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How To Sell Paperback Books On Amazon 2024: Step-by-Step Guide

How To Sell Paperback Books On Amazon 2024: Step-by-Step Guide

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Anyone who knows Jeff Bezos and Amazon knows that Amazon started as an online bookstore. You read it correctly! Amazon and books are synonymous because they were the only product they sold initially. They then began to branch out to other products.

Books are an essential part of the Amazon Marketplace. It has changed the way books are published and sold. Book sales now generate billions in revenue. A marketer study found that 62% of all books and music are directly purchased online.


If you want to sell paperback books on Amazon, make sure you use a tool that makes it easy to make your book saleable. You can use Kindle Create or Kindle Previewer. Use the Amazon PRO Extension or create a launch team of early reviewers.


You can sell paperback books on Amazon or build your website using the Fynd platform. This article will give you more information on manufacturing and selling channels. It is significant first to understand the market for supplements.


Why should one sell books on Amazon?

Why should one sell books on Amazon

Amazon books are a low-risk, low-budget way to make money. The timeless appeal of books is unmatched, and everyone loves to read them while they relax.


People want to read all the new books that are out. The profit margin when selling books is high. However, as a seller, it is vital to research the type of books you sell, determine which one is most in demand, and even consider selling used books.


If you have overflowing bookshelves, reselling them on Amazon can be a quick and straightforward way to make some extra cash. This situation requires a clearing out. Instead of throwing away books, reselling is the best option. Book lovers will also feel more at ease knowing that it will not waste the book and someone will purchase it.


It is one of the most popular product categories on Amazon, combined with the fact that Amazon offers convenient fulfilment options to sellers, making it even more attractive. You can ship books or use FBA and FBM options if you sell more significant quantities.


What do you need to market your book on Amazon?

What do you need to market your book on Amazon

For selling books on Amazon, it is necessary to be ready with these details:

  • Citizenship Country
  • Birth Country
  • Birthdate
  • Proof of Identity (License or Passport ID)
  • Address for business
  • Number for phone
  • Information on bank accounts
  • Credit or debit card
  • Statement from the bank
  • ISBN (the book's registration code)
  • Book SKU number


How to sell books on Amazon

How to sell books on Amazon

You must first decide whether you are selling used books or new books when you sell books on Amazon. You can get used books from your shelves or other sources, such as yard sales and clear-outs. You must source your inventory correctly if you want to sell books on Amazon.

People can purchase bundles of books to sell on Amazon. It is a great way to stockpile your inventory. To acquire stock, you must choose between wholesale methods or offline. To start selling, you will need to create an Amazon seller account. There are other steps that you should follow, which are listed below.

  • Visit Amazon.com
  • Register for a regular user account.
  • Point to your username, and a dropdown list will appear.
  • Click "Start a Selling Account" and "Sign up".


You can choose between an Individual seller account that charges $0.99 per sale or a Professional seller account that costs $39.99 monthly.


  • Next, enter your ISBN and click "Have One for Sale".


Then, you will need to give more details about the book's conditions. It is crucial to review the guidelines regarding the conditions under which you may sell your book.


  • You can choose between FBM and FBA fulfilment options.
  • Analyse customer reviews, selling costs, and profit margins.


Seller App offers analytical tools to help you with this. To see how it can help, go to a demo.


Set up your own Amazon seller account.

The first step is to establish an Amazon seller account. Here's how:


1. Log in to your Amazon account or sign up as a new user for those who do not have an account. Go to Amazon's selling guides page and scroll to the "How to register" section, where you can choose either "Sell as an Individual" or "Sell as a professional."


2. Choose the country you'll run your virtual shop out of. When you see a dropdown, choose the type of vendor you are before pressing "Agree and continue."


3. Next, select or enter information about where you are a citizen, your birthplace date, birthdate, proof of identity (License or Passport ID), as well as your company address and telephone number.


4. Amazon will send an individual pin to the number you have provided. In your pop-up windows.


5. After clicking "I Understand", to confirm that you have all the bank information required to open accounts for sellers, enter your financial institution's information and details of your bank account. You must check the "Terms and Conditions" box before selecting "Verify Bank Account."


6. You can enter your credit card details on the following page and choose a billing address.


7. Now input your store's name, and inform Amazon whether you've got a UPC, diverse certificates and if you are the manufacturer or brand owner of all or any of your items.


