7 Best Ways to Make Money on Amazon in 2026

2026-01-21

Searching for how to make money on Amazon or how to make money with Amazon can feel overwhelming because there are multiple income streams, from selling products to creator programs that pay commissions and royalties. 

If you searched for "make money on Amazon 2025," the good news is that the core opportunities still work in 2026. What changes is the competition and the need for a smarter system. This guide offers a clear overview and research steps using SellerSprite Seller Tools, so you can choose a method and act. 

Key Takeaways

  • Amazon offers multiple ways to make money, even if you do not want to build a full brand on day one.
  • Selling products via FBA or FBM offers the highest upside, while affiliate, influencer, KDP, and Merch can be lower-inventory alternatives.
  • SellerSprite Seller Tools help you validate demand, find buyer-intent keywords, and choose products and niches with better odds.
  • The best strategy is to pick one primary method, then use a repeatable workflow to research, launch, and optimize.
Infographic listing seven ways to make money on Amazon in 2026, including FBA/FBM, arbitrage, wholesale, affiliate, influencer storefront, KDP, and Merch

Introduction: Amazon as a Platform for Entrepreneurs

More Than Just an Online Store

Amazon is more than a marketplace; it includes logistics, creator programs, publishing, and print services. That's why many people searching for how to make money on Amazon find several options.

Choosing the Right Path

The best path depends on your strengths and resources. If you manage inventory and customer experience well, selling has the greatest upside. Content creators can monetize affiliate and influencer programs, while writers and designers may prefer KDP or Merch.

SellerSprite note

No matter which method you choose, solid research is key. SellerSprite Seller Tools let you spot demand signals by providing data on search trends, reveal which keywords real shoppers use, and help identify profitable niches based on clear buying patterns.

1. Sell Products on Amazon via FBA or FBM

Selling products is the most direct path to making money with Amazon because you control pricing, branding, and growth. The two core fulfillment options are FBA and FBM.

Using Amazon FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon)

With FBA, you send your inventory to Amazon, and Amazon handles picking, packing, shipping, and customer service for many of your orders. This can unlock Prime eligibility and simplify operations, but you must manage fees and inventory planning carefully.

Selling via FBM (Fulfilled by Merchant)

With FBM, you list products on Amazon, but you handle storage and shipping. This can reduce certain fees and give you more control, but it also increases workload and requires reliable fulfillment.

Private Label or Handmade Products

Private label means building your own brand around a product. Handmade products are crafts or custom items you create. Both can work well when you target a clear customer need and differentiate on quality, design, or a unique feature.

SellerSprite workflow for product selection

  1. Keyword Research: validate demand by checking search volume and buyer intent terms.
  2. Product Research: review typical price range, demand stability, and category competitiveness.
  3. Keyword Mining: collect long-tail queries like 'best,' 'for beginners,' 'for small spaces,' and 'under budget.'
  4. Reverse ASIN: study which keywords top listings already rank for, then plan your listing and content around those intents.
SellerSprite dashboard view showing keyword demand, buyer intent terms, and product research results for selecting an Amazon FBA niche

2. Retail or Online Arbitrage

Reselling Store-Bought Items

Arbitrage is reselling discounted items for a profit. You find products on clearance or at lower prices online, then list them on Amazon at a higher price. It can be a fast way to start, but it requires careful math and consistent sourcing.

Tools to Help Arbitrage Sellers

Many arbitrage sellers use the Amazon Seller app to scan and evaluate products while sourcing. In addition, SellerSprite provides real-time demand checks and keyword interest analysis, enabling you to confirm a product's current market demand before investing in inventory, thereby minimizing the risk of slow-moving stock.

Quick tip

If an item has low search demand around its main keywords, the flip may take longer than expected. Use SellerSprite Keyword Research to sanity check demand before committing cash.

3. Wholesale Reselling

Selling Established Brands in Bulk

Wholesale means buying inventory in bulk from authorized suppliers and reselling on Amazon. The advantage is that products already have market demand. The challenge is getting approved by brands and managing margins.

Account Setup and Considerations

Wholesale can involve documentation requirements depending on brand and category. It also rewards sellers who can negotiate pricing, maintain stock availability, and compete on operational excellence.

How SellerSprite helps wholesale decisions

  • Use Product Research to evaluate category crowding and price bands.
  • Use Reverse ASIN to see what keywords top offers rank for and where demand concentrates.
  • Use Keyword Mining to find adjacent keyword opportunities for listing optimization and external content.

