Posted on

July 23, 2024

How to Make Money on Amazon

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With its huge business scope and turnovers, Amazon is an excellent place to make money for everyone. You can earn from selling products but also make money on Amazon without selling. You can create your own designs, publish books, and even work for Amazon in many ways.

This post explores 17 different strategies you can use, their key advantages and challenges, and how much you can potentially make with each method. Read this post to explore the opportunities available and choose the one that fits you the best.

1. Sell Online Arbitrage Products

Online arbitrage (OA) is a business model of reselling for-profit products sellers find in online stores. The profit is generated from the lower price in that online store and the higher price on Amazon.

How does online arbitrage work?

With online arbitrage, your main task is to find on Amazon products that are in demand, with moderate competition, and don’t have any issues like intellectual property complaints or other flags.

When you find them, you must look for a supplier that offers the lowest price. Once done, check the products bring you the profits you expect by factoring in all expenses, including Amazon fees. Then, list them on Amazon, sell them, and pocket the profit.

The most challenging and time-consuming part in this model is finding high-margin products. To do that, sellers use product-sourcing tools. Seller Assistant is the most popular product research software for arbitrage sellers helping with this task.

The best Amazon Online Arbitrage Tool — Seller Assistant

Key advantages

Fast and easy to set up, you can start it in a few weeks;
Small upfront investment, starting from $500;
Lower risk because you don’t buy many products, and if you fail with one of them, you’ll not lose much.

Key challenges

Product research can be challenging and time-consuming;
Unstable profitability due to constant price changes on Amazon;
You can’t resell certain products or need approval to sell restricted categories and brands on Amazon.

Tips

Focus on product research and do it thoroughly; before buying the products make sure you can sell them on your account, and they don’t have issues of flags, like heavy and bulky, meltable, fragile, adult, etc.; use Seller Assistant to avoid risky items;
Carefully calculate profit margins when you choose the products, and factor in all expenses including the Cost of Goods, Amazon fees, and shipping costs Ideally, you should be looking for a minimum of 10% profit margin after everything is accounted for.
If you are a beginner on Amazon or don’t want to spend time on product sourcing, you can purchase ready-to-sell deals on Seller Assistant Deals Marketplace.

How much can you make?

The average OA seller earns from 1,000 to 5,000/month. However, some sellers report much higher earnings.‍

How to Sell on Amazon for Beginners - Complete Guide

2. Sell Retail Arbitrage Items

Amazon retail arbitrage is a business model where sellers find discounted or cheaper-priced products in brick-and-mortar retail stores and resell them for profit. This is similar to online arbitrage, but retail arbitrage sellers find the products to resell in physical stores by using mobile barcode scanning apps.

How does retail arbitrage work?

Retail arbitrage sellers make a profit from the difference between the price of the products they find in clearance, liquidation stores, and promotional or discounted offers, and the higher selling price on Amazon.

To find such products, sellers visit physical stores offering low prices and find their match on Amazon with the help of mobile barcode scanning apps. Then, they ensure these products will be in demand on Amazon, and will give enough profit. Once done, they purchase the products, list them on Amazon, and pocket the difference.

Retail arbitrage is easy and inexpensive to start; however, you have to go around offline to find a product to resell, which takes a lot of time. In addition, you have to restock inventory physically as well.

Key advantages

Quick and easy to set up;
Low startup cost; you can start it with $500 or more;
No need for specialized knowledge or advanced computer skills.

Key challenges

Time-consuming business model as you need to visit physical stores to find products to resell;
You need to restock your inventory by going to physical stores more or less each week;
Finding profitable retail arbitrage products can be challenging since it depends on luck.

Tips

Embrace technology; utilize barcode scanner apps that link to Amazon's platform. Scan items in stores and instantly see potential profitability after factoring in Amazon fees and fulfillment costs;
Target clearance sections and local retailers; discounted items in clearance racks are prime targets for arbitrage opportunities; Look for seasonal closeouts or discounts from the retailers that sell near you;
Don't neglect online deals; while brick-and-mortar stores are a classic hunting ground, don't forget about online retailer sales; look for flash sales or coupon codes on deal and coupon websites.

How much can you make?

On average, a retail arbitrage seller earns from 1,000 to 5,000/month. However, some sellers make more than 5,000/month.

