The Amazon and the eCommerce ecosystem are evolving at breakneck speed. Brandsโbig and smallโface a crucial choice: should they manage Amazon internally (DIY), or hire an experienced Amazon agency to handle growth, advertising, and operations?
Hereโs the unfiltered truth: itโs not a one-size-fits-all answer. It depends on your brandโs scale, goals, and the resources youโre willing to invest.
Letโs break it down.
Amazon Agency vs DIY: Managing Amazon In-House or Hiring Experts?
The Reality for $30M+ Brands: You Need Both. Period.
If your brand is already pulling in $30M+ in annual revenue on Amazon, the thought of relying solely on an Amazon Account Manager should make you uneasy. Even a highly experienced in-house hireโsomeone whoโs seen it allโwonโt have the broad exposure, deep category insights, and Amazon-specific connections that an agency brings to the table.
Why?
Because an individual, no matter how seasoned, canโt compete with an agency team working across 250+ brands, multiple verticals, and a full spectrum of 1P (Vendor) and 3P (Seller) operations.
That said, an internal team is still critical.
Larger brands need an in-house Amazon team to oversee logistics, stock, order management, and listing control. These are core business functions that an agency shouldnโt manage entirely. But when it comes to high-level strategy, advertising, and marketplace positioningโagencies are indispensable.
Why Small Brands Shouldnโt DIY Amazon: The Case for Hiring an Agency
Smaller brands donโt have the luxury of trial and error. If youโre an emerging player looking to scale, the right full-service Amazon agency will give you the competitive edge.
Why? Because Amazon is a game of speed and precision. You need specialists who can navigate algorithm changes, optimize listings, scale ads, and implement data-backed strategiesโall without the hefty cost of building an in-house team.
The right agency does this for a fraction of what youโd pay for an in-house employee. More importantly, it ensures youโre not just selling on Amazonโyouโre leading your category.
Amazon Agency vs DIY Cost: What Are You Really Paying For?
Letโs talk numbers.
A full-time Amazon Account Manager will demand a competitive salary, benefits, and ongoing training. Thatโs a heavy investment for brands still finding their footing.
An Amazon marketing agency, on the other hand, charges based on the value they bringโnot on arbitrary revenue shares or the perceived size of your brand. A truly ROI-focused agency will cost less than a full-time hire on minimum wage, all while offering an entire team of Amazon specialists at your disposal.
Know where your money goesโbreak down Amazon agency costs and see how expertise outweighs overhead.
Amazon Agency vs DIY: Pros & Cons Breakdown
Experience You Canโt DIY: Why Agencies Outperform Solo Efforts
Even if youโve been selling on Amazon for 10+ years, the insights you gain from managing a single brand pale in comparison to an agencyโs breadth of experience.
Why?
Because agencies work across multiple categories, different business models (Vendor & Seller), and diverse advertising challengesโevery single day. They stay ahead of platform updates, compliance shifts, and new ad formats before they even become mainstream.
If youโre serious about growth, you need that level of expertise in your corner.
DIY Amazon Management: What You Gainโand What You Risk
DIY sounds appealingโcontrol, low overhead, and speed. But without deep expertise, brands often run into costly ad mistakes, poor listing optimization, and inventory errors that stall growth.
What agencies bring is not just manpowerโitโs repeatable playbooks, tested systems, and relationships that accelerate results.
When it comes to winning on Amazon, DIY often costs more in the long run.
Amazon Connections: The Hidden Growth Lever
Hereโs where agencies offer something that an in-house hire simply canโt replicateโindustry connections.
A solo Amazon Manager is unlikely to have direct relationships with:
- Amazon Transparency & Internal Teams โ Crucial for brand protection and anti-counterfeiting efforts.
- Amazon US/UK/EU/UAE Agency Team โ If youโre scaling into Europe or England, this is a game-changer.
- Amazon Ad Partners โ Agencies get exclusive insights and early access to ad betas.
- SellerFlex & Vendor Managers โ Strong relationships here can mean better terms and faster issue resolution.
When Amazon issues arise (and they always do), having the right contacts isnโt a luxuryโitโs a necessity.
DIY or Agency? The Right Amazon Strategy for Your Brand in 2025
If youโre a large-scale brand ($30M+): You need both. Keep logistics in-house, but let an agency handle strategy, advertising, and marketplace optimization.
If youโre a smaller brand: An Amazon agency is your best bet. The right agency will position you for sustainable growth at a far lower cost than an in-house hire.
Amazon isnโt just a marketplaceโitโs a high-stakes game. The brands that thrive are the ones that make smart, strategic choicesโand that starts with choosing the right support system.
So, which path will you take?
SalesDuo: The Amazon Powerhouse Your Brand Needs
Amazon is a battlefield. You need more than just an agencyโyou need a war machine. Thatโs SalesDuo.
- Ex-Amazon Insiders โ Weโve worked inside Amazon. We know how the machine runs.
- BI-Powered Automation โ Our proprietary BI dashboard eliminates guesswork and automates daily operations.
- 250+ Brands, 70+ Categories โ We donโt "manage" accounts. We scale them.
- Full-Spectrum Amazon Domination โ Ads, SEO, inventory, complianceโwe handle everything so you can focus on growth.
- Continuous Optimization โ Set-it-and-forget-it? Not here. We tweak, test, and winโdaily.
Forget half-measures. If you want real Amazon success, SalesDuo is the only name you need. Schedule your 1:1 growth call with our Amazon account managers today!
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About the Author
Meet Arjun Narayan, a Business Dynamo with two decades of conquering boardrooms and founding two companies that didn't just survive but thrived. When he's not navigating business strategies and delivery teams, you'll find him immersed in his love for cars and exploring new models, geeking out over tech trends, globe-trotting for new adventures, and occasionally pondering the mysteries of the universe over a good cup of coffee.
