Amazon SPN: how the Service Provider Network works, and how to choose well inside it
Amazon SPN, the Service Provider Network, is Amazon's directory of vetted third party service providers inside Seller Central. This guide explains what it covers, how Amazon vets providers, what it costs, how to hire through it, and how agencies join, using Amazon's own pages.
Key takeaways
- Amazon SPN is a directory of vetted third party service providers, found in Seller Central under Apps and Services, then Explore Services.
- Amazon vets providers against its standards, monitors their performance and shows verified reviews, but says it does not endorse any provider.
- Browsing is free with a selling account. You contract and pay the provider directly; the reference prices shown are only a guide.
- Services range from imaging, listings and advertising to FBA prep, compliance, taxes, translation and international shipping.
- Providers now register through the Solution Provider Portal, which replaced Service Provider Central for service listings.
What Amazon SPN is
Amazon SPN stands for the Amazon Service Provider Network. Amazon describes it as a group of vetted third party service providers who can help with almost every step of selling with Amazon, and as a one stop shop for sellers to find services that help launch, manage and grow a business. It lives inside Seller Central.
The providers are agencies and individuals, not Amazon staff. Amazon says they meet a required set of standards and are qualified and trained on Amazon guidelines and policies. When you hire one, you contract with that provider directly, and they work at your direction.
Amazon draws one line clearly: it lists providers as an informational resource and does not endorse any provider or its services. Vetting means a provider passed Amazon's checks and is being monitored. It does not mean Amazon guarantees the work.
- SPN
- Service Provider NetworkAmazon's directory of vetted service providers
- Where
- Seller CentralApps and Services, then Explore Services
- Who
- Agencies and individualsThird parties, not Amazon
- Contract
- Directly with the providerAmazon does not endorse or guarantee
Services you can find in the Amazon Service Provider Network
| Category | What providers do, in Amazon's words |
|---|---|
| Account management | Hands on support for day to day operations, such as account health and pricing tools |
| Advertising optimization | Managing sponsored ad campaigns: keywords, bids and targeting |
| Cataloging and listings | New listings and offers that follow Amazon guidelines, search optimized titles and keywords |
| A+ cataloging | Enhanced content on product detail pages |
| Imaging | Table top and model photo shoots that meet Amazon's image guidelines |
| FBA preparation | Labeling, poly bagging, quality checks, bundling and kitting before shipping to Amazon |
| Compliance | Product testing, certification, inspection, audits and labeling |
| Accounting and taxes | Payment reconciliation, tax registration and filing |
| International shipping and returns | Moving inventory abroad and handling returns from international buyers |
| Translation | Listings translated for other Amazon stores |
| IP Accelerator | Trademark filing through vetted legal providers |
| Training | Seller Central, tools, policies, inventory and returns |
| Excess inventory | Liquidating or donating excess FBA inventory |
Some categories are limited by country. Amazon's developer page lists seller reinstatement and domestic shipping for India only, manufacturing for India and Mexico, and seller lending for the US, Brazil and Mexico. Always check what is offered where you sell, since the directory filters by the store you sell in.
How to find and hire a provider through Amazon SPN
- Log in to Seller Central. From the main menu, select Apps and Services, then Explore Services.
- Select your location, where you want to sell, and the type of service you need.
- Filter by provider location, preferred language and average review rating.
- Compare verified reviews, completed service requests, specialties and reference prices.
- Open a provider's details and choose Contact Provider.
- Agree to share your contact details, describe what you need, and select Submit request.
- Track replies from the dashboard at the top of the SPN page, or in Manage Service Requests.
After the request, the provider responds and you make plans with them directly. Amazon's developer page adds that payments are made directly between seller and provider, at the fee the two of you agree. Amazon is not a party to the price.
What Amazon SPN costs
Using the network costs nothing extra. Amazon's SPN page says access is free when you have an Amazon selling account; its blog post on service providers says you need a Professional selling account, which costs $39.99 a month plus selling fees. If the directory does not appear for you, the selling plan is the first thing to check.
