10 Best Ways to Make Money on Amazon (2026)

Saving money on ways make money amazon does not have to be complicated. We rounded up the essentials so you can spend less and skip the guesswork.

Key Takeaways

• Share This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, advisory, or brokerage services.
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• Most people think of Amazon as a place to shop, but far fewer realize how many different ways there are to earn money from the platform.

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This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, advisory, or brokerage services. We may earn compensation from some links on this page. Learn more.

Most people think of Amazon as a place to shop, but far fewer realize how numerous different ways there are to earn money from the platform.

I learned this firsthand when I tried selling private label products through Amazon FBA. My own experiment never grew into a profitable business, although one of our contributors, Marc Andre, used the same model to build and sell a six-figure Amazon FBA brand.

Amazon is one of the few platforms where regular people can create income across a wide mix of options. Some involve selling physical products. Others let you earn without touching inventory. Each comes with different startup costs, different levels of difficulty, and different time commitments.

In this guide, I break down the nine most common ways to make money on Amazon and rank them from the lowest to the highest startup cost. You will also see who each option is best for, how hard it is to start, and what to expect as a beginner.

The goal is simple. Help you choose the method that fits your goals, your skills, and your budget without hype or unrealistic promises.

1. Amazon Associates

The Amazon affiliate program is called Amazon Associates. This is one of the easiest ways to earn money from Amazon because you do not need inventory or a product of your own.

You simply recommend products on a website, blog, email list, or social media account and earn a commission when someone buys through your link.

I do not run a physical product review site, so Amazon Associates has never been a major income source for me. Most of my links point to books and small items. For example, over the past month my Amazon Associates dashboard shows $3.48 in earnings!

People who do well with Amazon Associates typically focus on physical product niches. A camping website that reviews tents and outdoor gear is a good example.

Influencers also use the program heavily. During events like Black Friday, you will frequently see creators publish simple lists titled something like “10 things I love.” They link to each product on Amazon and earn a commission on anything the visitor buys during that shopping session, which can include additional items placed in the cart.

Pros of Amazon Associates

• Countless products you can promote.
• A real possibility for passive income once your content starts ranking.
• A niche website can become an asset you can sell.
• Newer websites or influencers can frequently get approved.

Cons of Amazon Associates

• Commission rates are low.
• You only earn money if the visitor buys within 24 hours of clicking your link.

2. Amazon Influencer Program (My Top Pick)

The Amazon Influencer Program allows creators to earn commissions by recommending Amazon products through a personalized storefront and shoppable videos.

The program requires a social media account on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, or Facebook for acceptance, but your follower count matters only for getting in.

Once Amazon approves your account and your first few videos, most of your commissions come from shoppers who watch your product videos directly on Amazon listing pages.

This is why numerous influencers in the program earn money even if they rarely post on social media.

After approval, you gain access to tools such as a custom storefront, idea lists, shoppable photos, and short product videos that Amazon can place inside the listings for millions of products.

Our team published a complete guide that covers the top strategies used by successful Amazon influencers, and it explains how creators maximize earnings once their videos are live.

The opportunity is appealing because you can start by creating videos for products you already own, and Amazon handles the distribution by showing your videos to shoppers who are already looking for the item.

Pros of the Amazon Influencer Program

• Low startup cost if you already have products to review.
• Most earnings come from Amazon listing placement rather than your social media audience.
• Access to a customized storefront with a vanity URL.
• Shoppable videos can appear directly on Amazon product pages.
• Ability to earn one time bounties from promoting Amazon services.

Cons of the Amazon Influencer Program

• Commission rates are low.
• Strict program rules can lead to removal if not followed.
• High competition on popular products with numerous existing videos.
• You need the physical product to create photos or videos.
• Products change frequently which can make older videos outdated.

3. Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP)

Kindle Direct Publishing is Amazon’s platform for self published e books and print books.

There is no cost to publish. You upload your manuscript, choose your book details, and Amazon handles printing, delivery, and customer service.

KDP works well for people who want to create digital products that can earn for months or even years.

Some authors publish short guides in niche subjects while others write full length books.

KDP is a long term business model because only a small percentage of books take off quickly. The authors who tend to do well typically have deep experience in a specific topic and can create several short, helpful books around the problems their audience faces.

For example, a CPA who works with small businesses could write five or six short guides for entrepreneurs, each focused on a narrow accounting question.

AI can help with outlining or drafting, but success still depends on your expertise, the quality of the book, reviews, and how well the topic matches reader demand.

KDP is not a quick win, although it can become a reliable passive income stream for authors who produce multiple titles in a focused niche.

Pros of Kindle Direct Publishing

• No inventory or shipping required.
• Very low startup cost.
• Books can generate passive income for a long time.
• Works well for niche topics that solve specific problems.

Cons of Kindle Direct Publishing

• Most books sell for low prices.
• Success frequently requires publishing multiple books.
• High competition in popular categories.

4. Merch By Amazon

Merch by Amazon is another way to make money on the site without paying for or dealing with inventory.

This print-on-demand program for apparel allows you to make money by designing t-shirts, hoodies and other items. You’ll upload the design and when someone purchases it, Amazon will print and ship the item.

You’ll need to get an invite in order to sell through Merch by Amazon (which can be requested from the company). Since the items are printed as they’re sold, you’ll have no need for inventory.

If you’re a designer, Merch by Amazon could be a excellent fit. But even if you’re not a designer, you could outsource the design work and still maintain the ownership and rights to the designs.

Pros of Merch by Amazon

• Potential for passive income.
• No need to deal with inventory.
• Low startup costs.

Cons of Merch by Amazon

• You’ll need to get an invitation in order to sell.
• Numerous successful designs will be copied by competitors.
• If you’re not a designer, you’ll probably need to outsource the design work.

5. Amazon Handmade

Amazon Handmade is Amazon’s marketplace for artisans who want to sell genuine handcrafted goods.

It functions as a competitor to Etsy and gives makers access to Amazon’s huge customer base.

To join the program, you must apply and be approved. Amazon reviews your products and your production process to confirm that your items are truly ha

Final Thoughts

The bottom line: a little research on ways make money amazon goes a long way. Compare your options, watch for seasonal offers, and never pay full price when a better deal is one click away.

Originally published at thewaystowealth.com.