Amazon Affiliate Program: How to Become an Amazon Associate to Boost Income

Download Now: Free Affiliate Marketing ROI Template
Erin Rodrigue
Erin Rodrigue

Published:

"Click the link in my bio to visit my Amazon Storefront."

how to make money on amazon with amazon affiliate program

That’s a line I hear a lot on TikTok. So, it wasn’t too surprising to discover that over 900,000 people participate in Amazon's Affiliate Program.

Now, I know what you’re thinking: can I actually make money from selling my favorite Amazon finds? And the answer is yes, if you do it correctly.

Download Now: Free Affiliate Marketing Templates

As you begin this journey, remember that presenting your affiliate links on a well-designed website can make a big difference. HubSpot's drag-and-drop website builder is a great tool to effortlessly create a professional-looking site to showcase your affiliate products.

Below, I’ll walk you through the process of becoming an Amazon affiliate, how the program works, and tips to hit the ground running.

Table of Contents

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Affiliate Marketing Templates

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  • 1 affiliate-facing template to calculate revenue from the brands you work with
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What is the Amazon Affiliate program?

The Amazon Affiliate program, or Amazon Associates, is an affiliate marketing program. Anyone with a website, blog, or social media account (TikTok and/or YouTube) is welcome to apply.

Once you're approved, you can start advertising products from Amazon by sharing affiliate links. When customers click your links and make a purchase from Amazon, you'll earn a referral commission.

Still not sure what affiliate marketing is or what it’s all about? Or unsure whether it’s right for you?

What is affiliate marketing?

Affiliate marketing is a marketing tactic where an online retailer gives niche website owners the ability to create unique product links (called affiliate links). The website owners must promote the link; in exchange, when someone visits the link and makes a purchase, the website owner automatically receives commission. As an affiliate, you only make money once the link is used in a transaction.

Affiliate marketing is right for you if you already own a website or blog and your content offers opportunities for product mentions. For instance, if you own a recipe blog, you can create links for product ingredients.

It’s not the best fit for you if you sell products directly on your website, although you can use a mixture of product selling and affiliate selling to earn money.

How does the Amazon Affiliate program work?

In the Amazon Affiliate program, associates earn commission by creating unique product links, promoting the links on their website or social media, and driving referral traffic back to Amazon. Here’s how it works:

  • Website owners create an Amazon Affiliate account on the platform.
  • Amazon gives each website owner a unique Associate ID.
  • Once the application has been approved, associates can begin creating affiliate links in their Amazon portal.
  • Associates then share the links.
  • Once someone clicks a link and makes a purchase, the associate earns commission.

Here's something that surprised me when I first joined the Affiliate program: not all products offer the same commission rate. The rate changes depending on the product category, and can jump from anywhere between 1 to 20% of the sales price.

For instance, if I sell a hair dryer on Amazon, I can earn 10% from each sale. But if I sell an Amazon Fire Tablet, the commission rate drops to 4%. You can see a complete breakdown of Amazon's product category commission rates below:

Screenshot 2023-12-01 at 12.02.42 PM

At the beginning of your Amazon Associate journey, the numbers can skew on the low side, so I recommend having another form of income in addition to being an Amazon Associate.

Eligibility Guidelines for the Amazon Associates Program

Although it is free to join the Amazon Associates program, you need to meet certain criteria in order to be eligible. To state the obvious, you need to have a valid Amazon account. You also need to promote products through an active channel, such as a website, blog, or TikTok account.

Let’s dive into the eligibility guidelines for each medium.

Website

Most Amazon Affiliates promote Amazon products through their website or blog. To be eligible, websites must:

  • Be owned by the applicant
  • Have a minimum of 10 original blog posts, with the most recent one published within the last 60 days
  • Be publicly available (no closed groups or paywalls)

Mobile App

App versions of websites are also eligible for the Amazon Associates program. However, your app must:

  • Be available for free in the Google Play, Apple, or Amazon app stores
  • Provide original content
  • Look and function differently from Amazon’s shopping app

Social Media

Influencers are also eligible to participate in the Amazon Associates program, but there are entry reqiurements.

