Over 60% of online shoppers visit Amazon first when they want to buy something, which means learning how to make money on Amazon is crucial for entrepreneurs who want to make money online.
As one of the largest online retailers in the world, Amazon offers many opportunities for people of all skill sets to start a side hustle, earn passive income, or grow a thriving online business.
This article covers ten ways to make money with Amazon selling products and services and four ways to profit on the platform without selling anything.
Key takeaways
- Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) streamlines the order fulfillment process for independent sellers.
- Programs like Amazon Handmade and Kindle Direct Publishing make it easy for people to sell their creations.
- Amazon Merch on Demand and Dropshipping let you earn money on Amazon with automated fulfillment and minimal investment.
- Join the Amazon Affiliate Program or Amazon Influencer Program to earn money on Amazon without selling products.
- Enjoy a flexible work schedule by selling services on Amazon or driving for Amazon Flex.
How to make money selling on Amazon
Whether you’re a crafter, an IT specialist, or a dropshipper, there are endless opportunities to make more money by selling on Amazon.
Fulfillment by Amazon
Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) handles storage, packaging, and shipping for Amazon sellers. This option lets you focus on sourcing and marketing your products while Amazon takes care of the rest. FBA products are available for Prime Delivery, speeding up the order fulfillment process.
How it works:
- Set up an FBA account. Register as a seller on Amazon and select the FBA option.
- Send your products to a fulfillment center. Amazon stores your items until they’re sold.
- Amazon handles the rest. They package and ship the products to customers and handle customer service and returns.
How much can you make:
- Earnings vary by product category, pricing strategy, and sales volume.
- Prime Delivery is very appealing to customers, leading to more sales.
Kindle Direct Publishing
Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is a self-publishing tool that lets authors and entrepreneurs sell their eBooks and paperbacks on Amazon to millions of readers worldwide.
How it works:
- Create an account. Sign up on the KDP website. Provide your tax information and bank details for direct deposit.
- Upload your book. Format your text and cover using Amazon’s tools, then upload the book to KDP.
- Set your price. Choose a royalty plan.
How much can you make:
- Authors can earn up to a 70% profit per sale.
- Your book’s sales depend on its quality, marketing strategy, and genre popularity. Successful authors often invest in professional editing and cover design.
Sell private label products
Private labeling involves putting your own brand’s label on products manufactured by a third party. This method allows you to sell unique branded products that stand out.
How it works:
- Product research. Use tools like AMZScout to find high-demand, low-competition products. Identify a niche where you can offer better quality or unique features.
- Manufacture and branding. Partner with reliable product manufacturers. Create branded packaging and online visuals that reflect your brand identity.
- List on Amazon: Increase visibility in search results by adding high-quality images to your listings and writing descriptions with keywords relevant to your product.
How much can you make:
Private-label sellers can earn thousands monthly thanks to effective branding, marketing, and product selection.
Print on Demand
Print on Demand (POD) lets you sell custom-designed products, like t-shirts, hoodies, coffee mugs, and wall art. Products are only customized once they’re paid for, eliminating upfront production and inventory costs.
How it works:
- Sign up for a POD service like Amazon Merch on Demand or Printify. Browse products to customize and sell.
- Add designs. Upload your artwork and place it on the products you’re selling.
- Sit back and profit. When a customer orders from you, your POD partner prints and ships the product.
How much can you make:
Dropshipping
Dropshipping is a business model where Amazon sellers don’t keep their own products in stock. Instead, a third-party supplier stores the products and ships them directly to the Amazon seller’s customers. This model doesn’t require inventory or upfront investment, making it a low-risk way to start an online business.
How it works:
- Partner with suppliers. Find reliable third-party sellers to fulfill orders on your behalf. Order samples to check product quality.
- List the products. Set prices, upload photos, and market your products.
- The supplier handles the rest. Once you make a sale, the supplier sends the items directly to the buyer.
How much can you make:
- High competition can lower profit margins, so it’s key to choose the right dropshipping products, market them well, and set an enticing price point.
- Supplier reliability also affects profit potential. If products are constantly out of stock, it will hurt your business.
Amazon Mechanical Turk
Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) is a crowdsourcing marketplace that lets people make money online by completing various microtasks. MTurk connects clients with freelancers or small consulting businesses for tasks like data validation and content moderation instead of hiring large companies.
How it works:
- Sign up. Create an account on MTurk and browse available tasks.
- Complete tasks. Choose from available tasks, like data entry, surveys, or transcription, and complete them following the client’s instructions.
- Make money. Get paid for each task you complete. Payments are made via direct deposit or Amazon gift cards.
How much can you make:
- Earnings vary by task complexity and volume.
Sell wholesale items
Wholesale selling involves purchasing products in bulk and reselling them online. Ordering in bulk saves money, letting you set your profit margins higher than usual.
How it works:
- Find suppliers. Buy high-quality products at wholesale prices from reliable manufacturers or distributors.
- List on Amazon. Create product listings and manage inventory. Use high-resolution images and detailed descriptions to attract potential customers.
