On this guide
Follow the path in order.Amazon FBA channel guide • Maryland launch path
Start Amazon FBA in Maryland
Decide your setup, get the Maryland registration order straight, and finish the early Amazon FBA launch steps without losing the official detail behind the answer.
Last verified April 27, 2026 7 chapters
Best for launching on Amazon FBA in Maryland. Need the full appendix? Open the full reference guide.
On this journey
1 of 7 reviewed
Current chapter: Choose setup
On this journey
1 of 7 reviewed
Current chapter: Choose setup
01
Chapter 1 of 7
Choose the setup you want to launch with
Start with the setup decision first, then use the rest of the guide to build the state registrations and platform steps around it.
Core chapter
What this chapter does
Your setup choice, the short safe path, and the money realities that matter before spending deeply.How to move through it
Review sole proprietor.Use Part 1 to get oriented, then compare both setup paths before you spend more time or money.
3 parts to review • 32 source touchpoints behind the drawers.
Chapter parts
Open Part 1 when you are ready to start working through this chapter.After you start, only one part stays open at a time and the earlier ones stay easy to revisit.
Part 1 of 3
Start here before you spend heavily
A short orientation for the guided journey before the detailed launch steps begin.
Part 1 of 3
Start here before you spend heavily
A short orientation for the guided journey before the detailed launch steps begin.
Short answer
Use this first part only to get oriented. The detailed state, platform, local, and packet steps will follow in order.- First decide whether you are launching as a sole proprietor or a single-member LLC.
- Then work through the Maryland registrations, Amazon FBA setup, local checks, and packet review in order.
Do next: Do not spend money yet.
Why this matters
Key detail
Do not spend money yet.
Keep in mind
- First decide whether you are launching as a sole proprietor or a single-member LLC.
- Then work through the Maryland registrations, Amazon FBA setup, local checks, and packet review in order.
Official links
Up next Compare setup
Part 2 of 3
Compare sole proprietor and LLC
The side-by-side setup comparison.
Part 2 of 3
Compare sole proprietor and LLC
The side-by-side setup comparison.
Short answer
Read both setup paths before you decide which one you want the rest of the launch flow to follow.- Best if you want the cheapest and simplest start.
- Maryland does not require a separate entity-formation filing just to exist as a sole proprietorship.
- Faster launch.
Do next: Review sole proprietor.
Save the path you want to optimize around
The unchosen setup stays visible for comparison, but the chosen one gets visual priority so the reading path feels more intentional.
Quick tradeoff view
Use one pass to compare the launch speed, separation, and upkeep tradeoffs.The detailed comparison stays below. This lens just makes the two setup shapes easier to scan before you read every bullet.
Best for
Sole proprietor
Best if you want the cheapest and simplest start.
Speed to start Quicker start
Owner and business separation Very little separation
Ongoing admin load Lighter upkeep
Best for
single-member LLC
Best if you want a more durable setup for a real business.
Speed to start More front-loaded paperwork
Owner and business separation Cleaner separation
Ongoing admin load More upkeep
Compare details
Sole proprietor
Best for
Best for
Best if you want the cheapest and simplest start.
What it means
- Maryland does not require a separate entity-formation filing just to exist as a sole proprietorship.
- The current Maryland checklist says a sole proprietorship has no legal entry formalities except compliance with licensing and taxation requirements.
- If you want to use a business name different from your legal name, the public SDAT filing path is a Trade Name Application.
- You usually do not get a liability shield.
Why someone chooses it
- Faster launch.
- Lower up-front cost.
- Fewer formal maintenance steps than an LLC.
Main downside
Personal liability
single-member LLC
Best for
Best for
Best if you want a more durable setup for a real business.
What it means
- The reviewed Maryland filing path uses Articles of Organization for Limited Liability Company.
- The current SDAT fee schedule lists a $100 filing fee for Articles of Organization.
- Maryland requires a resident agent and says the resident agent cannot be the business itself.
- Maryland LLCs have an annual-report branch with a currently posted public filing fee of $300.
Why someone chooses it
- Liability protection.
- Cleaner setup for banking, suppliers, bookkeeping, insurance, and scaling.
- Better fit for branded inventory, employees, and long-term operations.
Main downside
More setup and recurring maintenance than a sole proprietorship
Official links
Tax dat.maryland.gov
Maryland startup checklist
Tax dat.maryland.gov
Sole proprietor baseline
Formation dat.maryland.gov
Trade-name filing
Federal irs.gov
EIN overview and online application
Formation dat.maryland.gov
SDAT forms page
Formation dat.maryland.gov
LLC formation filing
Formation businessexpress.maryland.gov
Resident-agent rule
Formation dat.maryland.gov
Optional name reservation
Official dat.maryland.gov
Ongoing annual filing
Official dat.maryland.gov
Annual report and personal-property filing
Tax maryland.gov
Annual-report and online filing hub
Up next Money and risk
Part 3 of 3
See the money and risk realities before you spend
The upfront friction and risk notes that shape the launch decision.
Part 3 of 3
See the money and risk realities before you spend
The upfront friction and risk notes that shape the launch decision.
Short answer
These are the friction points most likely to catch a new Amazon FBA operator off guard in Maryland.- Maryland is not just an Amazon setup problem. The state tax, basic business license, trader's-license, and local permit branches matter before inventory spending.
- Amazon identity verification can stall the launch if your legal name, address, bank details, or tax details do not line up cleanly across your records.
- If you sell physical products, commercial general liability and product liability insurance become practical before Amazon forces the issue.
Do next: Review maryland-specific friction.
Why this matters
Maryland-specific friction
Main takeaway
Maryland is not just an Amazon setup problem. The state tax, basic business license, trader's-license, and local permit branches matter before inventory spending.
