How Much Money Do You Actually Need to Start an Amazon FBA Business in 2025?
Let’s kill the fantasy right now:
You’re not starting a real Amazon FBA business in 2025 with £200 and a YouTube playlist. If that’s your plan — go back to TikTok.
But if you're here because you’re serious — like, actually ready to build something that pays you back — then you're in the right place.
In this post, I’ll break down what it really takes to launch an Amazon business in 2025. Not the fake “$300 side hustle” version. The real version — the one that gives you a shot at scaling, profiting, and eventually quitting that job you hate.
Let’s go.
Why Most People Underestimate the Cost
Everyone wants the dream:
Buy cheap stuff in China → Throw it on Amazon → Watch the money roll in.
Sounds great, right? Until your shipment gets stuck at customs, your ads eat £300 in three days, and your listing is buried on page 12 with zero reviews.
The problem isn’t just money.
It’s that people don’t treat this like a business. They treat it like a lottery ticket.
The truth is, Amazon gives you leverage — but only if you respect the game.
You need capital. Not millions, but enough to test, learn, and stay in the game when things go sideways.
So how much do you actually need?
1. Product Inventory – £500 to £1,500+
You’re buying your first batch of product. Ideally, small and lightweight — because that means lower shipping, storage, and FBA fees (we talked about this in our last post — go read it if you haven’t).
If you go for a product that costs £2 per unit and order 300 units, that’s £600.
Add a bit for packaging, maybe custom logo printing, and you’re quickly hitting £1,000 or more.
And no, ordering 50 units “to test” is not a plan. Unless you enjoy being out of stock after your first good week.
2. Shipping to the UK – £150 to £500+
You’ve got two options:
Sea freight (slow but cheap) or air freight (fast but painful).
Let’s say your product is small — a garlic press or yoga strap — and you ship 300–500 units:
Sea freight: £150–£300
Air freight: £300–£600
Duties & VAT: ~20% of product value (don’t forget it)
Big product? Multiply that by 5–10x.
Want to save money? Then don't sell a coffee table.
3. Branding & Packaging – £50 to £200
You don’t need Apple-level branding, but if your product looks like it came from a basement in 1997, you’re not going far.
Fiverr logo: £20
Simple packaging design: £30–£50
Custom packaging production (per unit): £0.30–£0.50
It’s not just about looking good — it’s about trust. On Amazon, a bad first impression = dead listing.
4. Amazon Account & Software – £45/month+
Amazon Pro Account: £25/month
Helium 10 or similar: £20–£60/month
Optional tools: review automation, keyword trackers, PPC optimizers
You can skip some tools short-term, but if you’re flying blind, you’re going to crash. Period.
5. Amazon FBA Fees – Built Into Every Sale
You’ll pay Amazon whether you sell or not.
And they don’t care that you’re a beginner.
Fulfilment fee (small item): £1.60–£2.80
Storage fees: £0.75–£1.50 per cubic foot
Referral fee: ~15% of selling price
The bigger the product, the more they take. Want to keep more of your own profit? Sell smaller. Every inch costs money.
6. PPC Advertising – £300 to £500+ to Start
Amazon doesn’t show your product just because you uploaded it.
You have to run ads.
That means you need a PPC launch budget:
Daily spend: £10–£20
First month: £300–£500 minimum
Without it? You’re invisible.
You’ll waste some of it (everyone does), but you’ll also learn how to rank, test keywords, and see what works. That’s what real sellers do.
Your Total Realistic Budget: £1,500–£2,500
Here’s what a realistic 2025 Amazon launch might look like:
CategoryCost RangeInventory£500 – £1,500Shipping£150 – £500Branding/Packaging£50 – £200Tools & Amazon plan£45+/monthPPC Launch£300 – £500Total:£1,500 – £2,500+
Could you do it for £1,000? Maybe — if you’re cutting every corner.
But just because it’s possible, doesn’t mean it’s smart.
This is business. Play it smart from day one, and you'll avoid most of the pain others blindly run into.
Final Word: Don’t Underfund Your Dream
I’ll be blunt — if you can't afford at least £1,500, you're not ready. And that’s okay.
Work, save, study. Prepare the right way. It’s better to wait 6 months and do it right than to launch tomorrow and quit in frustration a month later.
Because once this clicks — once you get your first real sale, profit, reorder — you’re in the game. And from there? You can grow. Reinvest. Build momentum.
That’s how real FBA businesses are built.