- Fulfill orders. Ship products to customers yourself or using FBA.
How much can you make:
- Profits depend on product cost, sales volume, and pricing strategy. Bulk purchasing reduces per-unit costs, letting you set higher profit margins.
Amazon Handmade
Amazon Handmade is a marketplace where crafters can sell handmade products to Amazon customers.
How it works:
- Create a Seller account. Apply to the Amazon Handmade program and provide details about the products you create.
- List your products. Post detailed descriptions and high-quality images of your handmade items. Emphasize your brand’s uniqueness.
- Sell globally. Market to Amazon’s network of millions of shoppers looking for handmade products worldwide.
How much can you make:
- Your profits depend on product uniqueness, demand, and pricing. Amazon sellers with high-quality products and effective marketing often receive a lot of orders.
Sell used items
Selling used items on Amazon is a great way to earn extra money. Amazon merchants often resell products like books, electronics, and other high-demand or collectible items.
How it works:
- List your items. Create listings for used products and provide accurate descriptions of the item’s condition.
- Set competitive prices. Research similar listings to find the right price point.
- Ship to buyers. Fulfill orders yourself or use FBA services. Fast shipping and nice packaging will improve your reputation.
How much can you make:
- Profits depend on item condition, demand, and market prices. You’ll earn more from collectibles and antiques that are in good condition.
- Successful Amazon sellers often increase their profit margins by getting heavily discounted products from thrift stores and garage sales.
How to make money through Amazon without selling anything
Are you looking for ways to make more money without having to sell products? Amazon offers several opportunities for non-sellers who want to earn some cash.
Amazon Affiliate Program
Amazon’s Affiliate Marketing Program lets you earn commissions by promoting products in your online content as an Amazon associate. This is an excellent option for bloggers, website owners, and social media influencers.
How it works:
- Sign up. Create an affiliate account on the Amazon Associates program website. Provide your social media or blog details.
- Promote products. Share affiliate links to Amazon products on your blog, website, or social media platforms. Write reviews, create comparison guides, or simply recommend products.
- Earn commissions. You get paid when someone buys something through your affiliate links.
How much can you make:
- Commissions range from 1% to 10% of the sales price, depending on the product category.
- The more visitors you drive to Amazon through engaging content, the more you can earn.
Amazon Influencer Program
The Amazon Influencer Program is for social media influencers who want to earn money by promoting Amazon products to their followers.
It’s similar to the Affiliate Program, but instead of getting unique affiliate links for each product, Influencer Program members create a customized product recommendation page on Amazon.
How it works:
- Apply. You need an established social media presence since your application is reviewed based on your follower count and engagement statistics.
- Create an Amazon storefront. Set up a custom page on Amazon featuring products you recommend to your followers.
- Promote your storefront. Share your storefront link on social media, like your Instagram stories, TikTok bio, or YouTube channel. If someone buys through your storefront, you get a commission.
How much can you make:
- Influencers who regularly add trending products to their storefronts and have loyal followers will earn more.
Deliver for Amazon
Deliver Amazon packages with Amazon Flex to make money on your own schedule.
How it works:
- Apply on the Amazon Flex website. You’ll need a valid driver’s license, a reliable vehicle, and a smartphone.
- Schedule deliveries. Choose available delivery times that fit your schedule. Work as little or as much as you want.
- Deliver packages. Pick packages up from an Amazon delivery station and deliver them to customers. Use the Amazon Flex app for navigation and delivery instructions.
How much can you make:
- Drivers earn $18 to $25 per hour, depending on location.
- Income depends on delivery volume and efficiency. Completing more deliveries in less time increases your hourly earnings.
Work for Amazon
Amazon has many remote and on-site job opportunities with competitive pay and benefits.
How it works:
- Apply for jobs. Find open positions on Amazon’s career site. Jobs include warehouse, delivery driver, remote customer service, and corporate positions.
- Enjoy the benefits. Amazon provides competitive pay, health benefits, retirement plans, career advancement opportunities, and other perks.
How much can you make:
- Salaries vary by position and location. Entry-level positions may start at $15 per hour, while specialized and technical roles go into six figures.
FAQ
Yes, you can earn good money by selling on Amazon or joining one of the commission-based Amazon associate programs.
Yes, with effective product selection, optimized listings, strong marketing, and dedication, many Amazon associates and sellers earn $10,000 or more monthly.
It’s straightforward to start selling on Amazon, but it requires effort. You need to do product research, create well-written listings, set competitive pricing, and use effective marketing strategies to succeed.
You can make money by joining the Amazon Affiliate or Influencer Program, delivering for Amazon Flex, or working for Amazon.
Conclusion
There are many ways to make money on Amazon. From selling products in an Amazon store to earning through affiliate marketing, Amazon offers opportunities for anyone to earn extra income or replace their nine-to-five job.
Ready to start your Amazon business? Visit our blog for product ideas and a how-to guide on selling custom merchandise on Amazon with Printify.