Watch for
- The public record for an Amazon-only marketplace seller is not perfectly clean on the interaction between Maryland marketplace-facilitator collection and the separate basic business license and Trader's License branches. Keep that caveat visible and verify it locally.
- As of April 27, 2026, Maryland's public annual-report materials still show a $300 LLC annual-report fee and an April 15 filing deadline, which is a meaningful recurring cost.
- If you keep inventory, equipment, or other business personal property in Maryland, the personal-property-return and local-tax branch can matter.
- Baltimore home-occupation rules are not casual about inventory, deliveries, and customer traffic.
Amazon FBA-specific friction
Main takeaway
Amazon identity verification can stall the launch if your legal name, address, bank details, or tax details do not line up cleanly across your records.
Watch for
- FBA eligibility is narrower than basic seller-account eligibility, so a product can be sellable on Amazon and still be a bad first FBA launch.
- The Individual plan, Professional plan, referral fees, and FBA costs can stack quickly if you buy inventory before validating demand.
- Restricted-category, hazmat, and authenticity reviews can hit after you already spent real money on stock.
Insurance reality
Main takeaway
If you sell physical products, commercial general liability and product liability insurance become practical before Amazon forces the issue.
Watch for
- The public Amazon forum record says sellers may have to obtain and maintain commercial liability insurance within 30 days after exceeding USD 10,000 in gross proceeds in one month, or earlier if Amazon otherwise requests it.
- The live Seller Central agreement wording is login-gated, so re-check the current insurance language on the action date instead of treating the public forum excerpt as the full rule.
Official links
Tax dat.maryland.gov
Maryland startup checklist
Formation dat.maryland.gov
SDAT forms page
Formation dat.maryland.gov
LLC formation filing
Formation businessexpress.maryland.gov
Resident-agent rule
Formation dat.maryland.gov
Optional name reservation
Official dat.maryland.gov
Ongoing annual filing
Federal irs.gov
EIN overview and online application
Federal irs.gov
EIN paper form
Tax businessexpress.maryland.gov
State tax-account registration
Tax maryland.gov
Tax-account and annual-filing hub
Tax interactive.marylandtaxes.gov
Marketplace tax rule
Tax marylandtaxes.gov
Resale certificate sample
Tax marylandtaxes.gov
Resale certificate guidance
Platform sellercentral.amazon.com
Platform insurance threshold or requirement
Local codes.baltimorecity.gov
Home-occupation rules
Local codes.baltimorecity.gov
Use-permit trigger
Local baltimorecity.gov
Use and occupancy filing contact path
Local mdcourts.gov
Baltimore City business-license contact branch
02
Chapter 2 of 7
Handle the Maryland registration path in order
This is the state-side work before you rely on the platform to carry any part of the operating flow.
Core chapter
What this chapter does
The Maryland and federal registration sequence, tax setup, and state-maintenance checks.How to move through it
Step 2: Choose your name and brand approach.Use the order check first, then move from name and entity work into EIN, banking, and tax setup.
4 parts to review • 49 source touchpoints behind the drawers.
Registration sequence
Keep the Maryland and federal setup in this order.This chapter works best when you keep the filings, EIN, banking, and tax work in one clean sequence instead of bouncing between tabs.
- 1 Use the checklist to keep the order straight
These checklist groups keep the pre-spend, pre-sale, and pre-launch work visible before you open the platform workflow.
- 2 Handle name, entity, and filing setup
Use the name-and-formation steps plus the state LLC order before you open banking or state tax registration.
- 3 Get the EIN and banking basics in place
Use the EIN and banking steps before you start platform onboarding, payouts, or supplier paperwork.
- 4 Close the Maryland tax and filing branch
Keep the Maryland tax and maintenance rules together before you assume the platform solved them.
Chapter parts
Open Part 1 when you are ready to start working through this chapter.After you start, only one part stays open at a time and the earlier ones stay easy to revisit.
Part 1 of 4
Use the checklist to keep the order straight
The quick-start checklist grouped by the main launch phases.
Part 1 of 4
Use the checklist to keep the order straight
The quick-start checklist grouped by the main launch phases.
Short answer
These checklist groups keep the pre-spend, pre-sale, and pre-launch work visible before you open the platform workflow.- Pick your business name.
- Form the business or file the Maryland trade-name branch if needed.
- Get an EIN from the IRS if applicable.
Do next: Pick your entity.
See checklist
Do these before you spend money
Grouped so the launch order stays easier to scan.
- Pick your entity.
- Pick your business name.
- Decide your product lane.
- Avoid regulated or high-risk categories for your first launch unless you deliberately want a harder compliance build.
- Confirm the product is not blocked by Maryland law, local rules, safety rules, or Amazon policy.
- Make sure you can document supplier legitimacy and product authenticity.
Do these before your first sale
Grouped so the launch order stays easier to scan.
- Form the business or file the Maryland trade-name branch if needed.
- Get an EIN from the IRS if applicable.
- Open a dedicated business bank account.
- Register for Maryland tax treatment that applies.
- Confirm whether the Maryland trader's-license branch applies to your exact Amazon-only model.
- Check county, municipal, home-based, and Baltimore rules if relevant.
- Create your Amazon seller account and complete verification.
Do these before launch goes live
Grouped so the launch order stays easier to scan.
- Finish the Amazon account and FBA operations branch.
- Confirm category, product, and FBA eligibility.
- Build the first listing correctly.
- Prep, label, and ship a small first batch.
- Start small so you can test demand and catch compliance mistakes early.
Official links
Up next Name + filing
Part 2 of 4
Handle name, entity, and filing setup
The name, formation, and LLC-order work for the state launch path.
Part 2 of 4
Handle name, entity, and filing setup
The name, formation, and LLC-order work for the state launch path.
Short answer
Use the name-and-formation steps plus the state LLC order before you open banking or state tax registration.- Step 3: Form the business.
- If you sell under your legal name:.
