Common questions, by topic.

The launch programme can include company formation, banking support, an Amazon seller account, trademark and Brand Registry, listings, product images, A+ Content, logistics/FBA and PPC campaigns. We define the scope together based on where you are today.

It depends on the steps involved — company and banking processes, trademark filing, content production and logistics preparation — and on where you are starting from. After the consultation we share a plan showing the steps and their order.

Yes. Infrastructure steps such as company formation and trademark can run in parallel with product development. If you are still sourcing, we also support product sourcing from China.

No. Sales results depend on many factors such as the product, competition, pricing and market conditions. Our focus is on setting up the infrastructure and launch preparation correctly.

Yes. We work one-to-one with existing sellers on account health, listings, A+ Content, Brand Registry and PPC. We first review where your account stands and agree priorities together.

We review the notification and account history, analyse likely causes and support the preparation of your appeal and plan of action. The outcome is Amazon's decision; we cannot guarantee reinstatement.

With Private Label you sell products under your own brand and control the brand, listings and content. With Wholesale you resell other brands' products sourced from authorised suppliers. The right model depends on your product, budget and goals.

No. If you're still deciding on a product, we can start with opportunity, competitor and keyword research. If your product is ready, we focus on positioning, listings and launch.

Yes. We assess demand signals, competition, existing offers, the price environment and product economics to support your decision. It's a commercial evaluation, not a guarantee of sales or profit.

Yes, product image and infographic production is part of our Private Label scope. The number of images and revisions depends on the agreed package.

Yes, we produce A+ Content. A+ Content generally requires the brand to be enrolled in Amazon Brand Registry, and scope depends on the package.

PPC set-up and the launch campaign structure can be part of the Private Label process; optimisation and ongoing management are provided according to the agreed scope. It isn't automatically included in every project.

No. We strengthen research, content and advertising; sales, ranking, ACOS and ROAS depend on market conditions and Amazon's systems and can't be guaranteed.

It isn't required to sell, but it's generally needed for features such as A+ Content, Stores and brand protection tools. Eligibility and the process are covered on our Amazon Brand Registry page.

Yes. For existing brands we can support specific areas such as refreshing listings and content, keyword and PPC optimisation, or researching new products.

In some cases. Amazon allows exemption requests for some branded products without barcodes, where the brand is permanently on the product or packaging. Exemptions are granted per category and brand and are Amazon's decision; FBA products still need FNSKU labels.

Where eligible. Amazon Vine depends on conditions Amazon sets, such as brands in Brand Registry and products sold through FBA with few reviews, and may not be offered in every marketplace. Neither Sobbe nor the seller controls the content of reviews.

Private Label Consulting focuses on research, positioning and growth and is shaped around the areas you need. The A-to-Z Product Launch is a structured programme for a ready product, from the company to the first ad campaign.

We carry out product and opportunity research and assess ASINs commercially. You decide which supplier to buy from and whether to buy.

No. Sobbe isn't a supplier or distributor and doesn't sell products. We help you evaluate supplier documents and commercial terms.

No. Amazon chooses the featured offer using its own systems, with factors such as price, delivery, customer experience and stock. We analyse the Buy Box context and plan your offer around it.

Yes, we check the requirements, prepare documents and review the application. The approval decision is Amazon's and can't be guaranteed.

It varies by product and category, but commonly supplier invoices, purchase documents and, where needed, brand or distributor authorisation. Amazon's expectations can change.

It depends on the product, costs, delivery expectations and your operational capacity. We assess both models with you and plan shipment and prep requirements. Sobbe doesn't provide storage or transport.

Not always. Whether PPC makes sense is assessed product by product, based on the listing's condition, the brand relationship, competition and margin.

No. Price, fee and margin analysis is a commercial evaluation; sales and profitability depend on price movements, competition and market conditions.

No. Most wholesale products are added as offers on existing product pages, but if the product isn't in the catalogue a new listing can be needed. Either way, the correct ASIN and an exact product match matter.

No. Sobbe isn't a 3PL, warehouse or freight company. We support planning for FBA / FBM operations and shipment and prep requirements; transport and storage are provided by the providers you choose and by Amazon.

Yes. From company and payments to domain, store design, product pages and essential integrations, we get your store ready to launch. If you already have a store, we can work from there.

