The short answer
Yes, Canadians can do all of this. The platforms are the same, the brands are the same, and US companies hire Canadian creators constantly. What is different is the plumbing: getting paid in US dollars without losing a chunk to conversion fees, deciding between Amazon.ca and Amazon.com, and the Canadian tax basics nobody mentions until it is a problem. Here is the version I wish someone had given me.
Some links in this post are affiliate and referral links. If you join a platform through my links, I may earn a referral bonus, at no cost to you.
The platforms: open to Canadians
ShopMy, LTK, and the Amazon programmes all accept Canadian creators. I run my whole link setup from Canada, and most of my brand work is with US companies. Being Canadian is not a barrier to joining. In UGC it can be a small advantage: Canadian brands actively look for Canadian creators, and US brands get a reliable, English-speaking creator in a similar time zone.
Join ShopMy (my link gets you set up right away): shopmy.us/join/alyssaknightbc
Apply for LTK (a referral helps your odds, plus a $25 bonus after your first post): creator.shopltk.com/apply
Getting paid in USD without the haircut
Most US platforms and brands pay in US dollars. If that money lands in a regular Canadian chequing account, the bank converts it at its own rate and keeps a slice, every single time. Two habits fix most of it: get paid into a US-dollar account where you can, and use a multi-currency service for converting larger amounts instead of your bank's default rate. On a few brand deals a year it is annoying money. On a real income, it is rent money.
Amazon.ca or Amazon.com?
Both, but know their jobs. I keep Canadian and US storefronts, and my audience converts better on .com, so my paid links point there while my organic links use geo-routing that sends Canadians to .ca so their purchases still count for me. Your audience split decides your setup. Check where your followers actually are before you copy anyone's answer, including mine.
The tax part, in plain terms
Creator income is income. Track every payment, every platform payout, and your expenses (props, gear, software, that backdrop) from day one, in a spreadsheet if nothing fancier. In Canada, once your revenue passes $30,000 over four quarters, you generally have to register for and charge GST/HST, which surprises a lot of growing creators. I am a creator, not an accountant: this is the shape of it, and a short call with a Canadian accountant who works with online businesses is money well spent before you cross that line.
The actual stack that pays me
Affiliate links through ShopMy as my home base, LTK for outfit posts, Amazon for the long tail, and UGC brand deals as the active income on top. None of it required moving, a US work permit, or a US audience. It required setting up the plumbing once and then posting like it matters.
Starting from zero? This is the on-ramp: How Small Creators Actually Make Money From Product Links and, for the brand-deal side, Getting Started in UGC.
Frequently asked questions
Can Canadians join ShopMy and LTK?
Yes. Both platforms accept Canadian creators, and referrals work the same way: a ShopMy referral link gets you set up right away, and an LTK referral application comes with a better shot at approval and a $25 bonus after your first post.
How do Canadian creators get paid by US brands?
Usually in US dollars, by direct deposit or a payment platform. Holding the money in a US-dollar or multi-currency account instead of converting at a bank's default rate saves a meaningful amount over a year.
Do Canadian creators have to charge GST or HST?
Generally, once your total revenue passes $30,000 you must register for GST/HST and start charging it. Below that, many creators register voluntarily. Rules have details and exceptions, so always confirm your situation with an accountant and the CRA.
Should Canadian creators use Amazon.ca or Amazon.com?
Most end up using both: .com often converts better with mixed audiences, while geo-routed links send Canadian shoppers to .ca so those sales still earn. Let your own audience location make the call.