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Pricing reference · Rate-card snapshot 2026-06-12 · Membership live

FBA prep fees: what verified centers actually charge in 2026.

Across the 44 verified US centers publishing per-unit rates, the median entry rate is $1.30 per unit, with the middle 50 percent of published cards between $0.99 and $1.66. Rates fall with volume on most cards. Add-ons, storage, returns, and onboarding stack on top. Every figure on this page traces to a named, dated rate card, never a blended market guess.

Below: a comparator built on the real published rate cards of verified centers, which answers the two questions that matter at once: which centers will take you at your volume, history, and sourcing model, and what tier of their own published card you land in. Then the fee taxonomy and the line items to watch.

For the aggregate numbers, see the FBA Prep Pricing Index 2026: across the 44 verified US centers publishing per-unit rates (43 distinct rate cards; one duplicated card counted once), the median entry rate is $1.30/unit (middle 50%: $0.99 to $1.66), with every figure traced to a dated rate card.

Sister pages: what FBA prep covers · the 17-service taxonomy · 5-question buyer checklist · verified directory.

Comparator

Who will take you, and at what rate.

Enter your monthly volume, how long you have been selling, and your sourcing model. We walk the published rate ladders of verified centers and return the named centers whose stated intake requirements you clear, each at the exact tier of its own card your volume lands in. No blended bands, no estimates: every number is verbatim from a rate card we verified.

Inbound prep volume per month.

Some centers gate intake by sourcing model.

37 of 39 published US rate cards will take you at these inputs

median $1.10/unit across the 21 cards that price 500units/mo (the Pricing Index's $1.30 headline is the entry-rate median, a different statistic)

CenterYour rateSetupMinimumReviewed
EselltsVA

No less than 10 units per ASIN; jobs under 50 units are billed a $50 flat fee.

$0.70/unitnone statedMinimum not stated2026-08-17
Prep Center ININ$0.75/unit$0.00operator states no startup feesNo minimum2026-06-10
FBA ChampsNJ$0.80/unit$0.00operator states no sign-up feeNo minimum2026-08-17
Express Prep CenterNJ$0.85/unitnone statedMinimum not stated2026-08-17
MI FBA PrepMI$0.90/unit$25.00one-time account-opening feeMinimum not stated2026-08-17
AMSCO PrepIL

100/shipment minimum

$0.95/unit$0.00operator states no startup fee100/shipment minimum2026-08-10
New Jersey Prep CenterNJ

Card opens at 100 units; online-arbitrage sellers are quoted individually rather than priced off this card.

$0.95/unitnone statedMinimum not stated2026-08-17
406 Premier PrepMT · tax-free

Stated as 50 units/week or 200/month; the monthly figure is used here.

$1.00/unit$25.00one-time registration200/mo minimum2026-08-10
Rater Prep ServicesOH$1.00/unitnone statedMinimum not stated2026-06-10
East Coast Prep and ShipDE · tax-free

20/shipment minimum · Tier card opens at 500 units; $50 service fee for accounts under 200 units/mo.

$1.10/unit$75.00new customer signup20/shipment minimum2026-08-10
MyPrepCenterMI

$200.00 minimum invoice · The $200 minimum applies to the Bronze tier.

$1.10/unit$99.00onboarding; reimbursed at 2,500 unitsMinimum not stated2026-07-28
AZ Prep CenterAZ

Volume card opens at 100 units; whether sub-100 shipments are accepted is not stated.

$1.25/unitnone statedMinimum not stated2026-08-17
Montana Prep SolutionsMT · tax-free$1.25/unit$0.00operator states no setup or monthly feesNo minimum2026-08-10
Yellowstone Prep and ShipMT · tax-free

First 3 shipments invoiced up front; inventory unpaid for 90 days is forfeited per the posted policy.

$1.25/unit$75.00one-time registrationMinimum not stated2026-07-28
Oregon Prep CenterOR · tax-free$1.40/unit$250.00one-time registration deposit, credited if 300 units ship in the first 3 monthsMinimum not stated2026-08-10
Montana Logistics ProMT · tax-free$1.45/unitnone statedMinimum not stated2026-07-28
Prep NinjasOR · tax-free

25/shipment minimum · Shipments under 25 units are billed $56.25; the Pro rate requires a $435/month prepay, so it is not a pure per-unit price.

