Small Business
Barcode Essentials
Moving your products into retail or onto Amazon requires more than just a sticker. This guide explains the legal, technical, and logistical steps to professionalizing your brand with industry-standard barcodes.
The Retail Readiness Roadmap
Understand the GS1 System
Most major retailers (Walmart, Target) and Amazon require GS1-verified barcodes. You must obtain a Company Prefix to ensure your codes are globally unique and registered to your business.
Choose UPC vs. EAN
Selling in the USA or Canada? Use UPC-A. Selling internationally or in Europe? EAN-13 is the standard. Modern scanners read both, but the choice depends on your primary market.
Assign GTINs
The Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) is the digits below the bars. Every variation (size, color, flavor) needs its own unique GTIN to track stock accurately.
Scanners are usually "Agno-Stic"—they read both UPC and EAN formats.
How to Get Barcodes for Your Small Business
Follow these critical steps to ensure your products are retail-ready.
Register with GS1 for a Company Prefix
To sell on platforms like Amazon or in major retail chains, you must obtain a GS1 Company Prefix. This prefix is a unique identifier that proves your business owns that barcode.
Select Your Symbology (UPC vs. EAN)
Once you have your prefix, decide on the symbology. Use UPC-A if your primary market is North America. Choose EAN-13 if you are selling internationally. Both are accepted globally, but choosing the local standard is best practice.
Assign GTINs to Every Variation
Every single product variation needs its own Global Trade Item Number (GTIN). If you sell a t-shirt in three sizes and two colors, you need six unique GTIN codes.
Estimated Setup Time: 1-2 Business Days
Labeling on a Budget
You don't need expensive industrial printers to start. For small batches, use Thermal Transfer Printers (like Dymo or Rollo) which don't require ink and produce durable, smudge-proof barcodes.
Pro Tip: Always print a test sheet and verify it with a free scanner app on your smartphone before applying labels to your entire inventory.
Small Business FAQ
Can I just buy barcodes from a reseller?
While cheaper, resellers often sell "recycled" codes. Many retailers (especially Amazon) now check the GS1 database. If your brand name doesn't match the GS1 prefix owner, your product may be delisted.
What size should my barcode be?
The standard size for a UPC is 1.469" wide x 1.02" high. You can scale this down to 80% if needed, but going smaller significantly increases the risk of "scan failure" at the checkout.
Ready to Professionalize?
Generate high-resolution UPC or EAN barcodes for your products. Download in SVG format for perfect printing at any scale.