Amazon Service Provider Network vs Amazon Ads Partners: How to Find and Vet a Provider
If you need assistance with selling tasks such as catalog updates, product images, or account management, the Amazon Service Provider Network (SPN) is a good place to begin.
It is more appropriate to use the Amazon Ads Partner Directory if you are looking for agencies and advertising tools.
Begin by selecting the directory that corresponds to the job you want done; afterward, check each provider's level of experience, the results they've achieved, the account access requirements and the contract terms before employing them.
Both directories can assist U.S. sellers in obtaining external support, but they cater to different requirements. Just because a seller appears in one of the directories does not mean that their sales will be better or that they need not check the provider themselves.
Which ad partnership should you choose between SPN and Amazon?
Go ahead and use SPN if you need assistance with tasks related to selling on Amazon, and use the Amazon Ads Partner Directory if your primary concern is advertising.
If you need both, then you should search through both directories and compare the providers on the basis of the services that they offer, and not just their entries in the directories.
Advertising optimization services are also provided by SPN.
You might therefore come across advertising support in both directories, but the Amazon Ads Partner Directory is generally a more appropriate starting point for advertising specialists.
The range of services and directory features can vary depending on the marketplace or account.
What is the Amazon Service Provider Network?
The Amazon Service Provider Network is a directory which lists third-party companies and professionals who provide services to Amazon sellers.
Amazon states that it checks the standards of the providers, keeps an eye on their performance, and shows the reviews and ratings from verified sellers.
The information will enable you to compare different providers, but you will still have to hire them and sign the contract directly with the service provider.
The U.S. SPN page includes services such as:
- Account management
- Catalog management
- Product photography and images
- Advertising optimization
- A+ Content
- FBA preparation
- Compliance
- Shipping and other seller services
It makes the SPN useful if you need assistance with fixing product listings or with carrying out routine selling tasks.
SPN differs from the Solution Provider Portal (SPP), which is used for service-provider operations and for setting up accounts.
It is also distinct from the Amazon Ads Partner Network.
If you want to employ somebody, then you should use the service directory not the one that is intended for providers to register.
What is the Amazon Ads Partner Network and Directory?
The Amazon Ads Partner Network is a programme aimed at advertising agencies and technology providers who work with Amazon advertisers.
The Partner Directory allows advertisers to locate companies according to the services they offer, their area of expertise, and the marketplaces they support.
The services offered by Amazon include media planning and buying, retail, creative and brand experience, and measurement.
Use the Amazon Ads Partner Directory when you need help with Sponsored Products, Sponsored Brands, DSP campaigns, advertising tools, creative work, or performance reporting.
Some partners also offer retail and creative services, but it would be wrong to suppose that every agency listed provides full-service account management.
Before you hire, find out which team is in charge of each service.
The Amazon Ads Verified and Advanced partner status may help you in comparing providers, but having a badge alone should not be the reason why you hire someone.
If you want to know more, see SalesDuo’s Amazon Ads Verified Partner guide.
As of October 2026, Amazon’s partner-status guidance says status decisions remain paused through Q4 2026.
When you're selecting a provider, be sure to check the most up-to-date status and requirements.
How to Find the Right Provider on Each Amazon Directory
Prior to beginning your search, make a note of the task you want to carry out, the marketplace you aim to target, and your budget range.
It prevents you from comparing a specialist designer with a full-service agency since the services that they offer are very different.
Search SPN for Seller-Service Work
- The task should be defined; for instance, you might need to update 40 product listings, produce 12 compliant image sets, or check for repeated catalog errors.
- Open SPN and go to the U.S. SPN page; if necessary, sign in to the appropriate Amazon selling account, then look for the available service categories.
- Apply the filters, select the service and marketplace that you want, and use the filters available for location, language, reviews, and specialties.
- Look at the provider profiles. Check the latest reviews, the work that has been completed, the specialties listed, and the reference prices if they are given. It is important to note that reference prices are not final quotes.
- Look at the company and get a proposal. Check the provider's official website to see if it matches the entry in the directory. Request a written scope, a delivery schedule, the name of the team member who will be assigned, and the final price.
Amazon states that sellers are able to get in touch with the providers by using service requests and handle the messages through SPN.
The menus exactly may vary, so you should go by what is shown in your current account rather than depending on older screenshots.
Search the Ads Partner Directory for Advertising Work
- Set your advertising objective and determine if you need assistance with Sponsored Ads management, DSP, creative testing, reporting, or a mix of these services.
