You’ve probably heard those “gurus” and experts on YouTube talk about the importance of having multiple streams of income to become a millionaire. Whether you’re selling on Amazon as a side hustle or running it as a full-time business, we have a few additional ways you can boost your bottom line. After all, who wouldn’t appreciate some extra income?
In this blog post, we’re going to outline all the ways you can make money on Amazon.
1) Find a product to sell
The most lucrative way to earn on Amazon remains through private label sales via Amazon’s Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) program. Approximately 54% of Amazon sellers operate their business using the private label model.
Private labeling involves taking an existing product (often with some improvements), branding it with your logo, and selling it to customers. Selecting a product to sell can be challenging. Start by considering your interests and hobbies, which allows you to leverage your existing knowledge in a specific industry.
You could begin by selling a single item or explore different product categories. You may find yourself drawn to a particular category, like clothing or toys. Depending on your strategy, you might choose to expand your product range or focus on a few key products—perhaps even just one bestseller.
Explore the Product Opportunity Explorer in Seller Central to discover trending product categories and niches. Monitor your sales and use analytics to guide your decisions. Take help from Amazon consultants to boost sales of your Private Label product.
2) Sell handmade items
If you’re skilled in crafts like sewing, woodworking, or any other handmade art, turning your expertise into an ecommerce business can be a rewarding venture. With just an Amazon selling account, you can apply to join the Amazon Handmade program, which allows you to showcase and sell your handcrafted items to millions of potential customers.
However, before you can start selling, you’ll need to complete an initial Artisan application. This application is essential as it verifies that your products are genuinely handmade by you and not purchased elsewhere for resale.
Once your application is approved, you gain access to the global Amazon marketplace, opening up a significant profit opportunity. Keep in mind that Amazon does take a 15% referral fee per sale. However, the fee waiver for a Professional selling plan, along with other perks, makes this a great option for artists and creatives looking to share their work with the world.
Being a part of Amazon Handmade means more than just selling products—it connects you with an online community of artisans, providing an excellent platform for your unique goods to reach a global audience.
Although this method requires more effort to manage orders since you’re creating each piece yourself, the massive exposure Amazon offers can significantly boost your brand.
3) Create and distribute merch
If you’re a graphic designer or simply someone who has a keen eye for trends, Merch on Demand might be an ideal opportunity for you. This program allows you to create and sell your own products with unique designs on Amazon. The process is straightforward: once accepted into the program, you upload your artwork to Amazon, choose the product you want to feature your design on (such as t-shirts, hoodies, or tote bags), and Amazon takes care of printing and shipping the item directly to the customer.
One of the major advantages of Merch on Demand is that there are no upfront costs involved. You earn a royalty for each sale, making it a risk-free way to monetize your designs. If you have a clever idea for a shirt or coffee mug but don’t want to invest in inventory, Merch on Demand offers a perfect solution.
With Amazon Merch on Demand, you can bring your design ideas to life on a variety of products like shirts, tote bags, coffee mugs, and hats. After a sale is made, Amazon handles the printing and shipping of the item, allowing you to earn money without the hassle of managing unsold stock. Additionally, products are fulfilled through Prime, ensuring fast delivery for customers.
Keep in mind the considerations for selling clothing online and managing an online clothing business. You should also review the requirements for brand names and logos to ensure compliance with Amazon’s guidelines.
4) Become an Amazon influencer
You don’t have to sell physical products to earn money with Amazon. Amazon’s affiliate marketing program, Amazon Associates, allows you to make money by recommending products available on Amazon through your social media channels or website. This program offers commissions of up to 10% on sales generated through your referral links.
If you’re interested in earning passive income, Amazon Associates provides tools for reporting, payments, and account management. You can use simple link-building tools to direct your audience to recommended products.
Another opportunity is Amazon’s Influencer Program, which lets you monetize your social media presence. By joining this program, you can earn commissions by promoting Amazon products to your followers. This program provides you with a dedicated storefront on Amazon where you can showcase products you love. You can also create product review videos that may appear on the product listings on Amazon, earning you commissions through Onsite Commissions (requires separate approval).
The Amazon Influencer Program is popular among creators on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. Even if you don’t have a massive following, you can still get approved for the program, especially if you have a business or creator account on Instagram or Facebook.
Influencers can earn anywhere from a few hundred dollars per month to several thousand dollars, depending on their efforts and the traffic they generate to their recommended products. Commissions vary from 1% to 20% based on the product category. The Amazon Influencer Program is growing rapidly, so now is a great time to get started.
5) Sell books
Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) offers a platform for you to publish your own books on Amazon, both in digital and print formats. Whether you’re a seasoned author or just starting out, KDP allows you to reach a global audience with your work.
To succeed with KDP, it often helps to be prolific. While publishing a few popular books can certainly bring in income, producing a larger volume of books generally increases your earning potential. The more books you publish, the more opportunities you have to make money.
If writing full-length novels isn’t your thing or you’re short on ideas, you can also create and sell “low- or medium-content books.” These include journals, coloring books, word-search books, planners, and more. This approach can be a great way to earn passive income, as once your book is uploaded to your KDP dashboard, you don’t need to manage inventory.
Earnings on KDP can vary widely. Some authors make $40,000 or more per month, but even earning a few extra hundred dollars each month can be a rewarding side income. The best part is that you and your Amazon seller consultant maintain control over your work, set your own prices, and make changes as needed.
6) Sell discounted products through retail arbitrage
Retail arbitrage is a popular method for making money on Amazon by buying discounted products from physical retail stores and reselling them at a higher price on Amazon. The key to retail arbitrage is simplicity: find items on sale, purchase them, and then list them for a profit on Amazon.
Unlike wholesale, where you negotiate directly with suppliers, retail arbitrage involves no such dealings. Instead, you leverage sales and discounts found in stores like Walmart, Target, or Barnes & Noble.
Retail arbitrage is actually the third most popular selling method on Amazon, used by 25% of sellers. It’s a straightforward way to start, but it does come with its challenges. Finding profitable items can be time-consuming, and competition is high. Still, it offers a low-cost entry point into selling on Amazon.
How much can you earn with retail arbitrage? Many sellers report doing $5,000 or more in sales per month using this model, with profit margins often exceeding 20%. However, success in retail arbitrage requires patience and persistence, as finding the right products can take considerable time and effort.
Final thoughts
In summary, there are many ways to make money on Amazon, each with its own challenges and rewards. Whether you choose to explore selling products, creating custom merchandise, or affiliate marketing, success will depend on your effort and strategy. You can tackle it all on your own or get expert help from Amazon experts at SIPRANSH ECOMMGROWTH. We’re here to support you in making the most of your Amazon opportunities.
