You can sell branded products on Shopify, but you need permission from the brand owner first. More people are buying branded items online because they trust names like Nike, Apple, and Adidas.
But you need to know the difference between legal selling and illegal selling. Legal selling means you have the right papers and permission.
This article shows you how to get permission, find real suppliers, follow Shopify’s rules, and set up your store the right way.
Can You Legally Sell Branded Products On Shopify?
Yes, but only if the brand says you can sell their products. Shopify checks for this, and they will shut down your store if you break the rules. You must keep receipts that show where you bought the products.
The First Sale Doctrine is a law that lets you resell legally purchased products. But you still can’t use the brand’s name or logo in your ads without first asking them.
How To Get Authorization To Sell Branded Products On Shopify?
Getting permission from brands keeps you safe from legal trouble and keeps your store open. Every brand has different rules, but most follow the same basic steps to protect their name and control who sells their products.
Becoming an Authorized Reseller
Find the brand’s wholesale team on their official website and send them a message. Give them details about your business, like your company name, tax number, and any selling experience you have.
Sign their reseller contract that explains the rules about pricing, where you can sell, and how you can advertise. Buy enough products to meet the brand’s minimum order, depending on the brand’s size.
Required Documentation for Selling Branded Products
Your business license shows you run a real, registered company. A reseller certificate lets you buy stock without paying sales tax right away.
Receipts from approved suppliers prove your products are real when Shopify or customers ask for proof. Letters or signed contracts from brands show you have legal permission to sell what they make.
Alternative Ways to Sell Branded Products Legally
Buy from approved distributors who already work with the brands and can let you sell too. You can use liquidation companies like B-Stock to buy excess stock from big stores with the right paperwork.
Another option, especially for sports merchandise, is to partner directly with organizations such as cricket boards. With their permission, you can sell their licensed merchandise on your Shopify store and earn commission.
Many Shopify sellers work with cricket boards to sell official merchandise, especially during major tournaments when fan engagement is at its peak. BBL winning odds are something fans track closely to understand how their favourite team is performing and whether it might be a good time to place a wager. When store owners time their merchandise drops around big events like the Ashes, BBL, or Asia Cup, they can tap into this heightened excitement and significantly boost sales.
Where to Source Authentic Branded Products for Shopify?
Finding good suppliers decides if your products are real and if your business will last. Buying straight from the companies that make the products gives you better prices, but you need to order a lot.
Websites like Faire and SaleHoo connect you with checked wholesalers in many different types of products. Going to trade shows like MAGIC Las Vegas lets you meet brand people face to face and work out deals.
Here is the overview of Branded Product Categories Authorization Requirements:
| Category | Brands | Difficulty | MOQ | Docs Needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sneakers | Nike, Adidas | High | 100+ | Agreement, invoices |
| Electronics | Apple, Sony | Very High | 50+ | Dealer agreement |
| Beauty | MAC, L’Oréal | Medium | 25+ | License, certificates |
| Sports Merch | Cricket, NBA | Medium | 50+ | License, commission |
Knowing these requirements helps you pick which products fit your budget and skills before you spend time trying to get permission.
Shopify Policy On Selling Branded Products (2025)
Shopify’s rules about brand protection got tougher in 2025. They now use computer systems that spot problems faster and ask sellers to show their papers right away.
What Shopify Allows
Real products with proper brand permission and receipts you can check are completely fine. Proper papers include signed reseller contracts, purchase receipts, and business licenses that prove you got your stock the legal way.
What Shopify Prohibits
Fake products will get your store closed immediately, and you could face legal problems. Using brand names or logos without permission in your product titles or ads breaks the law.
If you break the rules more than once, Shopify bans you forever, and you can’t open another store.
Step-by-Step: How to Sell Branded Products On Shopify
Following these steps in order keeps you out of legal trouble and builds a business that can grow as you work with more brands.
Step 1: Choose Your Niche for Branded Products
Pick 2-3 types of products you know about or have contacts in, so you face less competition and learn faster.
Step 2: Register Business and Get Legal Documents
Set up an LLC or corporation to keep your personal money safe and get your tax ID, business license, and reseller permit.
Step 3: Secure Brand Authorization
Send applications to brands with all the info filled in, a business plan that looks professional, and be ready to wait 4-8 weeks for an answer.
Step 4: Find Reliable Suppliers for Branded Products
Check suppliers by asking for references, looking at their Better Business Bureau rating, and ordering samples before you buy a lot.
Step 5: Set Up Shopify Store
Pick a plan (Basic costs $39 per month), choose a nice-looking theme, set up how you’ll get paid, and add your shipping areas.
Step 6: List Branded Products on Shopify
Add clear product photos, write correct descriptions using words the brand approves, and set fair prices that follow their minimum price rules.
Step 7: Launch Marketing for Branded Products
Make social media pages, start Google Shopping ads that show the brand name correctly, and collect customer emails so they buy again.
Start with just one brand and add more later, so you don’t get overwhelmed with too many permission requests and rules to follow at once.
Avoiding Counterfeit Issues When Selling Branded Products
Keep neat digital and paper files of all your receipts tied to specific products you have in stock. Show your business licenses and brand permission papers clearly on your website’s About page.
Make a clear return policy that makes customers trust you while stopping people who try to cheat.
Answer Shopify right away when they send you notices about brand issues with the papers they ask for. Send complete sets of papers within 48 hours to show you run a real, legal business.
Best Practices For Selling Branded Products on Shopify
Here are the best practices for Selling Branded Products on Shopify:
1. Product Listing Optimization
Clear photos taken on white backgrounds from different angles help more people buy from you. Correct descriptions tell customers everything they need to know about size, material, and features, so fewer people return items.
Product titles that follow brand rules use the official product names without adding extra words or trying to trick search engines.
2. Pricing Strategies For Branded Products
Follow the Minimum Advertised Price rules exactly, or the brand will stop letting you sell their products. Staying competitive within these price limits means running your business well and negotiating better deals with suppliers.
3. Marketing Within Brand Guidelines
Facebook and Google ads that follow the rules use approved product pictures and don’t fake your relationship with the brand. Using logos the right way means following the brand’s style guide on how big they are, where to place them, and what can be around them.
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Conclusion: Sell Branded Products On Shopify Legally By Securing Proper Brand Authorization
Selling branded products the legal way requires permission, paperwork, and staying up to date with brand rules and Shopify’s policies. Spending money on proper business setup and supplier relationships always pays off.
Start with one or two brands, get good at the permission process, and slowly add more products as people trust you and you make more money.
Ready to start your authorized reseller business? Register your company today and start contacting the wholesale teams of brands you want to sell.
FAQs
You can sell Nike products only after you become an approved Nike retailer by applying through their wholesale program and ordering at least $10,000 worth of products to start.
Luxury brands like Louis Vuitton and Chanel almost never let people sell online, but you can sell used luxury items through consignment with proper papers from recognized authentication services.
Shopify charges 2.9% plus 30 cents for each sale on the Basic plan, so you pay $3.20 from a $100 sale, plus your monthly plan fee.
Shopify doesn’t allow fake goods, branded products without permission, weapons, illegal drugs, stolen items, or anything that breaks copyright laws, with all details in their Acceptable Use Policy.
Get written permission from the brand, buy stock from approved distributors with proper receipts, register your business legally, and keep complete records proving every product you sell is real and authorized.
