How to Make Money with Amazon KDP in India (A 2025 Side Hustle Guide)

Key Takeaways (TL;DR)

• Amazon KDP is a low-investment, location-independent side hustle perfect for Indians.
• You can publish high-content, medium-content, or low-content books depending on your skills and time.
• Finding a profitable niche is key. Balance demand, competition, and gaps. Use Amazon search suggestions, BSR, and reviews.
• Ebook pricing: ₹149-₹499 depending on content type; enroll in KDP Select to earn via Kindle Unlimited.
• Realistic earnings: One low-content book may earn ₹500-₹2,000/month; scaling to 20-50 books multiplies income significantly.
• Scaling strategies: Build a brand, use pen names, repurpose interiors, create audiobooks, distribute beyond Amazon, and bundle books.
• Mindset matters: Don't worry about being a writer/designer, early failures, or saturation-focus on consistent publishing and learning.
• Tools like Canva and Book Bolt make designing low-content books easy even for beginners.
• KDP royalties are paid directly to Indian bank accounts, no US account needed, making it simple to get paid.

For years, earning passive income online felt like something only "Western creators" could pull off. Selling ebooks, courses, or digital products while they slept. Today, thousands of Indians are quietly building a steady income stream through Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP)...

What makes this side hustle so powerful is its accessibility. You don't need a writing background, fancy degree, or upfront investment. All you need is an internet connection, a bit of creativity, and the willingness to learn how Amazon's ecosystem works.

In this guide, I'll break down everything you need to know to start your own ebook publishing side hustle in India. From finding profitable niches to scaling your book portfolio. Whether you're a student looking for a low-risk side hustle, a freelancer diversifying your income, or a 9-to-5 professional exploring different online side hustles in India, this is a business model that can fit into your schedule and grow over time.

By the end of this post, you'll understand exactly how to publish your first ebook, avoid beginner mistakes, and set yourself up for consistent royalties every month, all from the comfort of your laptop.

Why an ebook side hustle is perfect for Indians

When most people in India think of starting a side hustle, they picture something that needs money upfront. Selling products, running ads, or managing clients. The ebook business flips that idea completely.

With Amazon KDP, you don't need inventory, shipping, or customer service. You just create a digital product once and Amazon sells it for you 24/7.

For Indians especially, this model is incredibly powerful because:

• Low Investment, High Accessibility: You can start with ₹0. No website, no paid tools, no marketing budget. All you need is a free Amazon KDP account and a computer.
• Global Reach from Day One: Your book instantly becomes available on Amazon.in, Amazon.com, and other marketplaces worldwide, meaning your audience isn't limited to India.
• No Technical Skills Required: You can use free tools like Canva and ChatGPT to design interiors, write descriptions, and create covers even if you're not a writer or designer.
• Truly Passive Income: Once your book is published, it keeps earning royalties month after month without you needing to manage it. The more books you publish, the more your income compounds.
• Perfect for Students, Freelancers & Working Professionals: You can create and upload a book in your spare time, without quitting your job or taking client work.

Most side hustles in India like freelancing, reselling, or social media marketing depend on active work and consistent client communication. KDP, on the other hand, rewards systems over time.

You're building a digital asset library that keeps working for you, long after you've moved on to the next project. That's what makes it one of the most beginner-friendly and scalable online income streams available today.

Different KDP publishing models you can use

Just like freelancers can choose between hourly, project-based, or retainer pricing models, KDP publishers can choose from different publishing models depending on their goals, skills, and available time.

You don't have to start by writing a full-blown novel. In fact, most successful Indian KDP publishers begin with simple, scalable book types that fit their strengths.

Here are the three main models to understand before you publish your first book:

High-content books

Examples: Non-fiction guides, fiction novels, how-to ebooks, educational content.

These are books that require original writing, your own expertise, storytelling, or research. Think of topics like "How to Start a Freelance Career in India" or "A Beginner's Guide to Stock Market Investing".

You can even repurpose skills from our content writing guide to create your first non-fiction ebook

Pros:

• Build authority and credibility in your niche.
• Higher royalty per sale (especially for non-fiction).
• Easier to market organically, readers leave reviews and share books they love.