Yes. We review your current store across design, product pages, payment setup and essential integrations, and agree the scope of improvements together.

They are different models: Amazon offers an established marketplace and customer traffic, while Shopify gives you your own brand store and customer relationship. Many brands use both. We help you decide the right starting point for your product and goals.

We support the setup and configuration of suitable payment providers for your store. Provider eligibility can vary by your company's country and business model.

Shopify Consulting focuses on the store itself: setting up and configuring a new store, or improving an existing one. The A-to-Z Launch is a structured programme that prepares a new Shopify business or brand, from infrastructure through to launch.

We first review the store's structure, navigation, collections, product pages, settings and integrations. We then rank the findings by importance and carry out the improvements you approve.

Yes, we support setting up third-party payment providers such as Stripe and PayPal in the store and configuring checkout. Which provider fits depends on the business entity, country and market; account opening and approval are the provider's decision.

No. Payment providers assess eligibility, identity and business verification and risk under their own rules. We can guide you on application readiness; the approval decision is the provider's.

Where needed, we configure the store's market and currency settings. Which options are available can depend on the Shopify plan, the payment provider and the target markets.

Within Shopify Consulting we configure the chosen theme: visual layout, navigation, mobile presentation and page presentation. Custom theme development isn't part of this service.

We place and configure returns, shipping, privacy and terms pages in the store based on the business policies you approve. This isn't legal advice; we recommend consulting a specialist on the legal suitability of the content.

No. We integrate shipping apps into the store; Sobbe doesn't provide warehousing, 3PL or freight services. Shipping and transport are provided by the companies you choose.

We check navigation and links, mobile display, product pages, the domain, market and currency settings if set up, checkout and payment configuration, integrations and the visibility of policy pages.

No. We work to make the store clearer, better organised and easier to run; sales and conversion depend on the product, traffic and market conditions.

We support company formation in the United Kingdom, the United States and Germany. We help you decide which country fits your target market and business model.

It depends on your target market, sales channel, tax and accounting obligations and operating plan. We review the options together in a consultation and, where tax consequences matter, recommend consulting a qualified tax adviser.

In many cases the process can be handled remotely, but requirements vary by country and company type. In Germany, for example, some steps can require a notary. We clarify your specific requirements in the consultation.

No. Account approval is the decision of the bank or payment institution. We support you with suitable options and the required documents during the application.

An EIN is the employer/tax identification number issued to businesses in the US. An ITIN is an individual taxpayer number for people who are not eligible for a Social Security Number. Which one you need depends on your company structure and activities.

Non-US founders often consider an LLC or a Corporation. The right structure and state depend on your business model, ownership and tax position. We review the options together and recommend a tax specialist's view where needed.

ITIN applications are made to the IRS and usually require documents supporting the reason for the application, plus identity verification. Eligibility and documents depend on your personal situation.

No. A single-member LLC is disregarded from its owner by default, a multi-member LLC is taxed as a partnership, and LLCs can elect to be taxed as corporations. The filing depends on that classification, the ownership and other facts.

Yes. No profit or no sales doesn't by itself remove federal or state filings. For example, a foreign-owned single-member LLC with reportable transactions files Form 5472 even if no tax is due, and state fees and reports can apply regardless of activity.

Under IRS rules, a single-member LLC wholly owned by a foreign person files Form 5472 with a pro forma Form 1120 if it has reportable transactions with its owner or related parties. The IRS's initial penalty for not filing a complete form on time is $25,000. We review this each year against the company's transactions.

For calendar-year companies, the partnership return (Form 1065) is generally due March 15, and the corporate return (Form 1120) and a foreign-owned single-member LLC's pro forma 1120 / 5472 are due April 15. Form 7004 extends the time to file, not to pay.

No. An Annual Report is generally a state filing that updates company information on the state register; it isn't a federal income tax return. Some states charge a fee or tax with it.

No. Rules vary by state and entity type. For example, in Wyoming the annual report is due on the first day of the anniversary month, while in Delaware LLCs don't file an annual report but pay an annual tax by June 1.

Consequences depend on the state and can include late penalties, interest and loss of good standing. For example, Wyoming can start dissolution if an annual report isn't paid within 60 days of its due date.

States generally require a Registered Agent for as long as the company is active. Agreements with providers are usually periodic; letting one lapse can mean official notices aren't received and can affect the company's standing in the state.

