3PL & Fulfillment Services for Amazon and E-Commerce Sellers

Third-party logistics providers (3PLs) offer storage, order fulfillment, and shipping services that allow businesses to outsource their warehousing and distribution operations. While 3PL services are widely used across many industries, they play a particularly important role for growing e-commerce sellers who need more storage capacity, faster order processing, or multi-channel fulfillment capabilities.

Many Amazon sellers begin by using prep centers to prepare inventory for FBA shipments. As businesses grow, some sellers require additional services such as long-term inventory storage, direct-to-customer fulfillment, or order processing for multiple sales channels. In these cases, working with a 3PL provider can provide the infrastructure needed to scale operations without maintaining a private warehouse.

The relationship between Amazon and traditional e-commerce works in both directions. Some established businesses expand into Amazon as an additional sales channel, while many Amazon sellers eventually grow into multi-channel operations that include Shopify, WooCommerce, or other marketplaces. In either case, fulfillment operations must support inventory flowing to Amazon as well as orders shipping directly to customers.

Some prep centers expand their services to include 3PL fulfillment, while other providers specialize exclusively in warehousing and order fulfillment for e-commerce businesses. These providers may support Amazon FBA prep, FBM fulfillment, Shopify or other e-commerce platforms, and direct shipping to customers — allowing sellers to manage inventory across multiple fulfillment models.

Featured Service Providers

A third-party logistics provider (3PL) is a company that stores inventory and fulfills orders on behalf of a business. Instead of managing their own warehouse operations, sellers send inventory to the 3PL facility, where it is stored until orders are processed and shipped to customers or distribution partners.

For e-commerce sellers, 3PL services typically include inventory storage, pick-and-pack order fulfillment, shipping coordination, and returns handling. Orders may originate from multiple sales channels such as Amazon FBM listings, Shopify stores, other marketplaces, or direct website orders. The 3PL provider manages the operational side of fulfillment while the seller focuses on sourcing, marketing, and growing their business.

Many modern fulfillment providers operate using warehouse management systems (WMS) that help track inventory levels, manage order flow, and coordinate shipping across multiple sales channels. These systems can automate tasks such as order routing, label generation, inventory updates, and tracking uploads, helping fulfillment operations run efficiently at scale.

Many Amazon sellers first encounter outsourced fulfillment through prep centers that prepare inventory for FBA shipments. Some of those providers later expand into broader 3PL services by adding larger storage capacity, direct-to-customer shipping, and multi-channel order processing. While not all prep centers offer full 3PL services, the two models often overlap as sellers grow beyond basic FBA prep workflows.

Prep centers and third-party logistics providers both handle inventory and fulfillment tasks, but they typically serve different operational roles for sellers. Prep centers primarily focus on preparing inventory for Amazon’s FBA network. Their services often include receiving shipments from suppliers, inspecting products, applying FNSKU labels, packaging items according to Amazon requirements, and forwarding shipments to Amazon fulfillment centers.

3PL providers generally offer a broader set of fulfillment services that extend beyond preparing inventory for FBA. In addition to storage, many 3PL facilities process individual customer orders through pick-and-pack fulfillment, ship orders directly to buyers through FBM (Fulfilled by Merchant) listings, manage returns, and support multiple sales channels such as Shopify or other marketplaces.

In practice, the two models sometimes overlap. Some prep centers expand their services to include FBM fulfillment or limited 3PL capabilities as their clients grow. At the same time, many 3PL providers support Amazon sellers by preparing inbound FBA shipments alongside their broader fulfillment services. The right solution often depends on the seller’s inventory volume, sales channels, and operational needs.

Storage capacity and order volume can also influence which type of provider is the better fit. Prep centers are often designed for faster inventory turnover and shipment preparation, while 3PL facilities may accommodate larger inventory volumes, longer storage periods, or higher daily order processing requirements. Some 3PL providers also establish minimum storage levels or order volume thresholds, making them better suited for sellers operating at greater scale.

For many businesses, the transition from prep services to full 3PL support occurs gradually as order volume increases or fulfillment requirements become more complex. Some sellers continue using both types of providers — sending inventory to Amazon through a prep center while maintaining separate inventory with a 3PL partner for FBM or multi-channel fulfillment.

