Darren Lynch FBA Elite Review | 3 Reasons People Fail Amazon FBA Business + A Business Alternative

What Are the Pros and Cons of FBA Elite?

August 31, 2024

Definitely one of the best courses for UK based sellers

Raj

5.0

5.0 out of 5 stars (based on 1 review)

Your review

Your overall rating Select a Rating5 Stars4 Stars3 Stars2 Stars1 Star

Your review

Your name

Your email

This review is based on my own experience and is my genuine opinion.

​

Submit Review

What Are the Reasons People Fail Amazon FBA?

1. Unrealistic expectation - Many new sellers buy into the get rich quick scheme they see in ads. These newbies who do not understand the risks involved in the business often end up making costly mistakes.
2. Unforeseen obstacles - A lot of new sellers start their Amazon business with the bare minimum capital. The more money you have available to invest in the business, the higher your chances of finding success. Having more capital allows you to pay for helpful software and tools, launch multiple products, run better ad campaigns, and get other advantages.
3. Spending all the profits - Doing Amazon FBA full time without having another source of income or substantial savings put aside is a very risky move. One wrong move, and you risk losing everything. Many highly successful Amazon FBA sellers, like Tamara Tee , created their businesses with a safety net to ensure they could afford to adjust and correct costly mistakes.

Amazon FBA courses are worth the investment. A good Amazon FBA course will teach you effective strategies for creating a successful Amazon FBA business. Having a mentor can also fast-track your business and help you avoid costly mistakes.

What Is FBA Elite?

FBA Elite is a course that teaches you how to start and run an Amazon FBA business. Joining FBA Elite is easy. All you have to do is create an account with your email. You can opt out of receiving promotional and advertising emails.

Signing in will give to access to the very useful FBA Elite forums. Here you can browse posts from various topics or post your questions to ask for help. Darren usually replies and answers questions himself.

The resource section also offers free video tips and instructions on several topics, templates and checklists, and discounts for several tools like Helium 10 and others.

Last, you have the option to purchase the FBA Elite course or apply for private mentorship from Darren for £149 a month, which also gives you access to the private forums.

What Do You Get With FBA Elite?

With FBA Elite, you get a 10-module training program designed to teach you the step-by-step process to an Amazon FBA private label business. The materials are regularly updated to ensure that the content is up to date. Here are the modules:

