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Frequently Asked Questions

General
Who is Amazon Small Business Academy for?

Amazon Small Business Academy is for early-stage entrepreneurs and small business owners looking to learn how to start, build, or launch their businesses. Whether you're simply curious about starting a business, have a business idea but need some guidance, or already have a business and want to grow– our resources are here to help.

What do I get when I sign up?

When you create your FREE Amazon Small Business Academy account, you’ll get:

  • Access to live and on-demand educational content
  • Availability of 24/7 self-paced courses
  • Regular newsletters to keep you informed about new course releases and upcoming event
Is Amazon Small Business Academy free?

Yes, it's absolutely free. There are no hidden costs or surprise fees. Simply create an account, and you'll have access to all our valuable content.

Will I get any one-on-one coaching?

Currently, we don't offer one-on-one coaching. However, in The Academy, we host free Ask an Expert sessions presented by small business owners and industry experts. These interactive sessions, lasting 30-60 minutes, feature a member of the Amazon Small Business Academy team and a subject matter expert. Together, they will address your pre-submitted questions and engage in live Q&A.

Do I need to be a registered Amazon seller to use Amazon Small Business Academy?

No, you don't need to be a registered seller or even have an established business. Amazon Small Business Academy is open to all early-stage entrepreneurs, regardless of where you plan to sell. Our goal is to help you get your business off the ground, regardless of where you choose to sell.

How does Amazon Small Business Academy differ from Amazon Seller University?

If you're in the early stages of your business journey, Amazon Small Business Academy is your go-to resource. We provide guidance on various aspects of starting and growing a business, including business planning, securing funding, and understanding intellectual property.

On the other hand, if you already have a business and want to start selling on Amazon's stores, Amazon Seller University is the place for you.

How does The Academy differ from the ASBA Website?

The Academy is our dedicated online learning platform where you'll find the comprehensive library of educational content. It's the go-to place for in-depth courses and self-paced learning resources designed to help you start and grow your small business. The ASBA Website provides a gateway to events, podcasts, articles, and community engagement opportunities to enrich your small business journey.

What resources does Amazon Small Business Academy offer?

Our resources cover a range of needs. You can access live events by registering with your free Amazon Small Business Academy account. Additionally, we offer a library of self-paced courses to support your business development and a podcast called This is Small Business for informative listening.

Where do I begin?

Head over to The Academy and enroll in either the Start Track or the Build Track. Alternatively, you have the option to pick and choose specific courses that align with your small business needs. For Amazon-specific offerings, explore our Amazon Tools resources here.

What kind of technology is required to attend a webinar or take an online course through The Academy?

To participate in a live webinar or take a course through The Academy, you will need access to a desktop, tablet, or mobile device. For the best user experience, we recommend using a desktop computer.

What materials do I need to bring to attend a webinar or take your courses?

While you may choose to take your own notes, there's no need to bring any materials with you. We offer exercise guides for easy download throughout the courses for your convenience.

Who creates the course material?

We’ve partnered with industry professionals from Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization (CEO) to develop the Start and Build Tracks for you. Amazon Tools is created by experts from Amazon Small Business Academy in partnership with various Amazon teams focused on small business empowerment.

What type of content and sessions can I expect?

Founder's Table brings you a rich and diverse range of educational sessions to enhance your small business knowledge:

Explore Small Business Trends to stay informed about industry shifts. Draw inspiration from success stories and entrepreneurial journeys, while receiving practical tips and strategies for your own business. Engage in insightful Fireside Chats with experienced entrepreneurs and industry experts. Get personalized guidance through Expert AMAs (Ask Me Anything) sessions, and dive into Spotlight Case Studies of successful businesses. Founder's Table is your go-to resource for valuable insights and inspiration on your entrepreneurial path.

What is the podcast about?

This Is Small Business is a new podcast that pulls back the curtain on pivotal moments in the journey to success for small business owners across the U.S. Each episode focuses on the most pressing challenges small business owners have faced, and how they learned from—and conquered—them on their path to scaling up. The educational and inspirational podcast breaks down each pivotal moment into tangible, actionable takeaways, wrapped in an inspirational small business story. In addition to the small business owners and entrepreneurs, each episode also features industry experts, who will offer best practices, trend analysis, and a unique point of view.

Why did Amazon create this podcast?

As part of our ongoing commitment to support growth of small businesses in Amazon’s store and foster the next generation of brands through free education and resources, Amazon’s Small Business Empowerment team is producing This is Small Business, a podcast that unpacks a pivotal business decision in a small business owner’s journey to success. This new series will complement Amazon’s existing investments in small business education by delivering tangible, inspiring learnings on-the-go. More than half of the products sold in Amazon’s store come from small and medium-sized businesses, and we’re excited to help these small business owners tell their stories through this new podcast.

Does the podcast only feature Amazon sellers?

No, our podcast is not limited to small business owners who sell in Amazon’s store. We feature small businesses and industry experts with diverse products, business backgrounds, and industry knowledge. We are constantly on the search for inspiring stories and lessons to be learned from small business owners themselves.

What criteria do you use to select featured small business guests and experts?

We select small business guests and entrepreneurs who have real-world experience in tackling and overcoming challenges that many small business owners face when trying to launch and scale a business. Expert guests are selected based on their in-depth knowledge on the topic we address in each episode.

How do you determine which brands are small businesses?

We follow Gartner’s definition of small business, which includes businesses that employ fewer than 100 people and have less than $50 million in annual revenue.

Which organizations does Amazon Small Business Academy partner with and how do you choose them?

We work with nonprofit organizations, government/public agencies and organizations, and other corporations with similar missions to support small businesses, entrepreneurs, and underserved and historically disadvantaged small business owners. Our partners often provide access to education, community, capital, and more to drive success for these groups and their business journeys.

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