- Relevant experience: Ask for examples of work with brands in your category or at a similar business stage. Request the starting problem, the actions taken, the results, and evidence supporting those results.
- Look at the company profiles and for each provider check the services they offer, the area in which they specialise, and their current partner status; also compare the name of the company with that on its official website.
- Look at their relevant experience and find out if the team in question has handled brands that had similar budgets, fell within the same category requirements, and had comparable reporting needs. Ask for a sample report but make sure that any private details have been removed.
- Look at two or three companies. When assessing them, use the same criteria to examine their work plans, the reports they provide, their fees, their responsibilities, and their cancellation terms.
Should advertising be your sole concern, then the guide that SalesDuo has on how to find an Amazon advertising agency gives more details.
The primary aim should be to refrain from paying for a comprehensive service package when a specialist is able to deal with your particular problem.
How to Vet an Amazon Service Provider Before You Hire
For each provider on your shortlist, use this ten-point checklist.
It makes a difference no matter whether you discovered the company via SPN, the Ads Partner Directory, or through a referral.
Request written responses and check each provider based on the same criteria.
- The exact scope should include a list of the accounts, ASINs, marketplaces, campaign types, deliverables, and services that are excluded, and it should also state which tasks require your approval.
- As an example, ask someone from a similar category or at a similar stage of the business. Find out what the provider achieved, what changed, and what evidence there is to support the results.
- Named owner: Confirm who will do the work, who will review it, how often meetings happen, and who provides backup support. Check whether the work is done by employees or subcontractors.
- Delivery schedule: Request a sample 30-day plan with tasks, deadlines, responsible people, and review dates. A general promise to improve the account is not enough.
- KPI definitions: Agree on the metrics used to measure success. For advertising, define ACoS, ROAS, TACoS, and attribution windows. For catalog work, define completed fixes and quality checks.
- Account ownership: Make sure your business keeps control of Seller Central, brand assets, listings, advertising accounts, reporting history, and the data needed to continue without the provider.
- Minimum access: Ask which Seller Central and Ads Console permissions are needed. Give only the access required for the work. Never share your personal account password.
- Security and exit: Ask how access will be removed, files transferred, third-party connections canceled, and business information returned or deleted when the contract ends.
- Full cost and terms: Compare monthly fees, setup charges, percentage-based fees, software costs, other expenses, minimum contract periods, notice requirements, and cancellation terms.
- References and responsibility: Speak with a relevant client when possible. Check how problems are reported, how quality is reviewed, and who handles Seller Central and Ads Console issues.
Create a shortlist sheet with one row per provider. Use the ten checks above as evaluation columns, and record the supporting evidence, missing information, and follow-up questions for each provider. Mark each requirement as confirmed, unclear, or missing.
You should not go for the cheaper price just because the provider doesn't being to explain how account security works or what takes place when the relationship comes to an end.
You should also look at the total contract cost, not just the monthly charge.
For example, a hypothetical six-month agreement with a $2,000 monthly fee and a $1,000 setup charge would cost $13,000. This excludes advertising spend, software fees, taxes, and additional work. Compare the full contract cost using each provider's actual proposal.
When you are taking your final decision, make use of the actual proposals.
Three Common Provider-Search Scenarios
It shows here that the correct directory will vary according to the kind of work you need rather than on the provider's badge or the size of the company.
1. Product Images and Catalog Errors
The seller of home goods needs to have consistent product photographs and also needs to deal with the different versions of the products across 80 ASINs.
Begin with the imaging and catalog categories of SPN.
Request from each provider a sample image brief, a list of the planned catalog corrections, the approval process, and copies of the final source files.
The best kind of evidence is having done similar catalog work in the past and having a realistic delivery schedule.
For this project, prioritize catalog accuracy, image quality, and delivery experience rather than Amazon DSP expertise.
2. Sponsored Ads, DSP, and Measurement
The brand, which is becoming more established, has good product listings but still requires an improved campaign structure, a test using a DSP, and more clear reporting.
Begin by looking at the Amazon Ads Partner Directory.
Find out which advertising products the agency is actually in charge of, verify that the DSP access meets your requirements, and determine who will explain the performance each month.
Request sample dashboards but ask that the client details be removed.
Also find out about the business results that can be measured.
You should not regard guaranteed ROAS or promises regarding ranking as evidence of capability.
3. Catalog, Operations, Creative, and Ads Together
A brand that carries a large number of SKUs is experiencing delays in the updating of its catalog, failing to communicate its inventory levels, having inconsistent creative work, and making advertising decisions that are not coordinated.