4. Amazon Affiliate Marketing (Amazon Associates)

Earning Commissions by Referring Sales

Amazon Associates lets you earn commission by referring shoppers to Amazon through trackable links. You do not handle inventory or shipping. You focus on content, traffic, and product recommendations. This is a common answer when people ask how to make money on Amazon without selling products.

Platforms for Affiliate Promotion

  • Blogs: product reviews, comparisons, and gift guides.
  • YouTube: tutorials, unboxings, and buyer-focused demos.
  • Social media: short recommendations that point to longer content or a curated page.
Comparison diagram showing product selling versus Amazon Associates versus Amazon Influencer Program with storefront and commission flow

5. Amazon Influencer Program

Monetizing Your Social Media Influence

The Amazon Influencer Program is built for creators with an audience. You create a storefront and curate product lists. Then you drive followers to shop your recommendations. If you already create content, this can be a strong way to make money on Amazon, leveraging the trust you've already earned.

Who This is Best For

This is best for creators on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook who publish consistently and can recommend products naturally. It is especially effective when your niche includes products people buy repeatedly or upgrade over time.

SellerSprite advantage for influencers

Use SellerSprite Keyword Research to discover which topics and products Amazon shoppers actively search for, then curate your influencer storefront with lists tailored to those specific search intents, making recommendations more relevant and likely to convert.

6. Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP)

Self-Publish Your Books on Amazon Kindle

KDP lets you publish ebooks and print books through Amazon. You can earn royalties when readers buy. This can work well for writers, educators, and niche experts who can package knowledge into helpful formats.

What You Need to Get Started

You need a manuscript, a cover, and a clear topic. The easiest path is to write for a specific audience with a specific problem. If your book topic aligns with what shoppers search for, discoverability improves.

How SellerSprite supports KDP topic research

With SellerSprite, use Keyword Research and Keyword Mining to pinpoint recurring problems and the natural language people use to describe them. This guides your book's subject, structure, and keywords, helping your KDP titles get found by readers searching for solutions.

7. Merch by Amazon

Sell T-Shirt Designs Without Inventory

Merch by Amazon lets you upload designs, and Amazon handles printing and shipping when an item sells. You earn royalties per sale. This can be attractive if you are a designer or you enjoy creating niche-themed merch.

Passive Income for Creatives

Merch can become a library of designs that earn over time, especially when you focus on specific audiences and seasonal themes. Like other methods, research reduces guesswork.

Niche map for Merch by Amazon showing a theme, sub themes, and keyword ideas validated by Amazon search demand

Bonus: Other Ways to Earn with Amazon

Amazon Handmade

If you craft handmade products, Amazon Handmade can be a marketplace to reach buyers who value artisan quality. Success depends on product photos, clear positioning, and consistent fulfillment.

Amazon Flex and Mechanical Turk

For completeness, Amazon also offers work-based options, such as delivery driving and microtasks. These are not business models like selling or publishing, but they are additional ways some people earn income through Amazon.

Conclusion: Find Your Amazon Opportunity

Picking a Path and Taking Action

The best way to make money on Amazon is to choose one primary method and commit to learning the fundamentals. Pick the path that matches your skills, then set a simple weekly plan you can actually keep.

Leverage Resources and Stay Consistent

Whether you sell, publish, or create content, the winners treat it like a system. Research demand, execute consistently, and optimize what works. If you want to learn how to make money with Amazon in 2026, consistency plus data is the reliable combo.

SellerSprite weekly routine

  1. Review one niche or product idea with Keyword Research.
  2. Expand with Keyword Mining to find long-tail opportunities.
  3. Validate the opportunity with Product Research.
  4. Track winners with Reverse ASIN insights and update listings or content.

FAQs

What is the fastest way to make money on Amazon?

Arbitrage can start quickly, while selling a private-label product can take longer but offer higher upside. The right choice depends on your budget, time, and risk tolerance.

Can I make money with Amazon without selling products?

Yes. Amazon Associates, the Amazon Influencer Program, KDP, and Merch by Amazon are common options. Your focus shifts from inventory to content, trust, and discoverability.

How does SellerSprite help me make money on Amazon in 2026?

SellerSprite helps you see what shoppers search for, which keywords show strong buying intent, and which products and niches have healthier demand. That makes your decisions more data-driven and less guess-based.

Share Your Amazon Journey With SellerSprite Community

Join the SellerSprite community on the Facebook Group to share your progress, ask questions, and get support as you learn how to make money on Amazon.

Join SellerSprite Facebook Group 

About the author

SellerSprite Team builds practical workflows that help Amazon sellers and creators move faster, stay organized, and make decisions backed by real demand signals.

References

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