You must have:

  • An active and public Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, TikTok, or Twitch.tv account (Note: Applicants using Facebook and Instagram are required to use a business account)
  • An established following with substantive engagement

It‘s important to note that Amazon Associates’ eligibility requirements may vary by country. So, make sure to check the specific requirements for your region.

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Affiliate Marketing Templates

Track the sales, revenue, and profit from your affiliate and influencer marketing campaigns.

  • 1 brand-facing template to calculate the ROI of your affiliate campaigns
  • 1 affiliate-facing template to calculate revenue from the brands you work with
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Amazon Program Requirements and Rules

Being an Amazon Associate is a great way to monetize passion projects or make supplemental income from your brand. However, Amazon has requirements for associates to follow once you are accepted into the affiliate program, so it's best to understand those before you dive in.

After you sign up, you’ll need to think about the requirements for the application review process. Amazon requires new affiliates to make a minimum of three sales during their first 180 days. If you fail to do this, your account will be closed. However, you can reapply for the Amazon Associate program after you've made adjustments to your site.

The Associates team also reviews websites, mobile apps, and social network accounts. They’re looking for consistent, fresh, and original content that brings value to Amazon customers.

Amazon affiliate program requirements example: Original content

Other requirements are in place for ethical promotion to prevent associates from gaming the system. Don't skip over this — noncompliance can result in being banned from the program.

Here are some of the big ones to keep in mind:

  • You must disclose on your site or in your communication that you may be eligible to earn from your recommendations.
  • You must not make false or deceptive claims in your recommendations.
  • Your website must not contain unsuitable, explicit, or harmful content.
  • Avoid referring to prices (with some exceptions) since prices frequently change.
  • Do not use Amazon affiliate links in offline promotions, eBooks, or email.
  • Do not use link shorteners on affiliate links.
  • Do not use unapproved Amazon trademarked materials that may misrepresent your relationship with Amazon.

You can read Amazon's full policy here. It’s also a good idea to review the operating agreement for associates for other requirements.

Note: Amazon’s affiliate program is one of the most popular programs, but it isn’t the only one. There are other affiliate programs out there that are worth trying if you don’t qualify to become an Amazon Associate.

1. Create a website or blog.

To start, you must have an active website, blog, app, TikTok account, or YouTube channel. To take it one step further, I recommend pre-populated your site (or social media channels) with content. That way, it appears active and authentic to both users and Amazon.

Before I applied to become an Amazon affiliate, I created my website using HubSpot’s CMS Hub. With its drag-and-drop website builder, customizable themes, and blog capabilities, I was able to publish original content almost immediately. cms-multi-row-2-en@3x

Get started with HubSpot's CMS to build your blog and website for free.

Remember, you must be able to describe the purpose of your website as part of the application process. So, have a firm idea of why you‘re creating your site, the audience you’ll target, and how you'll bring in traffic.

If you’re still figuring it out, these resources can help you make these important decisions:

2. Navigate to the Amazon Associates homepage and click "Sign Up."

In order to become an Amazon affiliate, you'll need to create your Amazon Associates account. To do that, visit the Amazon Associates homepage and click Sign Up. From there, you'll be prompted to log in to your existing Amazon account or create one.

sign up for amazon affiliate program

3. Enter your account information.

Next, enter your account info (including the name, address, and phone number of the payee).

amazon affiliate sign up: enter your account information

4. Enter your website address.

Enter your website address(es), apps, YouTube channels, etc.

amazon affiliate sign up: enter your web address

5. Enter your preferred store ID.

Enter your preferred store ID (usually the same as your primary website name), explain what your websites hope to accomplish, and select Amazon topics your links will likely target.

amazon affiliate sign up: enter your preferred store id

6. Explain how you drive traffic to your site.

Explain how you drive traffic to your websites, how you use your website or apps to generate income, how you usually build links, and how many visitors your site brings in each month.

amazon affiliate sign up: explain your website

7. Choose your payment method.

Choose whether to enter your payment (credit card) and tax ID information now or later. Then proceed to your dashboard.

amazon affiliate sign up: choose your payment method

8. Create Amazon Affiliate links.

Once you‘ve created your account, you’ll be sent to your personal Associate homepage. This is where you'll find your performance dashboard (including an earnings overview, monthly summary, and total clicks).

amazon affiliate sign up: create affiliate links

This dashboard is also where you'll search for relevant products to link to from your content.