Look through both directories and think about hiring a full-service agency which can coordinate a number of teams.
Request a single clear plan that specifies who is responsible for listing readiness, operations, advertising, reporting, and urgent matters.
While a directory listing may assist you in locating suitable candidates, it cannot demonstrate that the agency is able to carry out all these tasks together.
Red Flags and What Partner Badges Do Not Prove
The fact that a directory listing or a partner badge is present does not imply that Amazon employs the provider, approves all of the services it offers, or guarantees any results.
Amazon specifically says SPN listings are for information and do not mean it endorses the listed services.
Watch for these warning signs:
- The provider guarantees sales, rankings, or advertising returns without clear limits or supporting evidence.
- It pressures you to share passwords, transfer account ownership, or give more permissions than needed.
- It cannot name the team doing the work or explain subcontracting arrangements.
- It makes unclear claims about Amazon approval or partner status.
- The contract includes fees that are hard to calculate, undisclosed software charges, or difficult cancellation terms.
- The provider refuses to share sample reports, a delivery schedule, or a clear handover process.
If a company displays a partner badge, compare the claim with its current directory information.
A difference is worth asking about, but it does not automatically mean the provider has done something wrong.
When a Full-Service Amazon Agency Makes Sense
A specialist is often enough when the problem is specific and easy to measure.
A full-service agency may be a better fit when catalog work, creative, inventory, and advertising depend on one another.
It can also help when delays between different service providers are slowing down your team.
Ask full-service candidates to show:
- One shared plan for all the required services.
- Clear responsibilities for every team.
- Reports that connect product readiness with advertising decisions.
- Rules for account access, data ownership, and contract termination.
Review full-service agencies using the same standards you would apply to a specialist. If your brand needs coordinated support across catalog management, creative, advertising, and operations, explore SalesDuo's Amazon agency services. For a single listing update or a limited advertising audit, a specialist with a clear scope may be a better fit.
For a single listing update or limited advertising audit, a specialist with a clear scope may be the better choice.
Choose the Amazon Agency That Fits Your Needs
Choose the provider or directory that matches your current needs, then verify the agency’s scope, responsibilities, pricing, reporting, and account-access terms before signing.
If your business needs one team to manage several Amazon services together, book a 1:1 Growth Call with SalesDuo through its agency page.
Frequently Asked Questions about Amazon Service Provider Network
What Is Amazon’s Service Provider Network?
Amazon’s Service Provider Network is a directory of vetted third-party providers that offer seller services.
These include account management, catalog updates, product images, A+ Content, advertising optimization, and logistics-related work.
You choose the provider and sign a service agreement directly with them.
Is SPN the Same as the Amazon Ads Partner Network?
No. SPN helps sellers find providers for a wide range of selling tasks.
The Amazon Ads Partner Network is a program for advertising agencies and technology providers. Its directory helps advertisers compare possible partners.
How Do I Find an Amazon Advertising Partner?
Start with Amazon Ads’ partner-discovery page.
Look for providers that support your advertising products and target marketplaces.
Then compare their experience, sample reports, responsibilities, pricing, and current directory details.
Are SPN Providers Employed by Amazon?
No. SPN providers are independent companies and professionals.
Amazon vets providers and helps sellers find them, but sellers choose who to hire and sign contracts directly with those providers.
Does a Verified Partner Badge Guarantee Results?
No. Partner status can be useful when comparing agencies, but it does not guarantee sales, advertising performance, or a good fit.
Check the team’s experience, services, reporting, and contract terms before hiring.
Can I Use SPN for Listing Optimization and Creative Help?
Yes. Amazon’s U.S. SPN materials include cataloging, product images, and A+ Content services.
Check what is available for your account, marketplace, and project before contacting a provider.
What Should I Ask Before Giving an Agency Account Access?
Ask which tasks require account access, who will use it, what permissions they need, how their activity will be reviewed, and how access will be removed later.
Never share your personal account password.
How Do I Compare Amazon Agency Proposals?
Compare every proposal using the same services, deliverables, timeline, team responsibilities, KPIs, total costs, and exit requirements.
Keep one-time setup fees separate from monthly management fees, advertising spend, software costs, and other recurring charges so you can compare the true cost of each proposal.
About the Author
Meet Aryan Suyal, an SEO Content Writer Intern at SalesDuo who excels at turning patterns into precise, on-point content. He brings sharp insights and analytical thinking, along with a builder's instinct for creating systems that help ideas work smarter. Outside of work, you'll find him getting lost in books, tinkering with and building AI systems, or losing hours to a good documentary.