COASTAL PREP CENTER Email us Call / text 858-914-6478
AMAZON FBA PREP  ·  SAN MARCOS, CALIFORNIA

Your stock, Amazon-ready in 48 hours.

Amazon stopped prepping sellers' products in-house on January 1, 2026. Every unit now has to arrive at Amazon already inspected, labeled, and packed to spec, or it gets refused. We do that step for you: receiving, inspection, FNSKU labeling, polybagging, bundling, and shipping into Amazon, from a dedicated 1,000 sq ft prep space in North San Diego County.

See the price sheet Email coastalprepcenter@gmail.com Get outreach templates

For intake & shipments: coastalprepcenter@gmail.com · Call / text 858-914-6478

1,000 sq ftDEDICATED PREP SPACE
24–48 hrsTYPICAL TURNAROUND
$0.50LABEL ONLY, PER UNIT, FROM
50 unitsTEST BATCH TO START

How it works

You never ship to customers and you never deal with Amazon's warehouse rules. The seller owns the stock the whole time. You are the hands in the middle.

STEP 01

Seller ships to you

Ship cartons to our receiving address, 14062 Halper Rd, Poway, CA 92064, instead of to Amazon. The seller has their factory ship straight there. You send arrival photos the same day.

STEP 02

Inspect & prep

Count and inspect every unit. Print and apply the FNSKU barcode label, polybag, bundle, or box exactly to Amazon's requirements.

STEP 03

Ship to Amazon

The shipment is created in the seller's Seller Central account, cartons get Amazon's shipping labels, and the boxes go out by UPS or freight.

STEP 04

Amazon sells it

Amazon stores the stock and ships it to buyers. You invoice the seller per unit prepped. Done, next batch.

Ship-to / Receiving address — send all inventory here Coastal Prep Center
14062 Halper Rd, Poway, CA 92064
Mark cartons with your name and “FBA Prep” so receiving can match them to your account.

Price sheet

The Coastal Prep Center rate card. Standard prep covers the full job: receive, inspect, FNSKU label, polybag, and carton. The per-unit rate drops as a seller's monthly volume climbs. Turnaround is 24 to 48 hours.

Standard prep, up to 499 units / month$1.50 / unit Receive, inspect, FNSKU label, polybag, and carton. The full job, start to finish.
Standard prep, 500 to 999 units / month$1.25 / unit Same full service at the first volume tier.
Standard prep, 1,000 to 2,499 units / month$1.00 / unit Same full service at the second volume tier.
Standard prep, 2,500+ units / month$0.85 / unit Same full service at the top volume tier.
Label only$0.50 / unit Print and apply the FNSKU barcode label over the original barcode. Nothing else.
Bubble wrap+$0.75 / unit Add bubble protection to any unit that needs it.
Bundle or kit, 2 to 3 items$2.00 / bundle Combine 2 to 3 items into one sellable unit, bagged or boxed and labeled as a set.
Bundle or kit, 4 or more items$2.50 / bundle Combine 4 or more items into one sellable unit, bagged or boxed and labeled as a set.
Oversized or heavy items+$1.00 / unit Added to the prep rate for oversized or heavy pieces. Always quoted first, no surprises.
Pallet receiving$25 / pallet Receive, count, and photo-report each inbound pallet.
Storage$40 / pallet / mo First 30 days free. Charged per pallet per month after that.

Minimum $50 per order. Freight to Amazon is billed at cost. Volume tiers are based on a seller's total units per month across all shipments.

Batch calculator

What a batch pays before your time. Drag the units, pick the job type.

Rate applied$1.25 / unit
Gross revenue$625
Labels & supplies (est.)−$75
Left before labor & freight$550
Hands-on time (est.)8.3 hrs
That works out to$66/hr

Estimates only. For standard prep the rate follows your monthly volume: $1.50 under 500 units, $1.25 at 500 to 999, $1.00 at 1,000 to 2,499, $0.85 at 2,500+. Speeds assume one person working steadily: about 90 units/hr label only, 60/hr standard prep, 40/hr small bundles, 30/hr large bundles. Freight to Amazon is billed at cost and is not in these numbers.

