Best Amazon Side Hustles in 2025: 9 Ways to Extra Income (Minimal to no Investment)
Besides being the world’s largest online store, Amazon is also a global ecosystem providing ample opportunity for ambitious entrepreneurs to make extra money. Whether you want passive income, flexible gig work, or a full-time business, find your preference amongst the 9 Amazon side hustles in this article.
TL;DR – Amazon Side Hustles 2025
Why Start an Amazon Side Hustle?
Whether your goal is passive income, a flexible side gig, or a full-time business, these 9 Amazon side hustles are a proven way for you to make extra money in 2025. Proven how? In the past years, Amazon has seen an influx in sellers and an increase in revenue made on the platform by sellers.
Let’s take a look at the numbers:
Options like Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Amazon Flex, Affiliate, Merch, and Private Label – it can be hard to make a good choice. This guide is exactly what you need to figure it out and pick the best Amazon side hustle for your goals.
What Does A Successful Amazon Side Hustle Need to Work?
1. Low startup cost – remember, you’re doing this for extra income. If the setup alone is already draining your funds, your side hustle is already defeating the reason why it exists in the first place.
2. A clear revenue path – when someone asks you the question “How will you make money?”, be able to answer that question in your sleep.
3. Room for growth – start small and scale up, or keep the hours you invest at an overseeable level and use the side income for hobbies or little vacations. Personal growth is also growth 🌱.
The 9 Best Amazon Side Hustles in 2025
1. Amazon FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) – For Entrepreneurial Spirits
How it works:
You source the products, send them to an Amazon warehouse and the e-commerce giant takes care of the storage, shipping, and customer service for you. A hands-off, reliable fulfillment method which keeps your head free for other tasks.
Why it works:
Amazon handles most of the logistics, so you can focus on finding great products and keeping your listings up to date. It’s one of the easiest ways to start an amazon FBA side hustle without worrying about storage or shipping.
How to start:
Startup cost: $500–$1,500
Pro Tip: Focus on micro-niches.
For example, if you want to sell water bottles, make it more specific – something like ‘’eco-friendly travel bottles for hikers’’. Smaller, more focused niches usually grow faster and face less competition because they attract the right kind of buyer.
2. KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) – Best for Passive Creators
Do you have a talent for writing? Then KDP is a great way to make passive income.
How it works:
After you write or design your book, Amazon prints it for you and ships it every time someone buys your product. You have many options to choose from – you can create notebooks, journals, coloring books, or simple guides using tools like Canva or BookBolt. There are no tech skills needed for this kind of side hustle, and once you set it up, it can bring in amazon passive income every month.
Why it works:
– No upfront inventory needed
– No upfront costs
– Grows steady, passive income
You don’t have to be the next J.R.R. Tolkien to publish something successful on Amazon KDP. Even something as “simple” as a 60-page gratitude journal can start earning you a steady income if it’s written well and rewards readers with genuine insights.
Pro Tip: If you already have publishable content, try to create a set out of it. Readers often come back for matching designs and buy more than one.
Potential earnings: As a hobby author, you can expect to make anything between $10–$500.
3. Merch on Demand – Best for Designers and Creators
You have cool ideas for t-shirts and want to monetize this? Upload your artwork, and Amazon takes care of the printing, shipping, and customer service.
Startup cost: Free
Tools to use: Canva, Vexels, Creative Fabrica
Potential earnings: $50–$1,000 per month
4. Amazon Influencer Program – Best for Content Creators
If you’re comfortable in front of a camera, have a passion for e-commerce and are good at communicating brand stories, then you belong in the Amazon influencer program. This newer branch of Amazon’s affiliate program is designed specifically for content creators. If you have a strong following on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube, you can earn commissions by setting up your own Amazon storefront – a curated page showcasing the products you use and recommend.
Instead of linking items individually, your followers can browse your storefront directly, making shopping seamless and personalized. You can also boost visibility by creating product review videos that appear right on Amazon product pages, helping you reach new audiences and grow your earnings.
How to start:
1. You can Apply through the Amazon Influencer Program and set up your page.
2. Record short product videos – 30 seconds is all you need.
3. Post your videos on TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube Shorts to get views and attention.
Want to find out more about the Amazon Influencer Program? Then click on the link.
Earnings: $200–$5,000+ per month.
5. Amazon Associates (Affiliate Program) – Best for Bloggers
Amazon’s affiliate program, often called Amazon Associates, makes it easy for anyone to start earning online. After signing up, you can create personalized links to any Amazon product and share them on your website, blog, YouTube channel, or social media. Each time someone clicks your link and makes a purchase, you earn a commission – simple and rewarding.
Example: You’ve written a blog post named “Best Portable Coffee Makers 2025” that is performing really well. You then include your Amazon affiliate links to the coffee makers you have listed in your article and earn your commission whenever someone makes a purchase through your recommendations.
