Starting an Amazon FBA business sounds exciting. But most beginners get stuck right at the start. They don’t know what product to sell.
You’ve seen complicated tools. You’ve heard confusing terms. Endless YouTube videos promise “winning products.” It feels overwhelming.
Here’s the truth: Product research is simple. It’s finding something people want to buy. Something not too hard to compete with. Something that makes good money after costs.
Do this step well. Your business will work. Do it poorly. Your business will quietly fail.
This guide explains Amazon FBA product research in plain English. No technical background needed. You’ll learn exactly what to check. How to check it without expensive tools. Common mistakes to avoid. And a simple step-by-step process you can follow today.
Budget-conscious Amazon sellers need tools that deliver maximum value for their investment. My AMZScout review for 2026 compares its pricing against features, and my FBA Toolkit analysis shows where it offers better value for specific sourcing activities—helping you allocate your tool budget wisely.
What Is Amazon FBA Product Research?
Product research means finding an item that:
- Has enough buyers on Amazon
- Doesn’t have too many sellers already dominating
- Leaves you with decent money after expenses
Think of it like opening a small shop. You wouldn’t set up a coffee stand where nobody walks. You wouldn’t open one next to five popular coffee shops either.
Product research checks the “location” and “neighbors” before you invest money.
Good research saves you from wasting hundreds or thousands of dollars. Money that would otherwise sit unsold in Amazon’s warehouse.
Why Most Beginners Get It Wrong
New sellers make the same mistakes:
- They chase trendy items from TikTok or YouTube. (Like fidget toys that already have too many sellers.)
- They pick products everyone else sells. (“It must be good if others sell it.”)
- They ignore basic costs. They end up making almost no money.
- They believe hype videos showing huge sales. Without mentioning the risks.
These mistakes usually lose money instead of making it. The good news? You can avoid them. Just check a few basic things carefully.
The 5 Core Things You Must Check
Here are the five main factors to look at when researching a product:
1. Demand (Are People Buying It?)
Demand means how many people buy the product each month.
Amazon shows this with Best Seller Rank (BSR). It’s a number showing how popular an item is compared to everything else.
- Lower BSR (like under 50,000) usually means decent sales
- Higher BSR (like over 300,000) means very few sales
You don’t need exact numbers at first. Just look for products where several listings have reasonably low BSRs.
2. Competition (How Hard Is It to Compete?)
Even with high demand, you need room to get noticed.
Check these signs:
- How many reviews do top listings have? Fewer than 300-500 is often easier for beginners.
- Are photos and descriptions professional? Or do they look basic? Poor listings mean opportunity.
- Are big brands on the first page? If yes, it’s harder to rank.
You want steady demand with some weaker listings you can beat. Better photos and pricing can help.
3. Profit Margin
Profit margin is what you keep after all costs. This includes:
- Product cost
- Shipping to Amazon
- Amazon’s fees
- Other expenses
Simple example:
- Buy product for $6
- Shipping costs $2
- Sell for $24
- Amazon fees are $8-9
- Your profit: $7-8 per sale
Beginners should aim for at least $5-10 profit per sale. Anything less usually isn’t worth the effort.
4. Product Size & Weight
Smaller, lighter products are easier and cheaper for beginners.
Why?
- Lower shipping costs from supplier to Amazon
- Lower Amazon storage fees
- Easier to store and handle
Avoid big or heavy items (like furniture) when starting. Wait until you have experience.
5. Product Risks
Some products bring extra headaches:
- Fragile items (glass, ceramics) break easily. They lead to returns.
- Seasonal items (Christmas decorations) only sell a few months a year.
- Products with patents can get your listing removed.
- Gated categories (like toys) need Amazon approval.
Stick to simple, everyday items with year-round demand when starting.
Do You Need Expensive Tools?
No. You don’t need tools to start researching.
You can do everything manually. Just search Amazon and look at the details we covered.
Popular tools like Jungle Scout, Helium 10, and AMZScout do three things faster:
- Estimate monthly sales from Best Seller Rank
- Show search volume for keywords
- Track competitors over time
They save time when doing daily research. But they don’t magically find “perfect” products. Many successful sellers started without them.
Try manual research first. If you enjoy it and want to scale, then consider a tool.
Step-by-Step Beginner Workflow
Follow this simple process:
- Pick a niche you like (kitchen gadgets, pet supplies, fitness accessories).
- Go to Amazon and search broad terms in that niche.
- Look at the first 2-3 pages of results.
- Note products that appear multiple times with good Best Seller Ranks.
- Click the top 10 listings. Check reviews, price, size, and listing quality.
- Estimate costs using supplier sites like Alibaba (search product name + “wholesale”).
- Ask yourself:
- Is demand steady?
- Is competition manageable?
- Is profit at least $5-10 per sale?
- Are risks low?
- If most answers are yes, it’s worth deeper research.
Repeat until you find 3-5 possible products.
Example of Simple Product Research
Let’s walk through a real example: stainless steel water bottle (insulated, 20 oz).
- Demand: Several listings have BSR under 20,000 in Sports & Outdoors. People buy water bottles year-round.
- Competition: Top listings have 1,000-4,000 reviews. Photos are good, but some descriptions are basic. New sellers still appear on page 1.
- Price range: Most sell for $22-$35.
- Estimated cost: Around $6-8 per unit from suppliers.
- Amazon fees: Roughly $8-10 per sale.
- Estimated profit: $22 sale price → $22 – $7 cost – $9 fees = about $6 profit. At $28-$30 price, profit rises to $10+.
- Size/weight: Light and compact—low fees.
- Risks: Low. Not fragile, not seasonal, no major gating.
Decision: Reasonable beginner product. Steady demand, room for new listings, decent profit.
Common Myths About Amazon FBA Product Research
- Myth: High search volume guarantees profit.
Reality: Many people search, but brutal competition means few sales. - Myth: More expensive products mean more profit.
Reality: They often have higher fees, returns, and competition. - Myth: If others are selling it, it’s too late.
Reality: Amazon is huge. New listings win every day. - Myth: Tools guarantee winning products.
Reality: Tools give data. You still make the decision.
Final Thoughts
Product research is the foundation of a successful Amazon FBA business. Taking time to check demand, competition, profit, size, and risks protects your money.
There are no perfect products or guarantees. But careful research beats guessing every time. Start small. Learn as you go. Make decisions based on real numbers—not hype.
5 FAQs
1. What is Amazon FBA product research?
It’s finding products with enough buyers, manageable competition, and good profit after costs.
2. Do I need tools to do product research?
No. You can start manually on Amazon. Tools speed things up later.
3. How long does good product research take?
Beginners often spend 20-40 hours finding their first solid product idea.
4. What’s a good profit margin for beginners?
Aim for at least $5-10 per sale after all costs.
5. Can I still find good products in 2026?
Yes. New products and niches appear constantly. Customer needs keep changing.
Beginner Product Research Checklist
Before choosing a product, check these boxes:
- [ ] Steady demand (multiple listings with decent BSR)
- [ ] Competition under 500 reviews on many top listings
- [ ] At least $5-10 profit per sale after costs
- [ ] Small and light (under 2-3 lbs)
- [ ] Low risk (not fragile, not seasonal, not gated)
- [ ] Year-round appeal
Follow this checklist. You’ll avoid the most common beginner mistakes. Your Amazon FBA business will have a much stronger start.