Generally no; they serve different purposes. The Registered Agent address is for official service of documents, while a business or mailing address is set separately, and which address is accepted depends on the state, bank or platform.

Profit alone doesn't decide it. Whether you need an ITIN depends on whether you personally must file a US federal tax return or otherwise need a taxpayer identification number, which depends on the company's structure and the nature of the income.

Where the annual tax structure requires an eligible owner to get an ITIN, we prepare the Form W-7 application and supporting documents with you and coordinate the process. The IRS issues ITINs, and issuance can't be guaranteed.

Yes. We can track federal filings, state reports, Registered Agent and address renewals and, where needed, the ITIN process in one annual plan. Scope depends on the company's structure.

We support e-commerce companies formed in the UK and the US in keeping their regular accounting and tax processes on track. The scope depends on your company's structure and activity.

Depending on the country and company type, regular obligations such as annual filings, financial statements and tax returns apply. We recommend planning this calendar together at the formation stage.

No. Annual accounts are the company's yearly financial accounts, filed with Companies House. The CT600 is the Corporation Tax return, filed with HMRC together with the tax calculation and the company accounts. Paying the tax has its own deadline as well.

For a private company, the first accounts are due at Companies House within 21 months of incorporation or 3 months from the accounting reference date, whichever is longer. After that, the deadline is 9 months from the accounting reference date.

No. The CT600 is due 12 months after the end of the accounting period, while Corporation Tax is usually due earlier: 9 months and 1 day after the end of the period. Companies with higher profits pay in instalments.

A Corporation Tax accounting period can't be longer than 12 months, so first accounts covering more than 12 months need two CT600s, each with its own filing and payment dates.

For Companies House, a company is dormant if it had no significant accounting transactions in the financial year; filing fees, late filing penalties and money paid for shares at incorporation don't count. For Corporation Tax, a company is usually dormant when it has stopped trading and has no other income. The two definitions aren't the same.

Yes. Dormant companies still file annual accounts with Companies House. Companies that are both dormant and small can file simpler dormant accounts and don't need an auditor's report.

Yes. A confirmation statement is filed with Companies House at least every 12 months, whether or not the company is dormant. It isn't a tax return.

Not necessarily. Even without sales, payments, expenses, investment income or other transactions can mean the company isn't dormant for Companies House or for Corporation Tax. It depends on the transactions in the period.

A company that meets at least two of these, turnover of £1 million or less, £500,000 or less on its balance sheet and 10 employees or fewer, is a micro-entity. It can prepare simpler accounts and send Companies House a balance sheet with less information.

According to Companies House, from 1 April 2028 accounts must be filed using commercial software, the abridged accounts option will be removed, and small and micro companies will also file a profit and loss account, with an option not to publish it. We follow the official sources for dates and detail.

Companies House charges private companies £150 to £1,500 for late accounts depending on the delay, doubled if accounts are late two years in a row. HMRC charges fixed penalties for a late CT600 and further penalties based on estimated tax if the delay continues, and charges interest on late payment.

No. VAT-registered companies file VAT returns on their own periodic calendar, separate from the annual accounts and the CT600. We cover VAT on our UK VAT & EORI page.

These obligations depend on your product category, stock location and sales channel. In a consultation, we review your situation and clarify which registrations may apply to you.

It depends on your stock location, sales structure and where your company is established. Rules can work differently for sellers not established in the UK. We review your situation together in a consultation.

An EORI number identifies economic operators in customs procedures. It is generally needed if you import into or export from the UK or the EU.

The EU General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) has applied since 13 December 2024. For products sold in the EU it introduces requirements such as an EU-based responsible economic operator, product labelling and safety information. We review which requirements apply to your product.

The information on our website is general in nature. Individual assessment happens in the consultation and within the agreed scope; where needed, we recommend consulting qualified legal or tax professionals.

No. Registering a company records its name on the official register; it doesn't give trademark rights for specific goods and services. Trademark protection comes from an application and registration at the relevant trademark office, in the country of registration and for the goods and services listed. Domain names and store names aren't a substitute either.

A trademark isn't a general requirement for selling on Amazon. If you sell under your own brand, though, you need a registered trademark or a trademark application Amazon accepts to protect the brand and to enroll in Amazon Brand Registry.

