How to Make Money on Amazon in 2026: 5 Real Ways and What They Pay
There are five realistic ways to make money on Amazon as a side hustle: sell products on the marketplace, let Amazon ship them for you through FBA, publish books on Kindle Direct Publishing, earn commissions as an Amazon Associate, or deliver packages with Amazon Flex. If you searched "how to make money online amazon", the first four are the online options, and Flex is the one that pays by the hour. Each has different startup costs and fees, so this guide puts the numbers from Amazon's own pages side by side.
How to make money on Amazon: five ways at a glance
| Method | What you do | How you get paid | Startup cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Selling on Amazon | List and ship products | Sale price minus fees | Inventory, plus a plan fee |
| Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) | Send stock to Amazon's warehouses | Sale price minus fees | Inventory, plus FBA fees |
| Kindle Direct Publishing | Write and publish ebooks or paperbacks | Royalty per copy | Your time, a cover |
| Amazon Associates | Link to products from content you make | Commission per sale | Your time |
| Amazon Flex | Deliver packages in your own car | Pay per delivery block | A car, gas |
1. Sell products on Amazon
Amazon has two selling plans in the US, according to its pricing page (checked today):
- Individual: $0.99 per item sold, no monthly fee. Made for people selling a few items.
- Professional: $39.99 per month plus selling fees. You can switch or cancel at any time.
The rough rule: if you sell more than about 40 items a month, Professional costs less, because 40 × $0.99 is close to $39.99.
On top of the plan, Amazon takes a referral fee on every sale. It varies by category, from 8% (for example, computers and game consoles) up to 45% (Amazon device accessories), and most categories have a $0.30 minimum per item. Media items like books and DVDs also carry a $1.80 closing fee. Look up your category on the same pricing page before you buy any stock.
What people sell as an Amazon side hustle usually falls into a few buckets: retail arbitrage (buying discounted items in stores and reselling them), used books, and private label products made by a manufacturer under your own brand. Retail arbitrage is the cheapest to test. Private label needs the most money up front and carries the most risk.
2. Use Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA)
With Fulfillment by Amazon, you ship your inventory to Amazon's warehouses. Amazon stores it, packs and ships each order, and handles customer service and returns.
The trade-off is fees. Amazon charges a fulfillment fee per unit based on the product's size, weight, and price, plus a monthly storage fee based on how many cubic feet your stock takes up. Extra fees apply to inventory that sits for more than 181 days, to returns processing, and to removing stock. Amazon doesn't list flat rates on that page, so run your product through its Revenue Calculator first. Small, light items that sell quickly fit FBA best. Bulky items that sell slowly can lose money in storage fees alone.
3. Publish books with Kindle Direct Publishing
Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) lets you publish an ebook or a print-on-demand paperback for free. Amazon prints paperbacks when someone orders, so you hold no stock.
Ebook royalties come in two options, per KDP's royalty help page: 35% of the list price, or 70% minus a small delivery cost. On Amazon.com, the 70% option needs a list price between $2.99 and $12.99, according to KDP's list price requirements. The top of that range went up from $9.99 on July 7, 2026. Public domain books only get 35%.
Paperback royalties are 60% of the list price on Amazon.com when the price is $9.99 or more, and 50% below that, minus printing costs (KDP paperback royalty page). KDP's own example: a 333-page black-ink paperback listed at $15 earns $4.00 per copy ($15 × 0.60, minus $5.00 printing).
Low-content books (journals, planners, logbooks) are a popular angle, and they're also crowded. Nonfiction that answers one clear question, or a series in a genre you read a lot, gives you better odds than a generic notebook. If you like making printables, our guide on how to sell digital products covers other places to sell them.