• Module 1 - Getting Started. The first module gives you an overview of the course and the business model. Darren will also teach you how to get yourself into the proper mindset. You will also get an idea of how much capital you will need and what you need to create your company and store. There’s also a checklist provided of all the things you’ll need.
• Module 2 - Amazon. Module 2 goes through Amazon’s policies and terms of service. Darren gives you several tips on how to avoid getting suspended or banned. The lesson is followed by a step-by-step tutorial on how to create your Amazon seller account and how to navigate Amazon Seller Central. You will also learn how to manage seller support, identify and calculate Amazon FBA fees, and register your brand with the Amazon Brand Registry.
• Module 3 - Product Research. In the 3rd module, you’ll learn how to do product research. Darren runs you through using Helium 10, as well as using other product research methods. Some of the research methods taught include Black Box, Amazon Auto Suggest, and Store Raider. Next, Darren lists products you should avoid, restricted products, and gated categories. You will also learn the product verification process, such as checking profitability to trademarks and patents.
• Module 4 - Sourcing. The 4th module is dedicated to product sourcing. You will learn the entire process from finding suppliers with Alibaba, negotiating with suppliers, to safely paying and inspecting the products.
• Module 5 - Shipping and Importing. Module 5 centers on shipping and importation. The lessons here are specific for UK based sellers. It includes the complete process and details the policies such as custom duties and VAT.
• Module 6 - Your Product. This module starts with a lesson on how to name your brand. You will learn how to take good photos and create infographics. Darren also teaches all about product barcodes and GTIN. The module continues onto keyword researching and listing optimization. You’ll learn how to create effective product titles and how to win the best seller badge. Finally, you’ll learn how to add your products to Amazon and apply product variations. Darren also teaches how to deal with common errors and issues.
• Module 7 - Reviews. Module 7 is all about product reviews and ratings. Darren goes through product review policies and various methods on how to get reviews. Some of these methods include the SFB Method, Friends and Acquaintances, Product Inserts, and Request A Review Button. Last, you’ll learn how to deal with negative reviews and how you can contact customers about them to turn around the review.
• Module 8 - Marketing & Sponsored Ads. This module revolves around marketing and Amazon advertising (PPC ads). You’ll learn how to do keyword research and how to use broad, phrase, and exact match keywords for your ads. Darren teaches step-by-step how to set up automatic, manual, product targeting, and sponsored video ad campaigns. Darren also explains PPC metrics and how you can optimize your campaigns. You’ll also learn about vouchers, promotions, and other ways of promoting your Amazon listing. Last, you’ll learn what a product launch is and how to properly launch your Amazon product.
• Module 9: Running Your FBA Business. Module 9 is all about managing your FBA business to ensure success. Darren teaches how to monitor and protect your product from hijackers and from other sellers. You will also learn how to manage your cash flow and inventory. Other lessons include returns and refunds, unfulfillable inventory removal, manual orders, and invoices. The module also covers how to get paid by Amazon. Amazon FBA pays you every 2 weeks. The first payment date for new sellers will depend on when your account was created and when the first sale was made.
• Module 10: The Legal Bits. This last module is all about the legal things you need to know that comes with Amazon FBA. The lesson covers trademarks, sole trader vs LTD, business bank accounts, payment service providers, business insurance, a few more others.
• BONUS: Resources and Templates. Besides the 10 training modules, you will have access to a wealth of resources and templates such as profit calculator, supplier contact template, and a list of useful contacts.

Who Is Darren Lynch?

Darren Lynch is the creator of FBA Elite, a British YouTuber, and an eCommerce mentor who makes 6 figures from his Amazon FBA business. His best-selling product was car boot liners, for which he earned over £300,000 in sales. He has 18.2K subscribers on his organically grown YouTube channel, which documents his Amazon business. His mentorship is useful for both beginners and veterans alike.

Is Darren Lynch Successful with Amazon FBA?

Darren Lynch is successful with Amazon FBA, earning a total of £228,601.86. His sales net profit margin of 38% as of his 2022 update is very good.

While many gurus boast wild rags-to-riches stories, Darren’s success is modest by comparison. However, his success is more attainable for most people and sets realistic expectations. Based on profitability, 89% of FBA sellers are successful. Most of these sellers are selling on Amazon part-time and for extra income.

52% of Amazon sellers reported profit margins between 16% and 50%. You can realistically make as much as a 30% profit margin with Amazon FBA.

Amazon FBA will not make you a millionaire overnight. While you can make a million on Amazon FBA in a few years, there are a lot of factors you need to take into consideration. Selling on Amazon takes a lot of work, especially in the beginning, to turn into a sustainable business.

For example: The biggest Amazon FBA seller is AnkerDirect. The company sells consumer electronics from smart chargers to headphones and has a 4.5/5 rating. Founded by Steven Yang in 2009, he quit working for Google and went from dropshipping 300 USB chargers a day to selling 30K private label orders a day by 2016. Steven Yang’s net worth is currently at $1.8B.

How Did Darren Lynch Start FBA Elite?

Darren Lynch started FBA Elite in April 2018 by documenting the creation of his Amazon FBA private label business from scratch. His successes and large following led him to create FBA Elite, where he would offer mentorship and later an Amazon course.

Many mentors and gurus out there rarely show the actual successes of the business strategies they are teaching. What Darren did differently is that he first documented his business, constantly posting updates on the ups and downs and detailing everything he learned about the business. It wasn’t until he proved his methods worked, and after constant requests from his subscribers, that he started to do mentorship.