The providers charge for their work. Each provider's details show reference prices, but Amazon says these are for reference only: the final price can depend on the time the job takes, the currency, applicable taxes, and any discounts the provider offers. Providers are not charged by Amazon for listing their services at present, according to Amazon's developer page.
| Cost | Who pays | What Amazon says |
|---|---|---|
| Access to the directory | Nobody extra | Free with a selling account; the blog names the Professional plan |
| The provider's service | The seller, to the provider | A fee agreed between seller and provider |
| Reference prices | Shown on provider details | For reference only; the final amount may differ |
| Listing a service in SPN | Not charged to providers now | Advance notice promised if that changes |
How Amazon vets SPN providers, and what vetting does not mean
Amazon says it holds each provider to a set of standards, which must be met before joining, and continuously monitors performance afterwards. Providers submit business information and identity documents as part of joining. Amazon's developer page lists a valid business license and a government issued ID for the owner or legal representative among the requirements.
Vetting is a floor, not a recommendation. Amazon states that it does not endorse any provider, and a provider's quality in your category, at your scale, is something only its reviews, its completed requests and your own questions can show. Treat an SPN listing as a verified identity with a track record, then judge the fit yourself.
SPN, the Selling Partner Appstore, or hiring outside the network
Amazon separates its two directories by what they list. The Selling Partner Appstore lists software applications that automate tasks. The Service Provider Network lists agencies and individuals who provide specific services and personalized help. Many sellers use both: an app for repricing or reports, and a provider for work that needs a person.
Many agencies and freelancers are not in the network at all, and that includes us at the time of writing. Hiring outside SPN is common and allowed, but you do not get Amazon's vetting, the verified reviews, or the request dashboard, so the checks below matter more.
| Service Provider Network | Selling Partner Appstore | Outside both | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What is listed | Agencies and individuals | Software applications | Any agency or freelancer |
| Vetted by Amazon | Yes, against Amazon's standards | Apps go through Amazon's developer processes | No |
| Reviews | Verified reviews in the directory | Reviews in the Appstore | Whatever the provider shows you |
| How you connect | Contact Provider and Manage Service Requests | Authorize the app | Directly, by your own contract |
| Best for | Work that needs a person | Tasks software can automate | Specialists not listed in either |
How to choose the right provider
Amazon's advice for choosing a third party service provider is to weigh your business size, budget, the service you need and for how long, to read reviews and ratings, and to make sure the provider has the right experience. You can hire as many providers as you need, as long as each has a clear scope. These are the checks we would add, inside the network or outside it.
Do
- Ask for work in your category and at your scale
- Agree the scope, deliverables and reporting in writing
- Give only the account permissions the work needs
- Ask how they measure results, and against what baseline
- Agree how the engagement ends and what you keep
Don't
- Take a reference price as the final quote
- Share your main login instead of user permissions
- Accept guaranteed rankings or guaranteed sales
- Let one provider hold your only copy of listings or ad data
- Hire for a vague goal such as "grow the account"
The permissions point matters most. Amazon's Solution Provider Portal lets sellers authorize an SPN listed provider from its listing page, so no provider should need your own login. For what a full engagement covers, see our full account management service.
Which SPN category fits which job
| Your problem | SPN category to search | Related guide or service |
|---|---|---|
| Listings that do not rank or convert | Cataloging, A+ cataloging, imaging | Amazon SEO and listing optimization |
| Ad spend without clear returns | Advertising optimization | Amazon PPC |
| No time for daily operations | Account management | Full account management |
| Stock arriving wrong or late | FBA preparation, international shipping | FBA inventory consulting |
| Selling in another country | Translation, taxes, international returns | Marketplace expansion |
| No trademark yet | IP Accelerator | Brand protection |
For the listing and advertising rows, our guides to Amazon listing optimization and Amazon PPC explain what good work looks like, so you can judge any provider's proposal. For recurring admin work, our Amazon virtual assistant service is the lighter option.
How to join Amazon SPN as a service provider
Providers now join through the Solution Provider Portal, or SPP. Amazon's developer pages say SPP replaces the functions of Service Provider Central for registering, onboarding and listing services, and that existing providers are being migrated through an assisted process. Amazon's developer page lays out the steps.
- Create an account on the Solution Provider Portal, read the account setup guidance, and choose Acknowledge & Continue.
- For your persona, choose I'm a Service Provider, then Apply.
