5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Starting Amazon KDP
If you're thinking about jumping into Amazon KDP—especially with designing and publishing your own books—pause. This is the post I wish someone had written before I got started.
When I first dove into KDP, my focus was completely on design tools: Canva, BookBolt, Creative Fabrica—you name it. I binge-watched tutorials on formatting interiors and uploading to KDP. But you know what no one really talked about?
THE BUSINESS SIDE OF KDP
That’s where most creators—my past self included—get tripped up. You can have beautiful book covers and killer keywords, but if you haven’t set up your business foundation, you're building on sand.
So before you open up Canva or start tinkering with your book’s trim size, here are five things I wish I had known before publishing on Amazon KDP. These are simple, foundational steps that will save you confusion, stress, and even lost income down the road.
1. Choose Your Business Structure
Before you earn a single dollar, decide how you want to run your KDP business. Sure, you can start as a sole proprietor—but if you’re looking to build long-term income (or even turn this into a full-time gig), you might want to consider forming an LLC (Limited Liability Company).
Why? Two big reasons:
It offers legal protection, separating your personal assets from your business risks.
It makes tax season a whole lot cleaner.
There are plenty of online resources and professionals who can help you figure out what’s best for your situation. I didn’t do this right away, and I wish I had.
2. Set Up Your Tax Info (Early!)
Here’s the thing: Amazon won’t pay you without proper tax information.
If you’re in the U.S., you’ll need either your Social Security Number (SSN) or an Employer Identification Number (EIN). Personally, I didn’t feel comfortable using my SSN for business purposes, and when I finally decided to publish my first book, I had to rush to get my EIN. Delays, confusion, unnecessary stress. All avoidable.
Set this up early—it’s free, easy, and protects your identity.
3. Open a Separate Bank Account
It might feel “extra” to open a whole new bank account when you haven’t made a single sale yet—but trust me, this is a game-changer.
When tax season rolls around, you’ll thank yourself. No more combing through your personal Venmo and Starbucks receipts to find that $3.29 KDP royalty.
Plus, separating your finances will help you start thinking like a business owner, not just a hobbyist.
4. Understand How Royalties Actually Work
This one caught me off guard: Amazon KDP pays royalties monthly, but there’s a 60-day delay.
So if you make sales in January, you won’t see that money until March. Also, there are two royalty options—35% or 70%—depending on your book’s price and distribution.
Understanding this helps you plan your cash flow, budget for marketing, and set realistic expectations. Always check the current royalty policies—Amazon can change them.
5. Know Amazon’s Rules
Yes, I know—terms and conditions are boring. But you absolutely need to read Amazon’s Content and Account Guidelines.
KDP is not a place for shortcuts. Keyword stuffing, spammy content, low-quality interiors, or copying others can get your account suspended permanently. And it’s really hard to get reinstated once that happens.
If you’re in this for the long game, play by the rules. Create original content, follow Amazon’s policies, and treat your account like a real asset—because it is.
Final Thoughts
None of these five steps are flashy or exciting. But getting them in place early would have saved me so much time and frustration.
Once you’ve laid this foundation, then you can dive into design, branding, and marketing with confidence.
Don’t skip this part. It’s the unglamorous work that makes the rest of the journey smoother.
If this helped, I’d love to hear where you’re at in your KDP journey. Drop a comment below—or better yet, connect with me! I’m cheering you on.
You got this. 🙌