Nowadays, you can start a business without inventory or startup costs. You don't need thousands of dollars of investment to buy products or rent warehouse space. Many successful sellers make a steady income using print on demand and dropshipping.
This is why learning how to sell on Amazon without inventory is one of the smartest ways to start your online business in 2025.
This article will guide you on how to sell on Amazon without inventory. You'll learn the process step-by-step, from setting up your seller account to choosing the right fulfillment method.
Let's get started.
Why Sell on Amazon Without Inventory?
Beyond a trend, selling on Amazon without holding physical products is a proven business model. Thousands of entrepreneurs globally have found success with this model.
Here's why this approach makes sense and who benefits most from it.
The Benefits: Low Risk, High Reach, No Storage Costs
Amazon processes up to 5 billion orders every year.
That gives you access to millions of customers who are ready to buy. When you learn how to sell on Amazon without inventory, you avoid the biggest barrier: upfront costs.
With traditional retail, you buy products before you know if they'll sell. Learning how to sell on Amazon without inventory bypasses this risk. How? You only pay for items after a customer buys them.
Also, storage becomes someone else's job — no garage full of boxes, no shipping stress. Your supplier handles everything from printing and packing to delivery. You just have to focus on finding winning products and marketing them well.
That aside, the financial risk drops to nearly zero. When figuring out how to sell things on Amazon without inventory, you can test designs without buying large batches. If one flops, it’s not a problem; you’re not stuck with unsold inventory.
Most importantly, Amazon’s global reach improves your sales potential. For example, your phone case design can sell out across the world in a few days thanks to this reach.
Who This Strategy Works Best For
Learning how to sell on Amazon without inventory is great for:
- Side hustlers who want passive income
- Creative pros
- First-time sellers looking to benefit from low startup costs
Also Read:
- Easy Things to Make and Sell From Home for Profit
- How to Sell Digital Art: Maximizing Earnings With POD Services
5 Proven Ways to Sell on Amazon Without Inventory
These five methods let you start selling right away — without buying products upfront. Each one works differently, but all skip the need for storage or large investments.
1. Print on Demand (Recommended for Creators and Designers)
Print on demand is one of the best options for creatives looking to learn how to sell on Amazon without inventory. You design items like T-shirts, mugs, or phone cases. When customers order, your supplier prints and ships the item directly.
Podbase stands out as one of the best POD platforms for Amazon sellers. Unlike other platforms that charge monthly fees, Podbase has none. That means you keep more profit from every sale.
Podbase offers global shipping from multiple warehouses. This speed can help you win Amazon’s buy box more often.
Not only that, its custom branding options can help you build a real business. You can add your logo to packaging and create a memorable unboxing experience.
Here are some best-selling POD products:
- Laptop cases
- Phone cases
- Mugs and drinkware
- Wall art
- Tech accessories
Image via Podbase
2. Dropshipping with Third-Party Suppliers
Dropshipping lets you sell products from other suppliers without keeping inventory. You simply list their items on Amazon. When someone places an order, the supplier sells it to you at a lower price, and they ship it to the customer.
Use trusted platforms like AliExpress, Doba, or SaleHoo to find suppliers. Look for sellers with good reviews and fast shipping. US-based suppliers usually offer better delivery times for Amazon.
While dropshipping can give you higher profit margins than POD, there are more risks. You’ll need to handle customer service, and product quality may vary. Be sure to always test products first.
Focus on trending dropshipping items with solid profit margins, such as fitness gear, electronics, and home gadgets. But avoid overcrowded categories unless you can stand out.
3. Sell Digital Products (Ebooks, Printables, Audio)
Digital products don’t need to be shipped and have nearly 100% profit margins. You can sell e-books, printable planners, audio guides, or digital templates that your customers can download after purchase.
You can use Kindle Direct Publishing for e-books. You get a detailed dashboard to track your progress through reports and analytics:
Image via Kindle Direct Publishing
Digital products serve many purposes for consumers. Great examples include:
- Meal planners
- Workout guides
- Budget trackers
4. Merch by Amazon
This is Amazon’s built-in POD program. You upload your shirt or hoodie designs. Amazon prints and ships them. You earn royalties on each sale depending on price and product type.
You need to apply and get approved. That can take a few weeks or months.
A great tip when learning how to sell items on Amazon without inventory is to consider using keywords and trends to guide your design ideas. Don’t use copyrighted material to avoid copyright infringement.
5. Affiliate Marketing via Amazon Associates
Curious how to sell products on Amazon without inventory when you have a strong social media following? This method is perfect for you. Earn more with your Instagram page, blog, or YouTube channel.
Join Amazon Associates to get custom links. When people buy through your link, you earn a small percentage of the sale.
To succeed, focus on building trust. Only promote products you believe in because honest reviews work best.
Also, stick to evergreen products with steady demand. That’s a more reliable way to earn long-term.