Trademark rights are territorial: a UK trademark doesn't protect you in the US, and a US trademark doesn't protect you in the UK. Where to start depends on your sales markets, Amazon marketplace plan, product scope and budget. Neither is universally better.

Yes. You can file national applications in each country, or a single EU trade mark application at the EUIPO for the EU. WIPO's Madrid System also lets you designate several countries in one international application based on an application or registration at your office of origin. The right structure depends on your commercial plan.

Goods and services are grouped into 45 classes under the international Nice Classification: classes 1–34 for goods and 35–45 for services. Protection relates to the goods and services written into the application within those classes; choosing a class isn't simply picking an industry label.

Different products that fall into the same class can be listed under one class, but protection only covers the goods and services described in the application. Products in other classes need those classes added too, and fees usually rise with the number of classes.

It depends on the office and the process. According to GOV.UK, an unopposed UK application is usually registered in around 3 to 4 months. In the US, timing depends on the filing basis, examination and the USPTO's workload, and is often longer. Oppositions and office correspondence can extend the process in both countries.

Yes. The office examines the application, and objections, partial refusal or refusal are possible on grounds such as lack of distinctiveness, descriptiveness or conflict with earlier marks. Some issues can be resolved with a written response or a change of scope; the outcome is the office's decision.

Yes. After publication, third parties can oppose within a set period: two months in the UK (extendable to three by notice), 30 days from publication in the US (an extension can be requested) and three months at the EUIPO. For oppositions, we recommend support from a trademark attorney or lawyer.

Under USPTO rules, applicants domiciled outside the US must be represented by an attorney licensed to practise law in the US. Our preparation and coordination support for US filings is set up around this requirement.

No. Brand Registry is a separate enrollment with Amazon. A registered trademark or an application Amazon accepts is needed for eligibility; enrollment is completed after Amazon's own eligibility and verification review.

It's an Amazon program for brand owners that connects eligible trademark rights with Amazon's brand-management and protection tools. It isn't a trademark office, it doesn't register trademarks and it isn't a seller account.

Yes. Amazon requires a trademark registered — or, under certain conditions, pending — at the relevant office of a country with an Amazon store. Word marks and design marks containing letters, numbers or words are accepted.

Registered trademarks are accepted. Pending applications can qualify only at certain trademark offices or when filed through Amazon IP Accelerator; which pending applications are accepted varies by country and can change. We review your application against Amazon's current rules.

After you apply, Amazon sends a verification code to the contact shown on the trademark record, and enrollment is completed once the code is provided to Amazon. That's why access to the contact on the trademark record matters.

No. Brand Registry is separate from seller account verification; it doesn't provide account approval, reinstatement, category approval or product compliance approval. Those processes are assessed separately under Amazon's own rules.

No, it doesn't offer a guarantee. Amazon provides tools such as violation reporting and automated protections; reports are assessed through Amazon's own processes, and outcomes vary from case to case.

Eligible selling accounts of brands enrolled in Brand Registry can create A+ Content for their branded products. Availability and features can vary by marketplace and account.

Stores is one of the tools available to brands enrolled in Brand Registry. Creating a Store generally requires an eligible account selling on Amazon, and availability can vary by marketplace.

Yes, Brand Registry isn't only for new launches. Brands with existing products can enroll if they meet the eligibility requirements, though enrollment doesn't mean full control over every contribution to existing listings.

Brand Registry enrollment is made by the trademark owner. An authorised agent or agency can be added as an additional user once the owner has enrolled. The structure of the accounts selling the brand should be planned separately.

Brand Registry enrollment is tied to the trademark owner. A transfer of the trademark or changes to the account structure can require the trademark record and Brand Registry details to be updated through Amazon's current processes; we review the situation with you.

Yes. We can handle both in one plan: first preparing and coordinating the trademark process, then Brand Registry enrollment and brand setup once eligible. We don't guarantee trademark office or Amazon decisions.

You can start by requesting a quote, booking a consultation or messaging us on WhatsApp. After the initial consultation, we send you a scope and proposal tailored to your needs.

Yes, from the consultation to implementation the process runs online. Steps that need documents or signatures can have country-specific requirements; we tell you about these in advance.

Every project involves different steps, so we define the scope around your needs. After the consultation we prepare a tailored proposal.