12 Ways to Make Money on Amazon Without Selling Anything

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Turn Amazon into a side hustle with this guide

Co-authored by Imran Alavi and Raven Minyard, BA

Last Updated: May 30, 2025 Fact Checked

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Making Money Without Selling

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Can you make $1,000/month?

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What is an Amazon side hustle?

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Selling on Amazon

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Avoiding Seller Fees

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FAQs

If you’re looking for a side hustle, Amazon is a great place to start. And don’t worry—you don’t have to sell physical products to make money. In this article, we’ll teach you all the best ways to make money with and without selling on Amazon. Plus, learn how you can make $1,000 a month, how to avoid Amazon seller fees, and more.

How can I make money on Amazon?

Make money on Amazon without selling by earning commission through the affiliate or influencer programs. Upload designs to get paid for print-on-demand products, or publish your books through Kindle Direct Publishing. You can even work with a dropshipper to sell items without having to handle inventory.

Section 1 of 6:

Ways to Make Money on Amazon Without Selling

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Join Amazon’s affiliate program. One of the easiest ways to make money on Amazon without selling anything is through affiliate marketing. Joining Amazon’s affiliate program, Amazon Associates, allows you to monetize traffic through social media, blogs, and other channels. Recommending products for sale in the Amazon store allows you to earn up to 10% in associate commissions from qualifying purchases.^{[1]
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- Bloggers, publishers, and content creators with a qualifying website or app can participate in the program.
- Marketing specialist Imran Alavi provides an example of affiliate marketing: “Take an example of an author who wants to sell their book. There’s Amazon, there’s Google Books, but there are also other blog writers or [freelancers] who will post that link on their website. Because they already have a reputation, people can go to their website and buy that book from that link. So [the affiliate marketer] will get a small commission for selling that book as an affiliate.”^{[2]
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Join the Amazon influencer program. If you already have a strong following on social media, the Amazon influencer program may be better for you. This program allows you to earn money by creating content, recommending Amazon products, and earning commission on qualifying purchases. The program accepts influencers from all types of influencers, as long as you have a YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok account.^{[3]
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- To boost your social media presence, Alavi says, “The main point is consistency. You want to be able to post content on a consistent basis, and you also want to make sure you are marketing on the right platforms. Let’s say you’re trying to sell shoes; you may want to have more focus on things like Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.”^{[4]
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Publish books with Kindle Direct Publishing. Believe it or not, Amazon started out as a book-selling platform, and it still has a program dedicated to authors. If you write books, publish the text with Amazon’s publishing service, Kindle Direct Publishing (or KDP), to earn up to 70% royalties on books you sell. KDP supports ebooks and physical books, so it’s an excellent way to generate passive income.^{[5]
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- Keep in mind you’ll probably have to do some self-promotion to make people aware of your book. However, when you first upload one, Amazon offers a free five-day promotion of your book to boost visibility.
- Another option is to ghostwrite books. While payment terms vary depending on the contract, usually royalties are split 50/50 between the ghostwriter and the credited author.
This option allows you to make money off your creations without actually having to sell physical products. If you design merchandise like T-shirts or hoodies, joining the Merch on Demand program allows you to upload those designs to be printed on demand, meaning the products are only printed after someone buys them. Amazon will handle all the inventory, printing, and shipping for you.^{[6]
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If you’re interested in narrating audiobooks, consider joining Amazon’s ACX platform. This program allows authors or published content rights holders to find voice talent to narrate their books. Typically, audiobook narrators will receive a flat project fee and/or shared royalties on each copy sold.^{[7]
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Become an Amazon virtual assistant. Many Amazon sellers need help with administrative tasks like customer service, listing enhancements, inventory updates, data entry, and more. Becoming a virtual assistant allows you to make an income without having to do the selling yourself. Pay can vary greatly (anywhere between $15-$50+ per hour) based on your experience level with Amazon and e-commerce.^{[8]
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- Reach out to virtual assistant agencies to find businesses seeking virtual assistant services.
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Try Amazon Home Services if you’re a business owner. Amazon Home Services is a platform that connects established home repair, maintenance, and cleaning services with customer projects. Local business owners can list their professional skills (such as mowing, power washing, interior painting, etc.) so customers can find their contact information and qualifications when they search for services in their area.^{[9]
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- Keep in mind that Amazon bills per lead sent or charges commission on total jobs completed.
Each year, thousands of Amazon seller accounts get suspended for violations like counterfeit products, fake reviews, and policy breaches. In some cases, sellers may be desperate to get their accounts back and require help from people who thoroughly understand Amazon’s policies. They may hire you to file appeals to get reinstated, and you can earn anywhere from $200 to $2,000+ in fees, given the revenue recovery value.^{[10]
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If you have copywriting skills, writing listings for Amazon sellers is a great way to earn some extra cash. Sellers often struggle to write effective descriptions and require someone to describe the features, benefits, and uses to prospective buyers. Many freelancers earn between $30 and $75 per listing.^{[11]
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Amazon Mechanical Turk (or Mturk) is an online marketplace where you can get paid for tasks like data entry and research. The platform allows companies to save money on outsourcing and provides a side hustle for those looking to earn extra money.^{[12]
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This is similar to affiliate marketing. If you have a blog or website, use Amazon native shopping ads to recommend the best-matched products based on your blog’s content and your visitors. Alternatively, drive recommendations based on a search phrase determined by you or your visitor, or specify which Amazon products you want to promote.^{[13]
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If you don’t want to do anything on Amazon’s site, another way to earn money through Amazon is to invest in their stock. When you invest in stock, you essentially buy a piece of ownership in the company, which means you share in its profits and potential for growth. If the company performs well and the stock price increases, your investment can grow in value.^{[14]
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Section 2 of 6:

Can you make $1,000 a month on Amazon?