$1.45/unit$99.00one-time, Starter plan only25/shipment minimum2026-08-10
Marketplace PrepTX

Tier card opens at 500 units/mo.

$1.50/unitnone statedMinimum not stated2026-06-10
Network PrepOR · tax-free

requires Inventory Lab · Do-not-accept list as of June 2026 covers glass, spray nozzles, pet food, books, and items over 5 lbs or 24 inches.

$1.65/unit$99.00sign-up fee300/mo minimum2026-08-10
Live Free or Die DistributionNH · tax-free

3% payment-processing fee on all invoices, plus a monthly minimum fee for accounts under 300 units that the operator's own site lists as both $99 and $97.

$1.75/unit$199.00start-up feeMinimum not stated2026-06-10
Oregon Prep and ShipOR · tax-free

30/shipment minimum · Weekly minimum of about 100 items; waitlist when the roster is full.

$2.00/unit$250.00non-refundable deposit at signing30/shipment minimum2026-08-17
Carolina Prep & ShipNCfrom $0.65$0.00operator states no sign-up feesMinimum not stated2026-06-10
WestFBACAfrom $0.75none statedNo minimum2026-08-17
FBAPrep4UOH

$50.00 minimum invoice · Wholesale only; standard-size only, no oversize and no used books; new single books carry a 100-unit minimum.

from $0.90none statedMinimum not stated2026-07-28
Cajun PrepLAfrom $1.00none statedMinimum not stated2026-06-10
PrimeTime PrepOR · tax-free

50/shipment minimum · $50.00 minimum invoice · Either the $50 invoice floor or the 50-unit shipment floor applies; a Premier subscription at $50/mo is optional.

from $1.20card starts at 1,000 unitsnone stated50/shipment minimum2026-07-28
Grizzly Prep MTMT · tax-freefrom $1.25tiers are per shipment, not monthly volume$50.00one-time registrationMinimum not stated2026-08-10
Proven PrepOR · tax-free

Online-arbitrage sellers ideally send about 500+ units/month, evaluated individually.

from $1.25none statedMinimum not stated2026-08-10
Ready Set Prep N PackMT · tax-free

10/shipment minimum · No monthly minimum; the shipment floor was lowered from 20 to 10 units in the 2026-06 drift note.

from $1.25$60.00one-time registration10/shipment minimum2026-08-17
Dollan Prep CenterDE · tax-free

requires 2D Workflow ($48/month, waived above 2,500 units/mo) · 100+ units per shipment for weekly processing; 3% credit-card fee, billed weekly via Stripe.

from $1.45tiers are per shipment, not monthly volumenone stated400/mo minimum2026-08-10
HexPrepOR · tax-free

Outbound shipments under 20 units carry a $5.00 handling surcharge, waived for high-volume clients.

from $1.50publishes a separate card for wholesalenone statedMinimum not stated2026-08-13
Simply Ship NowFL

requires Inventory Lab

from $1.50$300.00one-time non-refundable account-activation feeMinimum not stated2026-07-28
United States PrepNH · tax-freefrom $1.50none statedMinimum not stated2026-06-10
McKenzie ServicesOR · tax-free

$100.00 minimum invoice · $100 job minimum on wholesale; $60 minimum on carton forwarding; membership runs $0 to $500/mo by support level.

from $1.70no published rate at this volume$60.00one-time, Bronze membership tierMinimum not stated2026-07-28
EnZone PrepWorksTX

20/shipment minimum · $25.00 minimum invoice · Small orders carry a $25 or 20-unit floor (either satisfies it); a $47/month membership is required, with a 30-day free trial.

from $1.75$35.00one-time20/shipment minimum2026-07-28
Stock and ShipOR · tax-free

The wholesale card additionally requires 50 units per SKU.

from $1.75publishes a separate card for wholesalenone stated500/mo minimum2026-08-10
Flat Rate PrepWIfrom $2.25$179.99one-time new-client feeNo minimum2026-08-17

Outside the US (3 published cards, own currency, not mixed into the median):

Every rate is verbatim from the operator's published rate card as hand-verified for the FBA Prep Pricing Index 2026 (snapshot 2026-06-12). We compute nothing: where a card prices your volume for your sourcing model we show that tier's rate, and everywhere else we show the published entry rate as "from" with the reason, never an estimate. Pool membership is refreshed live: 5 snapshot cards are currently excluded because the center is no longer published or verified. 16 more snapshot cards publish pricing this tool cannot rank (quote-based, plan-based, a-la-carte, or otherwise not a comparable per-unit rate). One duplicated rate card is counted once, per the Index methodology. Rates change; always confirm a written quote for your SKU mix.