8. Confirm your personal account information and upload your identification documents and bank statement before clicking submit. Within five to seven business days, your account will get an email with a verification code to confirm your bank account before you receive an email from Amazon to confirm that the process is over.


What is the cost of selling books on Amazon?

Consider overhead costs, delivery fees, royalties, referral fees and other expenses. For every book you sell, a 15% referral fee is payable to Amazon, along with a closing charge. They may also charge fees to your Individual or Professional seller account.


FBA and FBM are not there in the upfront cost. FBA fees can accumulate over time and have storage, disposal, penalties, and shipping. Authors can earn royalties by selling books on Amazon Kindle, and Amazon also receives a commission on the book's price.


Selling books on Amazon is relatively inexpensive, even after you take all the fees concerning. This turns it into a popular category to sell on Amazon.


How to find books that Amazon can sell

How to find books that Amazon can sell

Many factors go into finding books to sell on Amazon. The Amazon BSR measures the speed at which a product sells. Consider the profit that you can make after subtracting all costs and fees.


There are several ways to find books you can sell:

Online/offline arbitrage. This is a way to purchase books at a lower price from sites like eBay or Craigslist and then sell them on Amazon for a profit. As I mentioned in this article, you could search for books in flea markets and bookshops.


Bulk/wholesale

You can get the lowest prices on books by buying in bulk, even though you won't be able to choose what you want. You can start by looking at real estate, farm sales, and closing bookshops.


Conduct research.

Check the Amazon Best Seller list and the sales rank of the book you sell. It will give you an insight. Into the hourly sales of a book title compared to other titles. It also keeps an eye on the number of orders. As it indicates how popular the book is, a BSR of 100,000 is the ideal goal.


  • It is best to avoid niches that are crowded with other sellers. It will make it difficult for new sellers to get into this market. Remember to take into consideration the popularity and seasonality of books. Also, remember that the sales rank of books is the most important.



  • You can download a book scanner to help you check the price, profits, fees, FBA, BSR, FBA and other details. These will help you decide on the price range of the book you want to sell. To calculate your margins if you are fulfilling orders via FBA, use the Seller App FBA Calculator.


How to Sell Old Books on Amazon

How to Sell Old Books on Amazon

One essential thing to remember when selling old or used books on Amazon is that books can quickly become brittle if they are not protected against mildew, colour fade, and other agents. People will still buy used books, but expect them to be in good condition.


You will need an Amazon seller account, fulfilment method, inventory, and a way to sell used books. Finding used books is similar to finding new ones online and offline modes.


Kindle Create

Kindle Create

Kindle Create is the perfect solution if you're looking for a tool to format your paperback book. The program lets you convert a Microsoft Word document into a book that looks like a traditional book. It also allows you to prepare the print edition at the same time. 


You can create a Kindle e-book and a print edition using the software. You can even choose to format the book with complex formatting for both editions. There are several types of Kindle Create for paperback books, including novels, essays, memoirs, textbooks, travel books, and cookbooks.


First, open the Word document you wish to publish. If you have errors in the file, use the "Correct" option to correct them before uploading it to Amazon. If you have any problems with formatting, check the Word file and fix it before moving on to Kindle Create.


You can also upload your book file to Amazon KDP, a free online publishing service. Your book will then appear in the Kindle store as an eBook, and once sold, it will be printed as a paperback. The author will receive royalties based on the book's price and file size.


The next step in creating your paperback book on Kindle Create is to add the book's title and subtitle. These will serve as the book's keyword boxes and help people discover it more easily. Use the most relevant keywords in your title and subtitle to increase its discoverability.


Once you've uploaded your file to Kindle Create, you need to add a description for your book and keyword phrases. You can enter up to seven keywords for your book. You can also use two keyword phrases for your keywords, such as self-publishing.


Kindle Previewer

Kindle Previewer

If you're planning on selling paperback books on Amazon, you should use a Kindle Previewer tool. This free tool will help you view your ebook in various screen sizes. The software is compatible with multiple popular ebook formats, including Kindle and paperback. Before publishing, you can use it to test your paperback book's format on different screens.


You can install the widget on your website or blog and use it to display a preview of the book. You can place it in the sidebar, in a new tab, or right in place. It can also be customised to fit your website or blog. You can use your Amazon Associates account or ID to create your preview.


The software allows you to preview the ebook you have created, and you can also change some of the book's settings. You can customise your book's appearance by selecting a theme, using a Common Elements feature, and adding unique elements. Then you can publish your eBook. Note: publishing an eBook via Kindle Previewer will not publish the book to Kindle Direct Publishing.