How you pay

Amazon does not pay us. You, the seller, pay us directly for each batch we prep for you. No account with Amazon is involved in payment, and there are no surprise charges beyond the price sheet and freight billed at cost.

Two ways to payPay by Square invoice with a card or bank payment, or by bank transfer to our U.S. Bank business account. Transfer details are included with your invoice.
When the invoice goes outWe invoice you when your batch arrives and has been counted and inspected, so the amount is based on the actual units received.
Due before it ships to AmazonPayment is due before your prepped shipment leaves for Amazon. Once an invoice is paid, we release the shipment. Unpaid shipments are held until payment clears.
First-time sellers pay upfrontIf this is your first batch with us, payment is due upfront before prep work starts. After that first batch, the standard terms above apply.

The volume math

Per-unit pricing only works with volume, and the rate card rewards it: the more a seller sends in a month, the less each unit costs them. Here is what standard prep batches gross at the rate that applies to each size, before supplies, freight, and labor.

Batch sizeStandard rate that appliesGross
100 units$1.50 / unit$150
500 units$1.25 / unit$625
1,000 units$1.00 / unit$1,000
2,500 units$0.85 / unit$2,125
10,000 units$0.85 / unit$8,500
The honest catch One 500-unit order here and there will not carry a business. The money is in 3 to 5 sellers reordering every month. That is why the first job is not buying gear, it is landing the first two sellers and nailing a test batch so they come back.

Setting up the 1,000 sq ft

The space splits into four zones: a receiving corner by the door, prep tables in the middle, a photo spot with plain backdrop, and a finished-goods staging area for cartons waiting on pickup. Gear is cheap. Accuracy is the product.

Gear list

  • Thermal label printer, 4×6The printer itself is the one real purchase. A decent one runs $60 to $180. The $10 to $15 figure is a roll of labels, not the printer.$60–180
  • FNSKU labels (2×1) + shipping labels (4×6), starter rolls$25–40
  • Platform shipping scale, up to 400 lb$40–80
  • Barcode scanner, wirelessOptional on day one. A phone camera app works until volume picks up.$25–40
  • Packing tables, 2 folding 6 ft$120–240
  • Polybags, assorted sizes with suffocation warnings printed$30–60
  • Cartons, tape gun, stretch wrap, box cutter, "sold as set" stickers$80–120
  • Pallet jack, usedOnly if sellers ship on pallets. Skip it until the first pallet actually shows up.$150–300

Gear total: roughly $380 to $760 if you skip the pallet jack for now, or $530 to $1,060 with a used one. Budget $2,000 to $5,000 all-in and the rest is your cushion for supplies, boxes, and the first month of freight float.

Launch week, in order

  • Clear and zone the space: receiving, prep, photo spot, stagingDay 1
  • Order the printer, scale, tables, and first suppliesDay 1
  • Start a simple intake log: seller, product, units in, units out, shipment ID, photos takenA spreadsheet is fine. Every carton gets a line. This log is what saves you when a seller claims a shortage.Day 2
  • Apply to Amazon's Service Provider Network (steps below)Day 2
  • Claim a Google Business Profile for the prep center at the warehouse addressDay 3
  • Post the intro in 3 to 5 Amazon seller Facebook groupsDay 3–4
  • Send the overflow text to the prep operator you metDay 4
  • Message 5 Alibaba suppliers in your likely product categoriesDay 5
Your edge is the test batch Offer the first 50 to 100 units fast and photo-documented: arrival photos, a labeled-unit photo, and the sealed cartons before pickup. Sellers have been burned by sloppy prep centers. Proof beats promises, and a clean test batch is what turns into a standing monthly account.

The rules that get shipments refused

Amazon rejects or fines shipments for prep mistakes, and the seller blames the prep center. These are the ones that matter on every single batch.