- File Trade Name Application with SDAT.
Do next: Step 2: Choose your name and brand approach.
Step details
Best practical order for a Maryland single-member LLC launch
- Pick the product lane and confirm it is beginner-safe for Amazon.
- Pick the legal name, trade name, and entity path.
- Decide whether the sole-proprietor or single-member LLC path better fits your liability and scaling risk.
- Form the LLC or file the trade-name branch if applicable.
- Get the EIN and line up the SDAT ID, Central Registration Number, and banking records correctly.
- Decide whether the CRA sales-tax branch applies to your exact marketplace-only or direct-sales model.
- Confirm trader's-license and local-zoning rules with the county or Baltimore contacts before you buy inventory.
- Treat the basic business license versus Trader's License versus marketplace-tax-collection branch as a live verification step, not a presumed answer.
- Resolve any Baltimore home-occupation or use-and-occupancy branch before storing inventory at the property.
- Complete Amazon registration and verification.
- Send a small first FBA shipment only after category and FBA eligibility are clear.
- Calendar the recurring April 15, May 1, quarterly, FAMLI, and 5-year renewal deadlines that apply to your structure.
Sole proprietor: Decide whether you need a trade-name filing
Main takeaway
If you sell under your legal name:
Watch for
- File Trade Name Application with SDAT.
Single-member LLC: Name search and resident-agent rules
Main takeaway
Before filing:
Watch for
- Maryland's fee schedule lists a $25 name-reservation filing if you want to reserve the name before formation.
Single-member LLC: File the formation document
Main takeaway
Core filing:
Watch for
- Form name: Articles of Organization for Limited Liability Company.
- Form number: not clearly surfaced on the reviewed public startup pages.
Single-member LLC: File the trade-name branch if needed
Main takeaway
If the LLC will operate under a name different from the LLC's legal name, use the SDAT Trade Name Application.
Step 2: Choose your name and brand approach
Main guide step 2
What this step settles
You need to decide whether you are:
Why it matters: Important:
- operating under your own legal name,
- using a Maryland trade name,
- reselling existing brands,
- creating your own brand,
- or using a private-label path.
- Maryland separates legal-entity filings from trade-name filings.
- A trade name does not create a liability shield by itself.
- Amazon registration separates business information from later store and product information, but the legal details still need to match real-world records.
Step 3: Form the business
Main guide step 3
What this step settles
If you choose sole proprietor: If you sell under your own legal name, Maryland does not require an entity-formation filing for the sole proprietorship itself.
- If you choose sole proprietor: If you sell under your own legal name, Maryland does not require an entity-formation filing for the sole proprietorship itself.
- If you choose sole proprietor: If you use a public-facing business name, Maryland's public filing path is Trade Name Application.
- If you choose sole proprietor: The current trade-name filing fee is $25.
- If you choose sole proprietor: The current public trade-name instructions say the filing is effective for five years from acceptance by SDAT.
- If you choose single-member LLC: Do this in order:
- If you choose single-member LLC: Check name availability.
- If you choose single-member LLC: Choose a resident agent.
- If you choose single-member LLC: File Articles of Organization for Limited Liability Company with SDAT through Maryland Business Express or by mail.
- If you choose single-member LLC: If the LLC will operate under a different public name, file the trade-name branch separately.
Official links
Tax dat.maryland.gov
Maryland startup checklist
Formation dat.maryland.gov
SDAT forms page
Formation dat.maryland.gov
LLC formation filing
Formation businessexpress.maryland.gov
Resident-agent rule
Formation dat.maryland.gov
Optional name reservation
Official dat.maryland.gov
Ongoing annual filing
Tax dat.maryland.gov
Sole proprietor baseline
Formation dat.maryland.gov
Trade-name filing
Formation dat.maryland.gov
SDAT trade-name help and forms hub
Tax businessexpress.maryland.gov
Maryland business-license overview
Tax marylandtaxes.gov
Trader's-license reference
Local interactive.marylandtaxes.gov
Clerk-issued-license help
Federal irs.gov
EIN overview and online application
Official dat.maryland.gov
Annual report and personal-property filing
Tax maryland.gov
Annual-report and online filing hub
Tax businessexpress.maryland.gov
State start-here page
Tax egov.maryland.gov
Registration and account hub
Formation businessexpress.maryland.gov
State formation overview
Tax maryland.gov
Business-taxes hub
Formation dat.maryland.gov
State entity and annual-filing page
Up next EIN + banking
Part 3 of 4
Get the EIN and banking basics in place
The EIN, banking, and recordkeeping baseline before launch.
Part 3 of 4
Get the EIN and banking basics in place
The EIN, banking, and recordkeeping baseline before launch.
Short answer
Use the EIN and banking steps before you start platform onboarding, payouts, or supplier paperwork.- Step 5: Open banking and bookkeeping.
Do next: Step 4: Get your EIN.
Step details
Step 4: Get your EIN
Main guide step 4
What this step settles
Use the IRS EIN application if applicable. For most LLCs this is required. For many sole proprietors it is optional, but it is still useful for banking, supplier paperwork, and Amazon setup.
Why it matters: Maryland-specific timing note: The current Maryland Business Express startup path tells founders to form the business first, then obtain the federal tax ID, then apply for Maryland tax accounts and insurance. In practice, treat the EIN as an early step because the Combined Registration Application (CRA) and most bank-account workflows depend on it.
Step 5: Open banking and bookkeeping
Main guide step 5
What this step settles
Do this right away:
- Open a business checking account.
- Keep business money separate from personal money.
- Save every invoice, receipt, Amazon fee statement, shipping bill, and tax record.
- Keep a sourcing folder and a tax folder from day one.
