Top 11 Ways to Make Money on Amazon + 9 Growth Tips
Whether you’re aiming to supplement your income or build a thriving full-time ecommerce brand, Amazon offers numerous opportunities to make money. This guide walks through different ways you can earn—from selling products to leveraging other Amazon programs—plus strategies to help you grow your business.
Some of these methods don’t require you to sell physical products at all. Others demand minimal investment to get started. With the right approach, you can move steadily toward your income goals to make money on amazon.
Explore How to Earn Through Amazon with These Tips and Growth Tactics
1. Focus on One Product or Niche Market
Some sellers begin by focusing on a single product, while others branch into various categories. Concentrating on a specific item or niche allows you to sharpen your marketing, understand your audience better, and lay the foundation for growth.
Consider factors like:
- Inventory requirements: How much product do you need to stock?
- Market demand: Who’s buying? How fierce is the competition?
- Profit margins: Will your pricing strategy support sustainable profits?
Need inspiration? Check out business models with low startup costs and remote working flexibility.
2. Sell Refurbished or Pre-Owned Items
Aside from new products, Amazon allows you to sell refurbished or pre-owned items through the Amazon Renewed program. This lets you offer certified, tested items—like smartphones, electronics, or tools—while giving customers peace of mind through the Amazon Renewed Guarantee.
3. Offer Customizable Products
Personalized products are in high demand. Through Amazon Custom, you can allow customers to add their own names, logos, or images to items. Whether it’s engraving, embroidery, or printed designs, customization creates unique value and boosts appeal.
4. Sell Handcrafted Goods
If you excel at crafting, Amazon Handmade gives artisans a platform to sell their creations. Whether it’s woodwork, sewing, or pottery, you can tap into a global customer base. Sellers in this program also benefit from waived Professional selling fees and other creator-friendly perks.
5. Design and Sell Merch
Have a clever T-shirt idea? Amazon’s Merch on Demand allows you to design apparel and accessories that are printed only when someone places an order. There’s no need for inventory management—Amazon handles the printing, shipping, and fulfillment, and Prime shipping is available too.
6. Try the Reselling Model
Reselling involves purchasing products—either online or in retail stores—and reselling them on Amazon at a profit. Known as retail arbitrage or online arbitrage, this method can be profitable if done carefully. Keep in mind Amazon has strict policies around reselling, so be sure to comply to maintain account health and positive customer feedback.
7. Buy Wholesale and Sell at Retail Prices
Buying in bulk through wholesalers allows you to purchase products at a lower cost, which you can then sell on Amazon at a markup. If you’re aiming for high-volume sales and reliable supply, this model can be ideal. Partner with reputable wholesalers or manufacturers to scale efficiently.
8. Work with a Dropshipping Partner
If managing inventory and shipping isn’t your thing, dropshipping might be your solution. With this model, your supplier ships products directly to customers. You just manage the listings and customer service. Dropshipping can also include print-on-demand services, making it a flexible option for new sellers.
9. Monetize with Amazon’s Affiliate Program
Not interested in selling physical products? Join Amazon Associates, the company’s affiliate marketing program. By promoting Amazon products through blogs, social media, or YouTube, you can earn up to 10% commission on sales made via your unique links to make money on amazon.
10. Become an Amazon Influencer
If you’re active on social media or building an online presence, you can monetize your content by joining the Amazon Influencer Program. Share product recommendations through custom storefronts and earn commissions on sales made through your content.
11. Host Livestreams with Amazon Live
Amazon Live allows you to connect with audiences in real time through product demos, Q&As, and live promotions. It’s a great way to engage with viewers, showcase your products, and build trust through direct interaction.
9 Proven Strategies to Scale on Amazon
1. Enroll in Amazon Brand Registry
Creating and protecting your own brand can help you stand out and build customer loyalty. Amazon’s Brand Registry supports brand protection and provides access to tools like A+ Content, Sponsored Brands, and advanced analytics for deeper insights.
2. Invest in Digital Advertising
Use tools like Sponsored Products, Sponsored Brands, and coupons to get your listings in front of more people. These cost-per-click ads can help you drive traffic and increase conversions by targeting the right audiences.
3. Use A/B Testing Tools
With Amazon’s Manage Your Experiments, you can test different product titles, images, and descriptions to see which performs best. This helps you optimize listings based on actual data rather than guesswork.
4. Improve Listings with SEO
Refining your product titles, descriptions, bullet points, and keywords is essential for visibility. Implementing search engine optimization (SEO) helps your listings appear in relevant Amazon searches, increasing your chances of sales.
5. Leverage Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA)
With FBA, Amazon handles storage, packing, shipping, customer service, and returns. It also makes your listings eligible for Prime, which can significantly boost your visibility and credibility with customers.
6. Offer Product Bundles
Create virtual bundles by grouping complementary products together. This encourages larger purchases and showcases more of your catalog to buyers—all without needing to physically package the items together.
7. Go Global with Amazon International Sales
Looking to reach customers outside your home country? Amazon Global Selling helps you expand internationally with tools and support for entering new markets and managing logistics.
8. Add A+ Content to Listings
Create rich product pages using A+ Content, including enhanced visuals, videos, and comparison charts. This boosts brand awareness, improves customer experience, and can increase conversions.
9. Automate Your Business Operations
Take advantage of automation tools to streamline pricing, inventory tracking, and order fulfillment. Automation reduces manual work and helps you stay competitive in a fast-moving ecommerce environment.
Ready to Start Your Amazon Journey?
Whether you’re starting out or scaling up, Amazon offers multiple avenues for building a profitable business. Choose the method that suits your skills, budget, and goals—and explore Amazon’s many tools to support your success every step of the way to make money on amazon.