Once you've uploaded your book and published it, you'll be able to see the cover of your book on Amazon. Be sure to test your cover and layout before publishing your book. The cover font and design can make or break your book. To ensure your cover looks good, use the Kindle Previewer. 


While the Kindle Previewer app is not a perfect replica of a book, it is a close approximation. Aside from using the Kindle Previewer, it would help if you also tried using the Kindle Creator tool.

It is a helpful tool for checking your Word file to see if it's ready for Kindle. It even offers unique features to help you make your book more appealing to readers. You can even use this tool to ensure your book has the perfect formatting.


What is Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing?

What is Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing

Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing is a self-publishing platform that allows you to publish ebooks, low-content books, and hard cover books free of charge. Amazon KDP allows you to publish your book with full rights and can be available worldwide. *


You can hire freelancers to help you if you aren't an author or need more time. You will need to determine which products are most popular on Amazon. Then, optimise your digital products and listings to increase sales.


What is the most significant advantage of selling products on Amazon KDP E-commerce can be a remarkable way to boost your sales without having to worry about physical goods or stock. It is imperative in times of lockdowns and pandemics.


What can you publish on Amazon KDP?

What can you publish on Amazon KDP

Amazon's KDP allows you to publish the following content:

  • Novels
  • Journals & planners,
  • Recipe Books,
  • Books for children
  • Colouring Books
  • Comics
  • Poetry
  • Textbooks,
  • Book Series.


KDP does not create magazines, periodicals, or spiral-bound books. Finally, you can print and sell ebooks from one account. KDP Printer allows a supplier to print books only after getting an order. You must upload perfectly formatted print files to use the print-on-demand (POD) service. This article contains general information and data. It does not have professional advice.


What is the cost of publishing on Amazon KDP?

What is the cost of publishing on Amazon KDP

Amazon KDP publishing is free. Uploading the file is also free Royalties for Authors 35% to 70% of the Sale Price (for prices between $2.99 and $9.99). Amazon takes 30% and gives you 70%, while for all other prices, you get 35%.


Amazon KDP: Best Sellers

Amazon KDP_ Best Sellers

What products can you sell on Amazon KDP? These niches have great potential for Amazon KDP sales.


Frontline workers niche

This new niche has been the focus of much attention since the pandemic. Nurses, teachers, postal, public transport, and grocery store workers are potential frontline workers.


Entrepreneurship / small business niche

Owners of small businesses are keen to stay organised, disciplined, and motivated by limiting their focus to a specific type of business (e.g. You could be a hairdresser, an event planner, or a tech start-up.


Holidays niche

You can make a lot of sales with seasonal events—Christmas, Hanukkah, Valentine's Day, Easter, Mother's Day, and Father's Day.


Personal development niche

This niche can make a real difference in people's life. It's essential to narrow it down because it's already saturated.


Gaming niche

Gaming is a trendy niche. Copyright-protected designs are something to be aware of.


Sports niche

Many sports are available: figure skating, winter sports, tennis and baseball. Keep in mind, however, that specific niches may be saturated. Be aware. You cannot make designs for athletes or teams because they come under copyright.


Food/cooking/baking niche

During the pandemic, baking, particularly bread making, increased in popularity.


Crafting niche

The pandemic saw craft popularity rise as well. There are several crafting niches, including knitting, crocheting, and quilting.


Nature lovers niche

This category includes environmentalists, hikers and wilderness lovers, and avid hikers. Many sub-niches can be found in plants, trees, cacti and hiking.

Floral niche

Consider a floral niche in general or niching down, for example, lilies, sunflowers, daisies, chrysanthemums, carnations, roses, and tulips.


Graduation niche

There are two options: focus on specific graduates or general graduation. You can choose to focus on elementary school, high school, or post-secondary school.


Typography niche

Books can come with quotes, monograms, quotes, single letters, and other inspirational words. Quotes and sayings must be in the public domain. If you want to use them, you will need a license due to copyright. 


Travel lovers niche

This niche is full of endless possibilities. Many design options exist for any city, nation, state, or continent. You could design for travelling by plane, boat or train, solo, with friends, or together.


AMZ Scout PRO Extension

AMZScout PRO Extension

For sellers who already have a list of ideas for books to sell on Amazon, the AMZ Scout PRO Extension is a great way to find various ideas for selling. However, if you are still deciding what to sell, you can use the Product Database to create a list.

You can try the service for free for 30 days, and all you have to do is enter an email address and basic information. After that, you can start using the PRO Extension to narrow your search results and check out your favourite ideas.

The tool has a unique feature that lets you calculate the final price of a product. This tool will consider the product's cost, the shipping cost, and the commission. It will also take into account the cost of packaging and referral bonuses. Using the tool can save you money by identifying popular products.

This extension is an excellent choice for Amazon sellers looking for profitable products. It is feature-packed and includes reports on revenue and sales. It also allows you to calculate your FBA fees. AMZScout is available for sale in four different price plans and offers a free trial.

When selling used books on Amazon, it is crucial to consider your books' profit margin and price trend. This way, you can save money as some books take longer to sell than others. In addition, you must be able to keep track of your inventory and ship your orders promptly.

Creating a launch team of early reviewers

Creating a launch team of early reviewers

Creating a team of early reviewers is a great way to promote your paperback book, but you should remember that not everyone will follow through. They may have disliked the book, or they may have needed more time.

They may even be confused about what they should do. To bring success to the team, you should motivate them and give them incentives. By providing them with valuable incentives, you will make them feel significant, and they'll be more likely to follow through.

Creating a launch team is more than just collecting reviews; it's also about building a relationship with your readers. Your team should read your book before anyone else and provide an honest review of it. Amazon favours books that have lots of reviews, so it's essential to have your launch team ready to go.

Once you have your team together, you'll need to communicate with them regularly. Send them a personalised email to let them know about your book's launch day and ask them to leave a review for it.

You can also ask them to post articles or blog posts about the book. Remember to follow up with your team members after they've read the book to see if they're willing to leave a review.

After your team has reviewed your book, be sure to thank them for their support personally. It is especially critical if you have ARC readers who need to be more competitive or active in your genre.

It's essential to thank them for their time and efforts in supporting your work. It will give your team members a sense of loyalty and make them more likely to review your future books.

What is the best price for used books on Amazon?

What is the best price for used books on Amazon

Amazon sellers selling books for years will tell you that the minimum price you can set is $7. This is to make a profit. For profit, you should set the price at least $10 and $12 for an additional cushion. Amazon fees are generally higher if the price is lower than you have set.

You can sell used books.

If you are a beginner selling new books on Amazon is tricky. Wholesalers, distributors or publishers would be the best sources for your inventory. You can only make money selling books by buying them in bulk.

You will need to place orders four to five times larger than usual. We recommend the best practices for inventory management (opens in new window) if you want to manage bulk orders.


You can also buy books directly from self-published authors, as they are often not connected with wholesalers. Self-published books can pose a risk. Let's be honest: they can be terrible. We strongly recommend focusing on used books if you are beginning to learn how to sell books online. (We will be grateful later.)


FBM shipping at the beginning

FBM (Fulfillment By Merchant) is a shipping method that Amazon offers while you are still learning how to sell books. You are responsible for shipping and packing all orders. The workload should be manageable since you only have a limited inventory and fewer orders to fulfil.


View all FBM fees at Amazon (opens in new window) (as well as a calculator to help you compare plans) FBM means you are responsible for all aspects of customer service, even customer service.



FBA shipping is available for sellers who are more established

Your business will grow, and so will your packing and shipping time. It takes so much time! You could use this money to source your next bestseller or follow the trends. While shipping is an essential part of customer service, it can also be a time-consuming task that you can outsource.


FBA Benefits:

  • Amazon will ship the books to you and handle all customer issues.
  • Prime shipping will be available for your products (a popular choice with customers because Prime is fast and covers shipping costs).
  • FBM products will be given priority for the Buy Box, so your books will have preference.
  • You have the right to cancel a negative review if there's a problem with your FBA shipment.
  • It is a cost-effective and scalable option for Amazon sellers of medium or large sizes.

View all Amazon FBA fees (opens in new window) (as well as a calculator to help you compare plans).


How to price books on Amazon

The golden question. Amazon will provide information about the prices for each book when you create a product page. It is a great starting point. But! But! If you are willing to sell books on Amazon, this is a crucial step. Your listed price is everything. You could win a Buy Box (opens in a new tab).


Boost Your Sales

It is a surprise (or not). According to 2019 revenue data, 86% are profitable Amazon sellers (opens in new window). What are they doing right, exactly? What are their secrets to selling on Amazon?