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3. Sell Wholesale Products

Wholesale is the business model of purchasing lower-priced products in bulk from a manufacturer, supplier, or distributor and reselling them to Amazon buyers for profit. Wholesale is one of the most profitable business models on Amazon, but it requires essential upfront investment.

How does wholesale work?

In wholesale sales, profit comes from the difference between wholesale and retail prices. When you buy products in bulk, the manufacturer or supplier will prioritize the order and offer the wholesaler a discounted price.

With the Amazon wholesale business model, your key task is to find a popular brand. Then, you approach the brand, negotiate, and convince them to cooperate with you. When you get the offer with the list of products the brand sells, you do Amazon wholesale product research and pick out the most profitable best-sellers and resell them on Amazon.

Since the wholesaler needs to invest a lot of cash upfront to purchase an order, they must make sure that what you buy is a profitable deal that will sell. Seller Assistant offers pro-level product sourcing solutions for wholesale sellers to identify high-profit products for Amazon. Seller Assistant's browser extension helps quickly find high-ROI deals; Bulk Restriction Checker allows to efficiently check restrictions for up to 20,000 ASINs simultaneously; UPC/EAN to ASIN Converter links manufacturer UPCs and EANs with Amazon ASINs, the advanced IP Alert helps proactively address Amazon policy violations, and more.

5 Strategies To Increase Amazon FBA Sales

Do You Need a Business License to Sell on Amazon?

Key advantages

Buying directly from the brand at a lower cost allows for better profit margins;
Selling popular brands ensures high demand;
Wholesalers leverage the popularity of established brands and reduce the need for marketing.

Key challenges

Wholesale sellers must invest much money upfront because they buy products in bulk to get a good price;
Competition for already existing products on Amazon wholesalers sell is high;
Selecting an unprofitable product means losing a fortune.

Tips

Do thorough product research because if you buy bulk low-demand or unprofitable inventory, you’ll lose a lot of money; use Seller Assistant for research;
Negotiate hard with the brand you chose; don’t give up if the brand is reluctant to sell to you;
Don’t start with the extremely popular brands like Nike or Adidas; choose the moderately popular brands.

How much can you make?

This is one of the most profitable business models; you can make from $5,000 to $250,000 and more.

‍Amazon Seller Compliance Documents

4. Sell Private Label Products

Private label (PL) means placing your label or brand on an existing product. You can manufacture the product yourself or order a company to make them for you. Because a private label seller is the brand owner, they control how the product is designed, manufactured, and packaged.

How does it work?

Private label sellers find unbranded products or unknown brands and resell them under their own brand name. To identify potentially profitable and in-demand products, sellers must do in-depth product research. Then they must register their brand and find reliable manufacturers to produce the products under a private label seller’s brand. After the product is produced, sellers create new listings on Amazon and sell the products.

With a private label, you own the brand, which is an asset. PL products usually have lower competition. However, starting the private label takes far more time and effort than other business models.

Key advantages

A private label brand is an asset; with a private label, you own a brand and a product;
Private label products have lower competition because they are unique and trademarked, and other sellers can’t resell such products;
PL sellers fully control the product; they own a brand and decide on the design, packaging, and pricing.

Key challenges

The private label takes much time and effort to start; it takes around three months to set up;
You must invest essential money to produce a private label product and promote it; on average, PL Amazon sellers spend $2,500 and up to launch their products;
Selling private label products has higher risks because they are new to the market and have unpredictable demand.

Tips

Find your niche, don't just chase trends; look for products with sustained demand and lower competition; identify customer pain points and tailor your product to address them effectively;
Stand out from the competition; find ways to differentiate your product through unique features, packaging, or even eco-friendly materials;
Carefully choose and vet your manufacturer; check their reviews and reputation, verify their shipping history; ensure they can produce quality products.

How much can you make?

Generally, private label sellers earn from $1,000 to $25,000/month and more.

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5. Dropshipping

Dropshipping is a business model where the seller lists a product online, gets an order from the buyer, and asks the supplier to ship it to the shopper directly. Dropshipping is a hands-off inventory way of selling.

How does dropshipping work?

When dropshippers want to sell on Amazon, they find profitable products, make agreements with suppliers to make shipments to the shoppers directly, then list products on Amazon, get orders from the buyers, and instruct suppliers to send orders. The profit margin comes from the difference between the lower supplier's price and the higher price of a dropshipper.

