Guides and updates for Amazon sellers

A registered agent is the person or company your LLC names to accept lawsuits and official state mail. This guide covers what the job involves, who can do it, whether you can be your own agent, how to choose a service, and what happens if you have none.

For most US sellers, the best state to form an LLC is the one they live and work in. Forming in Wyoming or Delaware usually means registering at home too. This guide covers what those states offer, common myths, and the cases where another state makes sense.

Non-US sellers can get an EIN for a US LLC without a Social Security number. The IRS online tool is not available to them, so they apply by phone, fax or mail. This guide covers Form SS-4, timelines, common mistakes, and what to do after the number arrives.

A single-member LLC is taxed like a sole proprietorship by default. This guide explains what an S corp election changes, how the reasonable salary rule works, what extra payroll and filing work it adds, who can elect, and how the Form 2553 deadline works.

You don't need a US LLC to sell on Amazon.com, but many non-US sellers form one for US banking and payment tools. This guide covers how to choose a state, the setup steps, the free EIN, and the yearly Form 5472 filing that comes with a single-member LLC owned by a non-US person.

A DBA registers a business name. It does not protect your personal assets or your brand. This guide explains when Amazon sellers need one, how it differs from an LLC and a trademark, how filing works in Texas and California, and the mistakes to avoid.

Forming an LLC takes six steps: pick a name, choose a state, appoint a registered agent, file Articles of Organization, write an operating agreement, and get a free EIN. This guide also covers what to do after the state approves your LLC, including updating your Amazon seller account.

Most Amazon sellers choose between staying a sole proprietor and forming an LLC. This guide compares sole proprietorships, partnerships, LLCs, C corporations, S corp elections, and nonprofits on liability, taxes, and paperwork, then matches each structure to common seller situations.

A virtual address is a street address at a mail-receiving business that scans your mail. It can keep your home address off state filings and your Amazon Seller Profile. It can't be your registered agent address or receive inventory, and Amazon and banks still verify where you live or operate.

Amazon does not require an LLC to sell, and you can register as an individual. This guide explains what an LLC changes and what it leaves alone, when forming one makes sense, when waiting is reasonable, and the steps to take if you decide to form.