Yaniv Itskovich is a Canadian FBA mentor who also shows transparency with his business in order to sell his course.

What Are Alternatives to FBA Elite?

• Elite E‑Commerce FBA Blitz. This Amazon FBA coaching program, taught by three entrepreneurs who built an eight‑figure brand, offers a structured “Source, Sell, Scale” framework. The goal is to reach $10K/month within 8 weeks. Reviewers praise its hands‑on content, accessible mentors, and weekly Q&A sessions. However, some highlight the high annual fee and limited external reviews.
• Honest FBA. In this private‑label Amazon FBA course, the founders offer over 200 lessons, checklists, live calls, and a community forum. The training focuses on product research, listing optimization, and PPC ads. It comes with a guarantee of launching a successful product. Users commend the clarity, support, and realistic approach, while acknowledging that success still requires significant effort.
• Smart FBA. This Amazon training program offers an automation‑based model where you build and run your Amazon store. It focuses on sourcing restricted brands, inventory management, and fulfillment. The big draw is passive income via agency‑led operations. However, it requires a large upfront investment and gives you less control over the business.

How Much Does It Cost To Start an Amazon FBA Business?

It costs $4,000–$12,000 to start an Amazon FBA business. This covers the product cost and selling fees. This is the optimal budget that will depend on factors such as the seller’s plan, product costs, marketing strategy, etc. While you can technically start Amazon FBA with $100, the profit probably won’t be worth the time and effort.

The larger your starting capital, the higher the risks, but the higher the profit you can make. For beginners, keep your units on first order as few as possible to minimize risk. Ex: 300 units. 5-10 sales a day for the UK.

On average, it takes as long as 3–4 months to make money on FBA at a profit. The time it takes for your Amazon FBA business to turn in a profit will depend on your product, marketing budget, and strategy.

Should You Sell on Amazon FBA?

You can sell on Amazon FBA if you are aware of the realities. Many people are not selling on Amazon, preferring other marketplaces, because of many issues that plague the platform. Some of the biggest problems with Amazon are:

• Amazon’s commission rates are high. 20%–30% of the total selling price goes to Amazon. The rate is only increasing, with some categories being affected more than others.
• Amazon prioritizes FBA, forcing many sellers to sign up for the program and pay Amazon for their warehousing and shipping. This turned Amazon into a major logistics provider, and FBA sellers have to deal with constantly rising storage and shipping fees.
• There are no policies against fraud buyers. Signing up for FBA can help prevent the seller from being blamed and suspended from fraudulent product claims, as Amazon will be in charge of checking and shipping out the product.
• Amazon has terrible seller support. Amazon outsources their seller support service to low-paid workers who hold no stake in the company. Sellers have found Amazon seller support to be very ineffective and unhelpful.
• PPC ads are almost necessary, especially for new sellers. The cost of running Amazon PPC ads is constantly rising. With advertising, it’s usually the one who spends the most on ads who comes on top.

Why Do Sellers Shut Down Their Amazon Listings?

Sellers shut down their Amazon listings to avoid negative cash flow from recurring storage fees. Here are other reasons sellers shut down their listings:

• The listing is up too late for new trending products. When a new trending product comes out, many sellers will hop on the trend and will create high competition. When the supply surpasses the demand, the price of PPC ads will rise while the price of the product drops due to price competition.
• A product can trend for a while, but eventually, the trend might fizzle out. When this happens, you might be left with unsold inventory while price drops and the price of PPC ads rise.
• The listing has damaging negative reviews. Customers prefer the listings with better reviews. This can be prevented early on by making sure you read negative customer feedback and address their problems. You could also try having negative reviews removed if they go against Amazon’s community guidelines.

The best way to deal with these situations is to minimize your losses by either giving out deals, coupons, or selling them in bulk. You can also get an edge by advertising your listing outside of the Amazon marketplace, using social media marketing like running Facebook ads, or listing your product in other marketplaces.