However, Amazon allows sellers to fulfill orders with straightforward dropshipping only if they are identified as sellers of record for their products. If merchants fail to comply with Amazon’s dropshipping policy, it will result in a seller account ban.

How Dropshipping Works on Amazon — How does dropshipping work?

Amazon FBA vs Dropshipping

Key advantages

Dropshipping is an easy and low-cost business model to start, even if you don't have any prior experience;
You don't need to invest in inventory or warehouse space;
You don't need to worry about managing or shipping inventory because your supplier will do it for you.

Key challenges

As a dropshipper on Amazon, you must be compliant with dropshipping policies and operate as the seller of record, which means that all product-related documents like invoices and packing slips are in your name;
Dropshipping has a risk of intellectual property complaints because it involves selling products from other brands; IP violations may result in deactivated listings and significant financial losses;
Limited control over fulfillment and quality because inventory is not under your direct control.

Tips

Research and list many products and wait until they sell; since you don’t prepay the inventory and don’t ship it in advance, it will not incur storage fees;
Choose products with high demand, good profit margins, without IP complaints, restrictions, and alerts; use Seller Assistant to find the right products;

Seller Assistant App immediately shows you if a product is suitable for dropshiping — Seller Assistant immediately shows you if a product is suitable for dropshiping

Use 3PL companies to be compliant with Amazon’s dropshipping policies; ask your suppliers to send products to 3PL to ensure products are repackaged in your name and all signs of third-party suppliers are removed.

How much can you make?

On average, dropshippers make from 1,000 to 5,000/month. However, there are sellers who earn much more.

Online Arbitrage vs Dropshipping: Which Business Model Is Best For You?

How to Create an Amazon Best Product Description that Ranks High in Search

6. Sell Handmade Products

Handmade sellers are artists and crafters selling their handcrafted products to Amazon customers. Amazon Handmade is an artisan-only community on Amazon.

How does it work?

If you sell under the Handmade model, your products must be unique artisan items made by hand, hand-altered, or hand-assembled. Mass-produced products are not allowed.

Handmade seller accounts differ from regular Amazon seller accounts. To become a handmade seller, you must go through an application process and get approval from Amazon to sell in the Handmade category. Once you create a selling account, you submit an Amazon Handmade application. You must have a Professional selling account to be eligible.

The 15 Best Amazon Seller Tools for FBA

Key advantages

Amazon Handmade offers a dedicated marketplace for handmade, vintage, and craft items; you can reach a target audience specifically interested in these products;
Amazon Handmade does not charge sellers a monthly fee; you pay a 15% referral fee on each item sold;
Amazon Handmade sellers do not need to assign individual items a universal product code (UPC).

Key challenges

Selling on Amazon Handmade can be complicated due to the strict seller requirements;
Referral and FBA fees charged by Amazon can be high;
Limitations on product presentation and customization can pose further challenges for sellers.

Tips

Create high-quality products made with care; ensure your products are well-made and meet the quality standards of Amazon Handmade;
Set the prices competitive with other sellers on Amazon Handmade; research what other sellers offer;
Optimize product listings with high-quality images, highlight unique features and materials in detailed product descriptions, leverage SEO strategies, and add high-volume keywords.

How much can you make?

Handmade seller income depends on the type of products they sell. They can earn from $1,000 and more.

7. Grow and Sell Amazon Business

Creating and selling Amazon business can be a lucrative venture. Amazon FBA businesses are in high demand, and you can sell your business for big money. In some cases, you can sell it for 5 to 7 times annual profits, which amounts to several millions.

How does it work?

First, you need to grow a business that will be attractive to aggregators who buy Amazon businesses. It must be profitable; stable or growing; at least a year old; have a good base of existing customers and decent reviews, and should be thoroughly documented.

When you decide to sell it, you can do it through an online marketplace, business brokers, or do it yourself. Then, prepare your business for sale, do a business valuation, create a business prospectus, find a buyer, and negotiate, If successful, transfer your business, complete due diligence, close the deal, and get money.

Key advantages

Selling your Amazon FBA business is an exit with cash;
Selling an existing Amazon FBA business can be a great way to realize your profits and move on to new ventures;
You can get much more than you initially invested.

