Dec 7, 2021 6 min read Sell on Amazon

FAQ: Multiple Amazon Seller Accounts

Multiple Amazon seller accounts: is it a thing?

You are an Amazon seller and want to sell products for different brands.

Do you sell your existing products on your existing Amazon seller account?

Or do you create a new one?

Is it even possible for you to create a new one?

How do you open a second account? What requirements must you have?

Keep reading to find the answers to the most frequently asked questions surrounding how to open and manage a second seller account, including requirements and best practices.

Earlier we've already covered a topic Why do you need to start running multiple Amazon Seller accounts?

In 2020, Amazon updated the terms of service to state anyone could have multiple business accounts with a legitimate business need without the need for Amazon approval.

You have to meet very specific guidelines in order to open a second account. And once you open it, it's a little difficult to manage.

Below, you'll find FAQs and answers for sellers wanting multiple accounts.

Can I Have Multiple Amazon Seller Accounts?

Yes, if you have a legitimate business need.

Legitimate business needs include having more than one brand, manufacturing different products for very different companies, or you were recruited by an Amazon program that requires a new seller account.

If you open a second seller account without a legitimate need and are found by Amazon, you risk the possibility of losing both accounts.

It might be a good idea to open a case with seller support to let them know you are opening a new account and gain approval, even though it's no longer the required step.

It's a big risk to open one without going through the necessary steps and you don't want to lose your selling ability, so it's best to follow their guidelines about more than one seller account.

You can read the entire code of contact for sellers for more information.

A few account requirements:

Your account has to be in good standing
You need a separate bank account AND email address for the second account
You do not intend to sell the same products
You sell products in different categories

How to Open Multiple Amazon Seller Accounts?

You simply need to have different information regarding the businesses you are opening a seller account for.

It's best to follow best practices when opening a second account so you don't risk getting both shut down.

Review the following best practices from an attorney specializing in Amazon selling that says you should have:

Separate bank account
Separate email
Separate domains and website hosts
Different products and warehouses
Different addresses and phone numbers
A separate point of contact
Separate EINs
Different teams and management teams

If your second account meets all these requirements, it's safe to say you can move forward with opening it.

If you do not have a legitimate business need and still open an account, it could lead to multiple account suspensions.

How to Manage Multiple Amazon Seller Accounts?

There are a few downsides to having multiple accounts. You not only have two brands, but you have double all of the related business tasks.

This means:

Double the inventory, customers, and marketing needs
Updating listings will be time-consuming
Your accounts will not be synchronized in any manner
More human errors = lower quality
Less time to focus on growing your business while you manage your existing entities

Of course, there are a few solutions to these issues. You could hire someone else to manage your second account.

You could take a class on time management and productivity in hopes you can change your routine to effectively manage your overflowing cup.

Or you could purchase a third-party solution that will integrate your accounts into a centralized location, such as Bindwise's monitoring solution.

Read more about why you should start running multiple seller accounts in this blog post.

Can I Close My Amazon Seller Account and Open a New One?

Yes, you can.

However...there are a few conditions according to Amazon's seller support page.

All outstanding orders must be fulfilled
It's been 90-days since your last sale
Your balance is zero
All transactions are completed, including refunds
All A-Z Guaranteed claims are settled
You have an accurate payment method on file to receive your final payment

Once all these conditions are met, you can close your seller account.

You will no longer have access to your account once it's closed.

This means you can't:

View order history
Communicate with customers
Respond to claims
Process returns
Issue refunds
Reinstate a closed account; you will have to open a new one

If you have different accounts in several regions, each individual region will have to be closed.

It's important to note that those with a North American Unified Account will close all eligible accounts if you close. You can read more about Unified Accounts here.

The same applies to an Amazon Europe Marketplaces Account.

If your account has open A-Z Guaranteed claims, your account must remain open until these are resolved.

How Many Amazon Seller Accounts Can You Have?

While Amazon's seller terms do not specify a number, it appears that if you can meet the above requirements of a legitimate business need and have the required information for a different brand, you could open several.

To reiterate, you need separate emails, bank accounts, domains, web hosts, products, warehouses, employees, addresses, and EINs.

If you have several brands, it's best to coordinate with Amazon about how to best open seller accounts and manage each one before simply opening multiple accounts.

Or at least alert them to what is happening and why.

Can You Have Two Amazon Sellers with the Same Address?

It appears that if the requirements, not necessarily the best practices, above are met, that it will be ok.

Your account has to be in good standing
You need a separate bank account AND email address for the second account
You do not intend to sell the same products
You sell products in different categories

However, if you have two sellers at one address, it would be a great idea to open a support case and discuss the situation with Amazon before proceeding with the second account.

Can I Operate Two Amazon Seller Accounts from a Single PC?

According to the terms, if all other requirements are met, this should be ok.

But it's better to proceed with caution.

If at all possible, you should have two separate computers for your selling accounts.

This will not only help you to effectively manage your brands, but you will greatly decrease the risk of account suspension if your accounts are flagged.

What Are the Benefits of Having Two Seller Accounts?

Besides having distinctive ways to manage your brands, there are a few great reasons to have two seller accounts.

If you want to eventually sell your brand, you won't have to go through lengthy steps to separate it from a single seller account.

You can get a new inventory placement index score (IPI). Since this score can be troublesome for many sellers, having more than one account can help to build it.

It's a good business move to have more than one stream of income, and thus more than one account.

This will be beneficial in the occurrence of an accidental account suspension.

It also helps minimize general business risks by allowing separate inventory management systems and support functions.

Will Amazon Know if I Don't Have a Legitimate Business Need and Open a Second Account?

In short, yes.

How does Amazon detect multiple accounts?

They can find this information in a few different ways, including:

Your device ID
Your IP address
Billing information (bank account and/or credit card)
Company name
Phone number
Billing address

You do need a legitimate business need in order to do this, so all of these should be new or different anyway when opening a second account.

What if my Account Gets Suspended but I Have a Legitimate Business Reason for Two?

Great question!

And lucky for you, recent studies have shown that 97% of suspended accounts do get reinstated.

So, don't panic!

You'll need to gather the evidence you have (all of the information showing you have the legitimate business need) and file an appeal with the seller performance team.

When suspended, you'll receive an email with specific instructions.

Follow those! If you do not do exactly as they say, you will not get your appeal to the appropriate department.

The very best way to avoid this risk is to alert Amazon of the second account before you open it.

What Do I Do Now?

"I opened my second account, now what?"

Now you get to figure out how to effectively manage and start earning with multiple Amazon seller accounts!

You can sign up for Bindwise for free and use it to monitor the possible issues of multiple Amazon accounts while saving time and avoiding possibly costly issues like: