I Tried An Amazon Side Hustle! [Here's What I Found] (2024)

Been thinking about starting an Amazon Side Hustle?

I tried my own Amazon Side Hustle and now I can share the steps with you.

Read on as you discover the ins and outs and ultimately whether it's worth it.

If you're short on time, just see the key takeaways below for the quick facts!

Before I start

Want to see my no.1 recommendation for making money online?

This is the best business to start in 2024 and made me $27k last month:

(This is more profitable than an Amazon Side Hustle)

Key Takeaways

• An Amazon side hustle can be a way to make extra money. Different models include retail arbitrage, wholesale selling, and private label selling.
• Starting an Amazon side hustle has pros like high earning potential and cons such as intense competition.
• To start this business, you need things like a computer, internet connection, initial capital and tools for product research.
• The author's personal experience with an Amazon side hustle was positive with steady profits over time but it required patience and regular performance tracking.
• Selling on Amazon also taught the author valuable lessons about customer service, marketing products on social media and building an engaging brand story.

What is an Amazon Side Hustle?

An Amazon side hustle is a way to earn extra income by leveraging various business models on Amazon's platform, including retail arbitrage, wholesale selling, or private label selling.

Different business models (retail arbitrage, wholesale selling, private label selling)

Diving into an Amazon side hustle, I got to explore three distinct business models.

1. Retail Arbitrage: This model involves buying products from retail stores at a lower price and selling them on Amazon for a profit. It's all about spotting deals, clearance items, or discounted goods that you can turn around for a higher price.
2. Wholesale Selling: Here, I bought products in bulk directly from manufacturers or distributors and sold them individually on Amazon. The key here is building relationships with suppliers and understanding the market demand for certain products.
3. Private Label Selling: In this approach, I created my own brand of product to sell on Amazon. It required more upfront work like research, sourcing, branding, and testing but the potential profits could be substantial.

Pros and cons

Starting an Amazon side hustle has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. The potential to earn significant income is real, but there are also some hurdles to keep in mind.

Understanding these pros and cons can help you make an informed decision about starting an Amazon side hustle.

Getting Started with Your Amazon Side Hustle

Diving into my Amazon side hustle, I began with an understanding of the time commitment required. Realizing that selling online wasn't a 'get rich quick' scheme, I knew it would take consistent hours per week to develop this business model.

Next up was equipping myself with necessary tools and resources like appropriate software for product research, pricing strategy, and customer service. Determined to make money on Amazon, I forged ahead to set up my seller account; this took some effort but gave me access to millions of potential customers across the globe.

This step marked the beginning of my ecommerce journey - one filled with learning curves, unforeseen challenges and rewarding victories!

Time commitment and availability

Venturing into an Amazon side hustle requires careful planning around time commitment and availability. Selling products on Amazon isn't a task you can sneak in during commercial breaks of your favorite TV show.

It demands substantial hours per week, especially at the beginning when setting up your seller account, conducting product research, and figuring out your pricing strategy. Even as you get the hang of it, expect to devote several hours each week to manage inventory, fulfill orders, and provide customer service.

Checking product listings daily or being ready for any sudden changes in rules or trends is also part of the game plan. So before diving headfirst into this dynamic e-commerce platform, ensure you have sufficient spare time alongside other personal commitments to make your Amazon side hustle successful!

Necessary tools and resources

Jumping into an Amazon side hustle requires a few essential tools and resources at your disposal. Here's a quick rundown:

1. A stable internet connection: An obvious necessity in the world of online selling.
2. A computer or mobile device: This can be anything from a smartphone to a desktop computer as long as you are able to access the Amazon seller account.
3. Initial capital: Depending on your chosen business model, you'll need some start-up funds for purchasing products, shipping, and listing fees.
4. Product research tools: These come in handy when deciding what items to sell on Amazon. Examples include Jungle Scout and Helium 10.
5. Creation of an Amazon Seller Account: It's free to start but there is also a professional option that costs $39.99 per month.
6. A storage space: Especially useful if engaging in retail arbitrage or wholesale selling, this could be anything from a spare bedroom to rented warehouse space.
7. Shipping supplies: Items such as boxes, packing tapes, and labels are necessary for sending off your products off to Amazon fulfillment centers or directly to customers.
8. Up-to-date knowledge of Amazon's policies and guidelines: To avoid any potential hiccups with your selling experience.
9. Time management skills: You will have to balance this side hustle with other commitments like a day job or family time.RECOMMENDED: Go here to see my no.1 recommendation!