Key challenges

To sell an Amazon business, it must generate at least $100,000 in annual profit;
The business must be transparent and well-documented;
You must choose the right time to sell your business when it grows and is attractive to buyers to maximize its value.

Tips

Prepare your business for sale, get your finances in order, and clean up your Amazon account;
Increase your profitability by growing sales, reducing costs, or both;
Document your processes, and ensure all business processes are well-documented and easy to follow.

How much can you make?

Amazon businesses sell for multiple of their annual profits. This valuation multiple is typically between 2 and 5 times annual profits but can be as high as 7.

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8. Offer Services as a Virtual Assistant

Virtual Assistants (VAs) are remote professional experts who help Amazon sellers manage their business. Their services range from sourcing deals and product research to customer services and routine daily operations.

How does it work?

VAs help merchants in different areas of the sales process. Typically, a seller outsources VA’s services to get professional assistance with any issues related to Amazon accounts and sales.

VAs can give sellers a leg-up with product research, customer relationship management, inventory sourcing, listing optimization, keyword research, image editing, review moderation, and order tasks.

If you have competence in Amazon sales, you can become a VA and monetize your skills. If you have yet to gain experience in Amazon sales, you must join Amazon virtual assistant courses or training to become a VA.

Skills You Need to Be a Virtual Assistant

How to Scale Amazon FBA Business with Virtual Assistant

How to Become an Amazon Virtual Assistant

Key advantages

You can monetize your Amazon expertise;
You can work remotely on a full-time, part-time, or per-task basis;
You don’t need to run your own business; you can work as a freelancer.

Key challenges

The market for Amazon VAs is competitive, so you'll need to highlight your specific skills and experience with Amazon processes and tools;
Finding clients and building a client base can be tough initially;
As an Amazon VA, you might be responsible for a wide range of tasks, from product sourcing optimization to customer service; be prepared to adapt to different needs and learn new skills as required by your clients.

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Virtual Assistant Account

Tips

Develop necessary skills; become organized, communicative, reliable, professional, and adaptable;
Make use of software tools to save VAs time and effort; use Seller Assistant for product sourcing and leverage special solutions for VAs, including sub-accounts for VAs, helping them with product research and providing increased security;
If you are a product sourcing VA, sell your deals on Seller Assistant Deals Marketplace.

How much can you make?

VAs' income depends on their experience and skills. The average hourly rate for VAs is around $34, but some VAs can earn much more than that.

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5 Ways to Find Amazon Online Arbitrage Leads

9. Earn Cash as an Influencer

An influencer is a media blogger with a qualified and sustainable social media audience. Becoming an Amazon influencer is one way to monetize social media content.

How does it work?

Any person with consistent followers on social media like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or YouTube can promote seller products and get a reward. To do that, they have to qualify for an Amazon Influencer Program.

Amazon approves them if they meet specific qualification criteria for an Amazon influencer, including loyal followers; a high level of interaction with the content; many likes and comments; an active audience; quality content; and relevance to Amazon. Also, one of the requirements is that an influencer should have a custom store on Amazon. From there, they promote Amazon inventory for sellers with unique links.

Note. Are you searching for an effective and sustainable way to expand your income while providing value to your audience? Look no further than the Seller Assistant Affiliate Program! With no limit on earnings and various perks provided to both you and those whom you refer, this affiliate program makes for a rewarding partnership between all involved.

Note. Are you ready to earn with the Seller Assistant Affiliate Program? Getting started couldn't be simpler: just register for the program to obtain your unique referral link and start earning with no limitations as there is a generous 30% lifetime commission, lifetime tracking cookies, and monthly payouts to help maximize earnings - plus all referred users will enjoy a 10% discount off their first subscription of Seller Assistant!

So why wait? Take this chance to earn more money and help your audience by signing up now. Start making money as a Seller Assistant affiliate! Click to join the affiliate program.

Key advantages

You can monetize your social media popularity;
Amazon assigns you a custom storefront URL;
An excellent option to earn a commission from advertising.

Key challenges

The Amazon Influencer program is competitive, with many established influencers already vying for brand partnerships; you'll need to develop a unique niche;
Getting approved is a challenge; Amazon has strict requirements for program entry. You'll need a well-established social media presence with high engagement to get accepted;
Maintaining quality and consistency and creating high-quality, engaging content requires time, effort, and creativity.