Also Read:
A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Sell on Amazon Without Inventory
Ready to learn how to sell on Amazon without inventory for beginners? Follow these five steps to get started quickly and avoid mistakes.
Step 1: Choose Your Business Model
Pick one method from the five listed options on how to sell on Amazon without inventory.
- Print on demand works well if you have design skills or can hire designers. The profit margins are solid, and the learning curve isn’t too steep.
- Dropshipping offers higher profit potential but takes more time. You’ll need to research suppliers and handle customer service.
- Digital products have the best margins but need strong marketing. Since there’s a lot of free content online, your offer must be unique.
Think about your current skills, available time, and budget. Starting with what aligns with your strengths is the smart way to master how to sell on Amazon without inventory.
Step 2: Sign Up for Amazon Seller Central
Go to sellercentral.amazon.com and create your seller account.
You’ll have two plans to choose from:
- Individual: $0.99/sale
- Professional: $39.99/month
If you plan to sell more than 40 items monthly, go with the professional plan. It gives you better tools and lower per-item fees.
Have these documents ready:
- Business license
- Tax info
- Bank account
Amazon usually verifies your account within 24 to 72 hours.
Complete your seller profile to build customer trust and boost rankings. Add your business name, logo, and a short description.
Step 3: Connect to Podbase or Your Chosen Platform
If you're going with POD, Podbase makes fulfillment simple. But since it doesn't connect directly to Amazon, you'll need to upload products manually through Seller Central.
Upload 5 to 10 high-quality designs. Podbase creates product mockups for you to show your designs on real products. Here’s an example:
For dropshipping, test suppliers before adding them. Order samples and check shipping times. Poor quality will hurt your Amazon performance fast.
Step 4: List, Price, and Promote
Create product titles with the right keywords. Use clear words that explain what the item is, who it's for, and what it does.
Price fairly. Don’t go too low — trying to undercut everyone leads to lower profits.
Create detailed product descriptions. Instead of “100% cotton,” say “Soft, breathable fabric that feels good all day.”
Also, upload up to nine product images. Show your product from all sides, and when in use.
Finally, use Amazon ads to get first sales. Start with automatic campaigns and set a $5 to $10 daily budget. Review results after a few weeks to see your progress. This is a key step in mastering how to sell on Amazon without inventory.
Step 5: Optimize Listings and Fulfillment
Check your metrics on Seller Central daily. Watch for:
- Low inventory
- Negative feedback
- Shipping delays
Reply to buyer messages within 24 hours. Fast responses improve your seller score.
Adjust pricing based on demand and competition. Use a repricing tool so you don’t have to change it manually all the time.
Grow winning products by adding variations. For example:
- If red phone cases are selling well, add blue and black.
- If mugs with quotes are popular, add new designs with similar themes.
Also Read:
Why Podbase Is the Smarter POD Choice
Most print-on-demand platforms charge hidden fees and limit your control. Podbase takes a different approach. It puts more money in your pocket and helps you grow faster on Amazon.
Global Shipping, Fast Fulfillment
Podbase has fulfillment centers in the US, Europe, and Asia. Customers enjoy fast shipping, no matter where they are.
While Podbase doesn’t sync directly with Amazon, it gives you the tools to manage orders easily. You list your products manually through Seller Central, and Podbase handles the rest.
Other platforms can take 24 to 48 hours to process inventory changes. That delay can cost you sales and hurt your Amazon metrics. With Podbase, your fulfillment runs smoothly even as your volume grows.
Sell Popular Products Like Phone Cases, Mugs, and Wall Art
Podbase offers a wide range of POD products that Amazon customers already love, such as:
- Phone cases with bold or trendy designs
- Coffee mugs with quotes, art, or custom names
- Wall prints and posters
- Premium tech accessories
These are smart picks if you’re learning how to sell on Amazon without inventory using print on demand.
No Platform Fees, No Minimums
Podbase has no platform fees, no setup costs, and no order minimums. Start with one product or scale to 100; nothing is holding you back.
Podbase only earns when you do. That’s the kind of platform you want when mastering how to sell on Amazon without inventory long-term.
Also Read:
Final Thoughts: Build a Lean Amazon Business in 2025
Learning how to sell on Amazon without inventory opens up low-risk ways to start a business. You can test product ideas without spending thousands on stock that may not sell. You could also start today and have products live tomorrow.
Start small and scale what works. Choose one method from this guide on how to sell on Amazon without inventory and stick with it. Most sellers succeed by focusing, not by trying everything at once.
When you combine Amazon’s reach with inventory-free models like print on demand, your business can grow fast.
The question now is, when will you start your inventory-free Amazon business? Podbase makes it simple with zero platform fees and global shipping. Sign up to Podbase today!
Saulius Meilutis is the CEO of Podbase, helping creators and entrepreneurs monetize their ideas with print-on-demand. He shares insights on eCommerce, growth, and building lean online businesses.