Finally, if you are still losing money, liquidate your inventory by selling it in bulk to a liquidation company, selling in bulk on eBay, or donating the inventory if you cannot afford the removal fees.

Thousands of new sellers join Amazon every day. However, many are also leaving, including old sellers. There are many reasons selling on Amazon FBA is hard , so sellers often look to easier alternative business models.

Is FBA Elite Worth It in 2025?

FBA Elite is not worth it in 2025 as it’s too generic. With the oversaturation of Amazon, you need something unique to stand out among the crowd. The course only focuses on the most basic steps. So even though it teaches you what you need to know, it might not be enough to earn a decent income.

Also, Amazon FBA is not passive income. Even though Amazon does your order fulfillment, you still have to manage inventory, handle customer service, optimize listings, and monitor advertising campaigns regularly. And for all that work, you only earn a small profit margin.

If you want a business with higher income and less ongoing work, I recommend local lead generation. This is the business model that I switched to after I burned out with Amazon FBA. Before, I was making $3,000/month. Now, I’m making $52,000/month.

Local Lead Generation vs Amazon FBA: Which Is Better?

Local lead generation is better than Amazon FBA because it offers greater control, lower overhead, and more passive income potential. The local lead gen business is about building service websites, ranking them with local SEO, and selling the leads to local businesses.

• Local lead generation gives you full control over your business. You own the websites, choose the niches, and can easily scale by creating more lead-gen sites in other markets. If you want to pivot to a new niche, you simply build a new site, without being bound to a specific product. With Amazon FBA, you’re relying on Amazon’s marketplace. This includes its algorithms, pricing policies, and competition. You can get penalized for listing violations, price fluctuations, and changes in Amazon’s rules, leaving you vulnerable to their control.
• Local lead generation has lower costs. You don’t need to buy inventory, spend on ads, or pay Amazon seller fees. Your “inventory” is the digital property you own (the website that attracts leads). Instead of spending $4,000 to $12,000 like in Amazon FBA, you only spend $500 to build and rank a site. Maintenance is only around $30 a month.
• Local lead generation websites generate money on their own. This business model works like digital real estate. You create a website, rank it for a specific service in a local area (e.g., “plumbing in Los Angeles”), and once it starts getting traffic, it generates leads for local businesses automatically. After the initial setup, you spend very little time maintaining the site. You own a rental property where you collect rent each month with minimal effort. In contrast, Amazon FBA requires constant attention, from inventory management to marketing to handling customer complaints. It’s more like running a retail business that requires active involvement every day.

In my opinion, Amazon FBA is like managing a lemonade stand at Coachella. You’re competing with thousands of other vendors selling the same $2 cup. Your profits fluctuate depending on the crowd, competition, or even the weather, making it harder to maintain steady earnings. Local lead generation works like the Golden Gate Bridge. Once it’s built and functional, it keeps traffic flowing (leads) consistently over time without needing constant attention. You earn from each vehicle that passes through the toll gates.

Local Lead Generation Is My Top Recommendation for Making Money Online in 2025?

Local lead generation is my top recommendation for making money online in 2025 because it has predictable and passive income. For example, one of my websites is Los Angeles Quality Drywall, 1555 Westwood Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90024, 323‑529‑6050, laqualitydrywall.com. Since this is an essential service, people who are ready to hire always visit this site. I sell those leads to my client, a drywall company in Los Angeles. My client makes $35,000 from those people, and I get $3,500 from it (10% commission). As long as homeowners need these services and these providers need new customers, your business will keep running. And it will run on autopilot, so you barely have to touch it. And now that I have over 50 websites, my monthly earnings are $52,000!

If you’re interested, you can check out my local lead gen training program. I teach you all you need to know, from web creation and SEO to sales talk and niche finding. I also offer a community where you can grow in this business. Or, you can also work for one of my roofing clients. You get a commission for each site you build and rank for him.