Tips

Identify a specific niche where you can build expertise and a loyal audience; research what topics resonate with your interests and where there's a gap in the market;
Go beyond basic promotion; showcase how Amazon products integrate into your lifestyle and solve problems for your viewers;
Experiment with different formats; utilize various content formats like photos, videos, live streams, and stories to keep your audience engaged.

How much can you make?

Influencers are paid commissions from sales. Commissions depend on the category and start from 1% per sale to 20%. You can earn from a couple of hundred to several thousand dollars per month.

Best Online Arbitrage Websites for Lead Sourcing

10. Become an Amazon Affiliate

Amazon affiliates are content creators, publishers, and bloggers monetizing their traffic. Associates promote products that match their blog content or website niche.

How does it work?

To become an affiliate, you have to enroll in the Amazon Associates Program. The requirements for the associates are more relaxed than those for the Amazon influencers. For instance, having a custom store on Amazon is optional.

‍

Amazon pays a percentage of sales to affiliates. Therefore, the money they earn depends on their reach, engagement rate, and how often they promote seller products in affiliate links. It also depends on the payment per sale and the product category. Affiliates can earn 4 to 10% in advertising fees from qualified purchases

Key advantages

It’s an excellent option to earn a commission without selling;
You can monetize your blog, website, or social media pages;
You don’t need to have a custom store on Amazon.

Key challenges

Amazon affiliate commission rates can be quite low, especially for common household items; you'll need to drive a high volume of traffic and sales to generate significant income;
Amazon's cookie window is short, only 24 hours; this means that if someone clicks on your affiliate link but doesn't make a purchase within 24 hours, you won't earn a commission even if they eventually buy the product;
Limited control and earning potential; you have no control over Amazon's product prices, promotions, or availability, which makes it difficult to predict your earnings and limits your influence on the customer journey.

Tips

Familiarize yourself with Amazon’s commission structure and rates for different product categories; prioritize promoting items in higher-paying categories where applicable;
Employ SEO strategies to increase organic traffic to your website. Use relevant keywords, optimize meta tags, and ensure your site is mobile-friendly;
Place affiliate links where they are likely to generate the most interest and clicks: at the beginning of an article, within the content, or at the end as a call to action.

How much can you make?

In the same way as influencers, affiliates are paid commissions from sales. Commissions depend on the product category, conversion rates, and volume from sharing links, typically 3-5%. You can earn from a couple of hundred to several thousand dollars per month.

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111. Trade-in Used Items

With the Amazon Trade-in program, you can trade in used books, games, and gadgets in good condition. However, Amazon pays you with a gift card, which means you don’t get any money directly.

How does it work?

Amazon’s Trade-In program aims to exchange the used items you may have at home for an Amazon gift card. If you have used goods in good condition and don’t want them anymore, you can sell them to Amazon. If you are lucky, you can receive up to 20% of the product’s original price.

To submit a product, you must go to the Amazon Trade-In, find the item of your choice, specify its condition, and send it to Amazon. They examine a product and give you money in the form of a gift card. Products in excellent condition are priced higher, whereas those in poor condition get a lower value.

Key advantages

You can make use of the items you don’t need;
You exchange your items for Amazon gift cards, not for cash;
You can get up to 20% of the original item’s price.

Key challenges

The actual value Amazon offers for your trade-in can be significantly lower upon inspection; condition, model variations, and even basic wear and tear can significantly impact the final payout;
Online estimates might not account for all factors affecting the final price; scratches, dents, or missing components not mentioned in the initial assessment can lead to unpleasant surprises and lower payouts;
Amazon sets the trade-in value, and there's no room for negotiation; you can either accept their offer or keep your item.

Tips

Don't rely solely on Amazon's initial online estimates; research the current market value of your item on other platforms like eBay or dedicated buyback websites;
Be honest about the condition; mention any scratches, dents, missing components, or malfunctioning features; it helps avoid unpleasant surprises and potential rejection upon receiving the item;
Consider alternatives; if the Amazon trade-in value for an item seems too low compared to its market worth, explore alternative selling options like online marketplaces or local buyback stores.

How much can you make?

You can receive up to 20% discount on the new Amazon products as an Amazon gift card.

12. Sell Your Own Books

Amazon created a special Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) program for those who can write their own content.