My Experience with an Amazon Side Hustle

Jumping right into it, I started my Amazon side hustle journey by selling my own brand of tote bags. It was an exciting and enlightening ride as I navigated becoming an amazon seller for the first time.

From product research to marketing strategy, every step offered a new challenge but also brought rewarding results. True, there were highs and lows - some products sold well while others took time yet each experience shaped me better for this ecommerce business venture.

Most importantly, the profit was satisfying given that I only operated a few hours per week initially!

Personal results and earnings

Within just six months of starting my Amazon side hustle, I began seeing promising results. My earnings were enough to cover my initial investment and also leave me with a decent profit.

I found that selling private label products brought in steady sales, topping at around $2000 per month. Mechanical Turk tasks boosted my income too, on average contributing an extra $100 per week to my bottom line.

These personal results showed me that the effort put into this business was beginning to pay off!

Lessons learned

Navigating the Amazon side hustle ecosystem offered me valuable insights.

1. Building a strong business model is crucial. This becomes the foundation of your Amazon side hustle. It helps in defining your products, pricing strategy and potential customers.
2. I learned that patience pays off in retail arbitrage. Finding the right product to sell on Amazon can take time but eventually, it's worth all the effort.
3. Tracking performance regularly helped me stay on top of my game. It allowed me to understand what sells best and devise strategies accordingly.
4. Maintaining excellent customer service made a noticeable difference in my success rate. Prompt responses and addressing grievances efficiently played a key role.
5. I found out that promoting my products outside of Amazon boosted sales significantly. Utilizing social media platforms for marketing proved very effective.
6. Diversifying my product range served well in expanding my customer base and maximizing profits.
7. Finally, working on creating an engaging brand story helped connect better with customers, adding value to my propositions beyond their functional benefits.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Venturing into the Amazon side hustle was exciting and enlightening. Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone for promising opportunities; it's well worth a try! Always do thorough research before diving in, and keep adjusting your strategies based on what works best.

This could turn into a viable income stream with dedication, patience and constant learning.

Conclusion

Indeed, exploring an Amazon side hustle can be a productive journey. With the right strategies and a good amount of dedication, the potential for significant income is real. Always remember, success doesn't come overnight - stay patient and keep refining your approach.

Embrace this adventure as not only a means to earn extra money but also an avenue to acquire valuable e-commerce skills!

Before you go

Want to see my no.1 recommendation for making money online?

This is the best business to start in 2024 and made me $27k last month:

(This is more profitable than an Amazon Side Hustle)

FAQs

1. What ways are there to make money as an Amazon seller?

There are many ways to earn money on Amazon, such as selling your own products or through Amazon's affiliate marketing program.

2. How do I get started with my own Amazon business?

To start selling on Amazon, you need to identify what products you want to sell, set up an account, list your items and ship orders once customers purchase!

3. Can Amazon help me make money online without selling my own products?

Yes! You can use programs like the Affiliate Marketing Program or Mechanical Turk - a crowdsourcing marketplace where you get paid for completing small tasks.

4. Is it possible to earn a full-time income using the Amazon FBA program?

Absolutely! Many sellers find success and generate good income by leveraging the FBA (Fulfillment By Amazon) system, as it allows them more time to focus on product selection.

5. Can I create and sell handmade items on Amazon?

Certainly! If crafting is your passion and making coffee mugs or creating other crafts makes sense for you, then 'Amazon Handmade' could be a great way for you.

6. Does self-publishing offer passive income potential with amazon side hustle?

Indeed, using platforms like Kindle Direct Publishing lets authors self publish their works digitally which can lead into passive earning stream over time when readers purchase these books worldwide.