Startup cost: $0
Tools: SurferSEO, Ahrefs, ChatGPT (for article outlines)
Potential earnings: $100–$1,500 per month
6. Amazon Flex – Best for Instant Payouts
Do you enjoy driving and have a few extra hours of time to invest? Then you could sign up for Amazon Flex to deliver Amazon packages in your free time for instant payouts. It’s easy to start, pretty flexible, and enables you to earn some extra cash on your own schedule without having to work full-time.
Requirements:
– 21 or older
– Valid driver’s license
– Reliable vehicle
Earnings: $18–$25 per hour
7. Retail / Online Arbitrage – Best for Bargain Hunters
As an Amazon seller, you might also know retail arbitrage as online arbitrage – a method in which sellers profit from price differences across markets.
In simple terms, you find products being sold for less than their usual price – for example, during a clearance sale, bulk offer, or special promotion – buy them, and resell them at a higher price on another platform.
Example: A tent from a popular brand costs $499 at a local retailer but sells for $575 on Amazon. By purchasing it locally and reselling it online, you earn a $76 profit from the price gap between the two marketplaces.
Read more about Amazon retail arbitrage in our blog by clicking on the link.
8. Private Label Products – Best for Brand Builders
If you have the entrepreneurial touch and a knack for improving products, then selling over Private Label is exactly what you should be doing. Find a product that’s trending, create your own, improved version with your own logo and packaging, and sell it under your own label on Amazon. This may seem like a huge effort for a side hustle and it definitely requires time, patience and resilience in the beginning. However, it also grants a large reward span in terms of revenue than other, more straightforward, side hustles like Amazon flex.
Startup cost: $1,000–$3,000
Profit margin: 25–40%
Tools: Canva, Fiverr (for logo and packaging)
9. Amazon Handmade – Best for Artists and Makers
Amazon Handmade, launched in 2015, is Amazon’s dedicated space for artisans and makers who sell handcrafted products. Unlike the main marketplace — known for mass-produced items and price competition – Amazon Handmade focuses on unique, custom, and creative goods.
To join, sellers must apply and prove their products are genuinely handmade. Approved sellers get a Professional selling plan (normally $39.99/month) with the monthly fee waived, saving about $480 per year. There are no listing fees, only a 15% referral fee per sale.
Handmade sellers also benefit from Amazon’s massive reach – over 300 million buyers and 2 million daily visitors – and can use Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) to handle shipping and boost their seller rating. It’s an ideal platform for artisans who want to grow their craft into a scalable business.
Earnings: $300–$2,000 per month
Tip: You can use Etsy and Instagram and pair them with your Amazon shop to reach more people and get extra exposure – with just a bit more effort.
Which Amazon Side Hustle Is Best for You?
The best side hustle for you really depends on your goals.
Need cash fast? Try Amazon Flex or Retail Arbitrage.
Want passive income? Go for KDP, Affiliate, or Merch on Demand.
If you love creating, Handmade or the Influencer Program are perfect fits.
Thinking long-term? Focus on FBA or Private Label.
Pro Tip: Try mixing one quick-earning option with a long-term passive one – like Amazon Flex and KDP. It will keep your income steady while you build something bigger in the background.
Step-by-Step: How to Start Any Amazon Side Hustle
Realistic Earnings Breakdown
| Model | Startup Cost | Profit Potential |
| FBA | $500–$1,500 | $500–$5,000+ |
| KDP | $0–$100 | $100–$2,000+ |
| Merch on Demand | $0 | $50–$1,000 |
| Influencer Program | $0–$100 | $200–$5,000+ |
| Affiliate Program | $0 | $100–$1,500 |
| Amazon Flex | $0 (with car) | $500–$2,000 |
| Retail / Online Arbitrage | $100–$500 | $300–$3,000 |
| Private Label | $1,000–$3,000 | $1,000–$10,000 |
| Handmade | $50–$300 | $300–$2,000 |
Final Take
Your Amazon side hustle is unlikely to replace your 9-to-5 job overnight. However, with consistent effort and strategic work, it has the potential to grow into a significant source of revenue over time.
Begin with a single idea and commit to developing it over a 90-day period. Track your progress weekly to identify what delivers results and where adjustments are needed. Consistency is key — maintaining steady effort is what drives long-term growth and sustainability.
Over time, this disciplined approach can lead to meaningful progress. Even if your initial plan doesn’t yield the desired outcome, each attempt provides insights that bring you closer to a successful strategy.
FAQs
Yes – if you use official Amazon programs like FBA, KDP, or the Influencer Program, you’ll be completely safe and have nothing to worry about.
That’s not a problem at all. Options like Affiliate, KDP, or Merch on Demand are completely free to join – you basically just invest your time.
For people who want something quick and flexible, it definitely is. It’s great for earning some extra cash on your own schedule.
The highest income potential comes from Private Label and FBA – but those also take more time and a bigger setup.
Most new sellers start seeing results within one to three months. It all depends on your consistency and how much work you put in.
