Question 1

What is cross-border e-commerce exactly?

Accepted Answer

Selling online from your home country directly to consumers abroad — via Amazon, Etsy or your own store. The buyer is in another country, revenue is in foreign currency, and simplified customs regimes usually apply.

Question 2

Which products fit cross-border selling?

Accepted Answer

Light, unbreakable, standard-shippable products with proven demand in the target market. Practical threshold: unit cost under ~30% of the target price — shipping, fees and ads come out of the gap. Handmade and personalized products have an extra edge on Etsy.

Question 3

Can I start with zero experience?

Accepted Answer

Yes — most of our clients start from zero. Sequence matters more than courses: validate the product with data, start on one channel, learn with 90 days of discipline.

Question 4

How much capital do I need?

Accepted Answer

Channel-dependent: on Etsy a maker can start with a few hundred dollars; a realistic floor for Amazon FBA private label is $5,000–10,000 (product + freight + trademark + ads + buffer).

Question 5

Are government export incentives real money?

Accepted Answer

In Turkey, yes — Ministry of Trade incentives can reimburse a serious share of marketplace commissions, ad spend, overseas warehousing and trademark costs. Starting without applying is leaving money on the table.

Question 6

My English is weak — is that a blocker?

Accepted Answer

Not for operations — dashboards are learnable. Listing copy and customer communication can be outsourced; we handle both for clients. It's a cost line, not a blocker.

Question 7

Can I sell on Amazon US from Turkey?

Accepted Answer

Yes — Turkey is on Amazon's accepted seller-registration list; you can open an account with a Turkish company and bank. A US LLC is optional, sometimes advantageous.

Question 8

What does Amazon charge?

Accepted Answer

Roughly a 15% referral fee in most categories + size-based FBA fulfillment + monthly storage + $39.99 pro account. During launch, ads taking 20–40% of revenue is normal.

Question 9

FBA vs FBM — what's the difference?

Accepted Answer

FBA: stock sits in Amazon's warehouse, Amazon handles fulfillment and returns, you get the Prime badge. FBM: you ship yourself — right for personalized items. We run both on our own brands.

Question 10

Why does Brand Registry matter so much?

Accepted Answer

A+ content, brand Store, video ads, listing protection and Vine all hang off it. Trademarks take months — file early; Amazon's IP Accelerator grants access while the application is pending.

Question 11

What is ACOS and what should mine be?

Accepted Answer

Ad spend divided by ad revenue. 35–50% is normal at launch; the goal is reaching your profitable band within 8–12 weeks. That band depends on margin: with a 30% margin, ACOS above 30% is a loss.

Question 12

How do I know if my product will sell on Amazon?

Accepted Answer

Three data points: monthly search volume for the target keyword, first-page revenue estimates, and the quality of first-page competition (review counts, weak listings). Helium 10 or Jungle Scout provide all three.

Question 13

Do I need a company to sell on Etsy?

Accepted Answer

No — Etsy is open to individual sellers. As revenue becomes regular, a simple company structure is the typical next step.

Question 14

What do Etsy's fees add up to?

Accepted Answer

A $0.20 listing fee + 6.5% transaction fee + payment processing + regional operating fees; add 12–15% per attributed sale if Offsite Ads applies. Plan for 15–20% of the sale price going to Etsy.

Question 15

How should I price on Etsy?

Accepted Answer

The rule we use on our own store: target price ≥ 3× landed cost (materials + labor + packaging + international shipping). Etsy buyers hunt for special, not cheap.

Question 16

What moves the needle most in Etsy SEO?

Accepted Answer

Titles written in the buyer's search language (first ~40 characters matter most) and all 13 tags filled with long-tail combinations — 'leather wallet personalized', not your brand vocabulary.

Question 17

How does shipping from Turkey work?

Accepted Answer

Micro-export regimes with express carriers handle customs automatically for small shipments. State delivery times honestly — late delivery is the #1 cause of bad reviews.

Question 18

No sales yet — where's the problem?

Accepted Answer

Check in order: listing count (aim for 10–15), first photo, pricing against the 3× rule, and tags in buyer language. A small Etsy Ads budget accelerates the data.

Question 19

Is a US company required for Amazon?

Accepted Answer

No — a common myth. You can sell with your home-country company; the W-8BEN(-E) ties withholding to your tax treaty. An LLC becomes an advantage when you need US banking, Stripe or wholesale relationships.

Question 20

Delaware or Wyoming?

Accepted Answer

Wyoming for a lean operation (low cost, ~$60 annual report); Delaware for an investment/partnership vision ($300 franchise tax). Our own Revoba LLC is in Delaware.

Question 21

What does an LLC really cost per year?

Accepted Answer

Year one ~$500–1,000; after that ~$500–1,200/year including registered agent, state obligations and accounting (Form 5472/1120). The '$20 LLC' ads skip most of these lines.

Question 22

Are EIN and ITIN the same thing?

Accepted Answer

No. The EIN is the company's tax ID — what banks, Amazon and payment rails need — and it doesn't require an ITIN. The ITIN is a personal tax number for personal US filings.

Question 23

What is Form 5472 and why the warnings?

Accepted Answer

The annual information return of a foreign-owned single-member LLC. Penalties start at $25,000 — the most expensive 'small detail' of owning an LLC. Line up an accountant from day one.

Question 24

Can everything be done without visiting the US?

Accepted Answer

Yes — formation, EIN, Mercury banking and the Amazon connection are all remote. Realistic end-to-end time: 3–6 weeks.

Question 25

What makes Revoba different from other agencies?

Accepted Answer

We're operators, not advisors: we run 3 registered Amazon brands, our own Etsy store and 14+ e-commerce stores with our own money. Every tactic we recommend was paid for from our own pocket first.

Question 26

How does pricing work?

Accepted Answer

Transparent: one-off Discovery & Strategy from $750, fixed-scope Brand Launch, and monthly retainers. Scope is fixed on a call — no surprise costs.

Question 27

I'm a small maker — will you work with me?

Accepted Answer

Yes — we keep a deliberately small client roster, and most of our clients are makers and brands starting from zero. What matters is your product's potential, not your size.

Question 28

Do you guarantee results?

Accepted Answer

Run from anyone who guarantees sales — nobody controls market, product and budget variables. What we do promise: clear scope, methods tested on our own brands, transparent reporting, and the honesty to say early when something isn't working.

Question 29

Am I locked into a long contract?

Accepted Answer

No. Launch packages are one-off; retainers start with a 3-month commitment and renew monthly after. We don't believe in locking you into something you can't see working.

Question 30

What happens on the first call?

Accepted Answer

A free 30-minute discovery: your product, target market and the first 90 days. No pitch — you leave with a clear direction either way.

Frequently Asked Questions

Getting Started

Amazon

Etsy

US Company & Tax

Working with Revoba

If your product is ready, let's talk about the rest.