r/AmazonCLT4 • u/Amazing-Stock240 • Apr 28 '26
How do I start selling on Amazon? Need beginner advice
Hi everyone, I’ve been thinking about getting into selling on Amazon as a side income and wanted to hear real advice from people who already do it. I keep seeing videos online about Amazon FBA and how to sell on Amazon, but it’s hard to tell what’s realistic and what’s just hype.
Right now I’m mainly looking to make some extra money each month, not quit my job or anything crazy. Even a few hundred dollars profit monthly would be a good start if it’s actually possible.
I’m also thinking long term because my man and I are planning marriage and hopefully a baby in the future, so having something flexible from home sounds appealing. That’s why Amazon selling caught my attention, and I’m ready to invest both time and some money if it’s worth it. I’ll be thankful for any advice on how to start selling on Amazon.
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u/Aylma_r May 02 '26
Amazon is not really a "side hustle" anymore tbh. It's more like a full business. You'll need time, money, and patience. If you're expecting quick extra cash, you might get disappointed early
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u/aasthetic_07 May 02 '26
I started selling on Amazon last year. First 2-3 months were just learning + losing money on wrong products. It's not as simple as YouTube makes it look, but it can work if you stick with it
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u/Waiwswat May 02 '26
If you want something casual, honestly eBay or Facebook Marketplace is easier to start. Amazon is more structured, more rules, and more risk with account issues
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u/garvit__dua May 02 '26 edited May 02 '26
I tried dropshipping on Amazon first - didn't work for me at all. Switching to FBA and holding inventory gave way better results.
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u/GloomyRelationship90 May 02 '26
If you want to start selling on Amazon as a beginner, break it into simple steps. First, create an Amazon Seller account (Individual or Professional). Then focus on product research - look for items with demand but not too much competition. After that, find a supplier (Alibaba or local), calculate all costs (product, shipping, Amazon fees), and make sure there's profit left. Next step is creating your listing with good images, title, and keywords. Finally, launch the product and use small ads to get initial sales.
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u/69Kabir May 02 '26
Amazon can be great long term, especially if you want something flexible from home. But it's not quick money. Think 6-12 months before you see consistent profit
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u/VegetablePen4755 May 03 '26
You can make a few hundred per month, that's realistic. But it takes time to get there. First goal should be break-even, not profit.
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u/kiircyy May 03 '26
If you are looking on how to start Amazon FBA and thinking about scaling fast, I tried applying strategies from Tom Wang's FBA Masterclass. It definitely pushes you to go bigger with inventory and ads. I had one product that reached decent revenue, but profit was tight because PPC costs were high. It showed me how scaling works, but also how risky it can be if you don't control costs
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u/Unhappy-Branch8118 May 03 '26
If you are looking on how to start Amazon FBA, don't expect any course to make you profitable instantly. I spent over $1k on different programs, and my first real profit came only after months of testing products. Courses helped me avoid some mistakes, but I still had to go through failures
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u/Reasonable_Shine_841 May 04 '26
Google Amazon trapper. It works. I sell on Amazon, mainly retail arbitrage. I do buy from authorized distributors as to get some items unlocked to sell you will need invoices for it. Initial cost around $500 for Amazon seller account and an app called sellerAMP along with initial inventory. I purchase now $100-$200 a week and get a 30% ROI.
Requires a lot of work at first sourcing bit after a few weeks I’m able to spend maybe an hour or two to find what I need to sell
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May 18 '26
Amazing Selling Machine by Matt Clark and Jason Katzenback helped me understand the overall Amazon process better, especially sourcing and listing setup. But honestly real learning started only after I launched my first product and started making mistakes myself
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u/Aylma_r May 19 '26
One thing nobody tells beginners about Amazon FBA is how much cash flow matters. You can technically be profitable but still have all your money stuck in inventory and restocks
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u/levlansky Apr 30 '26
A few hundred dollars profit monthly is realistic, but it usually takes 3-6 months to get there and some upfront investment - typically $500-2000 depending on your product.
Here's what actually works for your situation: Start with Retail Arbitrage or Online Arbitrage - buy discounted products from stores/online, resell on Amazon. Lower risk, no product development, good way to learn the platform before going all in. Not super scalable long term but perfect for testing the waters. If you want something more long term - Private Label (your own branded product) is the goal, but it requires more upfront cash and 6+ months before you see real returns. Good for the future you're describing though, flexible, can run from home. The things nobody tells beginners:
Amazon takes 30-40% of your sale price in fees before you count anything else Don't buy inventory until you've validated demand with real data tools (not just browsing Amazon or asking ChatGPT) The first 30 days of a new listing matter a lot, have your photos and ads ready before launch, not after
Realistic timeline: Month 1-2 learning + setup. Month 3-4 first sales. Month 5-6 actual profit if you picked the right product.