Cons:

• Time-intensive as writing and editing can take weeks or months.
• Requires good writing skills and consistent effort.
• You'll need to invest in editing, formatting, and cover design for a professional finish.

Best for: Writers, experts, or professionals who want to build a personal brand through publishing.

Low-content & No-content books

Examples: Journals, planners, logbooks, trackers, notebooks, sketchbooks.

This is where most beginners start, because you don't need to write long texts, just design simple, structured interiors using free tools like Canva or Book Bolt.

Pros:

• Very low barrier to entry and perfect for non-writers.
• Quick to produce and easy to scale.
• You can create multiple variations (e.g., "Gratitude Journal for Moms," "Fitness Tracker for Men").

Cons:

• Highly competitive as many people publish similar books.
• You need strong niche research and standout covers to succeed.
• Royalties per book are smaller, so profits come from volume.

Best for: Beginners learning the KDP process or side hustlers looking for fast execution and experimentation.

Medium-content books

Examples: Coloring books, puzzle books, activity books, prompt-based journals.

This model sits between high-content and low-content. You're adding creativity or problem-solving value without writing long text.

Pros:

• Less competition than plain low-content books.
• Can be fun and creative to make.
• Great long-term potential if you find the right niche (kids' books, hobbies, self-development).

Cons:

• Requires slightly more design work and idea generation.
• Still needs time for layout and formatting.

Best for: Creators who enjoy design or want a mix of creativity and scalability.

You don't need to stick to just one model forever. Many successful KDP publishers start with low-content books to learn the ropes, then move into medium or high-content books as they build skills and confidence.

The key is to pick a model that matches your current strengths and time and focus on mastering it before expanding.

I personally started directly with high-content books. These worked well alongside my existing content writing side hustle.

How to find your profitable niche (even as a beginner)

Your success on Amazon KDP doesn't depend on how well you write, it depends on how well you choose your niche.

A profitable niche sits at the intersection of demand (people are searching for it) and low competition (few quality books exist in that space).

If you skip this step, you'll end up publishing books that never sell, no matter how great your design or title is.

Here's how to find your first winning niche, step by step:

Brainstorm broad topics

Start with what you already know or are interested in. Think of categories that are timeless, not seasonal or trendy.

Ask yourself:

• What do people in my circle struggle with?
• What tools or trackers do I personally use?
• What hobbies, habits, or goals are popular in India right now?

Examples of broad starting points:

• Health & Fitness
• Productivity & Goal-Setting
• Money Management
• Mindfulness & Gratitude
• Parenting & Education
• Hobbies (Cooking, Gardening, Art, etc.)

Don't overthink, aim for 10-15 broad topics that could become book niches. You can also explore fiction niches like Romance, Fantasy, Thriller, and Science Fiction.

Use Amazon's search bar to find long-tail keywords

Now, go to Amazon.in and start typing one of your broad ideas into the Kindle Books category.

As you type, Amazon's autocomplete suggestions will show you what real shoppers are searching for. These are your potential long-tail keywords, specific, buyer-focused ideas.

Examples:

• Gratitude journal for women/kids
• College romance story/Indian arranged marriage story
• Epic fantasy series/urban fantasy for young adults

These suggestions reveal sub-niches where people are actively spending money.

Analyze the competition's BSR and reviews

Next, click on the top results for those keywords and study their listings.

Here's what to look for:

• BSR (Best Sellers Rank): You'll find this under the "Product Details" section. A lower number means higher sales.
  • BSR < 100,000 = decent sales; < 50,000 = strong demand
  • Reviews: few (< 50) = opportunity, many = competitive
• Reviews:
  • Lots of reviews = competitive niche
  • Few reviews (under 50) + low BSR = goldmine, meaning high demand but few established players.
  • Covers & Titles: Notice what stands out visually. Are most covers similar? Can you make something better or more specific?

This step gives you an honest picture of whether your niche idea is too crowded or still open for new entrants.

Validate with a "profitability check"

Once you have a few potential niches, run a quick profitability filter:

• Demand: Are there at least 3-5 books with BSR under 100,000?
• Competition: Are there some books with low review counts (under 50)?
• Gap: Can you spot something missing, like an Indian version, gender-specific angle, or unique design theme?