Official links
Federal irs.gov
EIN overview and online application
Federal irs.gov
EIN paper form
Tax businessexpress.maryland.gov
State tax-account registration
Tax maryland.gov
Tax-account and annual-filing hub
Tax interactive.marylandtaxes.gov
Marketplace tax rule
Tax marylandtaxes.gov
Resale certificate sample
Tax marylandtaxes.gov
Resale certificate guidance
Up next Tax + maintenance
Part 4 of 4
Close the Maryland tax and filing branch
The Maryland tax stack, registration timing, and maintenance follow-up.
Part 4 of 4
Close the Maryland tax and filing branch
The Maryland tax stack, registration timing, and maintenance follow-up.
Short answer
Keep the Maryland tax and maintenance rules together before you assume the platform solved them.- A typical single-member LLC needs an EIN.
- Maryland Business Express says the CRA can register a Sales and Use Tax License.
- Maryland's September 2019 tax alert says marketplace facilitators must collect Maryland sales and use tax on facilitated sales.
Do next: Step 6: Register for state tax, seller permit, or resale setup.
Step details
1. EIN
Main takeaway
A typical single-member LLC needs an EIN.
Watch for
- A sole proprietor often needs one if hiring employees and may still want one for banking, suppliers, and Amazon setup.
2. Maryland sales tax, seller permit, or equivalent registration
Main takeaway
Maryland Business Express says the CRA can register a Sales and Use Tax License.
Watch for
- The same page says this license is required if you sell items in Maryland and collect sales tax.
- The Maryland registrations-and-filings hub says founders can Register a New Business, Trade Name or Tax Account and File Annual Report & Personal Property Tax Returns, Late Penalty Payments.
- Maryland's Business Taxes hub says the online portal can be used to file annual reports, tax returns, and more.
3. Marketplace or platform tax rule
Main takeaway
Maryland's September 2019 tax alert says marketplace facilitators must collect Maryland sales and use tax on facilitated sales.
Watch for
- The same alert says a marketplace seller is not required to collect sales and use tax if the marketplace facilitator collects it.
- The Comptroller's sales-and-use help page separately says that in addition to a sales and use tax license, certain businesses may need local clerk-issued licenses.
- This public tax rule does not automatically answer every license, resale, or local-permit question.
4. Resale purchases or exempt purchasing
Main takeaway
Maryland provides a Suggested Blanket Resale Certificate.
Watch for
- The form expects the buyer's Maryland sales and use tax registration number.
- Maryland's resale-certificate guidance says out-of-state vendors buying most items for resale may not issue a resale certificate unless they have a Maryland sales and use tax license.
5. Entity tax treatment
Main takeaway
For federal tax purposes, a default single-member LLC is generally a disregarded entity unless it elects otherwise.
Watch for
- The reviewed public Maryland startup pages did not clearly present a separate state-level income-tax return just for a default single-member LLC in this starter path.
- If the founder changes federal tax elections or expects separate Maryland income-tax treatment, refresh the Comptroller branch before filing.
6. Entity filing-fee or franchise-tax rule
Main takeaway
The clearly verified recurring Maryland entity filing fee in the reviewed startup sources is the $300 annual-report fee for the LLC branch.
Watch for
- Maryland also taxes business personal property through its personal-property system, and local jurisdictions issue tax bills after SDAT valuation.
- A separate default-LLC statewide franchise-tax filing beyond that annual-report and applicable tax-account filings was not clearly verified in the reviewed starter pages.
7. If the founder changes entity type later
Main takeaway
Do not assume a sole-proprietor setup automatically converts into the LLC's registration stack.
Watch for
- Treat the LLC as a new SDAT entity and re-check the CRA, trader's-license, and local-permit branches when changing structures.
Sole proprietor: Register for Maryland tax, seller permit, or reseller setup if your facts require it
Main takeaway
Maryland Business Express says the Combined Registration Application (CRA) can register a Sales and Use Tax License, Employer's Withholding Tax Account, and other state tax accounts.
Watch for
- The same page says a Sales and Use Tax License is required if you sell items in Maryland and collect sales tax.
- Maryland's September 2019 marketplace-facilitator alert says a marketplace seller is not required to collect sales and use tax if the marketplace facilitator collects it.
Single-member LLC: File ongoing entity maintenance
Main takeaway
Key points:
Watch for
- Due date: April 15 each year.
- Some older Maryland public materials still talk as if Form 1 retired in 2018.
- But current SDAT business and forms pages still surface Business Entity Annual Report (Form 1) and current 2025 instructions.
- Safe takeaway: follow the current live SDAT filing workflow and current form set, not the older retirement language.
Step 6: Register for state tax, seller permit, or resale setup
Main guide step 6
What this step settles
Maryland Business Express says you can register tax accounts using the Maryland Comptroller's Combined Registration Application (CRA).
- Maryland Business Express says you can register tax accounts using the Maryland Comptroller's Combined Registration Application (CRA).
- The reviewed state page says the CRA can register a Sales and Use Tax License, Employer's Withholding Tax Account, and other state tax accounts.
- The same state page says the Sales and Use Tax License is required if you sell items in Maryland and collect sales tax.
- Maryland's Business Taxes hub says you can file business reports and taxes online, by mail, or in person, and points founders to the online portal to file annual reports, tax returns, and more.
- Maryland's September 2019 marketplace tax alert says a marketplace seller is not required to collect Maryland sales and use tax if the marketplace facilitator collects it.
- That same public alert means an Amazon-only seller whose retail sales are entirely marketplace-facilitated may have a different sales-tax registration result than a seller making direct sales.
- If you buy inventory for resale, Maryland's resale-certificate materials say the purchase documentation should bear your Maryland sales and use tax registration number.
