In a recent client call, Jordan McClean, a so-called "mentor" with Darren Campbell's FBA Brand Builder program, confidently assured a potential seller that with an extra £7,000 (on top of the £6,500 course fee), they could cover all the costs necessary to get their product launched on Amazon.
Yes, you read that right—he claimed all costs, including branding, software, trademarking, inventory, shipping, and more, could be neatly wrapped up in this amount. If that sounds too good to be true, that’s because it is.
Jordan’s estimate excludes several key ongoing expenses. Where’s the mention of PPC ad spend, often costing thousands per month? What about the £175-per-month fee to have Jordan himself “manage” your ad campaigns—a role he’s woefully unqualified for, given his track record?
Oh, and don’t forget hidden costs like Amazon storage fees, additional inventory, and potential returns or product tweaks. Yet Jordan confidently wrapped everything up in a deceptively neat little bow, leaving clients grossly underprepared for the financial reality.
Client: So it just said at the beginning of the program, you know, you've got your fee to obviously be part of the FBA Brand Builder, but then also a minimum additional 7,000 required.
Again, I knew the money follows. I've just been through some of the mindset things, but I just wanted to sort of ask, budget-wise: is there any additional cost to prepare for on top of that?
Jordan: No, that cost is the first thing you probably pay—samples, obviously, depending on if you have a problem with a supplier and you have to go back and pay an extra couple of samples some of the times. Then you're straight into, obviously, your software for our Empire Builder.
Then you have your stage one of branding. You have to get your brand trademarked and then your inventory, your shipping, and then the listing package. I’d say with the whole new philosophy and the strategy now in place, it can be done at minimum 7K for sure. And I would say anywhere in that region of 7 to 10K—it depends on the product and everything else.
There are a lot of different factors in there, but I’ve seen it done many, many times for 7 or less. But everything that you do from now on is all yours.
Client: So just to clarify, the 7K is actually for the infrastructure and framework of setting up the brand and networking the software. And then is there additional money that’s actually required to buy stock on top of that?
Jordan: That’s all included in that.
Client: All included?
Jordan: All included, yeah, for sure.
Client: Brilliant, thank you.
Misleading from the Get-Go: Breaking Down the Costs
Let’s dissect Jordan’s claim from the transcript:
“It can be done at minimum 7K for sure. And I would say anywhere in that region of 7 to 10K, and it depends on the product, everything else... but I’ve seen it done many, many times for 7 or less.”
What Jordan conveniently glosses over is that even Darren Campbell’s own program materials emphasize the additional expenses for:
- Amazon PPC Advertising: Often costing thousands per month, crucial for driving sales but conveniently not mentioned here.
- FBA Studio Branding Packages: Costs for these services range between $2,000 and $3,000.
- Empire Builder Software Subscription: £699 per year.
- Trademark Registration: Around £600.
- Ongoing Inventory Replenishment and Shipping Costs: Can easily run into five figures for a successful business.
- Ad Management Fees: £175/month for the privilege of having Jordan “manage” your campaigns—a role he’s proved incapable of excelling in.
Adding it all up, it’s not uncommon for clients to end up sinking £25,000 or more into this program when all is said and done. So where exactly is this magical £7,000 figure coming from? Maybe Jordan misplaced a decimal.
A Mentor Lacking Credibility and Results
Jordan’s advice isn’t just incomplete—it’s outright reckless. This is a mentor who’s supposed to guide clients through the complexities of Amazon FBA, yet he’s unable to provide an accurate roadmap of what’s involved. Worse, his history of poor results in ad management raises a troubling question: What exactly are clients paying him for?
In our recent exposé, we outlined how Darren’s team has a pattern of inexperienced mentors who have failed in their own ventures but still present themselves as experts. Jordan is no exception. Despite managing ad campaigns for clients, his track record shows a lack of measurable success. And now, he’s peddling financial misinformation to prospective sellers. Is this someone you’d trust with your hard-earned money?
No Transparency, No Accountability
It’s not just about the bad advice—it’s about the lack of transparency. Clients go into this program thinking they’re buying an all-inclusive pathway to success. Instead, they’re met with a steady stream of upsells, hidden costs, and vague promises. Jordan’s casual dismissal of these expenses as “all included” is part of a larger pattern of dishonesty within the FBA Brand Builder program.
For example, in previous articles, we’ve covered how another mentor brushed off a client’s frustrations about unexpected fees, implying it was somehow their fault for not being better prepared. This culture of gaslighting clients while pocketing their money is baked into the program’s DNA.
"That's all included in that"
Let’s be clear—it is a problem. It’s a problem for clients who trust this advice, only to realize too late that they’re in over their heads. It’s a problem for those who take out loans or max out credit cards, thinking they’re making a sound investment, only to find themselves drowning in unforeseen costs.
And it’s a problem for anyone who believes they’re getting mentorship from seasoned experts, only to discover they’re being misled by people like Jordan, who barely understand the business themselves.
Considering Darren Campbell’s Program? Think Again.
For anyone thinking about joining this program, ask yourself:
- Can you afford to spend far more than the £6,500 initial fee?
- Are you comfortable putting your trust in mentors who’ve failed in their own businesses?
- Do you want to pay £175 per month for ad management by someone whose advice is this flawed?
The dream Darren and his team sell might sound tempting, but the reality is far from it. Think carefully before buying into the hype—you might end up paying far more than you bargained for, financially and emotionally.