Thinking of expanding your online business thru Walmart? This guide can teach you how to sell on Walmart and the requirements needed for an account.
Do you want to start an online shop on the Walmart Marketplace but don't know the requirements?
Like you, many people envision setting up shop on the platform.
Luckily, applying as a seller at Walmart Marketplace only takes moments, given that you have the information, documents, and requirements ready.
So read on, and we'll show you how to sell on Walmart and what you need to set up your account.
Before selling items on the Walmart Marketplace, you need to set up your account and pass all the requirements from the platform.
Here are the things you need to prepare for a faster application process.
Business Tax IDs
Before setting up your account, you need to prepare a Business Tax ID or your Business Identification number to verify your business.
If you're in the US, you must know how to find your company's EIN. You can get your tax ID in the US by applying on the IRS website.
Business and warehouse address
Note the places where you operate your business in the US.
W8 or W9 Forms
You also need documents that verify your business name and corporate address.
W8 is for non-US businesses, and W9 is for businesses that pay taxes in the country.
EIN Verification letter
You also need an EIN Verification letter to verify your business and place of operation in the US.
Product Information
Walmart will ask for the primary product categories and other information about the item you want to sell on their platform.
You also need to identify your planned product catalog size.
History of online business success
Before you can sell on Walmart, they need to know if you have a proven track record of a successful marketplace or e-commerce business.
Prepare links to your existing online stores and products as proof.
Like Amazon, you can sell all kinds of items at the Walmart Marketplace as long as you don't violate their policies.
If you don't know where to start, here are a few items you can sell well on the platform.
Cosmetics, skin-care products, perfumes, and similar items are more popular than ever.
This is because many people know the value of maintaining good hygiene and physical appearance.
Beauty products always appear on the top-selling items list in Walmart, which means you can sell them well if you have items from known brands.
Items such as decorations, bedroom products, cleaning supplies, and other items improve the quality of life at home. These products provide convenience for the user.
People tend to look for products that can improve their homes. Home products are always in demand, especially unique or affordable ones.
Being a pet owner is not just about feeding your pet good food. There are times when you want to have toys and accessories for your pet to enjoy.
Many owners look for pet supplies, including food, accessories, and toys, on online platforms. You can sell these items well on Walmart Marketplace after checking the competition on the platform.
Electronics like phones, laptops, computers, and other similar items are a popular product listing. Accessories such as headphones, speakers, and chargers also fall under this category.
Many people look for new or affordable electronics to replace the ones they have. And people also want accessories to accompany their existing phones or computer.
If you're ready to expand your shop to the Walmart Marketplace, it's time to set up an account and upload your items for sale.
The first thing you need to do is visit the Walmart Seller Center website and submit an application.
You need to fill up and complete the application form to continue the registration process.
The platform will ask for business details and documents that support it. If you have your Business ID, W9 or W8 form (for international sellers), EIN letter, and other information ready, it won't take you an hour to finish your application.
After submitting your application, Walmart will review and verify its contents for approval.
The approval process may take some time,e depending on your business and the information you included in the application.
Once Walmart Marketplace approves your application, you'll receive an email with a link to set up your partner profile on the app.
After opening the link, Walmart will ask you to add a password for your account.
Your account's username or email address depends on the information on your previous application.
You'll need these login credentials to sign in to the Seller Center and Walmart Marketplace.
After adding your account details, you'll read a retailer agreement you must sign and approve.
Check the document for the conditions and terms you must follow when selling on the platform.
Add your company details, such as the name you want to display on the market and your business address.
Continue and fill up the W-9 form with your details. The platform requires you to add your name, address, TIN, and other standard information.
Add your payment processor option to the platform. You get to choose where you'll receive payments for your product sales.
You'll also need to fill up your shipping information, including the shipping rates, method, and places where you can send your products.
After setting up your account, you can now access the Walmart Marketplace Seller Center, where you'll need to set up your Partner Profile.
Click the gear icon at the top right of the Seller Center and navigate to Settings > Partner Profile.
Fill the required sections until the Readiness For Launch Meter reaches 100%.
Once you complete your Partner Profile, it's time to upload your products and test them on your account.
There are three ways to set up your products on the Walmart Marketplace.
You can work with solution providers, use the Walmart API for direct integration, or add items directly from the Seller Center.
In any case, make sure to add real products to your store and fill up the necessary details, such as product titles, product descriptions, product images, and item costs (or sales price).
After adding your items to the Walmart Marketplace, it's time to publish and test orders for your products to ensure everything is working well.
You can find the Publish Item and Purchase Items options on the Seller Marketplace. Try ordering one of your items and see if everything looks right.
Also, check the order cancellation, refund, and shipping features for any issues.
You can now start going live on the Walmart Marketplace.
Walmart will review your profile and the products you sell, and if there's no problem, they'll be available on the market as soon as possible.
Before setting up shop at the Walmart Marketplace, it's best to know a few more details about the platform.
Here are some things you should know as an aspiring seller in the marketplace.
Walmart values customer reviews on products. Items with many positive ratings will appear on search results more frequently. As such, you need to sell high-quality products to get good reviews.
The Walmart Marketplace has a list of prohibited products that violate its policies. Uploading an illegal item to your store can lead to suspension or account deletion.
Like Amazon, Walmart offers reliable fulfillment services to fill orders for their sellers. When you avail of WFS for your seller account, Walmart can handle shipping, packaging, and customer services for your products.
Search rankings highly affect the conversion rate of items in the Walmart Marketplace.
Having one of your products at the top of the search results can lead to more sales and potential customers.
While it's difficult to rank high in search results, you can try selling items in niches with less competition among sellers.
Learning the basics of e-commerce SEO and the relevant keywords is one of the best ways to market your small business.
Walmart Marketplace is one of the leading platforms where businesses can sell their products online.
Here are some key advantages the marketplace offers.
Naturally, selling at Walmart has its downsides.
Here are some of the things you should consider before setting up a shop on the marketplace.
Walmart uses a bi-weekly payment schedule for their sellers. So you'll receive the payments directly to your bank account every two weeks.
No, the cost you set for an item is the price the customer sees. However, Walmart will charge you between 6 to 20% on each of your sales, depending on the product.
Yes, Walmart doesn't restrict its users when it comes to selling on other online platforms. In fact, it's easier to become a seller in Walmart Marketplace if you already have a successful online business.
If you don't think that Walmart is the right platform to sell your products, there are other online platforms that you can check.
Here are a few examples to help you out
Walmart is one of the best online marketplaces where you can expand your business.
Although the platform is strict in its application process, you won't have any problems and delays if you have the necessary documents ready.
We would like to hear your thoughts regarding the Walmart Marketplace in the comments section below.
If you like this article, don't forget to share it with your friends and fellow online sellers.
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