1. Log in to your Amazon Associate account.

Doing this ensures that the link text is generated in a way that associates the product you're promoting with your account.

2. Click on Product Linking in the top banner and select Product Links.

This will show you the different choices you have to create your links, including the “Link to Any Page” tools.

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Affiliate Marketing Templates

Track the sales, revenue, and profit from your affiliate and influencer marketing campaigns.

  • 1 brand-facing template to calculate the ROI of your affiliate campaigns
  • 1 affiliate-facing template to calculate revenue from the brands you work with
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3. Use the Amazon Associates SiteStripe to generate Amazon Affiliate links.

I find the easiest way to generate an Amazon affiliate link is by using the SiteStripe bar that shows up on product pages when you're logged in to your Amazon Affiliate Panel.

how to create amazon affiliate links: use sitestripe

From here, I click the Text button in the Get Link selector. Then, I can choose to generate a short link or a full-length link in the popup. Now I can use that link in my promotions.

how to create amazon affiliate links: use sitestripe to create links

4. Try other product linking options to find and create affiliate links.

Besides linking directly to your favorite products on Amazon, I've discovered a handful of exciting options that can expand your reach and inspire your audience.

Use the Idea Hub to find the best products for your audience.

As an affiliate, I sometimes find myself running out of product ideas or unsure which of the latest promotions apply to my niche. Whenever this happens, the Idea Hub comes in clutch.

From the Promotions banner, scroll to Idea Hub. Next, click Filter & Sort and use the left-hand menu to narrow your search options.

You can filter by featured content, categories, star rating, and more. For example, if you’re not sure which products in your niche will be available for Prime Early Access, this tool can help you find them.

how to create amazon affiliate links: idea hub

Link to Favorite Destinations to highlight product lines or categories.

With affiliate content, it’s sometimes more helpful to highlight a product category than individual products. For example, if I post a TikTok of my top beauty products, I can link to a page that contains a list of the products I mentioned in the video. This makes it easier for my audience to find whatever they’re looking for with a single click.

To use this tool, click on Product Linking in the top banner and select Link to Any Page. Then choose the Link to Favorite Destinations tab. From here, you can narrow your search with the drop-down menus on the left. Name your link, then click Get HTML.

how to create amazon affiliate links: link to favorite destinations

A preview link will appear on the right of the tab. You can click this link to see what the page looks like.

preview amazon affiliate link for any destination

Then, click the Highlight HTML button at the bottom to copy your new link.

Link to Search Results to highlight specific keywords within a product line.

In my experience, targeted content has been a game-changer. Essentially, you create links for a specific keyword within a product category. For example, if I'm running a spooky lawn decoration promotion for Halloween, I can post a link to that specific search. This lets me highlight many great options for my audience at the same time.

To use this tool, click on Product Linking in the top banner and choose Link to Any Page. Then select the Link to Search Results tab. From here, you can narrow your search with the drop-down menus on the left. Name your link, then click Get HTML.

amazon affiliate link to search results

A preview link will appear on the right of the tab. You can click this link to see what the page looks like.

amazon affilaite link to search results preview

Then, click the Highlight HTML button at the bottom to copy your new link. You can also click Text in the SiteStripe bar in your preview if you want to create a short link.

Link to Any Page to direct your audience to any Amazon link.

If you want an alternative to the SiteStripe tool, I recommend using the Link to Any Page tab to create your affiliate links. To use this tool, click on Product Linking in the top banner and select Link to Any Page.

create amazon affiliate link to any page

5. Use the generated link on your site or other promotional materials according to Amazon's standards.

Just remember that Amazon‘s guidelines prohibit the use of the link in offline promotions, email, and eBooks or PDFs. As with most marketing and sales, quality content is at the heart of success. Ensure you’re attracting your audience with quality content and share relevant affiliate links with them on your site or YouTube channel.