Official links
Federal irs.gov
EIN overview and online application
Federal irs.gov
EIN paper form
Tax businessexpress.maryland.gov
State tax-account registration
Tax maryland.gov
Tax-account and annual-filing hub
Tax interactive.marylandtaxes.gov
Marketplace tax rule
Tax marylandtaxes.gov
Resale certificate sample
Tax marylandtaxes.gov
Resale certificate guidance
Official dat.maryland.gov
Annual report and personal-property filing
Tax maryland.gov
Annual-report and online filing hub
Local dat.maryland.gov
Business personal property branch
Official dat.maryland.gov
Annual filing reminders and extension branch
Federal fincen.gov
BOI or other federal reporting status
Tax businessexpress.maryland.gov
State start-here page
Tax egov.maryland.gov
Registration and account hub
Formation businessexpress.maryland.gov
State formation overview
Tax maryland.gov
Business-taxes hub
Formation dat.maryland.gov
State entity and annual-filing page
03
Chapter 3 of 7
Finish the Amazon FBA account and operations branch
Use these steps for the platform-side account, plan, operations, and eligibility work after the state basics line up.
Core chapter
What this chapter does
Amazon FBA account setup, operations, and pre-launch readiness.How to move through it
Step 10: Choose the right platform plan.Open the Amazon FBA branch only after the Maryland basics line up, then finish plan and operations choices.
3 parts to review • 17 source touchpoints behind the drawers.
Chapter parts
Open Part 1 when you are ready to start working through this chapter.After you start, only one part stays open at a time and the earlier ones stay easy to revisit.
Part 1 of 3
Open the Amazon FBA account
The first account and verification work for the platform path.
Part 1 of 3
Open the Amazon FBA account
The first account and verification work for the platform path.
Short answer
Start the platform onboarding only after the legal name, EIN, and payout details line up cleanly.Do next: Step 9: Create your Amazon FBA account or store.
Step details
Step 9: Create your Amazon FBA account or store
Platform step 1
What this step settles
Have these ready:
Why it matters: Platform registration flow: As of April 27, 2026, Amazon's public registration guide says the registration process can often be completed in a few hours, and identity verification usually takes three business days or less.
- government-issued ID
- proof of residential address
- phone number
- email address
- bank account information
- tax information
- business registration or license if Amazon asks
- Start the seller registration flow on sell.amazon.com.
- Provide business information.
- Provide seller information.
- Provide billing information.
- Provide store and product information.
- Complete identity verification.
Official links
Up next Plan + pricing
Part 2 of 3
Review the plan, pricing, and optional programs
Plan, pricing, and optional program decisions before launch.
Part 2 of 3
Review the plan, pricing, and optional programs
Plan, pricing, and optional program decisions before launch.
Short answer
Use this part for the platform plan, pricing, or optional brand and program choices that come before operations.- Step 11: Decide whether brand or IP programs belong in the initial launch.
Do next: Step 10: Choose the right platform plan.
Step details
Step 10: Choose the right platform plan
Platform step 2
What this step settles
As of April 27, 2026, Amazon's public pricing pages show Individual at $0.99 per item sold and Professional at $39.99 per month.
- As of April 27, 2026, Amazon's public pricing pages show Individual at $0.99 per item sold and Professional at $39.99 per month.
- Referral fees are separate and vary by category.
- Amazon's public FAQ says the Individual plan may be best if you plan to sell fewer than about 40 items a month.
Step 11: Decide whether brand or IP programs belong in the initial launch
Platform step 3
What this step settles
Amazon Brand Registry is optional for a beginner reseller launch.
- Amazon Brand Registry is optional for a beginner reseller launch.
- It is more relevant if you are building your own brand or private-label catalog.
- Amazon's public Brand Registry page says the program is free, but it expects a qualifying trademark path and a logo with the brand name permanently affixed to products or packaging.
- Amazon IP Accelerator is optional if you want a faster trademark-lawyer path.
Official links
Platform sell.amazon.com
Platform registration guide
Platform sell.amazon.com
Platform pricing
Platform sell.amazon.com
Brand or IP program
Platform sell.amazon.com
Fulfillment overview
Platform sell.amazon.com
Beginner FBA setup guide
Platform sell.amazon.com
Dangerous-goods branch
Platform sellercentral.amazon.com
Platform insurance threshold or requirement
Up next Ops + eligibility
Part 3 of 3
Finish operations and eligibility before scaling
Operations and eligibility checks before the business scales.
Part 3 of 3
Finish operations and eligibility before scaling
Operations and eligibility checks before the business scales.
Short answer
Close the operating branch only after the listing, trip, hosting, or operational eligibility checks are ready.- Step 13: Confirm product, service, or category eligibility before scaling.
Do next: Step 12: Complete the fulfillment or operations branch.
Step details
Step 12: Complete the fulfillment or operations branch
Platform step 4
What this step settles
For Amazon FBA, the guarded public baseline flow is:
- register for FBA,
- assign eligible products to FBA,
- confirm FBA restrictions and policies,
- prep, pack, and label inventory correctly,
- create the inbound shipment through Send to Amazon,
- and ship a small first batch before scaling.
Step 13: Confirm product, service, or category eligibility before scaling
Platform step 5
What this step settles
Amazon's public FBA overview says some products require prior approval before you can sell them.
- Amazon's public FBA overview says some products require prior approval before you can sell them.
- The same page says certain products are either not eligible for FBA or must meet specific requirements before qualifying.
- Amazon's public FAQ says some categories are open, some require approval, and plan choice can matter.
- If you resell branded products, expect Amazon or the brand to care about invoices and authenticity.
Official links
Platform sell.amazon.com
Platform registration guide
Platform sell.amazon.com
Platform pricing
Platform sell.amazon.com
Brand or IP program
Platform sell.amazon.com
Fulfillment overview
Platform sell.amazon.com
Beginner FBA setup guide
Platform sell.amazon.com
Dangerous-goods branch
Platform sellercentral.amazon.com
Platform insurance threshold or requirement
04
Chapter 4 of 7
Handle the local and city-specific branches
These local facts can still change the answer even after the state and platform path looks clear.
