Chapter 41: Scaling
Once a few Test-buys have worked, the next step is a steadier business: replenishing what works, adding sourcing routes, and keeping prep and cash under control.
Grow what already works
The cheapest growth comes from repeating winners:
- Add proven products to Replenishables in ArbiSource (Pro plan and above). Use the bell (Edit Stock Alert) to set stock alerts, and compare the retailers that sell them side by side.
- Keep a short list of brands and categories that pass your Lead Check often.
- Raise quantities only when sales history and your share of demand support it (Chapter 30). Bigger orders tie up more cash for longer.
- Keep fast sellers in stock. Once a product sells steadily, running low can bring a low-inventory-level fee. New Professional sellers are exempt for their first year, and so are products selling fewer than 20 units a week, but it's worth knowing about as you grow. Sending more before you run out is the fix (Chapter 27.2).
Add sourcing routes when you're ready
Once the Lead Check feels natural, widen the funnel one route at a time:
| Route | When it helps | Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Price Drops and Category Scans (Chapter 5, Chapter 6) | More leads with less manual browsing | Pro |
| Restriction Tracker (Chapter 33) | Opens brands as your account matures | Pro |
| Wholesale Scans (Chapter 15) | Supplier price lists at scale | Pro |
| A2A and Business A2A (Chapter 14) | Gaps between Amazon offers | Premium |
| Custom Scans and the Chrome extension (Chapter 13) | Retailers beyond the built-in list | Premium |
You don't need every route. Master one, then add the next. Premium, our most popular plan, includes them all, so you can work through more leads with less manual effort.
Prep, shipping and partners
As volume grows:
- Batch your prep days, or hand labeling and bagging to a prep center (Chapter 37).
- Keep the box rules non-negotiable: 36 × 25 × 25 in and 50 lb.
- Compare placement options on every shipment. Larger shipments with more identical cartons are more likely to qualify for an Amazon-optimized split with no placement fee (Chapter 38).
- Update your Additional Costs in ArbiSource (Fixed Cost per unit and inbound shipping per pound) once you know your real figures, so estimates stay honest (Chapter 3).
Cash, tax and risk
- Don't spend your next payout before it clears.
- Limit how much cash sits in slow movers; aged-inventory surcharges punish forgotten stock (Chapter 27.2).
- As your buying grows, sales tax on purchases adds up. If you haven't already, look at resale certificates and Amazon Business tax exemption with your CPA (Chapter 28).
- Keep Account Health comfortably Healthy before you scale hard (Chapter 34).
Checklist
- My winners are on Replenishables with stock alerts set
- I'm adding no more than one new sourcing route at a time
- My prep capacity and cash buffer match the size of order I'm placing
- I've reviewed sales tax on purchases with my CPA as my buying grows