How does it work?

With the KDP program, you can self-publish an e-book or a paper book. Each time this book sells, the author gets paid. You can write about anything you wish, as long as the book is attractive to the readers.

To self-publish a KDP book, you must create an Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing account. Then add a Kindle ebook, title and subtitle, author’s name, and book description. After that, you can start selling.

Key advantages

Authors can get up to 70% royalty on book sales with almost no investment;
An easy and low-cost way to start a writing career and publish content;
You can print both digital and paper books.

Key challenges

The KDP platform is incredibly crowded, and standing out and getting your book noticed by readers can be tough;
Ranking high in Amazon's search results is crucial for discoverability; mastering keyword research and search engine optimization (SEO) is essential to get your book seen by potential readers;
As a self-published author, you retain control over your book rights, but royalties are lower compared to traditional publishing deals; carefully consider pricing strategies to maximize your earnings while remaining competitive.

Tips

Identify your target audience and tailor your genre, content, and writing style to resonate with them; research popular subgenres and current market trends;
Learn basic SEO (Search Engine Optimization) principles to enhance your book's visibility; optimize your book's metadata, leverage author central features, and consider enrolling in KDP Select for additional promotional opportunities;
Develop an online presence as an author; create a website or blog, connect with readers on social media, and engage in online communities related to your genre.

How much can you make?

The money you get with KDP depends on how well the book sells. You can get up to 70% royalty on book sales.

13. Deliver Orders with Amazon Flex

Amazon Flex is a delivery service. If you have a car, you can make extra money delivering packages to Amazon customers. Amazon Flex requirements are age - 21 and up; valid U.S. driver’s license; mid-size or larger car.

How does it work?

To join the program, you have to download the Amazon Flex app. You'll use the Amazon Flex app to search for available delivery blocks in your area. These blocks are shifts that typically range from 2 to 6 hours. Each block shows the estimated duration, pay, and pick-up location for the deliveries you'll be making. You can choose when and how often you want to work by selecting the delivery blocks that fit your schedule.

Once you select a delivery block, the app will direct you to a designated Amazon location (like a warehouse) to pick up the packages you'll be delivering. The app provides a map and optimized route for your deliveries. You'll scan each package upon pick-up and scan them again upon successful delivery to the customer.

Key advantages

An excellent option to earn money if you have a car and like driving;
Fast and easy to join;
You can make $18–25 per hour.

Key challenges

Delivery block pay can vary depending on the duration, location, and demand; there's no guaranteed minimum wage, and income can be inconsistent;
Some delivery blocks might require a lot of driving for relatively few packages, potentially leading to lower earnings per hour;
You're responsible for maintaining your own vehicle, including gas, repairs, and potential insurance adjustments for commercial use; these costs can eat into your overall earnings.

Tips

Be selective with blocks; use the Flex app strategically to prioritize blocks with better pay rates per hour;
Before heading out for deliveries, utilize the app's route optimization feature; you can also use a separate navigation app to identify potential traffic issues and plan alternative routes if necessary;
Monitor your earnings within the Flex app and calculate your effective hourly wage after factoring in gas and vehicle maintenance costs; this helps you assess the true profitability of each block.

How much can you make?

Amazon pays $18–25 per hour. Actual earnings depend on your location, how long it takes to complete your deliveries and other factors. The app tracks your deliveries and you'll be paid electronically after completing your block. Amazon Flex pays via direct deposit, and you can track your earnings within the app.

14. Create and Sell Your Designs

With Amazon Merch on Demand, you can create designs for t-shirts and accessories and sell them without any upfront cost. This print-on-demand service that allows you to create and sell custom designs for t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, and other products. Amazon will print and ship them to customers on demand.

How does it work?

Amazon Merch on Demand is an on-demand printing service. To get started with Merch by Amazon, you need to apply for the Merch by Amazon program. This program is a great way to make money online without having to invest in inventory or shipping.

To print your t-shirt or accessories, you must upload your design, select colors, and set a price. Amazon creates a listing for your t-shirt, and when the customer purchases it, they print the order, pack it, and ship it with Amazon Prime. Once the T-shirt sells, you’ll get a royalty.

Key advantages

You can produce and sell designs on Amazon for free;
You don’t need to take care of fulfillment;
Amazon creates a custom listing for your design.