Ordering is rate and fit only. No center pays to appear here, and none can pay to move up.

Fee taxonomy

The 5 categories every prep center bills.

Centers bundle these line items differently. The categories themselves are stable: receiving, per-unit prep, storage, returns, and onboarding. Compare quotes line by line, not by headline number.

CategoryWhat it coversWhat published cards showWatch for
ReceivingCharged when your inbound shipment arrives. Per pallet, per carton, or per unit (varies by center).FBA Prep NY publishes $0.99 per loose box and $15 to $25 per pallet (re-verified 2026-07-28). Many cards fold receiving into the per-unit rate instead.Centers that bill per-unit on receipt double up with prep-fee per-unit billing. Confirm structure before booking.
Per-unit prepFNSKU label, polybag, bubble wrap, expiration scan, or other required Amazon-prep step.$1.30 median entry rate across the 44 verified US centers publishing per-unit rates; middle 50 percent $0.99 to $1.66. Named rates at your volume: the comparator above.Bundle pricing that obscures which steps are included. FNSKU is often free above 50 units; polybag rarely is.
StorageHolding inventory before it ships to Amazon FCs or to a customer. Billed per pallet, shelf, bin, or cubic foot per month.FBA Prep NY publishes $29.99 per pallet per month. 406 Premier Prep includes the first 30 days free, then $20 per month per line item.Long-term storage surcharge after 60 to 90 days. Pallet vs cubic-foot billing changes the math on bulky SKUs.
Returns processingHandling FBA removal orders and customer-returned units.406 Premier Prep publishes $0.50 per returned item. Romex Enterprise, a returns-focused operator, publishes quality checks at $0.29 to $0.99 per item.Whether the center relabels for re-FBA or only disposes. Per-shipment minimums on removal orders.
Onboarding / setupOne-time fee to create an account, integrate inventory feeds, or set up a recurring shipment.41 percent of the Pricing Index's rate cards charge one; the median is $87. Examples: 406 Premier Prep $25, MyPrepCenter $99 (reimbursed at 2,500 units per month), Delaware Prep Center $299 (waived on its top tier), Simply Ship Now $300.Hidden in the fine print. Confirm whether it is reimbursed after a volume milestone.

How we source fees

Why this pricing is verifiable.

Every per-center pricing note above carries a retrieval date. If a center publishes $0.85 per unit, the profile page tells you when we last read that number directly off the center's own pricing page. We do not average across sources and do not carry forward stale numbers without re-checking.

For context: the largest prep-center directory we audited publishes $0 in pricing data across roughly 540 profile pages. The contrast is the point. Pricing is the friction buyers actually care about, and obscuring it is a tell.

Amazon's in-house FBA Prep service ended for shipments after January 1, 2026 (Supply Chain Dive), so every fee on this page applies to third-party centers only.

Questions, answered

Common FBA prep fee questions.

