FBA vs. FBM: Which Amazon Fulfillment Method Is Right for You?
When you're launching or scaling an Amazon business, one of the most critical decisions you'll make is how to fulfill your orders. Amazon offers two main options: Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) and Fulfillment by Merchant (FBM). Each has unique pros and cons, and choosing the right one can significantly affect your margins, control, and customer satisfaction.
What Is Amazon FBA? FBA means Amazon stores your inventory, picks, packs, and ships the product, and handles customer service and returns. In exchange, you pay fees for storage, fulfillment, and more.
Pros of FBA:
Access to Prime shipping
Higher Buy Box chances
Amazon handles customer service
Time-saving for scaling
Cons of FBA:
High storage and fulfillment fees
Strict packaging & prep requirements
Less control over inventory
Long-term storage penalties
What Is Amazon FBM? FBM means you (or a third-party logistics partner like Hardway Enterprises) handle order fulfillment. You’re responsible for warehousing, shipping, customer service, and returns.
Pros of FBM:
More control over inventory and fulfillment
Lower fees (especially for large or slow-moving items)
You can use your own branding and packaging
Easier to offer cross-platform fulfillment (Shopify, Walmart, etc.)
Cons of FBM:
You’re responsible for customer service
May reduce Buy Box visibility
No automatic Prime badge (unless you qualify for Seller-Fulfilled Prime)
When Should You Use FBA? FBA is best for:
Fast-moving products
Lightweight and small-sized inventory
Sellers focused on Prime customers
Brands with minimal warehousing or logistics capacity
When Should You Use FBM or a 3PL? FBM is ideal for:
Large, heavy, or seasonal products
Brands that want full control over packaging & branding
Multichannel sellers (Shopify, Walmart, Etsy, etc.)
Sellers frustrated with Amazon's storage limits and fees
Working with a trusted 3PL provider like Hardway Enterprises allows you to enjoy the flexibility of FBM without handling logistics in-house.
Final Thoughts Both FBA and FBM have value, depending on your goals and business model. Many successful brands even use a hybrid approach—leveraging FBA for fast-selling SKUs and FBM or a 3PL for bulkier or custom products.
If you’re looking to reduce fees, gain more control, and expand beyond Amazon, FBM with a logistics partner like Hardway Enterprises might be the smarter long-term play.
Ready to explore fulfillment outside of FBA? Contact Hardway Enterprises today to streamline your operations and grow your business.