4. Earn commissions with Amazon Associates
Amazon Associates is Amazon's affiliate program. You share a product link in a blog post, newsletter, or video description, and you earn a percentage when someone buys through it. Amazon's standard commission rates (US, checked today) include:
| Category | Rate |
|---|---|
| Luxury Beauty, Amazon Explore | 10% |
| Handmade, Digital Music | 5% |
| Physical Books, Kitchen, Automotive | 4.5% |
| Apparel, Shoes, Jewelry, Kindle and Echo devices | 4% |
| Toys, Home, Furniture, Tools, Sports, Pet Products | 3% |
| PC, PC Components | 2.5% |
| Televisions, Digital Video Games | 2% |
| Grocery, Health and Personal Care, Video Game Consoles | 1% |
| All other categories | 4% |
If you'd rather make videos than read about it, VidPuff turns a title into a faceless video. No waitlist, cancel anytime.
The rates are low, so this works when you have steady traffic. New accounts also have a deadline: under Amazon's account rules, Amazon reviews your application once you've referred three qualifying sales, and it can be withdrawn if you don't have enough sales within 180 days. Build an audience first, then apply.
YouTube is one of the easiest places to use Associates links, because review and "best X for Y" videos send buyers straight to products. Our guide to YouTube affiliate marketing covers disclosure rules and which programs pay more than Amazon. If you want a channel without showing your face, VidPuff turns a title into a narrated long-form video with visuals, music, and captions, and you review each stage before you upload.
5. Deliver packages with Amazon Flex
Flex is the one option here that isn't online. You pick delivery blocks in the Flex app and deliver packages in your own vehicle. Amazon says on its Flex news page that most delivery partners make between $18 and $25 an hour, depending on location and other factors, and you see what a block pays before you take it. That figure is before gas and car costs. Driver data from Gridwise, covered in our post on delivery apps to make money, put the 2025 median for Flex at $20.89 an hour in trip pay. Check the current requirements in the Flex app for your area.
Which Amazon side hustle fits you
- No money to start, some time: Associates (if you already make content) or KDP.
- Want hourly pay this week: Flex, if you have a car.
- A few hundred dollars and a garage: selling used or discounted items on the Individual plan.
- Ready to treat it like a business: Professional plan plus FBA, after you've run the fee math.
If you sell handmade or printable products, compare Amazon's fees with our breakdown of how to make money on Etsy before you pick a marketplace.
Amazon store "automation" scams
Be careful with anyone who offers to build and run an Amazon store for you in exchange for a large upfront fee. In August 2025 the FTC permanently banned the operators of Click Profit from selling business opportunities. The FTC said the company promised passive income from Amazon and other online stores, made earnings claims that rarely came true, and falsely claimed to use advanced AI and to have brand partnerships with Nike and Disney. Its earlier release said the scheme cost consumers at least $14 million.
The FTC's advice on vetting a business or coaching opportunity lists the warning signs: promises of a lot of money, quickly and easily, and pressure to buy now before you miss out. No one selling you a store can guarantee your sales.
Taxes
Money from selling, royalties, commissions, and Flex is all taxable. If your net earnings from self-employment are $400 or more, you may owe self-employment tax. Keep records of fees, inventory, and mileage, and ask a tax professional about your own situation.
FAQ
How do beginners make money on Amazon?
Most beginners start with the option that needs the least money: Amazon Associates if they already have a blog or channel, KDP if they like writing, or the Individual selling plan for a few items they already own. Learning how to make money online with Amazon is cheaper when you test small before buying inventory.
Is an Amazon side hustle worth it in 2026?
It can be, as long as you run the numbers. Referral fees, FBA fees, and low affiliate rates eat into margins, so a product or book that looks profitable at full price may earn little after Amazon's cut. Flex is the most predictable, since you see the pay before you accept a block.
How much does it cost to start selling on Amazon?
The Individual plan has no monthly fee and charges $0.99 per item sold. The Professional plan is $39.99 a month. Your real startup cost is inventory, plus referral fees on each sale and FBA fees if you use it.
Can you make money online with Amazon without selling anything?
Yes. With Amazon Associates you earn commissions on other sellers' products, and with KDP you earn royalties on books you write. Neither needs inventory. Both need an audience or a lot of patience before the money is steady.
See how it works →