Amazon isn’t just a place to shop—it’s one of the largest income ecosystems in the world. Whether you want a side hustle or a full-time business, there are multiple ways to earn using Amazon. This guide breaks down the most popular and profitable ways to make money with Amazon, including beginner-friendly options and scalable business models.
For more information, check out these other articles below:
- How to Build a Niche Site Around Amazon Products
- Best Products to Sell on Amazon for Beginners
- Selling on Amazon: Marketplace Giant with Massive Potential
- Amazon Flex as a Side Hustle: Fast Cash & Flexible Hours
- Wakewall Seller’s Guide for Online Marketplaces
- What Is a Blog and How Does It Work?
- Wakewall’s 50-State SEO Guide for Small Businesses
1. Amazon FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon)
What It Is
With FBA, you:
- Buy or create products
- Send them to Amazon warehouses
- Amazon handles shipping, returns, and customer service
- Amazon FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon)
Why It Works
- Prime eligibility increases sales
- Hands-off logistics
- Scalable business model
What to Sell
- Private label products
- Everyday household items
- Niche products with low competition
👉 This is one of the most scalable Amazon businesses.
2. Retail Arbitrage (Reselling)
What It Is
Buy products from stores (like Walmart, Target) and resell them on Amazon.
How It Works
- Find discounted items
- Scan prices using apps
- List on Amazon for profit
Best Products
- Clearance toys
- Seasonal items
- Brand-name goods
👉 Great for beginners with low startup cost.
Read More: Retail Arbitrage Hub: Stores to Source Resell Products
3. Online Arbitrage
Similar to retail arbitrage, but everything is done online.
How It Works
- Buy discounted products from websites
- Ship to Amazon or yourself
- Resell for profit
Benefits
- No need to visit stores
- Easier to scale
- Can automate sourcing
4. Amazon Dropshipping
What It Is
You sell products without holding inventory.
How It Works
- List products on Amazon
- When someone buys, you order from a supplier
- Supplier ships directly to customer
Important
- Must follow Amazon’s dropshipping rules
- Lower profit margins
👉 Good for testing products before scaling.
5. Amazon Affiliate Marketing
What It Is
Promote products and earn commission per sale.
How It Works
- Join Amazon Associates
- Share affiliate links
- Earn when people buy
- Amazon.com Associates Central
Where to Promote
- Blogs
- YouTube
- TikTok
- Social media
👉 Perfect if you already create content.
6. Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP)
What It Is
Self-publish books on Amazon.
What You Can Sell
- Journals
- Low-content books
- eBooks
- Guides
Why It Works
- Passive income potential
- No inventory needed
- Global audience
- Self Publishing | Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing
👉 A great long-term passive income stream.
7. Amazon Merch (Print-on-Demand)
What It Is
Sell custom designs on products like:
- T-shirts
- Hoodies
- Phone cases
Amazon prints and ships for you.
Why It Works
- No upfront inventory
- Passive income potential
- Scales with good designs
- Create your own merch with Amazon
8. Handmade Products (Amazon Handmade)
What It Is
Sell handmade goods through Amazon’s artisan platform.
Examples
- Jewelry
- Crafts
- Custom gifts
👉 Great for creators and artists.
9. Amazon Influencer Storefront
What It Is
Create a storefront with recommended products.
How It Works
- Build a following
- Share your Amazon picks
- Earn commission
👉 Works well on:
- TikTok
- YouTube
10. Sell Wholesale on Amazon
What It Is
Buy products in bulk from brands and resell them.
Benefits
- Lower risk than private label
- Established demand
- Easier scaling
11. Amazon Flex (Delivery Driving)
What It Is
Deliver packages as a gig worker.
How It Works
- Pick up packages
- Deliver to customers
- Get paid per block
- Amazon Flex – Use Your Own Vehicle to Deliver Packages
👉 Similar to delivery apps but Amazon-focused.
Read More: Driving & Delivery Side Hustles: What to Know Before Starting
12. Create a Private Label Brand
What It Is
Create your own branded product and sell it on Amazon.
Steps
- Find a product
- Customize it
- Add branding
- Market it
👉 This is where the big money potential is.
13. Amazon Trade-In & Flipping
What It Is
Buy used items cheap and resell them.
Examples
- Books
- Electronics
- Games
14. Build an Amazon-Focused Blog or Website
What It Is
Create content around products and earn through affiliate links.
Example Content
- Product reviews
- “Best of” lists
- Buying guides
👉 This works well for SEO (like your Wakewall strategy).
Read More: How to Build a Niche Site Around Amazon Products
Trends in Making Money with Amazon
🔥 What’s Growing Right Now
- Private label brands
- Short-form content + affiliate links
- Low-content KDP publishing
- AI-assisted product research
- Niche-specific stores
Pros and Cons of Amazon Side Hustles
✅ Pros
- Massive customer base
- Built-in trust
- Multiple income streams
- Scalable opportunities
❌ Cons
- Competition is high
- Fees can reduce profit
- Policy restrictions
- Requires research and consistency
Tips to Succeed on Amazon
- Focus on one method first
- Research before buying inventory
- Track profits and expenses
- Learn SEO for product listings
- Stay consistent
How Wakewall Can Help You Stay Organized
If you’re building an Amazon side hustle, organization is key.
With Wakewall, you can:
- Track product ideas and trends
- Set sourcing reminders
- Manage inventory notes
- Plan content for affiliate marketing
- Organize your income strategies
👉 You can turn scattered ideas into a structured business plan.
Final Thoughts
There are countless ways to make money with Amazon—but the best strategy is to start simple and scale.
👉 Pick one method:
- Reselling (fast start)
- FBA (scalable)
- Affiliate (content-based)
Then grow from there. With consistency, Amazon can go from a side hustle to a full-time income stream.
