How to Start an Amazon Delivery Business Through the DSP Program

By Virginia Miller

September 23, 2026

In this article:

Amazon does not sell delivery franchises. The route into an Amazon delivery business is the Delivery Service Partner (DSP) program, where you form your own company, hire drivers as your employees, and deliver packages out of one Amazon delivery station under a DSP agreement. Amazon's estimate is that it costs as little as $10,000 to launch, but the application requires proof of $30,000 in liquid assets, the owner has to run it full time, and the review can take months. The figures below come from Amazon's DSP program pages as of September 2026. They change without notice, so check the source before you commit money.

Is it really a franchise?

Searchers call it an Amazon delivery franchise, and from the outside it looks like one: Amazon-branded vans, uniforms, routes assigned by an Amazon station, and Amazon-negotiated deals on leases and insurance. Amazon does not call it one. None of the startup cost is paid to Amazon, and you form your own company and sign a DSP agreement as an independent business. Amazon describes it as a seasonal business that changes quickly, and the leases and payroll are yours through the slow months.

What it costs to start

Amazon's startup estimate is $10,000, based on the first five vehicles and assuming you use every third-party deal Amazon has negotiated for the program. That figure covers forming a legal entity and licensing, accountant and lawyer fees, a laptop and timekeeping software, job postings, drug tests, driver training, and your travel to owner training. It excludes upfront vehicle cost because vans leased through the program's flexible-lease option have no upfront payment. Amazon says the number varies by location.

On top of that estimate, the application requires documentation showing at least $30,000 in liquid assets: personal checking, savings, money market, or brokerage accounts. Business accounts and cryptocurrency are not accepted.

Once you are operating, the ongoing costs are yours: wages, payroll, benefits, insurance, employee training, vehicle leases, maintenance, damage, handheld devices, uniforms, and administrative services.

What you can earn

Amazon's financials page lists annual profit potential of $100,000 to $400,000. The range is modeled from DSPs that have operated for 12 or more months, applies to the 50 states and D.C. only, and Amazon states it is not a guarantee of earnings. Amazon's own business blog, updated June 2026, still quotes the older $75,000 to $300,000 profit range alongside $1 million to $4.5 million in annual revenue, so treat the profit figure as a moving target rather than a promise. Payments arrive monthly: a payment for fixed costs plus payments tied to employee costs and benefits.

Who qualifies

You apply as one person. Amazon does not accept applications from companies, couples, or groups, and only the applicant is interviewed.
Owning a DSP is a full-time job. Amazon says the program is not a fit for passive investors, part-time owners, or anyone who wants to run delivery in several regions. It is built around one delivery station per owner.
No logistics experience is required. Amazon screens for people who have managed a budget or a profit-and-loss statement, can hire and coach a team, and have a strong credit report.
You must pass a background check, credit check, and motor vehicle record check, plus a recorded screening interview built on Amazon's Leadership Principles. Applications must be completed in English.
You cannot hold a stake in another DSP business or have relationships Amazon considers a conflict of interest.
Outside the United States, Amazon runs separate country programs and lists Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Spain, and the UK.

How the application works

Online application. Amazon says it takes two to three hours and covers work history, leadership, financial health, community involvement, and geographic preferences. It also triggers the credit, background, and motor vehicle checks. Use an email address that has never been tied to an Amazon shopping account, Amazon Flex, or an existing DSP profile. Once submitted, the application cannot be edited.
Wait. Amazon calls the program highly competitive with a limited number of openings and says it may take months to respond.
Interviews. A screening interview comes first, then a live webinar with a current DSP owner, then a final round of interviews. Candidates who pass the on-site interview may be invited to visit a delivery station and meet Amazon staff.
Future DSP pool. If you pass but your preferred station is not open, you wait in the Future DSP program with regular check-ins from an Amazon business development manager. Amazon gives no timeline and does not guarantee an offer, and it says there is no need to leave your current job while you wait.
Offer. Before you sign, Amazon walks you through the specific station, routes, and financials. If you are rejected, you can reapply after 12 months.

What Amazon provides, and what it does not

Amazon provides hands-on training that starts with an introduction to the company followed by time in a delivery station, ongoing business coaching, on-road support for your drivers, and a dedicated area manager at the station. It also negotiates third-party deals on Amazon-branded vans, insurance, uniforms, rugged handheld devices, fuel, payroll and accounting software, recruiting tools, and legal support.

Amazon does not supply the vehicles, the insurance policy, or the drivers. You lease or buy the vans, you carry the coverage, and your delivery associates are your employees rather than Amazon's staff or independent contractors. That is the detail to check in any "Amazon franchise" summary, and it is where the cash-flow risk sits, because payroll is due whether or not volume holds up. If you already own vehicles, you can use them if they meet Amazon's specifications, which Amazon shares later in the application.

If you sell on Amazon rather than deliver for it

The DSP program is for people who want to run a delivery company. If you landed here as a seller trying to work out how your own orders get picked, packed, and shipped, that is a fulfillment question, not a delivery-station question. Simpl's Amazon FBM fulfillment and Amazon FBA prep pages cover that side.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the requirements to start an Amazon delivery business?

You apply as one person, not as a company, couple, or group. Amazon requires documentation of at least $30,000 in liquid assets held in personal checking, savings, money market, or brokerage accounts, plus a background check, credit check, and motor vehicle record check. The owner runs the business full time.

How much does it cost to start an Amazon delivery business?

Amazon's estimate is as little as $10,000, based on the first five vehicles and assuming you use the third-party deals Amazon has negotiated. None of it is paid to Amazon, and the figure varies by location. The $30,000 in liquid assets is documentation you show during the application, not a payment.

Is an Amazon delivery business a franchise?

Amazon does not call it a franchise. DSP owners form their own company, sign a DSP agreement with Amazon, hire their own delivery associates as employees, and pay none of the startup cost to Amazon.

How much can an Amazon DSP owner earn?

Amazon's DSP financials page lists annual profit potential of $100,000 to $400,000, modeled from DSPs that have operated for 12 or more months in the 50 states and D.C. Amazon says it is not a guarantee. Amazon's business blog, updated June 2026, still quotes an older $75,000 to $300,000 range.

Can I run an Amazon DSP part-time?

No. Amazon describes owning a DSP as a full-time job and says the program is not a fit for passive investors, part-time owners, or anyone who wants to operate in several regions.

Do I need delivery experience to become an Amazon DSP?

No. Amazon does not require logistics experience. It screens for people who have managed a budget or a profit-and-loss statement, can hire and coach a team, and have a strong credit report. Training starts with an introduction to Amazon and continues with time in a delivery station.

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