DSP Owner Guide
How to Start an Amazon DSP
Starting an Amazon Delivery Service Partner (DSP) business means qualifying financially, getting through Amazon's application and review, and standing up a station that can hire, schedule, and run routes on day one. Here's the full path from application to launch — written by operators who run DSP stations, not marketers.
The short version
To start an Amazon DSP you confirm you qualify, apply online, pass Amazon's financial and background review, complete an interview and station visit with a business plan, finish onboarding and a two-week training program, then hire your team and launch routes from your assigned delivery station. Amazon supplies the package volume, technology, training, and a business coach; you own and run the company. (Amazon Business)
How to start an Amazon DSP, step by step
Six stages take you from a cold application to a running station:
01
Confirm you qualify
Before you apply, make sure you meet the bar: $30,000 in liquid assets, a strong personal credit score, an up-to-date resume, and a fresh email not tied to any Amazon shopping, Flex, or DSP account. You also need to be ready to run the business full time and hands-on.
02
Submit the online application
The application takes 2–3 hours. You'll cover your background, leadership experience, finances, and why you want to own a DSP. Availability is location-gated, so you're applying against where Amazon is opening delivery capacity.
03
Pass the financial and background review
Amazon runs a financial, background, credit, and motor-vehicle review. This is the longest stretch and can take several months. Proof of liquid assets and a clean record matter most here.
04
Interview, station visit, and business plan
Shortlisted candidates complete an interview, visit a delivery station to see the operation firsthand, and submit a business plan showing how they'd hire, schedule, and run routes.
05
Onboarding and two-week training
Accepted owners enter Amazon's Future DSP onboarding track and complete a two-week training program covering operations, safety, hiring, and the tools you'll use to run a station.
06
Hire, equip, and launch routes
Recruit and onboard your delivery associates, lease your fleet through Amazon-negotiated deals, set up payroll and compliance, and start delivering volume out of your assigned station — where the scorecard starts counting from day one.
What it costs to start
Amazon markets startup costs as low as $10,000, based on the first five vehicles and Amazon-negotiated vendor discounts. That's separate from the $30,000 in liquid assets you must prove to qualify. Budget beyond the floor for entity and payroll setup, recruiting, background checks, and travel to training. (Amazon DSP Brochure)
Once running, your costs are dominated by employee wages and benefits; vehicle leases, maintenance, and insurance; devices and uniforms; and administrative services. For a full breakdown of what owners bring in against those costs, see our guide to Amazon DSP owner earnings.
How long it takes
There's no fixed clock — it depends on your location and how fast Amazon is opening capacity. A realistic shape:
2–3 hours
To complete the online application.
Several months
For the financial, background, credit, and motor-vehicle review.
12 months
Before rejected applicants can reapply.
Why applications get rejected
Most rejections come down to a handful of avoidable issues:
- Not enough liquid assets — the $30,000 has to be provable, not projected.
- Weak personal credit, which is weighed heavily in the financial review.
- Using an email already linked to an Amazon shopping, Flex, or DSP account.
- Applying where Amazon has no open DSP capacity.
- Treating it as a passive investment instead of a hands-on, full-time business.
Operator note
Getting approved is the easy part. The businesses that thrive are the ones that walk in with a real operating plan — how they'll recruit and retain drivers, keep labor efficient, and protect their scorecard from week one. That's exactly where most new owners underestimate the work, and where the right systems make or break your margin.
Run the station
Launch your DSP on the right systems
Day one of a DSP means juggling compliance, scheduling, hiring, driver comms, and scorecard performance — most new owners start in spreadsheets and drown. Sortd is the operating system for Amazon DSP stations, built by DSP operators: automated payroll & time compliance, fairness and performance scheduling with call-out replacement, driver hiring, a driver mobile app, and performance coaching in one place. It's read-only, stores zero Amazon credentials, and uses no unofficial API — so it stays on the right side of Amazon's terms.
Frequently asked questions
How do you start an Amazon DSP?
Confirm you meet Amazon's requirements ($30,000 in liquid assets, strong credit, a fresh email), apply online, pass the financial, background, credit, and motor-vehicle review, complete an interview and station visit with a business plan, then enter Amazon's onboarding and two-week training before launching routes from your assigned delivery station.
What are the requirements to become an Amazon DSP owner?
You need $30,000 in liquid assets (proof required), a strong personal credit score, an up-to-date resume, and a fresh email not tied to any Amazon shopping, Flex, or DSP account. You must be willing to be a hands-on, full-time owner-operator in a location where Amazon is opening DSP capacity.
How much does it cost to start an Amazon DSP?
Amazon markets startup costs as low as $10,000 (based on the first five vehicles and Amazon-negotiated vendor discounts), which is separate from the $30,000 in liquid assets required to qualify. Real-world budgets run higher once you add entity and payroll setup, recruiting, background checks, and travel to training.
How long does it take to become an Amazon DSP?
The application itself takes 2–3 hours, but the full financial, background, credit, and motor-vehicle review can take several months before you reach the interview and station visit. Timelines vary by location and by how quickly Amazon is opening capacity in your area.
Do you need experience to start an Amazon DSP?
No logistics background is required. Amazon looks for hands-on leaders who can hire, coach, and manage a team. Amazon provides a business coach, a two-week training program, and negotiated deals on vans, insurance, and devices to help first-time owners ramp.
What happens if your Amazon DSP application is rejected?
Rejected applicants can reapply after 12 months. Common reasons for rejection include insufficient liquid assets, weak credit, an email already linked to an Amazon account, or no available DSP capacity in the applicant's location.
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