Many Amazon sellers begin by using prep centers to prepare inventory for FBA shipments or to support limited FBM fulfillment. As businesses grow, however, fulfillment needs can become more complex. Larger product catalogs, higher order volume, or expansion into additional sales channels may require more storage capacity and more sophisticated order processing systems.

Some sellers move toward 3PL providers when inventory volume increases beyond what smaller prep facilities are designed to handle. Larger warehouse space, pallet storage, and more advanced fulfillment infrastructure can support higher throughput and more consistent order processing as sales scale.

Multi-channel selling is another common reason sellers adopt 3PL fulfillment. Businesses that expand beyond Amazon to operate Shopify stores, wholesale distribution, or additional online marketplaces often require a fulfillment partner capable of routing orders from multiple platforms. A 3PL provider can centralize inventory and coordinate shipping across those channels.

Additional services can also drive the transition to 3PL. Some sellers require subscription box fulfillment or custom bundling, often referred to as kitting, where multiple products are assembled into a single package before shipment. These types of workflows can be more efficiently managed in facilities designed for ongoing order assembly and fulfillment.

Operational flexibility can also play a role. Some sellers maintain inventory in multiple locations — sending products to Amazon for FBA while storing additional inventory with a 3PL provider to support FBM orders or other direct-to-customer sales. This hybrid approach allows sellers to adjust fulfillment strategies as demand shifts or new sales channels are added.

Featured 3PL Fulfillment Providers

The providers listed below offer third-party logistics (3PL) services that support Amazon sellers and other e-commerce businesses. These companies provide warehouse storage, pick-and-pack order fulfillment, and shipping services that allow sellers to outsource their fulfillment operations as their businesses grow.

Some of these providers began as Amazon prep centers and later expanded into broader 3PL services as their clients required additional storage capacity, FBM fulfillment, or multi-channel order processing. Others operate primarily as fulfillment providers that support Amazon alongside other e-commerce platforms.

The listings below represent featured placements for providers that promote 3PL fulfillment services as part of their offering. Capabilities may vary between companies, including storage capacity, order volume requirements, technology integration, and supported sales channels.

This section is not intended to be a comprehensive directory of all 3PL providers. Sellers seeking additional options for Amazon prep or fulfillment services may refer to the full Amazon FBA Prep Services Directory.

Frequently Asked Questions About 3PL Fulfillment

A third-party logistics provider (3PL) stores inventory and fulfills orders on behalf of a business. Sellers send products to the 3PL facility, where inventory is stored until orders are processed and shipped to customers or distribution partners.

Prep centers primarily focus on preparing inventory for Amazon FBA shipments, including inspection, labeling, and packaging. A 3PL provider typically offers broader services such as inventory storage, pick-and-pack fulfillment, FBM order processing, returns management, and support for multiple sales channels.

Yes. Many 3PL providers support Amazon FBM fulfillment by storing inventory and shipping orders directly to customers when sales occur. These providers must meet Amazon’s shipping and performance requirements when handling FBM orders.

Not always. Many sellers operate successfully using prep centers and Amazon’s FBA network. However, as businesses grow or expand into multiple sales channels, some sellers move to 3PL providers for additional storage capacity, direct order fulfillment, or multi-channel logistics support.

Yes. Many fulfillment providers integrate with platforms such as Shopify, marketplaces, and other e-commerce systems. These integrations allow orders from different channels to be routed through a single fulfillment system.

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Final Notes on 3PL Fulfillment for Amazon and E-Commerce Sellers

Third-party logistics providers can play an important role for businesses that have grown beyond basic prep services or require more advanced fulfillment capabilities. As inventory volume increases and sales channels expand, outsourcing warehousing and order fulfillment can help sellers maintain operational efficiency without managing their own warehouse infrastructure.

For Amazon sellers, 3PL services may complement existing fulfillment models such as FBA prep or FBM fulfillment. Some businesses rely on a combination of providers — sending inventory to Amazon for FBA while maintaining separate inventory with a 3PL partner to support direct-to-customer orders or additional sales channels.

This page is intended to provide an overview of 3PL fulfillment services and featured providers that support e-commerce and Amazon sellers. Businesses should evaluate their fulfillment needs, inventory volume, and operational goals when choosing a logistics partner.

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