If your niche meets all three, you've found a strong starting point.

Example:

Daily Gratitude Journal for Busy Moms

• Demand: Gratitude journals sell consistently year-round.
• Competition: Many general journals, few specific to Indian moms.
• Gap: Opportunity to create something localized and relatable.

That's a validated niche and the foundation of a book that can sell for months or years without active marketing.

Finding your first profitable niche takes patience, but it's worth it. Instead of guessing what people want, you're using real marketplace data which means every book you publish has a higher chance of earning consistent royalties.

What a profitable KDP business looks like in India

Let's be clear, Amazon KDP isn't a "get rich quick" scheme. It's a long-term, compounding business where small, consistent efforts stack up over time.

Just like freelancers slowly raise their rates with experience, KDP creators grow their earnings by building a portfolio of books, not by hoping for one viral bestseller.

Here's what a realistic, profitable KDP business looks like for Indian creators in 2025:

Ebook pricing: understanding the 35% vs. 70% royalty options

When you publish on Amazon KDP, you earn royalties each time your book sells. For self-publishing authors, understanding the royalty structure is crucial.

• 35% Royalty: Applies to ebooks priced below $2.99 USD (around ₹249 INR) or above $9.99 USD (around ₹849 INR). This is common for short reads, low-content books, or promotional launches.

• 70% Royalty: Available for ebooks priced between $2.99-$9.99 USD (₹249-₹849 INR) in eligible markets like India, the US, and the UK. Most self-publishing authors aim for this bracket because it offers higher profit margins.

Tip: Enrolling your ebook in KDP Select allows you to earn additional income through Kindle Unlimited, where authors are paid based on pages read, a major revenue stream for many self-publishers.

Typical pricing ranges on Amazon.in:

• Low-content books (journals, planners): ₹149-₹299
• Medium-content books (activity books, coloring books): ₹199-₹399
• High-content ebooks (non-fiction, fiction novels): ₹199-₹499

The sweet spot for most Indian readers is around ₹199-₹299, affordable, profitable, and ideal for self-publishing beginners.

Realistic earnings

Every successful KDP creator starts small. You might publish your first few books and earn just a few hundred rupees and that's perfectly fine. Let's set expectations with realistic benchmarks:

• A single low-content or medium-content book can earn anywhere between ₹500-₹2,000 per month for a self-publishing author if it ranks well in its niche.
• Enrolling books in KDP Select can increase earnings further through Kindle Unlimited, where you earn based on pages read.
• A well-written non-fiction ebook could bring in ₹3,000-₹10,000 per month, depending on demand and reviews.

The Power of Volume:

Imagine you have one journal that sells 10 copies a month, earning you ₹100 in royalties per copy. That's ₹1,000/month.

Now, what if you had 20 similar books?

10 copies x ₹100 royalties x 20 books = ₹20,000/month

Even modest-performing books can generate significant income when you scale your catalog. Small wins stack up over time, turning your side hustle into a meaningful passive income stream.

Remember, the key isn't one blockbuster book, it's building a library of books that consistently earn month after month.

Royalty payments & how Amazon pays Indian authors

Amazon makes royalty payments every month, approximately 60 days after the end of the month in which a sale occurs.

For Indian publishers:

• Payments are made directly to your Indian bank account via EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer), and you'll need to provide your PAN and tax info inside KDP.
• You can earn in multiple currencies (USD, GBP, INR), and Amazon automatically converts the amount to INR before depositing.

There's no need for a US bank account or third-party payment service, Amazon handles everything seamlessly.

The bottom line

A profitable KDP business in India isn't built overnight, it's built through consistent publishing, smart niche research, and patience.

You might start small, but if you stick with it, your book catalog can grow into a genuine passive income stream that pays you month after month, even while you sleep.

How to scale your KDP business (from one book to many)

Publishing your first book is exciting, but the real earnings come when you scale your business. Just like freelancers increase income by taking on more clients or raising rates, KDP creators grow revenue by creating more books and leveraging smart strategies.

Here are the most effective ways to scale:

Building a brand

Focusing on a single niche allows you to dominate a category over time.

