Walmart reseller guide: what Walmart allows and how to start

Yes, you can resell on Walmart. Many Walmart resellers sell brand-name products on Walmart Marketplace as approved third-party sellers, including items they bought in stores, online or from wholesalers. The rules are stricter than on some other sites: you need an approved business account, items must be new and genuine, some brands and categories need permission, and you can't have another retailer ship straight to your customer. This page covers what Walmart allows, resale certificates at Walmart, what Walmart does with returns, and how to become a Walmart reseller.

Does Walmart allow resellers?

There are two questions here, and the answers are different.

Selling on Walmart.com as a reseller

Walmart Marketplace is built for third-party sellers, and many of them are resellers rather than brand owners. You match an existing Walmart.com listing by UPC, set your price and compete for the Buy Box. To be approved, Walmart's registration guide asks for a business tax ID or business license number (an SSN isn't accepted), documents that verify your business name and address, a record of selling online, products with GTINs, and a fulfillment plan through WFS or a U.S. warehouse that handles returns.

Buying from Walmart to resell

Walmart sells to the public, and many resellers source Walmart clearance. But Walmart's Terms of Use say it can limit the quantity a person, household or order buys, and it reserves the right to refuse sales to dealers or resellers. It defines reselling as buying products from Walmart to sell the same products to someone else. In practice, buy reasonable quantities and expect limits on hot items.

Is Walmart a reseller?

In a sense, yes. Walmart is a retailer: it buys products from suppliers and resells them to shoppers. On Walmart.com, some items are sold by Walmart itself and others by Marketplace sellers. When Walmart is one of the sellers on a listing, it often wins the Buy Box, which is why many resellers check that before they buy. Read more about Walmart third-party sellers.

Brand and authorization rules for Walmart resellers

• New condition only. Walmart's resold products policy says items not in new condition are prohibited unless Walmart has invited you to its Resold program, which covers conditions like Restored, Pre-Owned, Open box and Remanufactured.
• Brand privileges. In Seller Center's Brand manager, you can apply to be an authorized reseller for a brand registered in Walmart's Brand Portal. Walmart asks for a letter of authorization or other evidence of your relationship to the brand.
• Restricted categories. In July 2025, Walmart restricted Beauty and Personal Care listings to brand owners, authorized distributors and sellers who meet its experience criteria, with documents such as invoices showing chain of title back to the brand.
• Prohibited products. Every item must follow Walmart's Prohibited Products Policy, or Walmart can unpublish it.
• No retailer drop shipping. Walmart's shipping policy says you may not buy from another retailer and have that retailer ship directly to the customer.

Before you buy a large quantity of any brand, list one unit or check the item in Seller Center. See Walmart dropshipping rules for more on fulfillment.

Walmart resale certificate: buying tax-free for resale

If you buy inventory to resell, many states let you skip sales tax with a resale certificate. Walmart accepts them through the Walmart Business Tax-Exemption Program:

1. Create a Walmart Business account. Only the account's Primary Admin can apply.
2. Start the tax-exempt application from Account, then Tax Exemption.
3. Choose Resale as your business purpose and enter the states where you'll take possession of merchandise.
4. Upload a valid, signed resale certificate for each state.
5. Wait for review. Walmart says applications are typically reviewed within five business days.

Walmart's tax-exemption page says approved accounts can shop tax-exempt online and in store, using Walmart Pay in store. State rules differ, so check with your state tax agency. This isn't tax advice.

Does Walmart resell returned items?

Partly. Returns that are still sellable can go back on the shelf. Walmart also sells excess inventory, store returns and refurbished items in bulk through Walmart Liquidation Auctions, part of the B-Stock Sourcing Network, in lots from single pallets to truckloads. Only approved buyers can bid. On Walmart.com, invited Marketplace sellers can list refurbished and pre-owned items through the Resold program.

Liquidation can be a source for experienced resellers, but returns pallets are mixed condition. Remember that Walmart Marketplace only allows new items unless you're in the Resold program, so used or open-box finds usually belong on other marketplaces.

How to become a Walmart reseller

1. Set up your business. Get a business tax ID, a business bank account and, if your state offers one, a resale certificate.
2. Apply to Walmart Marketplace. Our Walmart seller account guide covers the application.
3. Research products before you buy. Check profit after Walmart's fees, how fast items sell, and how many sellers compete.
4. Source from legitimate suppliers. Keep receipts and invoices; wholesale invoices help with brand approvals.
5. List and fulfill. Match listings by UPC, then ship yourself or use WFS.

For step 3, the Margenos Chrome extension shows referral and WFS fees, profit, ROI, a sales estimate and every competing seller with stock on any Walmart.com listing, and the Android app scans barcodes in stores. You don't need a seller account to use it, so you can start researching while Walmart reviews your application. New to reselling? Start with how to resell.

Sources: Walmart seller registration guide · Walmart.com Terms of Use · Walmart resold products policy · Walmart Brand manager · PPC Land on beauty restrictions · Walmart shipping and fulfillment policy · Walmart Business tax-exempt enrollment · Walmart Tax Exemption Program · Walmart Liquidation Auctions · SlashGear on Walmart returns. Walmart changes its rules; confirm in Seller Center.