Key challenges

Amazon Merch on Demand has limitations on what you can include in your designs; copyright infringement, trademarks, and content deemed offensive are strictly prohibited; understanding and adhering to these guidelines can be tricky;
Setting the right price for your product is challenging; you'll need to consider base product cost, your royalty percentage, and a competitive market price to ensure you make a decent profit;
You need to actively promote your designs through social media marketing, influencer outreach, or other strategies to drive traffic to your products.

Tips

Keep an eye on current trends in fashion, pop culture, and seasonal events; utilizing platforms like Google Trends, Pinterest, and social media can provide insight into what designs are likely to sell;
Target specific niches with dedicated followings, such as pet lovers, sports enthusiasts, or specific hobbies. Niche designs often face less competition and can foster a loyal customer base;
Utilize Amazon’s tools to see how your designs will look on different products; make sure the design is properly aligned and sized for each product type.

How much can you make?

Merch-on-demand sellers make on average from $500-1,000/month.

15. Order Free Products and Share Reviews

If you are a reputable reviewer, you can join Amazon Vine and order free products to share reviews with Amazon customers on Amazon Vine (become a Vine Voice).

This invitation-only program is designed to help reviewers and established Amazon customers discover and share honest opinions about new and pre-release products with other potential buyers.

How does it work?

If you become a Vine Voice in this program, you can request free products from the available Vine selection. If the request is approved, you will receive the product free of charge for testing and unbiased review.

The program helps new products get independent reviews. New brands or sellers pay a fee to participate in the Vine program and can choose specific products to get reviews. Amazon identifies and invites qualified reviewers (Vine Voices) to participate in the program for specific products.

Selected Vine Voices are expected to write honest and informative reviews about their experience with the product within a set timeframe (usually 30 days). These reviews are prominently displayed on the product page alongside regular customer reviews.

Key advantages

As a Vine Voice, you get early access to new and pre-release products before they're widely available to the public;
Vine allows you to receive a selection of free products in exchange for your honest reviews; this can be a great way to try out different items without any financial commitment;
Participating in Vine can help you establish yourself as a trusted and respected reviewer within the Amazon community.

Key challenges

Vine reviewers must maintain a good standing; Vine relies on honest and high-quality reviews, and there can be pressure to write detailed and insightful reviews to maintain good standing within the program and continue receiving Vine invites;
While honesty is crucial, some reviewers might feel pressure to downplay negative aspects of a product to avoid jeopardizing future Vine invitations;
Vine has strict review guidelines; violations like late reviews, biased opinions, or attempts to game the system can lead to account suspension and loss of Vine privileges.

Tips

Plan your time; be realistic about the time commitment required for testing, using, and reviewing Vine products, and factor in deadlines to avoid last-minute rushes;
Prioritize quality; strive to write thorough and informative reviews;
Be objective; Vine reviewers are expected to provide honest and unbiased feedback, both positive and negative; focus on your genuine experience with the product.

How much can you make?

Participation in the Vine program is in exchange for free reviewed products. If you are eligible as a Vine Voice, you can request free products from the available Vine selection.

16. Perform Outsourcing Tasks with Mechanical Turk

Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) is a crowdsourcing marketplace where businesses can hire individuals to perform small tasks. These tasks range from simple data entry and categorization to more complex tasks like writing product descriptions or conducting surveys.

How does it work?

To make money on Mechanical Turk, you need to complete HITs (Human Intelligence Tasks). A variety of HITs are available, so you can find ones that fit your skills and interests. These tasks can involve various things like data entry, short surveys, image classification, or writing product descriptions. You choose HITs that interest you based on factors like pay rate, task type, and estimated completion time.

Once you accept a HIT, you follow the instructions provided by the Requester (employer). The platform offers a designated workspace for completing tasks. After completing the task, you submit the work through the MTurk platform. If the Requester approves the work, the worker receives payment through their MTurk account.

Key advantages

You don't need particular skills or experience to get started on MTurk, just a basic understanding of how to use a computer and an internet connection;
You can find HITs that fit your skills and interests;
MTurk is an excellent option for additional income/

Key challenges

Many MTurk tasks offer relatively low pay rates, sometimes amounting to cents per task; it can be time-consuming to earn a significant amount of money;
The availability of HITs can be unpredictable; there might be periods with a lot of tasks, followed by dry spells with minimal work opportunities;
Some HITs require specific qualifications or prior experience, limiting your access to certain tasks.

