Key takeaways
- Write the question before choosing the report.
- Reconcile payments reports monthly.
- Review return reasons to improve listings.
- Keep snapshots to build your own history.
Start with the question, not the report
Reports are tools for answering questions. Before opening one, write the question: Which products are losing sessions? Where is stock running low? What did Amazon charge me last month? Choosing the report becomes easy once the question is clear.
This habit also prevents data hoarding, where exports pile up unread.
Business reports
Business reports summarize sales and traffic by date, by product and sometimes by parent and child listing. They typically include units ordered, sessions and measures of conversion. Use them to see which products are growing or declining and to compare periods.
Pair them with notes about what changed, such as price edits, promotions or stockouts, so you can interpret the movement.
Inventory and stock reports
Inventory reports show stock by product, fulfillment channel and status, and for FBA include details like inbound, reserved and unfulfillable units. Use them to plan replenishment and spot stranded or aged inventory.
Download a snapshot regularly. Historical snapshots help you analyze stock movement later.
Payments and settlement reports
Payments reports itemize sales, refunds and fees and show what was paid out. They are essential for accounting and for checking whether fees match expectations. Reconcile them with your own records each month and investigate unexplained differences.
If you use an accountant, agree which payment reports they need and how often.
Returns and customer reports
Return reports show what was returned, when and for what reason. Reviewing reasons by product highlights listing inaccuracies, sizing issues or quality problems. Use patterns to improve listings and, where relevant, to inform suppliers.
Fee and fulfillment reports
Fee-focused reports show the fees applied to your products, including fulfillment and storage charges for FBA. Sampling these against product dimensions and categories can reveal errors or changes you were not expecting. Keep a record of anything you question.
A simple reporting calendar
Match reports to a rhythm:
- Weekly: business report, inventory, advertising summary
- Monthly: payments, returns, fee review
- Quarterly: category and product profitability review
- Ad hoc: any report needed to investigate a specific issue
A worked example
Imagine sessions for a best-selling product fall for two weeks while the unit session percentage stays steady. That pattern suggests fewer visitors rather than a conversion problem, so you check whether the listing lost search visibility, ran out of stock for a few days or reduced advertising. The inventory report shows a short stockout, which explains the dip.
Without the question and the right report, the team might have rewritten a listing that was working perfectly well. Good reporting prevents unnecessary changes as much as it prompts necessary ones.
Your next three steps
Set up a reporting rhythm today.
- List five questions your business asks every month.
- Match each question to a report and a day of the week.
- Save snapshots so you build your own history.
Frequently asked questions
Which report is most important?
It depends on your goals, but most sellers rely on business, inventory and payments reports as the core set.
Can I schedule reports?
Some reports can be scheduled or downloaded regularly. Check the options available for your marketplace.
This guide is general information. Amazon's fees, policies and program rules change and vary by marketplace, so confirm current details in Seller Central and, for tax or legal questions, with a qualified adviser.