Each link you generate will have a cookie that will then follow your website visitors after they click on the link. This is highly beneficial to you because it increases the likelihood of you receiving a commission for the sale. The only problem is that it only lasts for a limited amount of time

How long does the Amazon Affiliate cookie last?

The Amazon Affiliate cookie lasts for 24 hours after a website visitor clicks on the affiliate link. The cookie stays in their browser for that entire length of time. If they check out at any time in those 24 hours, the purchase will be credited to you.

The Amazon Affiliate cookie is just one of the ways that the Amazon Affiliate program can help you make money. But first, you must get visitors to click on the link — and to do that, you need visitors in the first place.

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Affiliate Marketing Templates

Track the sales, revenue, and profit from your affiliate and influencer marketing campaigns.

  • 1 brand-facing template to calculate the ROI of your affiliate campaigns
  • 1 affiliate-facing template to calculate revenue from the brands you work with
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How to Make Money with the Amazon Affiliate Program

From my experience, applying for the Amazon Affiliate program and becoming an associate isn’t really the hard part. The problem is making enough sales to turn your passion project into a source of income.

Here are a few tips on how to make money from the Amazon Affiliate program.

1. Choose a niche for your website.

affiliate marketing with amazon: example of a niche affiliate website

Image Source

As someone whose been in the ecommerce space for years, I live by this key principle: "The riches are in the niches."

Becoming an Amazon Associate isn’t a good idea if your website is about home improvement, beauty products, and novel writing all at the same time. To ensure you can make the most out of your affiliate partnership with Amazon, choose a single ecommerce niche for your website.

For instance, check out the Amazon storefront from lifestyle influencer Brooke Schofield. Schofield positions herself as an expert on all things beauty and style, and the products in her storefront reflect this. Odds are, her audience will be interested in these products, too.

Amazon Storefront Example

Whether you specialize in paleo cooking or DIY educational activities for teachers, your niche must be of interest to you — something you can constantly post about without getting tired. This gives you plenty of opportunities to naturally insert product links without being overly salesy.

By choosing a niche, you also make your site look more authoritative to visitors, because talking about one thing all the time makes you look like an expert. Touching upon a wide breadth of topics could make it seem like you’re writing content for the sake of writing content. You’ll also typically have less competition if you focus on a highly specific topic that not many others have touched upon.

2. Write product reviews and comparison posts.

affiliate marketing with amazon: product review example

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I've discovered that one of the best ways to make money as an Amazon Associate is by writing product reviews and posts comparing two or more products. This gives you the opportunity to link to the products you’re reviewing.

The best part? These are usually high-intent posts, meaning that the person looking for a review is close to purchasing the product (if not ready to buy). After all, no one would look for a review of a product that they have no intention of buying.

Product comparison posts offer an even greater opportunity to sell because if the visitor decides one product isn’t for them, you’re offering them several alternatives to choose from. It’s a win-win all around and a sure way to drive more referrals toward Amazon.

3. Blog consistently.

affiliate marketing with amazon: example of an affiliate blog

Image Source

At the core of a strong Amazon Affiliate strategy is a blog that gives you plenty of opportunities to include product mentions and links. For that reason, I recommend blogging consistently.

Try to go for one blog post per week, but quality does matter more than quantity. If you write two well-researched posts per month, you may drive more qualified traffic to Amazon than if you wrote eight poorly-written posts.

Implement a content marketing strategy that will help you create blog posts that are topically relevant. You’ll want to learn SEO basics to make sure you’re optimizing your site for online search.

4. Create a storefront.

amazon storefront example: jackie aina

Image Source

I highly recommend creating an Amazon Storefront that acts as a one-stop shop for all your content and product recommendations.

They require minimal upkeep and content writing. Once visitors get to your Storefront, it'll be simple and easy for them to browse through the products. Another benefit is that the links aren’t buried within other content.

The one thing you’ll need to do is check the links on a monthly basis to ensure your storefront drives referrals. Sometimes, product pages move, or products are removed entirely from Amazon. You want to make sure every product is still available on the retailer’s website.

5. Become an Amazon Influencer.

The Amazon Influencer Program is an extension of the Associates program for social media managers. It works in the same way, but you earn commission by sharing URLs and affiliate links on your social media channels that drive traffic to your Amazon storefront.