Optional branch
What this chapter does
Local permits, local taxes, city appendices, and location-specific operating rules.How to move through it
Review baltimore appendix.Only turn this chapter on if your location, city, or operating model changes the answer.
2 parts to review • 13 source touchpoints behind the drawers.
Only turn this branch on if it matches your plan
These branch questions keep the main reading path clean. If one matches your situation, the relevant detail blocks below get emphasized.
Matching branch content is now highlighted below.
Chapter parts
Open Part 1 when you are ready to start working through this chapter.After you start, only one part stays open at a time and the earlier ones stay easy to revisit.
Part 1 of 2
Local permits and location checks
Maryland pushes several operating questions down to clerks and local governments.
Part 1 of 2
Local permits and location checks
Maryland pushes several operating questions down to clerks and local governments.
Short answer
Maryland pushes several operating questions down to clerks and local governments.Do next: Review local permits and location checks.
Why this matters
Local permits and location checks
Main takeaway
Maryland pushes several operating questions down to clerks and local governments.
Watch for
- For any place where the business will operate:.
- check the Clerk of the Circuit Court for business-license rules,.
- check local zoning or building offices if the business will operate from home or store inventory,.
- check county or city permit requirements,.
- and confirm whether the basic business license or Trader's License branch applies to your exact Amazon-only facts.
- Typical local risk areas:.
- inventory stored at home,.
- carrier pickups or unusually frequent deliveries,.
- customer visits or local pickup,.
- use and occupancy permits,.
- zoning limits on home occupations,.
- and additional fire or sign approvals.
Official links
Tax businessexpress.maryland.gov
State start-here page
Tax egov.maryland.gov
Registration and account hub
Formation businessexpress.maryland.gov
State formation overview
Tax maryland.gov
Business-taxes hub
Formation dat.maryland.gov
State entity and annual-filing page
Local codes.baltimorecity.gov
Home-occupation rules
Local codes.baltimorecity.gov
Use-permit trigger
Local baltimorecity.gov
Use and occupancy filing contact path
Local mdcourts.gov
Baltimore City business-license contact branch
Up next Baltimore appendix
Part 2 of 2
Baltimore Appendix
Use this appendix if the business will operate in Baltimore.
Part 2 of 2
Baltimore Appendix
Use this appendix if the business will operate in Baltimore.
Short answer
Use this appendix if the business will operate in Baltimore.Do next: Review baltimore appendix.
Why this matters
Baltimore Appendix
Main takeaway
Use this appendix if the business will operate in Baltimore.
Watch for
- Baltimore City Code Section 15-507 says:.
- the home occupation must be conducted entirely within the dwelling,.
- it must remain incidental and secondary to residential use,.
- no more than 1 non-family employee may work there,.
- client or customer visits are limited to 3 a day and 10 a week,.
- delivery receipt, sale, or shipment is not permitted on or from the premises except for regular U.S. Mail or a shipping service characteristic of residential neighborhoods,.
- and no outside storage or display of inventory or materials is permitted.
- Why this matters for Amazon FBA:.
- a light desk-based operation may fit better than a home packed with inventory,.
- but a house that functions like a stockroom or regular pickup point can become a zoning problem.
- Baltimore's use-permit code says a use permit is required before occupying newly constructed structures, using previously vacant land, making a change in the authorized use of land or structure, or occupying certain long-vacant buildings.
- The current Baltimore permit instructions route Use and Occupancy Permit applications through the E-Permits portal.
- The reviewed public Baltimore instructions did not clearly verify a one-size-fits-all starter fee for this branch, so treat the fee as unverified until the exact property use is known.
- The business-license branch for Baltimore City still sits in the Maryland clerk-and-court licensing system rather than a separate city retail portal.
- Maryland Courts' public materials say Baltimore City uses a separate trader's-license fee schedule from the counties.
- Confirm the current inventory band, application requirements, and payment method with the Baltimore City clerk before filing.
05
Chapter 5 of 7
Use the hiring and insurance branch only if it matches your plan
This branch matters when you expect to hire, scale, or need the insurance follow-up tied to the business model.
Optional branch
What this chapter does
Hiring, payroll, insurance, and scale-up risk reminders.How to move through it
Review insurance reality.Only turn this branch on when hiring, payroll, or coverage questions are close enough to matter.
2 parts to review • 8 source touchpoints behind the drawers.
Only turn this branch on if it matches your plan
These branch questions keep the main reading path clean. If one matches your situation, the relevant detail blocks below get emphasized.
Matching branch content is now highlighted below.
Chapter parts
Open Part 1 when you are ready to start working through this chapter.After you start, only one part stays open at a time and the earlier ones stay easy to revisit.
Part 1 of 2
If you hire, close the employment branch first
The employee registration, payroll, and employment-program branch.
Part 1 of 2
If you hire, close the employment branch first
The employee registration, payroll, and employment-program branch.
Short answer
Use these cards if the business will hire employees or carry payroll responsibilities soon.- Maryland Labor says employers must report employee wages, pay quarterly unemployment insurance taxes, report new hires and rehires, respond to unemployment claims, and display two posters.
- With few exceptions, every employer in Maryland with one or more employees is required by law to provide workers' compensation coverage.
- Maryland is preparing its FAMLI paid family and medical leave system.
Do next: Review 1. employer registration.
Why this matters
1. Employer registration
Main takeaway
Maryland Labor says employers must report employee wages, pay quarterly unemployment insurance taxes, report new hires and rehires, respond to unemployment claims, and display two posters.
Watch for
- The unemployment insurance account runs through the Maryland Unemployment Insurance Portal BEACON.
- Maryland Labor's public reporting page says new hires and rehires must be reported to the Maryland State Directory of New Hires within 20 days of the employee's first day of work.