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Yes, you can make $1,000 per month on Amazon. In fact, some people earn upwards of $10,000 a month on Amazon. However, this isn’t the case for everyone. How much you earn depends on what you do and how often you do it. The more products or services you list, and the more you promote them, the more likely you are to make money. Building a following takes time and patience, so don’t expect to get rich overnight.
- In general, it’s easier to make money on Amazon if you sell something than if you only promote products. If you don’t want to deal with shipping products yourself, consider dropshipping as a way to earn extra cash.

Section 3 of 6:

What is an Amazon side hustle?

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Many people do this by selling their own products or dropshipping. However, if you have a large social media following, it may be possible to join the Amazon affiliate or influencer program as your side hustle.^{[15]
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EXPERT TIP

Imran Alavi
Marketing Expert
Imran Alavi is a Marketing & App Development Expert and the CEO of Proleadsoft, a Digital Marketing and App Development firm based in San Francisco, CA. With over 10 years of experience, he specializes in Web Design, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Search Engine Marketing (Google, Facebook, LinkedIn AdWords), App Development, and Software strategies for businesses. Imran holds a BS in Computer Science from the National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences, an MS in Computer Science from San Francisco State University, and has completed Stanford University Continuing Studies courses in Business, Marketing, and Communication.

Imran Alavi
Marketing Expert

Consistency is key for success in affiliate marketing or influencing. Have an understanding of what you’re selling, and post three to five times a week. I recommend Hootsuite, which is a tool that can schedule posts in advance.

Section 4 of 6:

How to Make Money by Selling Products on Amazon

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Specialize in one product or choose a niche. Figure out what you want to sell. Some sellers prefer to drive sales for a single product, while others offer a variety of product types. Starting with one product or a few offerings in the same niche can help you focus your efforts and gain loyal customers.^{[16]
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- When considering your strategy, ask yourself questions like how much volume you expect to move, whether there’s an audience for what you want to sell, what the competition is like, and if you’ll be able to turn a profit after covering your expenses.
If you repair or refurbish a lot of items, consider selling them through Amazon Renewed. Amazon Renewed allows you to sell pre-owned and refurbished items like phones, video game consoles, computers, power tools, and more. It also allows you to perform testing, get certifications, and ship products backed by the Amazon Renewed Guarantee, which can help you earn the trust of your customers.^{[17]
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If you’re crafty, consider joining the Amazon Handmade community to sell your unique, homemade goods. Products that are hand-designed, hand-altered, handcrafted, repurposed, or upcycled can all be sold through Amazon Handmade. Plus, the program allows you to waive the fee for the professional selling program.^{[18]
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Many Amazon customers are looking for products they can customize with their own text, logos, and images. The Amazon Custom program allows you to sell products that can be engraved, embroidered, printed, or painted according to the customer’s customizations.^{[19]
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Reselling is an ecommerce method where you purchase items from various sources then sell them directly to customers to earn a profit. While some forms of reselling are not permitted on Amazon, focus on selling high-quality items and maintaining high customer satisfaction rates to earn some extra money.^{[20]
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Team up with a dropshipper. If you don’t want to handle inventory or shipping yourself, consider working with a dropshipper to sell products on Amazon. Working with a reliable dropshipper allows you to outsource storage, packaging, shipping, returns, and customer service.^{[21]
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- Similarly, Amazon FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) allows you to order products remotely and have them delivered directly to FBA centers. When an order is placed, Amazon employees will handle all aspects of packing and shipping.
Wholesale supply allows you to buy large quantities of a product at a discount and turn a profit by selling to customers at a markup.^{[22]
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Once you’ve started selling on Amazon, consider using Amazon Live to boost engagement and get more customers. Amazon Live is a live-streaming service that allows you to live stream events, announce product launches, and connect with your audience in real-time. It gives customers a chance to ask questions, receive personalized product recommendations, and have authentic interactions with brands and businesses they love.^{[23]
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Section 5 of 6:

How to Avoid Seller Fees on Amazon

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Avoid the Amazon professional seller fee by using the individual seller plan. When you join the professional seller plan on Amazon, you will be charged a $39.99 fee each month, regardless of how many sales you make. If you’re a low-volume seller, opt for the individual seller plan instead. This plan does not have a monthly fee, but you will be charged $0.99 for each item sold. This is suitable for sellers who plan to sell less than 40 items per month.^{[24]
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- If you sell far more than 40 items per month, the professional seller plan will be more affordable.

Section 6 of 6:

Making Money on Amazon FAQs

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While you don’t get paid to write Amazon reviews, if you consistently leave high-quality, honest reviews in the Amazon store, you may get invited to join Amazon Vine. This program allows you to receive free products in exchange for honest reviews and helpful insights.^{[25]
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Selling on Amazon is a great way to supplement your income or open a new revenue stream for yourself. If you’re creative and enjoy crafting, consider selling homemade products. If you’re a writer, sell ebooks through KDP. Or, work with a dropshipper if you don’t want to worry about inventory and shipping.
There are several ways to make money on Amazon with little-to-no upfront investment. Consider working with a dropshipper or a print-on-demand supplier. Another option is to sell products like ebooks. Use the ideas in this article to find the best option for you.
Yes, it is possible to make money on Amazon. More than 60% of the sales in the Amazon store come from independent sellers, including small and midsize businesses. In 2023, US-based sellers made an average of more than $250,000 in annual sales.^{[26]
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Research source} The amount you earn depends on what you offer and how much you promote your products or services.