You can create your page to showcase your favorite products for people to browse through and buy from. The image below is an example of an influencer storefront from Hailee Catalano, a chef and food influencer.

affiliate marketing with amazon: amazon influencer program storefront example

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Best For: This program is best for content creators who have a social media following and are looking for more ways to earn. You need to have a YouTube, TikTok, Facebook business, or Instagram business account, and Amazon will review your follower count and other engagement signals when making approvals.

6. Share promo codes.

Promo codes inspire a sense of urgency as people don’t want to miss out on deals, which makes Amazon’s promo code tool a great opportunity to make money as an Amazon Affiliate. You can search for active and upcoming codes and by category to find deals that align with your niche.

Best For: Any Associate or Influencer can take advantage of promo code opportunities

7. Join Creator Connections and partner with brands for extra commission.

Creator Connections is a new program for Influencers and Associates to partner with brands, promote their products, and earn extra commission.

You have complete control over your partnerships, so you can opt-in to brand campaigns that align with your niche and audience interests. The expected deliverables are content about the featuring the product(s) brands are promoting.

Brands set the non-negotiable commission rates, but anything you earn is added on top of the standard influencer and associate rate. If you’re interested in the program, I recommend reading the Creator Connections guide for a full breakdown of how it works.

Best For: Influencers and Associates who can find participating brands that align with your niche. If there aren’t any relevant opportunities, another revenue stream might be a better option because you risk turning audiences away by sharing irrelevant content.

8. Create shoppable videos.

A great way to drive commissions is to create videos. You can create new content, upload your existing product-related content, and even live stream.

My recommendation is to champion your favorite products in all video content. You can create unboxing videos, share honest reviews, and tell audiences how they can make the most out of the products you’re recommending to get the same benefits you have.

You can include shoppable links in your videos and earn commission on qualifying purchases attributed to the in-video links.

Best For: This is best for Associates and Influencers who regularly create video content and have an audience of followers who have shown interest in video.

9. Promote Amazon’s subscription services.

Amazon has 40+ different subscription offers you can promote to your audience to earn special commission income. For example, you can advertise Amazon Prime and earn a commission for anyone who uses your link to sign up.

To see available bounties, sign in to your seller account, click Help, then Commission Income Statement, then scroll to Bounty Events to find active opportunities.

Earrings for successful sign-ups are called bounties, and you earn a fixed fee for every qualified bounty action. Commission starts at $2 and goes up to $25, and you can find the complete list of bounties and rates by clicking here.

Best For: I recommend this option for all Associates and Influencers looking to earn extra commission.

10. Advertise your website on social media and search engines.

advertising amazon affiliate links on instagram

Without traffic, you won’t be able to drive referrals to Amazon and earn commission. Writing good content, learning SEO, and creating a content marketing strategy will get you far. But you want to make sure you’re covering all your bases.

Invest in paid social ads, as well as pay-per-click ads on Google. While advertising may sound expensive, the investment can be quite affordable, especially if you’re using the PPC model. You only pay when someone clicks on your ads, and the best part is that you can set a budget, so that you’re not overcharged. It’s an easy way to drive traffic to your site; all you need to do is create ad imagery with a tool such as Canva.

Here are some resources to get you started with paid ads:

Amazon Affiliate Marketing Program FAQs

Now that you’ve created a strong strategy for getting your Amazon Affiliate website off the ground, it’s time to get paid.

Can anyone be an Amazon Affiliate?

Yes! However, acceptance into the program is subject to meeting their eligibility requirements and adhering to their policies and guidelines. As long as you have a suitable platform, such as a website, mobile app, or YouTube channel, and comply with Amazon's terms.

Do Amazon Affiliates make money?

Amazon affiliates have the potential to make money through commissions earned on qualifying purchases made by visitors who click on their affiliate links. However, it‘s important to note that success as an Amazon affiliate depends on factors such as the quality and relevance of your content, the growth of your website’s traffic, the level of engagement with your audience, and the effectiveness of your promotional strategies.

How do Amazon Associates get paid?

Amazon Associates get paid by direct deposit. You’ll automatically receive the funds in your bank account. Alternatively, you can opt to receive an Amazon gift card or a check by mail.

