, select Selling On Amazon, then Selling On Amazon again for the options.
- Choose Professional or Individual, then Apply changes.
Upgrading: the Professional subscription starts immediately; the extra tools appear right away, though some billing features can take up to two days.
Downgrading: if you don’t see the option to switch to Individual, you’re probably enrolled in a service that requires Professional. Disenroll from it first, then switch. Amazon also suggests timing the change with your billing cycle to avoid unexpected prorated charges.
Before you sign up
You’ll need ID, a bank account and more for registration either way — see Amazon seller identity verification.