How much does FBA prep cost in 2026?
Across the 44 verified US centers publishing per-unit rates in our FBA Prep Pricing Index 2026 (snapshot 2026-06-12), the median entry rate is $1.30 per unit, with the middle 50 percent of published cards between $0.99 and $1.66. Rates fall with volume on most cards, and add-ons (storage, returns, onboarding) stack on top. Every figure traces to a dated, named rate card; use the comparator on this page to see which centers will take you at your volume and what tier of their card you land in.
What's the typical per-unit prep fee for FNSKU plus polybag?
Around the $1.30 median entry rate for all-in per-unit prep. Named published examples: MyPrepCenter publishes $0.85 (Gold, 2,500-4,999 units/mo), $1.00 (Silver), $1.10 (Bronze, under 500 units/mo). WestFBA publishes $0.75 pick & pack plus $0.25 polybag add-on. The flat-rate vs per-step model is the largest source of pricing variance across centers.
Are there onboarding or setup fees?
Often, but rarely large: 41 percent of the rate cards in our Pricing Index charge a setup fee, and the median is $87. Named examples: 406 Premier Prep charges a $25 one-time registration, MyPrepCenter $99 (reimbursed once you cross 2,500 units per month), Delaware Prep Center $299 (waived on its top tier), Simply Ship Now $300 account activation. Always confirm whether the fee is reimbursed at a volume milestone.
How are bundles or multipacks charged?
Per bundle, not per unit inside the bundle. MyPrepCenter publishes Bronze tier rates of $1.50 (2-pack), $1.75 (3-pack), $2.00 (4-pack), up to $2.50 (6-pack). WestFBA bundles run cheaper: $0.95 (2-pack), $1.05 (3-pack). A 3-pack bundle priced at $1.05 to $1.75 is cheaper than 3 separate prep cycles at $0.75 to $1.10 each, so bundling almost always saves money where SKUs allow.
How are long-term storage and returns billed?
Storage is billed per pallet, shelf, bin, or cubic foot per month, and the published cards vary widely: FBA Prep NY publishes $29.99 per pallet per month, while 406 Premier Prep includes the first 30 days free and then charges $20 per month per line item. Watch for a long-term storage surcharge after 60 to 90 days. Returns processing is per unit: 406 Premier publishes $0.50 per returned item, and Romex Enterprise, a returns-focused operator, publishes quality checks at $0.29 to $0.99 per item. Confirm whether the center relabels returned units for re-FBA or only disposes.
What hidden fees should I look for in a prep-center contract?
Five common hidden line items: (1) per-unit billing on receipt that double-counts with per-unit prep, (2) Q4 surge rates that run 15% to 50% above standard tier, (3) long-term storage surcharge after 60 to 90 days, (4) outbound shipping markup vs the carrier's published rate, (5) inventory reconciliation or audit fees when the count doesn't match the supplier ASN. Ask for a sample monthly invoice at your stated volume before signing.
Why do some prep centers refuse to publish pricing?
Two reasons. First, they price for volume tiers and a quote requires knowing your SKU mix and monthly volume. Second, they prefer to negotiate. We treat refusal-to-publish-pricing as a negative editorial signal, not a deal-breaker; the 40-plus centers with published rate cards in the comparator above tend to be more transparent across other dimensions too.
Does Amazon still offer its own FBA prep service?
No. Amazon discontinued its in-house FBA Prep & Item Labeling service for shipments after January 1, 2026 (source: Supply Chain Dive). The entire third-party prep market now handles inventory that previously routed through Amazon. Read the full story at /amazon-ended-fba-prep/.

Next step

Stop estimating. Get a real quote.

Our matching service connects you with 2 to 3 verified prep centers in your tier within 24 hours. You tell us your volume, products, and channels; we route you to centers whose published pricing fits your model.

Get matched with 2 to 3 prep centers →Browse the verified directory →

Disclosure: fbaprepfinder runs a free matching service. Listed centers can pay for clearly labeled Featured placement or per-verified-click referral fees; they can never pay for ranking, verification, or match placement. The comparator above shows each center's published card, not a quote. We don't set or influence the rates each center publishes.

Reference

Amazon FC directory

Match your prep-center geography to Amazon's FC clusters. Drives IPSF math more than per-unit prep fees do.

Reference

Amazon IXD directory

The 5 inbound cross-docks freight-shipping sellers hit before the FC network. Lowest IPSF tier.

Reference

FBA fee calculator

Amazon's referral and fulfillment fees after the prep center hands off. Model total landed cost, not just prep.

Related references.

FBA Prep Pricing Index 2026

The dated census behind these benchmarks: median US entry rate, the tax-free premium, and setup-fee prevalence.

Open the index →

Amazon FBA fee calculator

The other half of landed cost. Referral, fulfillment, placement, and storage after the prep center hands off.

Run the FBA math →

Connect your Seller Central account

Pull your own SKUs and volumes so the prep-cost comparison runs on your numbers instead of averages.

See how the connection works →

Best Amazon FBA prep centers 2026

The ranked centers whose published rate cards these benchmarks are drawn from.

Compare rate cards →

What each prep service includes

Line-item definitions, so you can tell whether two quotes are actually comparable.

Read the services guide →

FBA prep supplies checklist

The DIY comparison baseline: what self-prep costs in supplies and hours before these fees look expensive.

Run the DIY math →