Amazon.ca or Amazon.com: which should a Canadian brand launch first?

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THE SHORT ANSWER

Most Canadian brands with one product line and a limited budget should launch on Amazon.ca first, prove the listing, then open Amazon.com with reviews and data in hand. Go to Amazon.com first only if page one in your category is beatable there, your margin survives cross-border costs, and you can fund inventory and ads in a much larger market.

Want the full how-to, worksheet and scorecard?

Is it better to sell on Amazon.ca or Amazon.com first?

Amazon.com is the bigger store, but bigger is not always better for a first launch. Five things decide it.

  1. 1Demand. Whether people search for your product in each store.
  2. 2Page-one competition. How hard the top listings are to beat in each store.
  3. 3Margin. What is left after fees, ads and, for the US, freight, duties and currency.
  4. 4The border. US stock is an import, and Amazon is not your importer of record.
  5. 5Paperwork and brand. Tax, labels and trademarks differ between the two countries.

Current as of September 2026. The US de minimis exemption no longer applies to Canadian shipments, and some Canadian goods face extra US duties in 2026. Check your product with a licensed customs broker.

FREE PDF · 14 PAGES

What’s inside the full guide

How to check each factor step by step, set up the border and paperwork, and decide with a scorecard.

  1. 01Demand and page-one competition, step by step
  2. 02Margin worksheet for both stores
  3. 03Border setup in eight steps
  4. 04Tax, labels and trademark rules
  5. 05Full side-by-side comparison
  6. 06Both launch paths, phase by phase
  7. 0710-question scorecard and your result
  8. 08Launch checklists for each store
  9. 09Eight common mistakes
  10. 10Sources you can check
Free · Instant download · No spam

Common questions

Can a Canadian business sell on Amazon.com?

Yes, through Amazon’s North America unified account. Stock you send to US fulfilment centres is an import that needs your own importer of record.

Can one seller account cover Amazon.ca and Amazon.com?

Yes. The North America and Brazil unified account lets one seller reach customers in the US, Canada, Mexico and Brazil.

Can I sell on Amazon.ca using inventory stored in the US?

Yes, with Remote Fulfillment with FBA. The Canadian customer pays any import duties and taxes as the importer of record.

Do I need to charge GST/HST on Amazon.ca?

Registration is mandatory once taxable sales pass $30,000 over four consecutive quarters. Confirm your situation with your accountant.

Do I need a trademark before launching?

Not to start selling, but you do for Amazon Brand Registry. A registered or pending trademark works.

Sequencing a two-store launch is part of how we grow e-commerce brands.

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