FNSKU covers the original barcodeEvery unit gets the seller's FNSKU label placed so the manufacturer's barcode cannot scan. A double scan is a defect.
Suffocation warnings on polybagsAny bag with an opening of 5 inches or more needs a printed suffocation warning, in the right print size for the bag.
Cartons stay under 50 lbStandard cartons max out at 50 lb and 25 inches on any side unless they hold a single oversized item. Weigh every carton.
Expiration dates get labeledAnything with an expiry date needs it printed in the format Amazon wants, on the unit, readable after bagging.
The seller creates the shipmentShipping plans are made in the seller's Seller Central account. Sellers either send you the carton labels or give limited account access. Never guess a shipment.
Photo everything, twiceOn arrival and again before the cartons leave. Photos are your proof if Amazon or the seller disputes a count.

Get listed where sellers look: Amazon's Service Provider Network

The SPN is Amazon's own directory of vetted prep providers, searchable inside Seller Central. It is the single highest-value listing because sellers go there ready to buy. Registration is free. You will need your business license and a government ID. Signing in alone at spcentral.amazon.com is not registering — if you only sign in you may land on a “Select an account” screen that says “You are not currently authorized to access any accounts,” because no provider account exists yet. The actual provider registration lives at spcentral.amazon.com/nlp/register-ww.

  1. 1

    Go straight to the provider registration page — don't just sign in

    Signing in at spcentral.amazon.com is not registering. After sign-in you may see “Select an account / You are not currently authorized to access any accounts” — that simply means no provider account exists yet. Go directly to spcentral.amazon.com/nlp/register-ww to actually register. Sign in there with coastalprepcenter@gmail.com when prompted.

  2. 2

    Choose the persona “I'm a Service Provider”

    On the registration flow, pick the service provider persona (not a seller account). Enter the business details: legal business name, EIN, and the ship-to / receiving address: 14062 Halper Rd, Poway, CA 92064. Use the business name and EIN, the same approach as your other business accounts.

  3. 3

    Provide your ID and business license

    Upload a government-issued ID and your business license when asked. Be ready for Amazon to also ask about liability insurance; a basic general liability policy is standard for listed prep centers and cheap relative to one refused-shipment claim.

  4. 4

    Add the service “FBA Preparation”

    Add FBA Preparation as your service, and include the related work you actually do under it: receiving, inspection, FNSKU labeling, polybagging, bundling/kitting, and shipping cartons into Amazon fulfillment centers.

  5. 5

    Request the role(s) Amazon assigns

    Complete the role request step Amazon shows during registration and submit. Amazon may assign or ask you to request additional roles/accounts as part of the provider setup — follow what the registration flow presents and answer any follow-up verification questions.

  6. 6

    Wait for review — up to 10 business days

    Amazon reviews provider registrations, and review can take up to 10 business days. Watch for the approval email at coastalprepcenter@gmail.com (check spam too). Important: account approval does not automatically make you publicly listable in the SPN directory — making the listing public is a separate step after approval.

If you saw “not currently authorized” That screen at spcentral.amazon.com just means you signed in before a provider account existed — you haven't registered yet. Fix it in this order:

1. Don't re-sign-in and loop. Go straight to the registration page: spcentral.amazon.com/nlp/register-ww.
2. Complete the registration — choose “I'm a Service Provider,” then provide your government ID + business license.
3. Request the role Amazon assigns in the flow and submit.
4. Wait for the approval email at coastalprepcenter@gmail.com — check spam as well. Review can take up to 10 business days. If you need to contact Amazon support about it, note the CID / RID shown on that “Select an account” error screen and include them.
While the review runs Do not wait on Amazon. The Facebook groups, the Google listing, and one warm referral can land your first seller this week. The SPN listing compounds later, because it keeps sending sellers who were already looking.

Where the sellers actually come from

One correction that decides everything: your customer is the seller, not the factory. The seller owns the product and pays for prep. The factory only ships where the seller tells it to. Ranked by how fast each channel can pay you:

FASTEST · WARM REFERRAL

The operator you already met

He is doing this now and has clients. Ask where his sellers come from and whether he ever turns away overflow or West Coast work. One handoff beats a hundred cold messages. Template 4 below is the text.