Tips

Focus on high-paying hits; don't waste time on tasks with meager payouts; utilize the search filters to prioritize HITs that offer better pay rates per hour;
Qualify for as many HITs as possible by completing MTurk's qualification tests; this expands your access to a wider range of tasks and potentially higher-paying opportunities;
Before accepting a HIT, skim through the Requester's reviews from other workers. This can give you insights into their approval rates, communication style, and potential red flags.

How much can you make?

With MTurk, you can make on average from $800-1,000. However, that depends on the Requester rates and specific tasks.

17. Reselling Books

Reselling books on Amazon is the process of buying used books and selling them for a profit. That can be a great way to make money from home, especially if you love to read and have skills for finding good deals.

How does it work?

You can find rare editions of books to resell in thrift stores, library, and garage sales. You can also use online sources like AbeBooks, ThriftBooks, or World of Books. Then you list your books on Amazon and provide details like ISBN (International Standard Book Number), book condition, pricing, and product description. Once a customer purchases your book, you're responsible for fulfilling the order. This involves carefully packaging the book and shipping it to the buyer.

You handle everything from storing the books to packaging and shipping them yourself )FBM) orf send your books to Amazon warehouses, and they handle storage, packaging, shipping, and customer service for a fee (FBA). Once done, Amazon collects payment from the buyer and deposits your earnings (minus their selling fees) into your seller account after a short holding period.

Key advantages

Reselling books on Amazon can make you a profitable business; the profit margin for reselling books can be as high as 40%. However, your profits will depend on various factors:
Reselling books on Amazon has relatively low startup costs; you don't need to invest in much inventory or equipment to get started
Reselling books on Amazon offers a lot of flexibility for those who want to earn extra income in their spare time.

Key challenges

Identifying books with good resale potential requires research and a keen eye for value; you'll need to factor in purchase cost, potential selling price, and Amazon's fees to determine profitability;
Competition for book reseller deals on Amazon is high; being resourceful and developing a network of sources is essential;
Accurate descriptions and cataloging can be a challenge; proper book details, including ISBN, condition description, and high-quality pictures are crucial for attracting buyers; inaccurate listings can lead to returns and frustrated customers.

Tips

Connect with other book resellers, librarians, or estate sale organizers; these connections can provide valuable leads on potential book sources you might otherwise miss;
Before you list a book on Amazon, research the selling price and set your prices competitively to attract buyers;
Honestly describe the condition of your books.

How much can you make?

On average, book resellers make from $1,000 to $4,000 and more.

FAQ

Can I earn money from Amazon?

Yes, you can earn money from Amazon in several ways, such as selling products, designs, or books through the marketplace, offering services, or completing tasks by participating in various programs.

Can I make $1000 a month on Amazon?

Making $1000/month on Amazon is possible, but it depends on the method. Selling products through Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) or building a successful affiliate marketing channel could reach that amount, but it requires effort and strategy. Read how to do it in this post.

Is selling on Amazon easy?

Selling on Amazon is easy to get started with, but success takes work. Listing products is straightforward, but competition is high, and profiting requires thorough product sourcing with specialized software like Seller Assistant, planning for fulfillment, inventory management, and factoring in all costs.

Is making money on Amazon realistic?

Making money on Amazon is realistic, but it depends on your approach. Around one-third of Amazon sellers make more than $5,000/month.

How long will it take to earn an income on Amazon?

The timeframe to earn an income on Amazon varies greatly depending on your chosen method. Some methods, like completing tasks on Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) can offer fast earnings. However, selling products through Amazon can see income appear in 2-3 months or more.

Final Thoughts

Amazon offers plenty of different ways to earn money. Sellers can sell their products, trade in used items, become virtual assistants to Amazon sellers or write and publish their own books.

For Amazon sellers and virtual assistants, product sourcing is the major challenge. To simplify this task, you can use Seller Assistant, all-in-one product sourcing software offering all the features vital for product sourcing. It combines a Side Panel View, FBM&FBA Profit Calculator, Quick View, ASIN Grabber, UPC/EAN to ASIN converter, Stock Checker, IP Alert, Restrictions Checker, and other features that help quickly find high-profit deals.