- Maryland Labor says new employers must report wages, pay quarterly unemployment insurance taxes, report new hires and rehires, respond to claims, and display required posters.
- Maryland Labor's public reporting page says new hires and rehires must be reported within 20 days of the employee's first day of work.
2. Workers' compensation
Main takeaway
With few exceptions, every employer in Maryland with one or more employees is required by law to provide workers' compensation coverage.
Watch for
- Employers obtain coverage through a licensed insurer or, if qualified, approved self-insurance.
- Employers failing to secure required coverage can face penalties, including the publicly stated fine exposure up to $10,000.
- Maryland workers' compensation guidance says, with few exceptions, every employer with one or more employees must carry workers' compensation coverage.
3. Paid leave or similar coverage
Main takeaway
Maryland is preparing its FAMLI paid family and medical leave system.
Watch for
- As of April 27, 2026, the public FAMLI contribution pages say payroll contributions begin on January 1, 2027.
- The same public pages say benefits begin in January 2028.
- The current public contribution page still shows a total 2027 contribution rate of 0.9%, with employers generally able to withhold up to 0.45% from employees and paying the rest, subject to the small-employer rule and any later official update due by May 1, 2026.
4. Exemption certificate if applicable
Main takeaway
A general statewide exemption certificate similar to New York's CE-200 was not verified in the reviewed Maryland employer sources for this baseline.
Watch for
- Industry-specific exceptions and private-plan branches can still exist.
Official links
Tax labor.maryland.gov
New-employer obligations
Official labor.maryland.gov
Unemployment insurance portal
Official labor.maryland.gov
New-hire reporting
Formation wcc.state.md.us
Workers' compensation
Official wcc.state.md.us
Sole proprietor coverage status form
Federal paidleave.maryland.gov
Paid leave
Platform sellercentral.amazon.com
Platform insurance threshold or requirement
Up next Insurance branch
Part 2 of 2
Keep the insurance branch visible as you scale
The insurance, liability, and scale-trigger branch.
Part 2 of 2
Keep the insurance branch visible as you scale
The insurance, liability, and scale-trigger branch.
Short answer
This is the insurance and liability follow-up tied to hiring, products, services, or growth.- If you sell physical products, commercial general liability and product liability insurance become practical before Amazon forces the issue.
Do next: Review insurance reality.
Why this matters
Insurance reality
Main takeaway
If you sell physical products, commercial general liability and product liability insurance become practical before Amazon forces the issue.
Watch for
- The public Amazon forum record says sellers may have to obtain and maintain commercial liability insurance within 30 days after exceeding USD 10,000 in gross proceeds in one month, or earlier if Amazon otherwise requests it.
- The live Seller Central agreement wording is login-gated, so re-check the current insurance language on the action date instead of treating the public forum excerpt as the full rule.
06
Chapter 6 of 7
Keep the operating calendar and mistake list close after launch
Once you are live, use the ongoing calendar and the mistake list to keep the business on a safer path.
Core chapter
What this chapter does
The recurring compliance calendar, live-operating routine, and beginner mistakes to avoid.How to move through it
Assuming Amazon marketplace tax collection automatically answers every Maryland license question.Use the recurring calendar first, then keep the repeated-mistake notes close after launch.
2 parts to review • 26 source touchpoints behind the drawers.
Chapter parts
Open Part 1 when you are ready to start working through this chapter.After you start, only one part stays open at a time and the earlier ones stay easy to revisit.
Part 1 of 2
Use the ongoing compliance calendar
The recurring compliance calendar grouped by timing.
Part 1 of 2
Use the ongoing compliance calendar
The recurring compliance calendar grouped by timing.
Short answer
This groups the recurring checks by when they matter after launch.- Get the EIN and open the bank account.
- Finish the Amazon FBA branch.
- Confirm category and FBA eligibility before buying deeper stock.
Do next: Finish the entity or trade-name setup that matches the launch.
See checklist
Before first sale
Grouped so the launch order stays easier to scan.
- Finish the entity or trade-name setup that matches the launch.
- Get the EIN and open the bank account.
- Decide whether the CRA sales-tax branch applies to your exact marketplace-only or direct-sales model.
- Confirm the basic business license, trader's-license, and local-zoning branch with the county or Baltimore contacts before spending on inventory.
- Complete Amazon verification with matching business, tax, and banking records.
Before first live launch
Grouped so the launch order stays easier to scan.
- Finish the Amazon FBA branch.
- Confirm category and FBA eligibility before buying deeper stock.
- Build accurate listings with the right product identifiers and sourcing support.
- Complete prep, labeling, and inbound-shipment setup.
Monthly
Grouped so the launch order stays easier to scan.
- Reconcile payouts, fees, refunds, and reimbursements.
- Review margins and cash reserves for taxes, fees, and returns.
- Check Amazon account health, suppressed listings, and policy notices.
- Keep supplier invoices, authenticity support, and address-verification records organized.
Quarterly
Grouped so the launch order stays easier to scan.
- File sales and use tax returns on the cadence assigned if you hold a Maryland sales-tax account.
- File withholding returns if you have payroll.
- File unemployment insurance wage reports and payments through BEACON if you have employees.
- Track the FAMLI payroll-contribution calendar if the business will have employees when contributions begin.
Annual or periodic
Grouped so the launch order stays easier to scan.
- April 15 each year: file the Maryland annual report and any personal-property-return branch that applies. As of April 27, 2026, the public SDAT page says 2026 reports were due on or before April 15, 2026.
- The Maryland Business Taxes hub points filers to the online portal for annual reports, tax returns, and more, and to SDAT forms and instructions for business personal property.
- April 15 each year: if needed, request the 60-day annual-report extension by that same date. As of April 27, 2026, SDAT says an approved 2026 extension moved the due date to June 15, 2026.