When do Amazon Associates get paid?

Amazon Associates get paid monthly, but there’s a catch: you get paid 60 days after the end of the month you’re getting paid for. For instance, you’ll get paid at the end of March for the commission you earned in January.

When does commission get officially attributed to Amazon Associates?

Amazon Associates officially earn commission when the order has shipped. If the customer cancels the order before it’s shipped, you won’t receive commission. If the customer returns the product after purchase, the commission will be deducted from your earnings.

How long do Amazon Affiliate links last?

Amazon affiliate links can last indefinitely as long as your affiliate account remains active and in compliance with Amazon's terms and conditions. Once you generate an affiliate link through the Amazon Associates program, it remains valid until you deactivate or delete it.

However, you can only earn commission on an item placed in a customer's shopping cart within 24 hours of them clicking on your affiliate link. If it takes longer than 24 hours for a customer to make a purchase from your affiliate link, you will not be granted commission.

Not Ready to Join Amazon Associates? Other Ways to Make Money on Amazon

Not ready to join the associates program, but still want to use Amazon to generate income? No problem — here’s how to make money on Amazon. 

1. Sell handmade items with Amazon Handmade.

Amazon Handmade is a great option for anyone creating handmade and homemade items. You have to be approved to be part of the market community, but acceptance is a stamp of authenticity that tells buyers you sell genuine, quality handmade products.

You’ll list your goods in a Handmade storefront, and the accepted product areas are:

  • Accessories, jewelry, handbags, and watches
  • Artwork
  • Baby items
  • Beauty and personal care
  • Clothing and shoes
  • Home, outdoor, and home care products
  • Kitchen and dining
  • Pet supplies
  • Sporting goods
  • Stationary and party supplies
  • Toys and games

To make sure you can spend as much time as possible making your goods instead of admin work, you can use Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) to store your products at fulfillment centers and have Amazon associates handle packaging, shipping, and customer support. It is a paid service, and you can click here to find a breakdown of costs.

How much money can you make with Amazon Handmade?

Amazon takes a 15% referral fee from every sale.

In terms of costs to you, the $39.99 monthly fee for a professional selling account is waived after the first month if you’re an approved Handmade seller. If you use FBA, you’ll have additional costs for shipping and storage.

2. Publish your books with Kindle Direct Publishing.

Kindle Direct Publishing lets you publish print books and eBooks. It’s a self-publishing tool, so you have full ownership of your book content and control over your book design, price, publishing schedule, and advertising. It’s an appealing option for those who don’t want the more strict process of a publishing house.

If you own the rights to an already published book, you can still use KPD and the same ISBN, so long as you maintain the same title, author, and binding type.

I do have to note that self-publishing means that you have to handle the promotion that a publishing house or agent would typically do. The tradeoff with KDP is that you have more creative freedom.

How much money can you make with Kindle Direct Publishing?

Books are printed on demand, and you earn royalties based on format minus printing costs:

  • 60% royalty for paperback books
  • Up to 70% royalties for eBook
  • Fixed 60% royalties for hardcover

other ways to make money on amazon: kindle direct publishing

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You can also opt-in to Kindle Unlimited, where you get additional royalties based on the number of eBook pages read during first-time reads.

3. Help shoppers create custom goods with Amazon Custom.

Amazon Custom lets you create custom products for customers. Your products will appear on the custom products storefront, and you can gain exposure with sponsored product advertising.

You can customize products in three ways:

  • Text customizations, where buyers choose text, color, and font for embroidery, printing, painting, engraving, etc.
  • Image and logo customizations, where customers upload images to add to your products.
  • Product configurations, where customers can build their own products from a drop-down list of options

You can offer customizations to any product category you’re authorized to sell, except for media categories and personal electronic devices like laptops and consoles.

How much money can you make with Amazon Custom?

Income from Amazon Custom depends on the type of product you sell and Amazon’s referral fee.

Associated costs for you are the Professional Seller account monthly fee ($39.99) and shipping and handling costs (FBA is unavailable for customized products). The more customizations you offer, the more work you’ll have to do.