The study and study. Learn as much as possible about the market in which you plan to sell your books. Start with Amazon's Seller University (which opens in a new window) to learn the basics. Next, move on to the Amazon Seller Central forum (opens a new tab). You can find a lot of helpful information on these forums. However, people are sincere.


Amazon Author Page - Promote your books

Go for it if you have the money. Get to know the basics (opens in a new tab), so you can use your ads strategically. Register to become an Amazon seller of software.

A third-party service can help you start your Amazon business if you're new to Amazon. Seller Labs costs $39/mo (opens in new window) and will give you a complete picture of your competitors, help with buyer reviews, lower your advertising ACoS and track overall performance.


Shipping costs

If you sell paperback books on Amazon, you should know the costs of shipping them to customers. Media Mail charges for a single book are around $2.80, but if you sell several books, the shipping costs may be significantly more. There are numerous ways to decrease shipping costs.

Fulfilment by Amazon (FBA) is the service used by the merchant to store, process, and ship orders from Amazon. This service also powers Amazon Prime. However, there are more efficient options. This service is costly because it consumes the proceeds from the sale of each book.


If you have many books, consider listing them in multiple conditions. Amazon will reimburse you up to USD 3.99 for each one sold. Be sure to follow the terms and conditions of the condition for each listing. This way, you can avoid losing money from shipping expensive books.


Using the right price for your books is essential for success on Amazon. Most seasoned sellers recommend that sellers start at a price that makes them a profit. However, you should remember that some books take longer to sell than others.

It can be a big hassle for new sellers. It's crucial to source your inventory from distributors, wholesalers, or publishers. Make sure you follow the best inventory management practices.


It would help if you had a Seller Central account to sell your books on Amazon. Once your book is listed, you'll need to prepare it for shipping. When you ship, they will provide you with a shipping label.

Frequently asked questions

What can I do to stop Amazon from lowering the price of my book? What happens if they do?

Amazon KDP cannot stop self-publishers from charging less than the retail price. If Amazon charges less than the retail price, your royalty depends upon that amount (subject to their policies).

How often can I alter the price of my books

Although you can usually change the eBook price anytime, there are limitations and consequences. For example, if your book is in KDP, select or pre-order.

  • Pre-order. Pre-order. All existing orders will be priced lower if you lower the price. The price increase does not affect current orders; they get the lower price.
  • KDP Select. KDP Select. Your Kindle price should not change for at least 30 days before and 14 days after the Kindle Countdown Deal ends. View all requirements.

Price change Changing the price of your paperback anytime and as often as you wish is simple. Amazon will manually review any price changes exceeding 40%, which may take longer. Also, see question six.

What is price matching?

Amazon reserves the right not to match a book that Amazon has found at a lower price. You will receive a lower royalty if Amazon finds your book at a lower price. This is a policy authors can modify if they wish to give away their Kindle eBook. See the next question. (More information at KDP's pricing webpage)

Can I give my eBook away for free?

Both yes and no. Ninety-nine cents is the lowest price at which you can buy an eBook. There are two ways you can make your eBook accessible.

  • KDP Select is available to you. Within the 90-day enrolment period, you can give your Kindle eBook away for free up to five times per 24 hours. 
  • You can price your eBook at no cost in other stores like Apple, B&N and Kobo. Contact Amazon to request a price match. Amazon does not have to price match, but they often do.
What are the minimum and maximum prices I can charge?

Yes. And this is a summary based on the date in this article.

Kindle eBooks

  • 99c to $2.99 Minimum 35% royalty, depending on the file size
  • Minimum, 70% royalty: $2.99
  • Maximum, 35% royalty: $200
  • Maximum, 70% royalty: $9.99

(Source: Kindle eBook List Price Requirements)

Paperback books

  • Minimum: The cost to print your book, as indicated on the pricing page of KDP (also refer to Part 1 in this series).
  • Maximum: $250

Note that if your eBook publishes with the 70% royalty option, the paperback must be 25% more expensive than the eBook per the Terms and Conditions.

What is the KDP Pricing Support Beta (Beta) calculator?

Amazon offers a tool that helps authors decide the best price for their Kindle eBook. To view your book's Kindle eBook Pricing page on KDP, click View Services under the Royalty & Pricing section. You will be able to "See the relationship among price and past sales and author earnings (KDP books similar to yours)," according to the messaging. This tool will evaluate the length and content of your book concerning similar eBooks and suggest a price optimal for author earnings.

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