FAST · COMMUNITY

Seller Facebook groups

Sellers ask "who do you use for prep in California?" in these groups every day. Post the intro (Template 1), then answer every prep question helpfully for two weeks. Recommendations compound.

STEADY · DIRECTORY

Amazon Service Provider Network

The directory inside Seller Central. Slower to approve, then it works while you sleep. Steps are in the section above.

STEADY · SEARCH

Google: "FBA prep center California"

Sellers search exactly that and call whoever shows up nearby. The Google Business Profile at the warehouse address plus this page is what ranks. Free, just slow to build.

INDIRECT · SUPPLIERS

Alibaba factories, as a referral channel

You do not sell prep to factories. You ask suppliers to hand your address to their US Amazon buyers who need prep (Template 3). One supplier with fifty buyers is a pipeline, not a client.

YOUR NUMBER, REALISTICALLY

About the "2.5 million sellers"

Roughly 9.7 million seller accounts exist worldwide and about 1.6 million are actively selling; 2.5 million is the loose count. You do not need millions. You need 3 to 5 active sellers reordering monthly.

Outreach templates

Written the way you like outreach written: plain, no double dashes, no hype. Tap Copy, paste, change the bracketed parts, send. Send to sellers one at a time, never as a blast.

1 · Intro post for seller Facebook groups

Post in 3 to 5 Amazon seller groups. Then stay and answer questions in the comments.
Hi everyone, I run a small FBA prep center in San Marcos, California (North San Diego County) and I am opening up spots for a few new sellers. We handle receiving, inspection, FNSKU labeling, polybagging, bundling, and carton prep, with 24 to 48 hour turnaround on most shipments. Dedicated 1,000 sq ft prep space. You get photos when your cartons arrive and again before your shipment goes out. Rates start at $0.50 per unit for label only. Standard prep (receiving, inspection, labeling, polybagging, and cartons) runs $1.50 per unit, dropping to $0.85 at higher monthly volume. If you want to test us first, send a small batch of 50 to 100 units and check our work before committing to more. DM me or email coastalprepcenter@gmail.com and I will send the overview. Thanks!

2 · Direct message or email to a seller

For sellers you find in groups or through referrals. One person at a time.
Subject: FBA prep in California, 24 to 48 hour turnaround Hi [Name], I run an FBA prep center in San Marcos, CA and I am taking on a few new sellers. Since Amazon stopped doing prep in house on January 1, a lot of sellers have had to find a reliable prep partner in the US, and that is the service we provide: receiving, inspection, FNSKU labeling, polybagging, bundling, and shipping your cartons into Amazon. Rates start at $0.50 per unit for label only, and standard prep runs $1.50 per unit down to $0.85 depending on your monthly volume. If you would like to test us first, send a small batch of 50 to 100 units and we will turn it around in 24 to 48 hours, with photos on arrival and before it ships. Want me to send over the price sheet? Shadi Coastal Prep Center Email: coastalprepcenter@gmail.com 858-914-6478

3 · Message to an Alibaba supplier

Send through Alibaba's message center to suppliers in categories your sellers are likely to source. The buyer decides, the supplier refers.
Hello, I operate an FBA prep center in California, USA. Many of your buyers sell on Amazon US, and since January 1 Amazon requires products to arrive already labeled and prepped. If any of your buyers need a US prep address, you can share ours with them. We receive their goods, apply the Amazon barcode labels, pack to Amazon's requirements, and forward the cartons to Amazon. This makes shipping simpler for your customers and avoids refused shipments. Please let me know if you would like our warehouse address and price list to pass to your buyers. Thank you, Coastal Prep Center, San Marcos, California, USA

4 · Overflow text to the operator you met

A short text or DM. Warmest lead you have, send this one first.
Hey, good meeting you the other day. I got my prep space set up here in San Marcos and I am ready to take batches now. If you ever get more work than you can handle, or you run into a seller who wants a West Coast prep center for faster turnaround, I can take the overflow and I will take good care of them. Same day receiving photos and 24 to 48 hour turnaround on my end. Happy to return the favor however I can. Let me know.