- Complete identity verification with business information and ID for the owner or legal representative.
- Select Add Service on the SPP home page and answer the questionnaire.
- Choose only the roles relevant to your service, and be ready to justify restricted ones.
- Once approved, an Amazon representative contacts you through a support case to collect your listing details.
Amazon expects providers to follow its SPN policies and says failing to comply can lead to listings being removed or to suspension from Amazon's tools and the program. The role step is where that starts: each role is a kind of access to sellers' data, so ask for no more than the service needs.
Amazon SPN and SPP: the difference
| Service Provider Network (SPN) | Solution Provider Portal (SPP) | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | The directory sellers browse | The portal providers and developers use |
| Who uses it | Sellers looking for help | Service providers and SP-API developers |
| Where | Seller Central, Apps and Services | solutionproviderportal.amazon.com |
| Main jobs | Find, compare and contact providers | Register, verify, list services, request permissions |
| Replaced | Nothing; it is the directory | Service Provider Central, for service listings |
In short, sellers see SPN and providers work in SPP. A provider's listing is created in SPP and appears to sellers in SPN.
Mistakes sellers make with the Service Provider Network
Reading vetting as endorsement
Amazon vets and monitors providers but says it does not endorse any of them.
Choosing on reference price
Reference prices are a guide; the final fee is agreed with the provider.
Skipping the scope
A request without a clear scope leads to a proposal you cannot compare.
Oversharing access
Authorize the roles a job needs, never your own login.
One provider for everything
Amazon notes you can hire several; match each job to a specialist.
No exit plan
Agree what you keep, such as listings, creatives and ad data, before work starts.
If you want a second opinion on a provider's proposal, inside SPN or outside it, our Amazon consulting service reviews the scope and pricing against what the work usually involves.
Amazon SPN: FAQ
What is Amazon SPN?
The Amazon Service Provider Network: a directory of vetted third party service providers in Seller Central who help sellers launch, manage and grow their business, from product images to advertising.
How do I access the Service Provider Network?
In Seller Central, open the main menu, select Apps and Services, then Explore Services. Choose your location, the store you sell in and the service type, then filter the results.
Is Amazon SPN free?
Browsing and contacting providers costs nothing extra with a selling account; Amazon's blog names the Professional plan at $39.99 a month. You pay providers directly for their services.
Does Amazon endorse SPN providers?
No. Amazon vets providers against its standards and monitors performance, but says it lists them as an informational resource and does not endorse any provider or its services.
How does Amazon vet service providers?
Providers must meet Amazon's standards before joining, submit business information and identity documents, and are monitored afterwards. Sellers see verified reviews and ratings.
Are SPN reference prices what I will pay?
Not necessarily. Amazon says reference prices are for reference only; the final amount can depend on time, currency, taxes and discounts.
What is the difference between SPN and the Selling Partner Appstore?
The Appstore lists software applications that automate tasks. SPN lists agencies and individuals who provide services and personalized help.
What is the difference between SPN and SPP?
SPN is the directory sellers browse. The Solution Provider Portal is where providers register, verify their identity and list services; it replaced Service Provider Central.
How do I become an Amazon SPN provider?
Register on the Solution Provider Portal as a service provider, verify your identity with a business license and ID, add your service and roles, and complete the listing with Amazon.
Does Amazon charge providers to be listed?
Not at present, according to Amazon's developer page, which says providers would get advance notice of any future charge.
Can I hire more than one provider?
Yes. Amazon says you can hire as many providers as you need, as long as the budget and each provider's scope are clear.
Sources
- Service Provider Network (SPN), Sell on AmazonLast verified September 24, 2026.
- What is the Amazon Service Provider Network?, Sell on Amazon blogLast verified September 24, 2026.
- Amazon Service Provider Network, Amazon Selling Partner APILast verified September 24, 2026.
- Amazon Service Provider Network (SPN) overview, Seller Central helpLast verified September 24, 2026.
- Amazon Solution Provider Portal (SPP), Amazon Selling Partner APILast verified September 24, 2026.
Get a free second opinion on a provider proposal
Send the proposal or scope you received, from SPN or elsewhere. You get a written read of what it covers, what it leaves out, and whether the price fits the work.
See the Amazon consulting service