Amazon Letter of Authorization (LOA) for Wholesale Sellers

Short answer: A letter of authorization (LOA) is a brand owner's written permission for you to sell its products. You may need one when a brand is restricted on Amazon or when the brand only allows authorised resellers. It has to come from the brand owner or the manufacturer: a distributor's letter is not the same thing, even if the distributor is authorised itself.

LOA, invoice and ungating: three different things

Wholesale sellers often mix these up:

An invoice proves you bought genuine stock from a real supplier. Amazon often asks for one to approve you in a restricted category or brand. See our guide to Amazon ungating with wholesale invoices.
Ungating is Amazon's approval to list in a restricted category or brand.
An LOA is the brand's permission. It answers a different question: does the brand allow you to sell its products on Amazon?

You can be ungated by Amazon and still not be authorised by the brand. Brands that control their distribution can file complaints against sellers they have not authorised.

Who can issue an LOA

Only the brand owner or the manufacturer acting for the brand. Amazon representatives have said in the Seller Forums that a distributor's letter is not enough, even when the distributor has its own authorisation from the brand. Your distributor can help you request one, but the letter must come from the brand.

What a useful LOA contains

There is no single public Amazon template. In our experience, a letter that is accepted and holds up later includes:

The brand's letterhead and the signer's name, title and contact details.
Both parties: the brand (or its licensor) and your business, using the exact legal name on your seller account.
What is covered: the brand name, and the products or product lines you may sell.
Where: the marketplace or country, for example Amazon in the United States.
For how long: a start date and an end date or renewal term.
A signature and date.

Ask the brand to mention Amazon explicitly, so there is no doubt the permission covers selling there.

When you will need one

Applying to sell a restricted brand. Your application may ask for it alongside invoices.
Responding to a brand complaint. An LOA shows the brand authorised you.
Brands with authorised-reseller programs. Some brands require written authorisation for every reseller.

Keep the LOA on file even after you are approved. Amazon or the brand can ask for proof later.

How to ask a brand for an LOA

Start with a real account. Buy through the brand's authorised channel first, so that you are an existing customer.
Explain how you sell. Your seller account, your fulfilment method, how you protect pricing and listings.
Offer something the brand values, such as better listing content, consistent stock or MAP compliance.
Ask for the specific elements above, so that the letter is usable.
Never write or edit an LOA yourself. A forged or altered letter can cost you the whole seller account.

How ECOMHUTSY helps

Our Amazon FBA wholesale service handles supplier research, authorised distributor accounts, brand outreach and approval applications, with every invoice and letter kept on file. ECOMHUTSY has worked with 100+ active clients since 2016. Every engagement is scoped after a short consultation. Talk to our team.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Brand authorisation terms are contracts: read them carefully and get legal advice if needed.