Let’s be real—most of us spend way too much money on Amazon. One click and suddenly your cart is full of things you probably don’t need (but definitely want). But what if, instead of just spending your hard-earned cash, you could actually make money on Amazon? Well, guess what? You can! And no, you don’t need to have any selling skills or have a warehouse full of inventory to do it. Amazon offers several ways for regular people—yes, like you—to earn money, many of which require little to no upfront investment. Whether you’re looking for a side hustle, passive income, or even a full-time gig, there’s an opportunity for you. In this post, we’re breaking down 7 legit ways to start making money on Amazon today—without any complicated business strategies or huge startup costs. Let’s get into it!
Self-Publishing Low Content Books (Amazon KDP)
You don’t need to be the next bestselling author to make money selling books on Amazon. With Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), you can create and sell low-content books—things like journals, notebooks, planners, and coloring books.
How to Get Started:
✅ Use free tools like Canva to design your book interior and cover.
✅ Upload your book to Amazon KDP—no printing or shipping required (Amazon handles that!).
✅ Price your book and earn royalties on every sale without worrying about inventory.
💡 Pro Tip: Research trending low-content book ideas using Amazon’s bestsellers list and tools like Publisher Rocket.
Sell T-shirts & More with Amazon Merch
If you’ve got a creative side, you can upload your own T-shirt designs and earn royalties every time someone buys them—without handling production or shipping. Even if you’re not super creative, you can purchase designs and upload them to coffee mugs, tote bags, and more.
How to Get Started:
✅ Apply for an account on Merch by Amazon.
✅ Upload your designs and choose products (T-shirts, hoodies, phone cases, etc.).
✅ Set your price, and Amazon prints, ships, and delivers the product for you.
💡 Pro Tip: Use design tools like Canva or Photoshop to create simple, trendy designs people will love.
Make Passive Income with Amazon Affiliates
Ever recommended a product to a friend? With Amazon Associates, you can get paid for those recommendations! I bet you’re following a ton of influencers who are constantly linking to their favorite items on Amazon! Guess what? They’re getting a percentage anytime their followers make a purchase.
How to Get Started:
✅ Sign up for the Amazon Associates program.
✅ Get a unique affiliate link for any product on Amazon.
✅ Share your links on social media, a blog, or YouTube and earn a commission when someone buys.
💡 Pro Tip: Create list-style blog posts (like “Best Gifts for Coffee Lovers”) with affiliate links to increase your earnings.
Sell Handmade Goods on Amazon Homemade
If you create handcrafted items like jewelry, home decor, or accessories, Amazon Handmade is a great way to get your products in front of a massive audience.
How to Get Started:
✅ Apply for an account on Amazon Handmade (it’s an invite-only platform).
✅ Create listings for your handmade products.
✅ Ship your items once you get orders.
💡 Pro Tip: Amazon Handmade has lower fees than Etsy, making it a great alternative for makers and crafters.
Make Money Doing Small Tasks on Amazon MTurk
Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) lets you earn money by completing small online tasks, like data entry, surveys, and transcription jobs.
How to Get Started:
✅ Sign up for Amazon Mechanical Turk and create an account.
✅ Choose from thousands of available microtasks.
✅ Get paid per task—some take just minutes to complete!
💡 Pro Tip: The more tasks you complete with accuracy, the more higher-paying jobs you’ll unlock.
Narrate Audiobooks with ACX
Has anyone ever told you that you have a great voice? You can make money by narrating audiobooks for authors using Amazon ACX (Audiobook Creation Exchange).
How to Get Started:
✅ Sign up on ACX.com and create a narrator profile.
✅ Audition for books that match your voice style.
✅ Get paid per finished hour OR earn royalties on audiobook sales.
💡 Pro Tip: Invest in a decent microphone to improve your sound quality and increase your chances of landing gigs.
Deliver Packages with Amazon Flex
If you’ve got a car and some free time, Amazon Flex lets you earn money by delivering Amazon packages in your own vehicle. It’s basically like driving for Uber, but for packages instead of shuffling people around.
How to Get Started:
✅ Apply to become a driver on Amazon Flex.
✅ Choose your delivery time blocks.
✅ Earn $18-$25 per hour delivering packages in your area.
💡 Pro Tip: Use Google Maps and Waze to optimize your routes and complete deliveries faster.
Final Thoughts
Amazon isn’t just a place to spend money—it’s a platform full of opportunities to make money as well. Whether you want passive income, a side hustle, or a full-time gig, these methods give you options to start earning. The best part? Most of them require little to no upfront investment—just time, creativity, and consistency. So why not turn Amazon into your money-making machine instead of just your shopping addiction?