How to Get Started with Merch by Amazon?

Merch by Amazon is not as widely discussed as other online business models, but it offers strong earning potential for those who use it strategically.

If you remain consistent and patient, Merch by Amazon can become a reliable passive income stream. However, it is not designed for quick profits. With the introduction of sponsored advertising options, the platform is expected to expand even further. If you haven’t explored it yet, now may be the perfect time to take advantage of this opportunity.

What is Merch by Amazon?

For those unfamiliar with it, Merch by Amazon is Amazon’s print-on-demand platform that allows you to sell custom-designed merchandise. You simply upload your unique design, select the product you want to sell, and decide on your pricing.

When a customer purchases a product featuring your design, Amazon pays you a royalty from the sale price.

How Does Merch by Amazon Work?

The process of getting started is straightforward:

Create your original artwork or design.
Upload the design to the platform and choose which products you want it printed on.
Set your pricing and publish the listing.
Amazon prints, packages, and ships the product once an order is placed.
You receive royalties after the completed sale.

Amazon handles the operational side of the business, allowing you to focus purely on design and marketing.

Who Should Use Merch by Amazon?

One of the biggest benefits of Merch by Amazon is the relatively low entry barrier. There are no upfront costs, making it appealing for creative individuals.

Artists, graphic designers, and anyone with fresh and original ideas can use this platform to monetize their creativity.

The main limitation is that the platform operates on an invite-only basis. However, if you produce high-quality designs and build an engaging social media presence, you can drive traffic to your listings once approved.

Another significant advantage is that Amazon manages production, fulfillment, customer service, and returns. This removes inventory risks and eliminates concerns about stock shortages or quality control.

You also control your product pricing, which directly impacts your royalty earnings.

How to Join Merch by Amazon

To apply, visit merch.amazon.com and click on the “Request Invitation” option. You’ll need to complete an application form and wait for approval.

The approval process may take several weeks, and in some cases, even months. Once accepted, you’ll complete basic account setup steps to begin listing your products.

How Are Royalties Paid?

Each time a customer purchases your product, you receive a portion of the sale as royalties.

Keep in mind that since you are only contributing the design, your earnings differ from traditional e-commerce models where you manage sourcing and operations.

Royalty amounts depend largely on the price you set and Amazon’s associated costs, which include production, materials, shipping, packaging, handling returns, and customer service.

In the United States, taxes are added during checkout, while in European markets and Japan, prices are displayed inclusive of applicable taxes on the product listing page.

Creating a Product on Merch by Amazon

After logging into your dashboard, click on the “Add Products” button. This section allows you to select the type of merchandise you want to apply your design to.

The platform offers various apparel options and accessories. If you are unfamiliar with proper sizing or formatting, Amazon provides downloadable templates categorized by print dimensions to help you design accurately.

Merch by Amazon Guidelines

All designs must comply with Amazon’s content policies. Violating these guidelines can lead to account suspension or rejection.

Your submissions must:

Avoid copyright and trademark infringement.
Not include blank or placeholder images.
Provide accurate product descriptions.
Avoid requesting or soliciting reviews.
Exclude objectionable material such as hate speech, profanity, violent themes, adult content, exploitation, or discriminatory messaging.
Avoid mental health references where restricted (for UK sellers).

Additionally, your designs must:

Be high-quality and clear.
Not contain personal contact information.
Match product metadata correctly.
Avoid misspellings.
Not reference shipping speed, product quality guarantees, or fulfillment processes.
Avoid political campaign messaging.
Not promote charitable donations within the design.

Strict adherence to these guidelines is essential for long-term success on the platform.

Amazon Merch Tiers and Limitations

Merch by Amazon limits the number of designs you can upload based on your account tier.

New sellers begin with a tier of 10 design submissions.

As your designs generate sales and maintain quality standards, Amazon upgrades your tier level. Typical progression includes:

10
25
100
500
Pro Tier

To move from Tier 10 to Tier 25, you generally need at least 10 confirmed sales.

Your tier determines how many active listings you can have at any given time.

Tips to Succeed with Merch by Amazon

1. Follow Market Trends

Staying updated with current trends is critical. Monitor popular topics and viral content across social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and TikTok.

Using Google Trends can also help identify regional demand shifts.

Always ensure your designs do not infringe on protected trademarks or copyrighted content.

2. Replace Slow-Selling Designs

Since new accounts are limited in upload capacity, each listing matters.

Allow your design two to three weeks to gain traction. If it does not perform, consider replacing it with a more relevant or trending concept.

Optimize your limited slots strategically until you unlock higher tiers.

3. Choose a Profitable Niche

Identifying a niche and narrowing it down further into a sub-niche can significantly improve your success rate.

Instead of targeting broad categories, focus on a specific audience segment. This helps reduce competition and creates stronger brand identity.

4. Build an Audience

Developing a brand presence improves both traffic and repeat purchases.

Use social media, blogs, email newsletters, or content marketing strategies to attract your target audience. Engaged communities result in lower customer acquisition costs and higher loyalty over time.

5. Invest in Advertising

Paid advertising can accelerate your growth.

You can promote your designs through platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Google, TikTok, or Amazon’s internal advertising solutions.

Merch by Amazon also provides promotional tools that allow you to create shareable posts for social media platforms. Some sellers may request access to Amazon advertising programs directly through the Merch portal.

Approvals are extended gradually, and eligible users are notified via email.

Final Thoughts

Merch by Amazon offers an accessible way to generate passive income without managing inventory, logistics, or customer service.

Although success requires patience and creative consistency, the low overhead and scalability make it an attractive business model for designers and entrepreneurs alike.

By selecting the right niche, tracking trends, optimizing listings, and building an external audience, you can steadily grow your royalties and scale through the tier system over time.