- May 1 each year: renew the trader's-license branch if required. Maryland Courts says the business-license year runs from May 1 through the following April 30.
- April 30, 2027: first scheduled FAMLI contribution remittance for wages paid January 1, 2027 through March 31, 2027, based on the current public FAMLI contribution calendar.
- Every 5 years: renew the Maryland trade name if you use one.
- Re-check local permit or occupancy branches if the operating location changes.
- Re-check Amazon pricing, insurance wording, and category rules before scaling.
Official links
Platform sellercentral.amazon.com
Platform insurance threshold or requirement
Federal irs.gov
EIN overview and online application
Federal irs.gov
EIN paper form
Tax businessexpress.maryland.gov
State tax-account registration
Tax dat.maryland.gov
Maryland startup checklist
Platform sell.amazon.com
Platform registration guide
Platform sell.amazon.com
Fulfillment overview
Tax businessexpress.maryland.gov
State start-here page
Up next Common mistakes
Part 2 of 2
Common Mistakes New Operators Make
The most common mistakes from the research pack plus the first-launch recommendation.
Part 2 of 2
Common Mistakes New Operators Make
The most common mistakes from the research pack plus the first-launch recommendation.
Short answer
These are the repeated errors called out in the research pack.- Assuming a marketplace-only Amazon model automatically removes the basic business license or Trader's License question.
- Forming an LLC and then missing the April 15 annual-report branch.
- Confusing the SDAT ID, EIN, and Central Registration Number.
Do next: Assuming Amazon marketplace tax collection automatically answers every Maryland license question.
Why this matters
Practical first-launch recommendation
- If you are testing casually with minimal risk, sole proprietor can work.
- If you intend to build a real Amazon FBA business, single-member LLC is usually the better long-term path.
Key detail
Assuming Amazon marketplace tax collection automatically answers every Maryland license question.
Keep in mind
- Assuming a marketplace-only Amazon model automatically removes the basic business license or Trader's License question.
- Forming an LLC and then missing the April 15 annual-report branch.
- Confusing the SDAT ID, EIN, and Central Registration Number.
- Using a public-facing name without filing the Maryland trade-name branch.
- Treating a home address as automatically acceptable for stored inventory or frequent carrier activity.
- Mixing personal and business money.
- Keeping weak supplier and authenticity documentation.
- Starting with hazmat, gated, or authenticity-sensitive products before learning Amazon's restrictions.
- Treating Amazon as the compliance department.
Official links
Tax dat.maryland.gov
Maryland startup checklist
Formation dat.maryland.gov
SDAT forms page
Formation dat.maryland.gov
LLC formation filing
Formation businessexpress.maryland.gov
Resident-agent rule
Formation dat.maryland.gov
Optional name reservation
Official dat.maryland.gov
Ongoing annual filing
Federal irs.gov
EIN overview and online application
Federal irs.gov
EIN paper form
Tax businessexpress.maryland.gov
State tax-account registration
Tax maryland.gov
Tax-account and annual-filing hub
Tax interactive.marylandtaxes.gov
Marketplace tax rule
Tax marylandtaxes.gov
Resale certificate sample
Tax marylandtaxes.gov
Resale certificate guidance
Platform sellercentral.amazon.com
Platform insurance threshold or requirement
Local codes.baltimorecity.gov
Home-occupation rules
Local codes.baltimorecity.gov
Use-permit trigger
Local baltimorecity.gov
Use and occupancy filing contact path
Local mdcourts.gov
Baltimore City business-license contact branch
07
Chapter 7 of 7
Review your selected steps and open the packet PDF
Use the review screen to decide what belongs in the packet, then open a real PDF preview in a new tab.
Finish
Review and print
Review the chapters you kept and make sure the right reminders stay visible.
Use this step to keep only the chapters that match the launch plan now, then keep the local and city reminders close before you treat the packet as final.
Saved setup choice
single-member LLCThat choice stays visible while the rest of the journey gets lighter.
Packet count
4 chapters selectedOptional branches can stay out of the packet until they match the real launch plan.
Still verify locally
6 remindersLocal tax, zoning, insurance, and platform policy changes still need the official check.
Open the working launch packet with fillable tracker rows, then print or download it from the PDF tab.
Choose what stays in the packet
Selected chapters
- Choose setup
Your setup choice, the short safe path, and the money realities that matter before spending deeply. - Maryland registrations
The Maryland and federal registration sequence, tax setup, and state-maintenance checks. - Amazon FBA setup
Amazon FBA account setup, operations, and pre-launch readiness. - Local and city checks
Local permits, local taxes, city appendices, and location-specific operating rules. - Hiring and insurance
Hiring, payroll, insurance, and scale-up risk reminders. - Ongoing calendar and mistakes
The recurring compliance calendar, live-operating routine, and beginner mistakes to avoid.
See local verification reminders
- Official start hub for registration, tax accounts, licenses, insurance, and management steps.
- Hub exposes Register a New Business, Trade Name or Tax Account and File Annual Report & Personal Property Tax Returns, Late Penalty Payments.
- Explains SDAT formation, ID numbers, and next-step sequencing.
- Official statewide tax hub pointing users to annual reports, tax returns, business personal property forms, and payment/help resources.
- As of April 27, 2026, this page says 2026 annual reports were due by April 15, 2026 and approved extensions moved the due date to June 15, 2026.
- Sets limits on employees, visits, deliveries, vehicles, and outside storage.
Change your path
Need a different route into this answer?
Use one of these links if you landed in the wrong platform, wrong state, or want the state-only baseline before you keep reading.
Choose another platform Switch away from Amazon without losing the state-first flow. Choose another state for Amazon Stay on Amazon and reopen the state picker for Maryland alternatives. Open the Maryland state guide Compare the platform-specific path with the state-only baseline. Open official sources Jump straight to the official source directory if you want agency links first.