• Publish multiple books in the same niche (e.g., fitness planners, diet journals, habit trackers).
• Use a consistent cover style, branding, or naming convention so readers recognize your books instantly.
• This creates trust and repeat buyers, someone who buys one journal is more likely to buy the next in the series.

Using pen names

Pen names aren't just for fiction authors, they're a strategic tool.

• Use different pen names for different niches to keep your branding clear.
• For example, your children's activity books could be under one pen name, while fitness planners use another.
• This makes it easier to market books to the right audience without confusing them.

Marketing your books

Even though KDP can be mostly passive, a little marketing goes a long way:

• Share your books on social media (Instagram, Pinterest, X/Twitter) where your niche hangs out.
• Build a small email list to promote new releases, updates, or free downloadable versions of your interiors.
• Collaborate with micro-influencers or bloggers in your niche to get organic visibility.

Repurposing Content

Once you have a successful interior, you can repurpose it into multiple books:

• Keep the layout and content the same, but create new covers or tweak the theme slightly.
• Example: A "Gratitude Journal" for women can become one for men, one for teens, or one focused on mindfulness at work.
• This multiplies your revenue without creating entirely new content from scratch.

Create audiobooks

Once a book is successful, consider turning it into an audiobook.

• Platforms like ACX (Audible) or Findaway Voices allow you to record or hire narrators.
• Audiobooks are a rapidly growing market, reaching new audiences who prefer listening over reading.

Go wide (beyond Amazon)

Don't limit your sales to Amazon alone. Distribute to other platforms:

• IngramSpark and Draft2Digital let you sell in bookstores, libraries, and other online retailers.
• This captures the remaining 30% of the market outside Amazon, expanding your reach without extra work per book.

Bundle your books

Combine related titles into box sets or bundles:

• Group 3-5 books into a single package with a higher price point.
• Box sets are appealing to readers and can generate a fresh revenue stream from existing content.
• Example: Bundle your 5 mindfulness journals into a "30-Day Mindfulness Collection" and sell as a premium product.

Scaling your KDP business is about working smarter, not harder. By building a brand, leveraging content, exploring audiobooks, going beyond Amazon, and bundling books, you can turn a few titles into a full portfolio of passive income streams.

Common mindset blocks & mistakes to avoid

Starting a KDP side hustle is as much a mental game as it is a technical one. Many beginners quit not because they lack skills, but because of limiting beliefs or misconceptions. Recognizing and overcoming these mindset blocks is key to long-term success.

I'm not a writer or designer.

You don't need to be a professional writer or designer to succeed on KDP.

• Low-content books like journals, planners, or coloring books require minimal writing.
• Tools like Canva and Book Bolt simplify design and formatting for self-publishing authors, especially for low-content books.
• Focus on finding profitable niches and producing clean, useful content not literary perfection.

My first book failed, so this isn't for me.

Failure is part of the process and your first book might not make a single sale. My first book barely made five sales in the last one year.

• Think of KDP as a numbers game: the more books you publish, the higher your chances of earning consistent royalties.
• Each book you create is a learning experience: you'll improve covers, titles, descriptions, and keyword research as you go.
• Persistence is more important than perfection; most successful KDP publishers started with multiple "failed" books.

The market is too saturated.

It's true, some niches, like plain journals or generic planners, are highly competitive.

• But saturation is mostly at the top level. There are still sub-niches with unmet demand waiting to be explored.
• Use your research skills to find gaps: Indian audiences, specific age groups, professional hobbies, or localized themes.
• Success comes from standing out, not reinventing the wheel. Even in crowded markets, a well-designed, targeted book can perform very well.

Overcoming these mindset blocks is crucial. Once you stop worrying about perfection, fear, or saturation, you can focus on consistently publishing, and that's when passive income starts to grow.

Your turn to start earning

You now have the complete blueprint to start a profitable ebook side hustle with Amazon KDP in India. We've covered everything from finding a winning niche and creating your book to scaling your business for long-term passive income.

Remember, the journey of a thousand sales begins with a single upload. Stop waiting for the perfect idea and start your niche research today. The sooner you publish, the sooner you can start earning.