There are three main ways to deliver packages for Amazon: signing up as an independent Flex driver, getting hired by a Delivery Service Partner (DSP), or enrolling your small business in the Hub Delivery program. Each path has different requirements, pay structures, and levels of commitment. Your best fit depends on whether you want flexible gig work, a steady job with benefits, or a revenue stream for an existing business.
Amazon Flex: Gig-Based Delivery
Amazon Flex is the most accessible option. You use your own car, pick up packages from a local Amazon facility, and deliver them along a route. You’re classified as an independent contractor, meaning you set your own schedule, pay your own taxes, and cover your own vehicle expenses.
To sign up, you need to be at least 21, own a mid-sized or larger vehicle (a four-door sedan works, but an SUV or minivan gives you more cargo space), and have a smartphone. You also need a valid driver’s license and auto insurance that meets your state’s minimum coverage requirements. Amazon provides some commercial liability coverage while you’re actively on a delivery block, but your personal policy is the first line of defense for anything that happens on the road.
The sign-up process is done entirely through the Amazon Flex app. You download it, create an account, submit your license and other details, and wait for a background check to clear. Once approved, you can start claiming delivery blocks, which are scheduled shifts typically lasting three to five hours.
How Flex Pay Works
Pay varies significantly by location. Advertised hourly rates range from about $15 to $33.50, with higher-paying blocks in larger metro areas. Based on reported earnings, drivers average roughly $191 per day, though individual results swing widely depending on the market, the time of day, and the number of packages on a route. Some drivers report earning $500 to $1,000 per week before expenses.
The key phrase there is “before expenses.” As a contractor, you cover gas, vehicle maintenance, wear and tear, and the self-employment portion of Social Security and Medicare taxes (15.3% on net earnings). You can deduct mileage on your tax return, which offsets some of this, but your take-home pay will be noticeably lower than the gross number the app shows you. Tracking your miles from day one is essential.
Flex blocks sometimes appear at higher rates when demand is strong and not enough drivers have claimed routes. Watching the app for these higher-paying offers can meaningfully boost your earnings, though competition for them is stiff.
DSP Driver: Traditional Employment
Delivery Service Partners are independent businesses that contract with Amazon to run delivery operations. They own or lease the vans, hire the drivers, and manage day-to-day logistics. When you see branded Amazon delivery vans on the road, those drivers work for a DSP, not directly for Amazon.
This path is a W-2 job. You get a regular paycheck, and most DSPs offer benefits like health insurance, paid time off, and retirement plan access. You drive a company van, so you don’t put miles on your personal vehicle. The trade-off is a fixed schedule, typically four 10-hour days per week, with routes and expectations set for you.
Getting Hired by a DSP
You apply through job boards or directly with a local DSP. The hiring process includes a drug test (usually a urine screen) and a background check. A felony conviction or a probationary driver’s license will generally disqualify you. Misdemeanor records are evaluated case by case, though serious offenses can be disqualifying. No CDL is required since the delivery vans fall under standard license categories.
Once your background check and drug test clear, training typically starts within about a week. Amazon provides a structured training program covering route navigation, package handling, and safety protocols. The job is physically demanding. Drivers describe it as fast-paced and active, with long days on your feet loading, carrying, and delivering packages across a set route.
Pay for DSP drivers varies by company and region, but most positions advertise between $17 and $22 per hour. Because you’re a W-2 employee, taxes are withheld from your paycheck, and you don’t need to worry about quarterly estimated payments or self-employment tax.
Hub Delivery: A Small Business Add-On
Amazon’s Hub Delivery program is designed for existing small businesses, like florists, dry cleaners, or courier services, that want to add package delivery as a supplemental revenue stream. This isn’t a job for an individual. It’s a business partnership.
Participating businesses receive Amazon packages at their location, store them securely, and deliver them to nearby customers. The typical volume is 20 to 50 packages per day, averaging around 30. Deliveries happen seven days a week, with five major holidays off. Your business doesn’t need to be open every day, but you do need the ability to receive and deliver packages on all required days, which may mean adjusting staffing.
What You Need to Qualify
Your business needs a secure space to store packages before they go out for delivery. You’ll submit your state business registration number, a sales tax permit or tax identification number, and proof of appropriate insurance, including general liability and workers’ compensation if your state requires it. All partners and drivers must pass a criminal background check, motor vehicle record check, and screenings through OSHA and the Department of Labor.
CNBC reported that Hub Delivery partners can earn roughly $27,000 in additional annual income. That figure depends heavily on your delivery volume and local rates, but it illustrates the program’s positioning as a side revenue channel rather than a primary business.
Choosing the Right Path
If you want to start delivering as quickly as possible with maximum schedule flexibility, Flex is the fastest on-ramp. You can be delivering within days of approval, work as much or as little as you want, and stop anytime. The downside is inconsistent income, vehicle costs, and the tax complexity of contractor work.
If you want a steady paycheck and don’t mind committing to a set schedule, applying to a local DSP gives you the stability of traditional employment. You won’t earn more by hustling for extra blocks, but you also won’t worry about gas prices eating into your margins.
If you already run a small business with physical space and some delivery capacity, Hub Delivery lets you layer Amazon income on top of your existing operations. The commitment is real, though. Seven-day delivery requirements and background screening for all involved staff make this a serious operational addition, not a casual side project.
All three paths require a clean driving record and the ability to pass a background check. None require special commercial licensing. The biggest practical difference comes down to whether you want the independence of gig work, the predictability of a job, or a business-to-business partnership.