Why You Can't Just Share Your Amazon Password
Amazon's Terms of Service are explicit: Seller Central accounts must have a unique user identity for each person accessing the account. Sharing a single login between the account owner and a VA violates Amazon's policies and creates serious risks:
- Account suspension — Amazon can suspend your account for unauthorized access patterns
- Security vulnerability — One compromised device exposes your entire account
- No access control — You can't limit what a shared user can see or do
- No audit trail — You can't track who took which actions
The good news is that Amazon provides a proper solution: the User Permissions feature in Seller Central. This allows you to invite VAs as authorized users with specific permission levels — without sharing your login.
Setting Up VA Access in Amazon Seller Central
Step 1: Log In to Seller Central
Go to sellercentral.amazon.com and log in with your main account credentials.
Step 2: Navigate to User Permissions
- Click Settings in the top right
- Select User Permissions
Step 3: Add a New User
- Click Add new user
- Enter your VA's name and email address
- Click Send invitation
Your VA will receive an email invitation to create their own Amazon account linked to your Seller Central. They will not be using your login — they'll have their own separate credentials.
Step 4: Set Permission Levels
Once your VA accepts the invitation, you can assign specific permission levels. Amazon offers three levels for each function:
- View and edit — Full access to take action
- View only — Can see data but cannot make changes
- None — No access to this function
Major permission categories:
| Category | Recommended VA Level |
|---|---|
| Inventory management | View and edit |
| Orders management | View and edit |
| Advertising | View and edit (if managing ads) |
| Reports | View only or View and edit |
| Performance notifications | View only |
| A+ Content | View and edit (if creating content) |
| Brand Registry | None (owner only, typically) |
| Payment and financial | None (owner only) |
| Business information | None (owner only) |
| User permissions | None (owner only) |
Step 5: Review and Save Permissions
Review each category carefully before saving. Apply the principle of least privilege: give your VA access only to what they need to do their job, nothing more.
What Your VA Can Do With Each Permission Level
Inventory Management (View and Edit)
- Add and update product listings
- Adjust inventory quantities
- Manage FBA shipments
- Set up new SKUs
- Update pricing (unless you use a repricing tool)
Orders Management (View and Edit)
- View all orders
- Process returns and refunds
- Contact buyers through the messaging system
- Handle A-to-Z claims
- Manage order cancellations
Reports (View and Edit)
- Download inventory reports
- Access business performance reports
- Pull advertising reports
- Export data for analysis
Advertising (View and Edit — if applicable)
- Create and manage PPC campaigns
- Adjust bids and budgets
- Review performance data
- Create sponsored products and brand ads
Actions Your VA Should Never Take
Even with view-and-edit access, establish clear rules:
- Never change bank account information — This should be owner-only
- Never change your registered business information — Owner only
- Never contact Amazon Seller Support about account-level issues without your approval — Some actions in support can have unintended consequences
- Never approve unilateral pricing changes outside your defined rules — Discuss pricing strategy with you first
- Never manage Brand Registry actions without explicit instruction — Brand Registry actions can affect your intellectual property protections
Additional Security Practices
Use Two-Factor Authentication on Your Primary Account
Your main Seller Central account should have 2FA enabled. This protects the master account even if your VA's credentials are compromised.
Review VA Activity Logs
Amazon's User Activity Log (Settings > Account Info > Activity Log) shows recent actions taken in your account by user. Review this periodically to confirm your VA's activity matches what you expect.
Revoke Access When the Relationship Ends
When a VA leaves, immediately go to User Permissions and remove their access. Don't wait. Former VAs with active access are a significant security risk.
Never Share Through Third-Party Tools
Some VA-related tools claim to provide Seller Central access through proxy connections. These violate Amazon's ToS and should be avoided. Use only Amazon's native User Permissions feature.
What to Brief Your VA Before They Start
Before your VA begins working in Seller Central:
- Walk them through the permission levels you've granted
- Clarify what actions require your approval before they take them
- Explain your inventory and pricing policies
- Establish how they should flag issues (suspicious orders, policy notices, etc.)
- Define your communication cadence for Seller Central updates
For related Amazon VA support, see virtual assistant for Amazon A+ content and brand story creation.
Ready to Hire?
A VA with proper, limited access to your Seller Central can handle listings, orders, and performance monitoring — without putting your account at risk. Ready to hire a virtual assistant? Virtual Assistant VA connects Amazon sellers with trained VAs who understand Seller Central workflows — so you can delegate safely and scale your business with confidence.