How to Start Selling Books on Amazon: A Beginner's Money-Making Guide

2025-08-13

Did you know that US-based sellers selling books on Amazon sold more than 4.5 billion items in 2023 and averaged more than $250,000 in sales?

That's right - selling books online can be a great way to generate extra income or even launch a profitable business. Whether you're a stay-at-home parent looking to make a few hundred dollars extra each week or someone interested in building a full-time enterprise, the Amazon marketplace offers significant opportunities.

Is selling books on Amazon profitable? Absolutely. With nearly 60% of multichannel sellers naming Amazon as their fastest-growing channel and global ebook sales exceeding $28 billion dollars annually, the market remains robust. Additionally, Amazon offers flexible selling plans - you can pay just $0.99 per sale with the Individual plan or $39.99 monthly with the Professional plan.

What started as an experiment for many successful sellers has transformed into substantial income streams. In this beginner's guide, we'll walk you through everything you need to know about starting your book-selling journey on Amazon - from setting up your account to sourcing inventory, listing effectively, and fulfilling orders.

Understand the Book Market on Amazon

(Image Source: Sell on Amazon)

The book market on Amazon continues to thrive despite the digital revolution. Books remain the most popular product category on Amazon, with 57.2 million sales. Understanding this marketplace is essential before diving into the business of selling books online.

Why selling books online is still profitable

Amazon dominates the book selling landscape, claiming 67% of e-book sales in the United States. Furthermore, the company sells approximately 300 million printed books annually, generating a remarkable $28 billion worldwide. Books contribute to 10% of Amazon's global revenue stream, proving their significance within the platform's business model.

The market reach is impressive - studies show that 71% of readers bought a book from Amazon last year, making it the ideal marketplace for booksellers. Despite competition from other entertainment forms, people still love to read. In fact, the platform's accessibility has transformed the industry, allowing anyone to publish books and potentially earn substantial income.

What types of books sell best

Not all books perform equally well on Amazon. According to seller experience, these categories consistently generate higher profits:

Textbooks (especially during January and August)
Non-fiction and business books
Religion and self-help titles
Arts, crafts, and hobby guides
Sheet music
Fantasy and science fiction
Collectibles and antique books

Notably, memoirs and biographies were crowned the top-selling genres on Amazon in 2022. For fiction authors, romance, mystery, fantasy, and science fiction genres typically perform best. In contrast, educational books and specialized information products often command higher prices, particularly those containing knowledge that can help readers make money.

How much can you make selling books on Amazon

Your potential earnings depend on several factors, including book type, pricing strategy, and sales volume. The average book sells 200 copies in its first year and 1,000 over its lifetime on Amazon. However, successful sellers can achieve much more.

For physical books, you typically earn 60% of the list price minus printing costs. With ebooks, Amazon offers different royalty rates - 70% for books priced between $2.99 and $9.99, and 35% for books outside this range. For example, if your ebook is priced at $8.99, you'll earn about $4.80 per sale.

Income potential varies widely:

First-time authors: $50-$500 monthly
Experienced authors with multiple books: $1,000-$5,000 monthly
Top-tier authors: $10,000+ monthly

One successful seller reported around $9,000 in monthly gross sales with approximately $4,000 in net profit (a 40% profit margin). Self-published authors who understand their target audience can potentially earn $10,000+ per month, especially with a series of books.

According to Amazon, the company pays over $520 million in royalties each year to more than 1 million authors who self-publish through Kindle Direct Publishing. Success often comes to those who master keyword optimization, understand pricing strategies, and consistently produce quality content that meets market demand.

Step 1: Set Up Your Amazon Seller Account

Setting up your Amazon seller account is the first practical step toward building your book-selling business. Before listing your first book, you'll need to choose the right selling plan, complete the registration process, and understand the fee structure.

Choose between Individual and Professional plans

Amazon offers two distinct selling plans, each designed for different types of sellers:

Individual Selling Plan:

No monthly subscription fee
$0.99 fee charged per item sold
Best for sellers listing fewer than 40 books monthly
Limited access to Amazon's selling tools
Cannot create promotions or use advertising options

Professional Selling Plan:

$39.99 monthly subscription regardless of sales volume
No per-item fee
Economical for sellers listing more than 40 books monthly
Access to bulk listing and inventory management tools
Ability to compete for the Buy Box (crucial as 82% of purchases happen through it)
Access to advertising services and advanced reporting

Choose the Professional plan if you're serious about scaling your book-selling business. Initially, the Individual plan might suffice while you're testing the waters and learning the marketplace.

Register your account and complete tax info

Once you've decided on a plan, follow these steps to create your account:

Visit sell.amazon.com and click "Sign up"
Provide your business information:
1. Business location and type
2. Business name (or your name if operating as an individual)
3. Registered business address and phone number
Enter your personal information:
1. Full legal name including middle name
2. Country of citizenship and birth
3. Date of birth
4. Residential address
5. Government-issued ID (passport or driver's license)
Supply billing information:
1. Bank account details for receiving payments
2. Credit card information for paying fees (Amazon accepts all major cards)
Complete identity verification through a video call with an Amazon associate

Throughout this process, ensure all information matches your official documents, since Amazon thoroughly verifies your identity.

