Hey everyone, I'm based in Portugal and I've built up a decent Amazon FBA business (mostly .com and .co.uk) over the last 3 years. I'm starting to think about an exit, but I keep hitting conflicting info about whether non-US/UK residents can actually sell an Amazon store. Some say it's fine, others say buyers only want US-based sellers. Has anyone here sold a store while living abroad? Would love to hear real experiences.
Amazon FBA
Can I sell my Amazon store if I live outside the US or UK?
Short answer: yes, you can. But it's more paperwork and some buuers will be skittish. I sold a UK store last year from Spain. The main hurdle was getting a US tax form sorted (W-8BEN) and making sure the buyer's due diligence didn't freak out about the entity being foreign. Took an extra few weeks but closed fine.
I don't have direct experience but I've seen a lot of listings mention 'seller must be in US/UK' which is just buyer preference. Not a legal barrier. Maybe look at brokers that specialize in international sellers?
Thanks MidnightOwl, thats reassuring. Did you have to set up a US LLC to make it easier? I've heard some people do that before selling.
Honestly, why bother selling if you're not in the US? Just keep the cash flow. Unless you're desperate to exit, the hassle might not be worth it. But that's just my two cents.
I didn't set up a US LLC, just sold the assets and inventory, buyer took over the account. But I've heard of others who did form an LLC to simplify the transfer. It depneds on the buyer. If they're a US entity, they might prefer to buy an LLC. Ask your broker.
I'm in Mexico and sold a small store on Flippa last year. Buyers asked a lot of questions about my location but it didn't kill the deal. Just be upfront and have your documents ready.
GrumpyBeaver, I get that but I'm ready for a change. SalsaDancer, good to know. Did you use a broker or sell direct?
Also check the Amazon tersm of service. I recall they don't prohibit foreign ownership, but some categories might have restrictions. Not a lawyer though.
Fair enough. Just make sure you don't get lowballed becaus of the location. Maybe get a valuation first.