If you’ve ever dreamed about creating something once and earning from it again and again, Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) might be right up your street.
KDP lets you upload and sell your own books on Amazon — without needing to pay for stock, shipping, or printing. When someone orders your book, Amazon prints it, sends it to them, and pays you your share of the profit. It’s one of the most accessible side hustles out there because you can start with very little upfront cost, no warehouse full of products, and no customer service to deal with.
That’s exactly what drew me to it.
Back in April 2025, I decided to publish my first colouring book called Cozy Side Hustles. I sold a few copies, and I was instantly hooked. The idea that I could create something once and keep earning from it — even while I was busy with other things — felt incredible.
From there, I decided to see what else I could create and sell. To date (mid-February 2026), I’ve had over 750 sales on Amazon KDP, and many of those books are published under pen names (more on that shortly — it’s ridiculously easy to do!).
What surprised me most was how much of this has been passive. I haven’t promoted most of my books through my email lists or social media. In fact, the ones I didn’t attach my name to have actually sold better! So if you’re worried that you need a big audience to make sales — you don’t.
Another fun thing about KDP is that it’s not just about selling physical copies. If you enrol your books in Kindle Select, people with a Kindle Unlimited membership can read your books for free, and you still get paid for every page they read. That means you can earn money even if someone never actually buys your book.
Inside this hub, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know to get started — completely free. You’ll learn:
How to make your first 2–5 books without spending a penny
How to use pen names (it’s going to blow your mind how simple it is)
What realistic earnings look like and how long it can take
Where to find inspiration for books that actually sell
How to turn your existing blog content into Amazon-ready books
How Amazon royalties and pricing work
And finally, ideas to help you scale your KDP income over time
If you’re ready to start publishing your own books on Amazon — without a big investment, a big audience, or big promises — then let’s get started.