Understand Amazon's seller fees

Beyond the plan fees, you'll encounter several other charges when selling books on Amazon:

Referral Fees: For books, Amazon charges a 15% referral fee calculated on the total sales price. This applies regardless of your selling plan.

Media Closing Fee: Books incur an additional $1.80 closing fee per item sold.

Fulfillment Fees: If you choose Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), additional storage and shipping fees apply based on your book's size and weight.

Refund Administration Fee: If a buyer returns a book, Amazon charges either $5.00 or 20% of the refunded amount, whichever is less.

Miscellaneous Fees: Depending on your selling methods, you might encounter long-term storage fees, advertising costs, and other optional service fees.

Understanding these fees is essential for pricing your books profitably. Remember that while fees seem substantial, Amazon's massive customer base often justifies the costs through higher sales volume and reach.

Step 2: Source Books to Sell

Sourcing inventory stands as the foundation of your book-selling business on Amazon. With the right approach, you can acquire valuable books at minimal cost and maximize your profit margins.

Find books at thrift stores, libraries, and yard sales

Successful book sellers utilize multiple sourcing channels to build diverse inventories:

Thrift stores: These offer books at steep discounts, typically $1-2 per book. Visit locations with high turnover rates as they consistently stock fresh inventory.
Library sales: Often yield $500-1000 in profit for just a few hours of work.
Estate sales: Though hit-or-miss, these can provide entire book collections at remarkably low prices—sometimes as little as $0.25 per book.
Yard/garage sales: Sellers frequently underprice books without researching their actual worth.
Used bookstores: Some stores offer thousands of titles priced at just $1-2 each.

Venturing 20-30 minutes outside your usual area can lead to "honey holes"—off-the-beaten-path stores often full of overlooked treasures.

Use ISBNs to check book value

ISBN (International Standard Book Number) is a unique identifier for each book, typically found on the back cover. This code allows you to:

Instantly determine a book's potential value using specialized apps
Compare current market prices across platforms

Tips for sourcing profitable used books

Develop these strategies to maximize your sourcing efficiency:

Track restocking schedules: Note when fresh inventory arrives at each store
Build relationships: Chat with store employees who might alert you to new donations
Look beyond fiction: Non-fiction books typically hold value longer than mass-market fiction
Check condition thoroughly: Ensure books are in good, readable condition to avoid returns
Consider seasonality: Textbook prices typically increase during August, January, and June
Use Keepa data: Analyze price history graphs to make informed purchasing decisions
Set profit thresholds: Many successful sellers won't purchase books unless they'll make at least $3 profit on a $1 investment

Consequently, by diversifying your sourcing methods and using technology to validate your choices, you'll build a profitable inventory that drives your Amazon bookselling business forward.

Step 3: List and Price Your Books

Once you've gathered your inventory, properly listing and pricing your books on Amazon becomes crucial for maximizing sales. The right approach to these elements can significantly impact your visibility and profit margins.

How to list books with or without ISBNs

Most books can be listed using their International Standard Book Number (ISBN) - the unique identifier typically found on the back cover or inside the dust jacket. For books published after June 1, 2017, an ISBN, JAN, or EAN is required.

For books without ISBNs (primarily rare, collectible, or pre-1970 publications), you'll need to request an exemption:

Click the "Request Approval" link in Seller Central
Select "Books" in the Product category field
Provide detailed information about the book

After receiving approval, you can list these books alongside those with standard identifiers.

Writing effective product descriptions

Your book description serves as a reader's first impression, often determining whether they'll purchase your item. Amazon recommends this three-step approach:

Keep it simple - Focus on the main plot or theme in approximately 150 words with scannable sentences
Make it compelling - Start with an attention-grabbing first sentence and clearly indicate the book's genre
Ensure professionalism - Eliminate spelling and grammatical errors by having others review your description

You can format descriptions using Amazon's text editor or basic HTML to add emphasis through bolding, italicization, and bullet points. Remember that descriptions have a 4,000-character limit.

Set competitive prices using Amazon tools

Setting the right price requires balancing profitability against competitiveness. Amazon offers several helpful tools:

The Revenue Calculator allows you to compare fees, costs, and estimated profits for different price points. This helps determine your minimum viable price after accounting for Amazon's fees.

Automate Pricing provides more sophisticated control, allowing you to set rules that automatically adjust your prices based on:

Competitive price comparisons
Sales volume within specified periods
Business pricing and quantity discounts

This tool helps you remain competitive 24/7 without constant manual adjustment. You can customize parameters, setting both minimum and maximum prices to protect your margins.

