Amazon Side Hustle: One of the Best Ways to Make Money Online?

The idea of making money online can often feel like a myth, but Amazon makes it so easy even Bigfoot can start an e-commerce side hustle.

More than half of the households in America have an Amazon Prime account.

‍Let that sink in.

Amazon is the largest online marketplace in the world, making it an excellent platform for entrepreneurs and side hustlers alike. In fact, many people have turned to Amazon as a way to supplement their income or even replace their full-time jobs without working full-time hours. This article walks you through the different ways to sell on Amazon and reveals the best Amazon side hustle that guarantees the best profit margins.

Note: Don't want to waste your energy on side hustles that aren’t worth your time? Dive straight into our free webinar and see why publishing is the smartest way to make extra money on Amazon. We'll even show you how to do it step-by-step.

Why Amazon is A Good Side Hustle? 

If you're looking for a side hustle, you're likely limited on time, funds, or both. You might not be tearing your hair out (yet), but you know something has to change...and the sooner, the better. Amazon offers everyday regular people a way to get their side hustle up and running with little to no time or money down, making it one of the most accessible platforms out there.

Here are some reasons you might consider becoming an Amazon seller:

Large Customer Base

Amazon has a massive customer base, with over 300 million active users worldwide, AKA there is a huge potential market for your products or services, whether you're selling your own products and physical goods or promoting someone else's goods through Amazon's affiliate marketing program. With such a large audience, you can easily find customers who are interested in what you have to offer.

The best part? These potential customers don't even have to live in the same country as you to purchase your products.

Easy to Get Started

Starting an Amazon side hustle is simple. You can sign up for an Amazon seller account in just a few minutes and start listing your products or services right away. The same goes for setting up your online store with high-quality images of your products. The platform also offers Amazon sellers a variety of tools and resources to help you get started, including tutorials, webinars, and an Amazon seller app that lets you manage your business on the go.

Amazon customer service can be a bit of a grab bag, but it's comforting knowing that it's an option. Depending on your support needs, you can reach out to customer service through email, instant messaging, or over the phone.

Flexible Hours

One of the biggest advantages of an Amazon side hustle is the flexibility it offers. Whether you're working a full-time job or just looking for a part-time gig, you can set your own hours and work around your schedule.

This makes it a great option for anyone who needs to earn extra cash but has limited spare time (like busy parents, working adults, and grad students).

Lucrative Potential

Finally, Amazon can be a very lucrative platform if you're willing to put in the time and effort. Many successful Amazon sellers earn six-figure incomes or more (well above the average full-time income in the US), and there are plenty of opportunities to make good money selling on Amazon without physical products as well as private labeling through Amazon FBA. The success of an Amazon business depends on what you put into it. The more time and effort you put in consistently, the more money you can make.

Note: Get the blueprint to make more money on Amazon by joining our free webinar and see how thousands of people have taken control of their income and schedules. $50M has been generated by students who’ve leveraged our proven process. 

Types of Amazon Side Hustles

There are tons of ways to make money on Amazon, some of which don't require any sort of upfront investment at all. Who knows? Your next great idea might just be on this list:

Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA)

Fulfillment by Amazon is a program that allows you to sell products on Amazon without worrying about inventory, your shipping costs, or customer service. The platform makes selling online easy. You simply send your products to an Amazon warehouse, and their fulfillment centers take care of the rest. When a customer orders your product, Amazon ships it out and handles any returns or customer service issues.

Keep in mind that Amazon charges fees for this service, so be sure to factor that into your pricing strategy, and it does require a hefty upfront cost to invest in inventory.

Amazon Associates Program

The Amazon Associates program is an affiliate marketing program that allows you to earn a commission by promoting Amazon products on your website or social media channels. You can earn a commission on any products that someone buys through your unique affiliate link. The commission rate varies depending on the product category, but it can be a great way to earn income on the side.

Be warned: affiliate marketing isn't truly passive, as it requires regular upkeep.

Amazon Handmade

Think of Amazon Handmade as the artisan alley of the vast Amazon bazaar. It's a curated space where talented crafters can showcase their unique, handcrafted treasures to the world. If you've got a crafty skill and have toyed with the idea of monetizing it, Amazon Handmade might just be your platform.

Of course, handmade products also require a lot of time, energy, and money for supplies, so this isn't feasible for a lot of folks.

Amazon Flex

Amazon Flex allows individuals to become independent contractors known as "Flex Drivers", using their vehicles to deliver packages, groceries, and restaurant orders for Amazon. By downloading the Amazon Flex app, undergoing a background check, and then selecting delivery time slots that fit their schedule, drivers can earn between $18-$25 an hour, with added tips for certain deliveries like Amazon Fresh and Prime Now.

Keep in mind that although the flexible schedule and competitive pay can be great perks, it's also worth noting that frequent driving can result in wear and tear as well as mileage on the driver's vehicle.

Merch by Amazon

Merch by Amazon is a print-on-demand service that allows you to design and sell your own t-shirts on Amazon. You create the designs, and Amazon handles the printing, shipping, and customer service. You earn a royalty on each sale, and there are no upfront costs to get started.

Now, onto the downside. How many shirts have you seen scrolling through your Facebook feed? This side hustle is extremely competitive and might not pay the bills when push comes to shove.

Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP)

Self-publishing a book on Amazon has its pros and cons but the program is extremely straightforward. You can upload your formatted manuscript to KDP, and Amazon will handle all the printing and shipping. You earn royalties on each sale, and KDP is a great way to reach a wide audience. Authors have the opportunity to sell their books in a variety of formats, including eBooks, paperbacks, hardcovers, and even audio formats, to maximize their income. Starting an Amazon business online is easy with KDP but you still need to invest time and resources. Depending on how serious you are about this side hustle, you can build your own brand as an author (even under a pen name) and build your own publishing empire.

Knowing which topics to publish books about and conducting product research can require an upfront investment of your time, but it's half the time that most of the other side hustles on this list would require. Here's a breakdown of how long it takes to make money with KDP.

If you want to figure out how to publish a book on Amazon for extra money on the side, take a look at our Kindle self-publishing course. Our industry experts will reveal a proven system to generate extra passive income every month like clockwork.

Amazon Influencer Program

The Amazon Influencer program is a way for social media influencers to earn a commission by promoting Amazon products to their followers. You can create a unique storefront with your favorite Amazon products and earn a commission on any sales that come through your storefront. The commission rate varies depending on the product category, but it can be a great way to monetize your social media following.

If you're not passionate about social media and content creation, or if you don't want to put your face and name out there, this side hustle probably isn't for you.

Retail and Online Arbitrage & Wholesale Selling

Retail and online arbitrage involves buying products at a low price and reselling them on Amazon for a profit. With retail arbitrage, you buy products at a physical store and resell them on Amazon. With online arbitrage, you buy products from online retailers and resell them on Amazon. Wholesale selling is similar but typically involves buying a larger number of items upfront for a lower cost.

Keep in mind that this can be a competitive market, and you'll need to do your research to find profitable products. Another downside is the massive upfront costs. Many people who try this side hustle don't even break even before moving on to the next idea.

The Verdict

Selling products online sounds deceptively simple, and it can be.

You can absolutely make money with any of these Amazon programs, but only ONE of these side hustles can almost guarantee a decent profit without requiring any inventory management or any exorbitant initial investment of time and money. 

Any guesses?

Why Publishing is the Smartest Way to Make Money on Amazon

If you're looking for a side hustle that can potentially generate passive income, then publishing on Amazon is one of the smartest ways to do it. With Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing platform, anyone can publish an eBook or paperback and sell it worldwide on Amazon.

Here are a few reasons why publishing is a smart way to make money on Amazon without all the headaches:

Low Startup Costs

One of the biggest advantages of publishing on Amazon is the low startup costs. You don't need to invest a lot of money to get started. All you need is a manuscript, a cover design, and a few basic skills to format your book for Kindle or paperback. You can even create your own cover design using free tools like Canva, keeping your business expenses low and allowing you to start selling ASAP. For fresh entrepreneurs looking to save money and venture into new territory with very little risk, it's a no-brainer.

Passive Income

Once your book is published, you can potentially earn passive income from Amazon for years to come through royalties. Unlike other side hustles that require you to work to earn money constantly, publishing allows you to earn money while you sleep. As long as your book is live and the reviews are decent, you'll continue getting a direct deposit straight to your bank account each month.

Global Reach

With Amazon's global reach, your book can potentially reach millions of readers worldwide. You don't need to worry about marketing or distribution because Amazon takes care of that for you. All you need to do is focus on creating a quality book that readers will love.

Flexibility

Publishing on Amazon also offers flexibility. You can publish your book on your own schedule and set your own price. You can also choose to publish in multiple formats, such as eBook, paperback, and audiobook, to reach a wider audience.

Control

Even though Amazon houses your books, Amazon isn't your boss. You are. This side hustle gives you complete ownership and authority over your own brand name (most of our students use a pen name) and your own branding strategy (we can show you how to exponentially increase your visibility with Amazon ads). You also retain complete ownership over your written work and copyright.

Maximizing Profit from Publishing on Amazon

If you're interested in publishing your own books, Amazon provides an excellent platform for self-publishing. With the Kindle Direct Publishing program, you can publish your own eBooks, paperbacks, and hardcovers and earn up to 70% royalty on sales. 

Here are a few tips for making money from publishing on Amazon:

1. Choose the Right Niche

Choosing the right niche is key to maximizing your profits. You want to choose a niche that has high demand and low competition. Research what is currently selling well on Amazon and look for gaps in the market that you can fill. You can also use Amazon's "Best Sellers Rank" to see what is currently popular in different product categories too.

2. Optimize Your Book Listing

Your book listing page is the first thing potential readers will see, so it's important to make it as attractive and informative as possible. Use a catchy title and subtitle and include a cover image that stands out. Write a compelling book description that highlights the benefits of your book and use keywords that will help your book show up in search results.

3. Price Your Book Competitively

Pricing your book competitively is important to maximize your sales and profits. Research what other books in your niche are selling for and price your book accordingly. You can also experiment with different price points to see what works best for your book.

4. Promote Your Book

Promoting your book is essential to increasing your Amazon book sales and profits. Social media marketing will be your best friend to reach potential readers. You can also use Amazon's advertising platform to promote your book to targeted audiences. Additionally, consider offering your book for free or at a discounted price for a limited time to encourage readers to download and review your book.

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Ready to Earn Extra Money Each Month on Your Terms?

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You don't have to be a writer, a tech expert, or a business genius to join. All you need is a computer and the motivation to take the very first step. Want to hear directly from our students? No problem. Check out our Student Success Hub and see how publishing has completely changed their lives.