If Amazon asks you for a Letter of Authorization during seller account signup, a lot of brands get thrown off by it.

The reason is simple: Amazon is asking you to write a letter giving yourself permission to open your own seller account.

That feels strange the first time you see it.

Usually this makes brands wonder one of three things:

• “Does Amazon think I’m just a reseller?”
• “What am I actually supposed to say in this letter?”
• “Why would I be authorizing myself?”

What Amazon is typically trying to verify here is not something complicated. They want a short document on company letterhead that clearly shows the business and the person in the application are authorized and that the details in the letter match the details in the seller account application.

That matching part is where a lot of people mess this up.

This post walks through what Amazon is looking for, what details need to match, how to fill out the template correctly, and how to sign and submit it without creating an unnecessary rejection.

What Amazon Means by a Letter of Authorization

Amazon’s application guidance says:

“Letter of Authorisation should be on a business letter head containing business name and point of contact name as provided while registering.”

That sentence tells you most of what matters.

Amazon wants the Letter of Authorization to:

• be on your business letterhead (this basically just means to have your logo at the top)
• show the business name
• show the point of contact name
• match what was entered during registration

So this is really a matching-document exercise.

Amazon is not asking for a long explanation. They are not asking for a legal essay. They are asking for a clean document that confirms the company authorizes the named person to open and manage the seller account on the company’s behalf.

Why This Confuses Brands

The confusion usually happens because the same person may be:

• the representative of the company
• the point of contact in the seller application
• the signer on the Letter of Authorization

So yes, in many cases the person is effectively signing on behalf of the company to authorize that same person to open the account for that company.

That is normal.

It does not automatically mean Amazon thinks you are a reseller. In most cases, Amazon is just trying to connect the dots between:

• the business entity
• the seller account application
• the point of contact
• the submitted supporting documents

The Most Important Rule: Everything Needs to Match

The details in the Letter of Authorization need to match the seller account application.

The most important matching items are:

• Business name
• Business address
• Point of contact name
• Admin seller account email
• Company registration number
• Signer information

How Recent the Letter Needs to Be

What Amazon Does Not Want You to Submit

LOA Structure Overview

Example Letter of Authorization template:

(See image below.)

How to Fill Out the Template Step by Step

1. Add Your Company Logo

Add your company logo at the top so the document clearly appears on company letterhead.

2. Enter the Date

Use today’s date. Amazon expects the document to be within the last 180 days.

3. Enter the Legal Company Name

Use the exact legal company name used in your seller account application.

4. Enter the Entity Type and State

Identify the legal entity type and where the company is registered.

5. Enter the Company Registration Number

6. Enter the Admin Seller Account Email

This should match the email used to start your seller account application.

7. Enter the Contact Person

The contact person in the LOA should match the point of contact in the seller account application.

8. Add the Brand Name

Include the brand name associated with the products you plan to sell.

9. Complete the Signature Section

The signature section should include:

• Signer name
• Signer title
• Company name
• Company address
• Company registration number

Common Reasons These Letters Get Rejected

Signing the Letter Electronically

Most brands sign the LOA digitally.

Mac: Open the PDF in Preview → Create Signature → Place signature → Save.

Windows: Open with Adobe Acrobat Reader → Fill & Sign → Add signature → Save.

Final LOA Submission Checklist

FAQ

Why is Amazon asking me to authorize myself?

Amazon is verifying that the person opening the seller account is authorized by the business entity.

Does this mean Amazon thinks I’m a reseller?

No. In many cases this is simply part of Amazon’s identity verification process.

Does the contact person need to match the application?

Yes. The contact name should match the seller account application.

Can I use my EIN as the company registration number?

Usually no. Amazon typically wants the state company registration number.

What if I don’t have a seller ID yet?

You can remove that section from the template.

Does the letter need to be signed?

Yes, the LOA should always be signed before uploading.

Wrap-Up

If Amazon asked you for a Letter of Authorization during seller account signup, the main thing is not to overthink it.

You usually just need a short, signed document on company letterhead that clearly identifies the business and matches the seller account application.

If your situation is more complex and you want help getting your Amazon account set up correctly, you can contact us at customerservice@fivestarcommerce.com.