Ultimately, effective pricing considers variables like book condition, competitor pricing, and seasonal demand to maximize both visibility and profit.

Step 4: Fulfill Orders and Handle Shipping

After successfully listing your books, the next crucial phase begins—getting them safely into your customers' hands. The fulfillment method you choose directly impacts your profit margins and customer satisfaction.

Choose between FBA and self-fulfillment

Amazon offers two primary fulfillment options:

Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) lets you send inventory to Amazon's warehouses where they handle storage, packing, shipping, customer service, and returns. This option provides the coveted Prime badge on your listings, potentially increasing sales. FBA fees typically range from $3.06 to $3.65 for small books under 1lb and $3.68 to $5.77+ for larger books.

Alternatively, Fulfillment by Merchant (FBM) means you manage everything yourself. This approach works best for rare or valuable books where you want complete control over packaging and customer communication. Although it requires more work, FBM can be more economical for slower-moving inventory.

Packaging tips to avoid damage

Proper packaging prevents negative reviews and costly returns:

Use appropriate materials—bubble mailers for paperbacks, rigid mailers or boxes for hardcovers
Protect book corners, edges, and dust jackets with bubble wrap or craft paper
Ensure books fit snugly with minimal movement inside packaging
For multiple books, place flat cardboard between each one

Handling returns and customer service

Most items can be returned within 30 days of delivery if in original condition. For third-party sellers, you must offer either a U.S. return address, a prepaid return label, or a full refund without requiring the item back.

Essentially, excellent customer service means promptly addressing inquiries, processing returns efficiently, and maintaining clear communication throughout the transaction process. Quick resolution of issues helps maintain positive seller feedback—crucial for long-term success on Amazon.

Conclusion

Starting your book-selling journey on Amazon offers a viable path to generating extra income or building a full-time business. Throughout this guide, we've covered everything you need to launch your bookselling venture successfully.

Remember that understanding the Amazon book marketplace remains crucial for long-term success. Books continue to dominate as Amazon's most popular product category, with certain genres like textbooks, non-fiction, and collectibles consistently delivering higher profits. Your potential earnings depend largely on your approach, though many sellers report making $1,000-$5,000 monthly with the right strategies.

Setting up your seller account marks your first practical step. Choose between the Individual plan ($0.99 per sale) or Professional plan ($39.99 monthly) based on your anticipated sales volume. Additionally, familiarize yourself with Amazon's fee structure to price your inventory profitably.

Sourcing quality books at low prices significantly impacts your profit margins. Thrift stores, library sales, and yard sales often yield treasures at minimal cost. Therefore, using scanning tools to check ISBNs helps you make data-driven purchasing decisions rather than relying on guesswork.

Your success also hinges on creating compelling listings with accurate descriptions and competitive pricing. Utilize Amazon's tools like the Revenue Calculator to ensure profitability while remaining competitive in the marketplace.

Lastly, decide between Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) or self-fulfillment based on your business model and inventory. FBA provides convenience and Prime eligibility at a higher cost, while self-fulfillment offers greater control though requires more hands-on management.

The journey of selling books on Amazon might seem overwhelming at first, but taking consistent action makes the process manageable. Start small, learn from each sale, and gradually expand your inventory and knowledge. Most importantly, focus on providing quality books and excellent customer service to build a reputation that drives long-term success.

Thousands of sellers have built profitable book businesses on Amazon—you can too. Now you have the essential knowledge to begin your bookselling adventure with confidence.

FAQs

Q1. How much can I realistically earn selling books on Amazon?

Earnings vary widely, but beginners can expect $50-$500 monthly, while experienced sellers with multiple books often make $1,000-$5,000 per month. Top-tier authors can earn $10,000+ monthly. Your income depends on factors like book type, pricing strategy, and sales volume.

Q2. What types of books sell best on Amazon?

Textbooks, non-fiction, business books, religion, self-help, arts and crafts guides, and collectibles tend to perform well. For fiction, romance, mystery, fantasy, and science fiction are popular genres. Memoirs and biographies were top-selling categories in 2022.

Q3. How do I choose between Amazon's Individual and Professional selling plans?

Choose the Individual plan ($0.99 per sale) if you're selling fewer than 40 books monthly. Opt for the Professional plan ($39.99 monthly) if you're listing more than 40 books or want access to advanced tools like bulk listing and advertising options.

Q4. Where can I find books to sell on Amazon?

Great sources include thrift stores, library sales, estate sales, yard sales, and used bookstores. Use apps like ScoutIQ or Scoutly to scan ISBNs and check potential profitability. Consider exploring areas outside your usual radius for hidden gems.

Q5. Should I use Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) or self-fulfill my orders?

FBA offers convenience and Prime eligibility but comes with higher fees. It's ideal for high-volume sellers or those wanting to minimize hands-on management. Self-fulfillment gives you more control and can be more economical for slower-moving or rare books. Choose based on your business model and inventory type.

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