4. Deliver with Amazon Flex.

With Amazon Flex, you use your own car to deliver Amazon packages.

Hence the name; it’s a highly flexible income-earning opportunity, as you set your own hours by reserving time blocks. You can schedule your shifts in advance or pick up time slots based on your in-the-moment availability.

It does have strict participation requirements. You must be 21+ years of age, have a valid driver's license for the country you’re driving in, and a social security number (U.S. drivers, check requirements for other countries). You’ll also need access to a mid-sized or larger car, auto insurance, and a smartphone to access the app.

Flex is also committed to driver safety by offering safety recommendations, an anti-harassment policy, and dedicated support team for you to surface any safety issues while delivering, and an Amazon Emergency Helpline.

How much money can you make with Amazon Flex?

Flex drivers earn between $18 and $25 per hour, but total payouts will vary based on location, tips, and how long it takes to complete deliveries. Since pay is hourly, you’ll know how much you make before starting each shift.

The flexibility also shines in terms of how you get paid. You can choose to get paid every day, once per week, or whatever best aligns with your schedule. You can also choose how you get paid, either through direct deposit or to an Amazon Flex Debit Card, which gives you cash back and various savings opportunities.

All drivers can also earn Flex Rewards, which build up as you make more deliveries. Perks include discounts for car maintenance and gas, and you can level up to get Preferred Scheduling for even more control over your working hours.

5. Amazon Merch on Demand

If you’re an artist or designer, Merch on Demand is a great option for making money on Amazon. You simply upload your unique artwork and designs, the product you want it on, and desired colors, add a product description, and get ready to sell.

I think that the on-demand aspect is really the selling point — you do the designing, and Amazon does the producing. Every time an order is placed, Amazon prints the unique order, ships it out, and covers customer service.

How much money can you make with Amazon Merch on Demand?

You can suggest a list price, but there’s no guarantee that Amazon will go with it. Either way, you’ll earn a royalty for every sale, and you can find a full breakdown by clicking here. As an example, a standard T-Shirt sold for $15.99 earns a royalty of $1.93.

The five opportunities I mentioned above are the most common ways to make money on Amazon; most people can take advantage of them. There are additional unique opportunities that I’ll list below, but they have more specific requirements.

6. Amazon Business

Best For: Businesses that want to sell B2B

Amazon Business helps you sell B2B. You can directly connect with relevant businesses, and since many buy in bulk, you can increase your revenue share by selling in larger quantities with bulk order pricing models. You need a professional selling account ($39.99/mo), and Amazon takes a referral fee for every purchase.

Subscription Boxes

Best For: Amazon Sellers with unique but related offers that can be bundled together

Subscription boxes are a way to earn recurring revenue on Amazon by creating a box of relevant items across any of the product categories you’re authorized to sell in. You have to fulfill and ship your orders (FBA is unavailable), and standard selling and referral fees apply.

7. Amazon Hub Delivery

Best For: Established small business owners looking to increase revenue

Amazon Hub Delivery is a new program for established local businesses to deliver packages to their surrounding community. Amazon brings packages to your business, you and your staff handle delivery, and you’re paid for every package you deliver.

You can earn up to $27,000 annually in extra income through the program, and you don’t need any previous delivery experience to participate. Click here to check if Amazon Hub Delivery is available in your area.

8. Professional Services

Best For: Assembly and installation experts

Professional Services lets you offer assembly service and appliance installations to customers who have purchased a qualifying product from the Amazon Store. You need to apply and be approved, and you can click here to learn about the application and selection process.

9. Amazon Developer

Best For: Experienced developers and engineers

Amazon Developer is an opportunity for experienced developers and designers to build apps and games for the Amazon App Store. You can earn money by choosing a monetization model that aligns with your needs, and small business developers (those who earn less than $1 million in annual revenue) earn an increased 80/20 revenue share.

Get Started with the Amazon Affiliate Program Today

The Amazon Affiliate program is an excellent way to turn a side passion into a source of passive income. Choose a niche, write product-centric content, and include contextual affiliate links, and you’ll be sure to grow your Amazon Affiliate income to astronomical levels.

Editor's note: This post was originally published in May 2020 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

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