Passive income on Amazon refers to any kind of revenue you generate from the platform without being actively involved in the process. Operating a full-time business on Amazon requires much time and effort. However, there are several other ways you can earn money without investing too much or using heavy resources.
This article is all about making an extra buck on Amazon as a side hustle. I will talk about a few gigs you can do on Amazon to make an extra income apart from your full-time job or business. Let’s get going.
Unlocking Passive Income Potential: A Guide to generating revenue on Amazon
Passive income is the earnings made without active involvement or continuous effort from your side. It is generated from an asset that requires an initial investment of time, money, or both but does not require constant active involvement to generate revenue.
Apart from selling products and services on the marketplace, Amazon provides a handful of other opportunities to make money online without putting in a lot of effort. Some of these methods may require some sort of expertise, while others are just easy to get on with.
Let’s have a look at them.
1. Join Amazon Associate Program
Let’s begin with the Amazon Affiliate program called Amazon Associate, which allows individuals to earn a commission by promoting and linking to Amazon products. There is no joining fee, and the program is open to all as long as they have a healthy online presence. It’s suitable for small marketing agencies, bloggers, individuals, and content creators.

The deal is simple – You post Amazon product links on your social channels, blogs, video channels, etc., encourage your followers to purchase from your link, and earn a commission on every successful conversion. The typical commission ranges between 1-10%, but considering Amazon’s brand value, you might earn a chunk of money at the end of the month.
2. Dropshipping
The next one is dropshipping, the fastest and easiest way to start selling goods on Amazon. This business model is popular among newbies, allowing you to start your Amazon store without high upfront costs. With drop shipping, you deal with a third-party seller to deliver your orders on your behalf. This way, you don’t need to hold and manage inventory, hire staff, or fulfill orders.

All you need to do is find a winning product and a reliable supplier and list the product in your store. Whenever a customer orders, your supplier will do everything for you.
If you can afford to spend a little more, you can buy existing dropshipping stores and start running them. There are several e-commerce websites where you can hunt for pre-built stores loaded with winning products and a decent customer base. While it may cost you around $1000, it’s a worthy investment if you are planning to stay in the business for the long haul.
3. Become Amazon Influencer
The Amazon Influencer program is similar to Amazon Associates but is tailored for social media influencers. If you have established a significant social media following, you can leverage it to promote Amazon products that align with your brand and reputation.

Your earnings as an Amazon influencer are based on successful conversions. The more people you encourage to buy products, the higher your commission will be. The program also offers extra perks like advanced analytics and reporting tools, the option to create personalized storefronts and early access to new features and programs.
To join the Amazon Influencer program, simply submit your social media details, apply for the program, and wait for approval. Currently, Amazon is accepting applications from Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok users who have at least 10,000 followers and good engagement rates.
4. Merch by Amazon
Merch by Amazon, Amazon’s in-house print-on-demand service, is a simple way to earn extra income without having to put in too much effort. Essentially, you can submit your designs to the platform, and whenever a customer chooses to purchase a product featuring your design, you’ll receive a royalty payment from Amazon.

To start selling through Merch by Amazon, you need to register as a regular seller, upload your custom designs, choose the merchandise, and set the prices. Whenever a customer places an order with your design, Amazon will fulfill the order on your behalf in exchange for a small commission on each sale.
One of the primary benefits of using Merch by Amazon is that you, as a seller, don’t have to deal with inventory management, storage, maintenance, order processing, shipping, or customer service.
5. Sell eBooks
If you have a passion for writing, Amazon can provide you with an excellent opportunity to earn a significant amount of money by selling your e-books. With Kindle Direct Publishing, you can easily publish your books on Amazon. With KDP, it’s much easier to sell and promote your work online and what could be a better place to start with other than Amazon?

Initially, you may struggle to find an audience, but once your books gain popularity, you can earn up to 70% royalty on each ebook purchase. However, writing a book is not everyone’s cup of tea so this method is suitable only for those having an interest and skill in creative writing.
All you need is a KDP account and the rest of the process is straightforward. There are no fees to sell ebooks apart from Amazon seller fees.
6. Create Amazon Audio Book
In recent years, there is a visible craze for podcasts and audiobooks. This is largely due to the fact that they can be consumed without requiring constant active attention from the listener. Many people enjoy listening to audiobooks while engaging in other activities such as working out, driving, and so on.

If you possess good storytelling skills, Amazon provides you with an excellent platform to promote your work to millions of potential listeners. Once your work receives recognition, you can earn a significant amount of money through royalty payments.
To get started, you’ll need to create an account on ACX (Audiobook Creation Exchange). This platform allows you to connect with other authors, narrators, and publishers, and release your audiobook on major platforms like Audible, iTunes, and Amazon.
ACX provides a platform where you can upload your book along with details such as the title, original author, and description, and wait for narrators to respond. From there, you have the option to either hire a professional narrator or narrate it yourself to produce the audiobook. Once completed, the next steps are straightforward – you simply need to review the audiobook, set the price, and publish it.
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Conclusion: How To Make Passive Income On Amazon
As you can see, Amazon has no shortage of opportunities to make effortless online money. Although nothing comes easy in today’s competitive world, you can make a decent side income without making it your priority. The methods discussed in this article require some effort on your part, but they can be a great way to supplement your regular income without requiring you to quit your day job.
Now, what’s the best method for you, depends entirely on your expertise and experience level. If you have none, the Amazon Associate program is an excellent place to start. It’s a beginner-friendly option that can help you get a sense of the market and build your confidence. Once you feel comfortable and have gained some income, you can explore other options such as drop shipping.
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