How to Make Money on YouTube in 2024: 5 Ways to Get Paid
Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.
The growing creator economy has turned up some diverse ways to make money on YouTube. And while some methods offer a lower barrier to entry than earning through ads, there’s no substitute for quality content and an engaged audience.
If you can tap into your creative side, and are willing to put in a lot of effort, you might be able to make money on YouTube, too. Here are a few monetization methods to explore.
How to get paid on YouTube
- LOOKING TO SAVE ON INTEREST?
- How do we review brokers?
- Shopping for Medicare plans? We have you covered.
- NERDUP BY NERDWALLET
- 4.3
- Shopping for Medicare Advantage plans? We have you covered.
- How to maximize your rewards
- Key takeaways
- More ways to use the home equity line of credit calculator
- Summary of no-credit-check lenders
- 1. Your credit report and credit score
- What about repayment penalties?
- 1. Earn with ads as a YouTube Partner Program member
- California speeding ticket fees
- 1. Requesting a tax transcript online
- A good deal
- 1. Pay attention to price insights for Google Flights
- GasBuddy
- 1. Home-based or easily accessible
- 1. Buy REITs (real estate investment trusts)
- Credit score
- How does my credit score impact personal loan offers?
- Medicare initial enrollment period
- What mortgage terms are best for me?
- 1. Compare auto insurers
- 1. Pick up freelance work online
- 1. Ibotta
- AtoB
- OppLoans: No-credit-check, high-interest installment loans
- About these resources
- 1. Book flights
- 1. Business assistance
- Pros
- What is Medicare?
- Discounted hybrid batteries
- World of Hyatt
- 1. Freelance writer
- Airport lounge access
- Easy redemption but fewer perks
- If you don’t ask, you don’t get
- 2. Flexible hours
- Check your credit score and report
- 1. Roll your debts onto a balance transfer credit card
- California car insurance rates after a speeding ticket
- 1. Decide how much coverage you need
- 1. Food trucks
- How do I see my credit score for free?
- 2. The annual fee
- Premium Individual: $10.99 per month
- 1. Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- 2. Requesting a tax transcript by phone
- NVIDIA Corp (NVDA)
- 1. Keep your charges on each card to a minimum
- 2. Filter for hotel deals
- What is a good FICO score?
- Understand the budgeting process
- What to know about cash advance apps
- Payment history
- Earned wage access example
- 2. Pay for upgrades and bag fees
- Where to find Etsy coupons
- Cons
- Boston University Workers
- Monthly after-tax income
- Mortgage rates remain stubbornly high
- Axos Basic Business Checking
- Latino: $32.99 per month
- Debit card fraud
- What’s the difference between MPI, PMI and MIP?
- Shop around
- Child tax credit 2023 (taxes filed in 2024)
- 3. Low financial investment
- 1. You can purchase United TravelBank credits for your account
- Best for:
- Potential drawback
- 2. Research the company before you switch
- If you're younger than 59½ and the account is less than 5 years old
- Why it’s the best
- 1. The credit card's interest rates
- Premium Duo: $14.99 per month
- Step 1: Enter your personal information
- 3. Requesting a tax transcript by mail
- Your strategy: Do your research to find the best deal
- Choosing a card based on your spending
- 3. Compare hotel amenities
- 1. Wellness brands
- Cheap auto insurance from large companies
- Funds based on company size
- Credit utilization
- Fare flexibility/ticket changes
- 2. Brand recognition
- 3. Your eligibility for the welcome bonus
- NY state income tax: Single and married filing separately
- Target-date funds
- SoundHound AI Inc. (SOUN)
- What happens if you miss the initial enrollment period?
- Automatic status
- 50% of your income: needs
- LendingClub Tailored Business Checking
- Pro: $79.99 per month
- 3. Contact your current auto insurer
- 2. Use an online real estate investing platform
- Loan-to-value ratio
- Coast
- Navy Federal Credit Union® Platinum Credit Card
- 2. Car wash services
- Home equity loans
- Premium Family: $16.99 per month
- 2. Virtual assistant
- Waffle House workers in Georgia
- Our pick for: Chime users
- 1. How to activate bonus categories every quarter
- What is a good VantageScore?
- Alliant: Best for fast funding
- Back to your lender
- Child tax credit 2024 (taxes filed in 2025)
- Bad-credit auto lenders
- If you're younger than 59½ and the account is at least 5 years old
- Pros
- Baggage and boarding
- 3. Use Free Spirit credit cards
- How to use coupons
- 4. How much you'll spend on the card
- Potential workarounds: How to transfer your Apple Card balance
- NY state income tax: Married filing jointly or qualifying widow(er)
- What is Medicaid?
- Step 2: Account for multiple jobs
- 1. Qatar in business class for 70,000 Qmiles one way
- Other funds
- Upstart Holdings Inc. (UPST)
- Marriott Bonvoy
- 2. Ask for higher credit limits
- 4. Find hotels and flights near attractions
- Chase Business Complete Banking
- Elite: $89.99 per month
- 2. Subscription model
- Upside
- 2. Rakuten
- Will pre-qualifying affect my credit score?
- 3. Lower failure rate
- Step 1: Find a gold ETF
- Entertainment and education galore
- Unite Here Local 11
- Credit card fraud
- 2. United TravelBank credits are valid for five years
- Show that you can afford loan payments
- 2. Test websites and apps
- 2. Apply for a credit card consolidation loan
- Industry or sector funds
- Home warranty
- Length of credit history
- Cons
- Kinecta MyPower
- Home equity line of credit (HELOC)
- Premium Student: $5.99 per month
- NY state income tax: Head of household
- 2. U.S. Bank rewards
- 1. Tax return transcript
- 30% of your income: wants
- 5. Book directly on Google
- 1. Calculate the car payment you can afford
- Premier: $99.99 per month
- It’s not what you can borrow, it’s what you can afford
- 1. Academic tutor
- 4. Avoid a coverage gap
- 3. Think about investing in rental properties
- Cheap car insurance from midsize companies
- WEX
- 2. Choose your insurance deductible
- Possible Finance: No-credit-check, high-interest installment loans
- 3. Auto repair
- Reduce the monthly payment
- What do I need to pre-qualify for a personal loan?
- Compare insurance rates for 20-year-olds
- Step 2: Analyze the ETF
- Individual stocks and bonds
- Automatic enrollment
- Concierge services
- Bank of America Business Advantage Fundamentals
- Advantages of mortgage protection insurance
- First Tech: Best for co-sign and joint loan options
- What if it’s close?
- For recently issued passports
- Best for:
- Potential drawback
- Getting the best HELOC rate
- If you’re 59½ or older and the account is less than 5 years old
- Why it’s the best
- Growth and value funds
- Seat selection
- 4. Buying power
- Step 3: Claim dependents, including children
- 2. Tax account transcript
- Under 35
- Index examples
- 3. Researcher and fact-checker
- 3. Online educational resources
- 2. Car washing
- Is online banking safe enough?
- Other factors
- Credit applications
- 2. The credit card's fees
- Bethpage Federal Credit Union cards
- Cash-out refinance
- Pay off the loan faster
- 4. Pool your points for faster award flights
- How to create Etsy coupons
- 5. Your World of Hyatt elite status level
- Medicare
- Installation
- 2. The Maldives in business class for 85,000 Qmiles one-way
- Annuities
- Housing authority workers in Marin County
- 20% of your income: savings and debt
- Understand your service reminder
- Where Trust Wallet shines
- 3. You can get United TravelBank credits by holding an IHG card
- 5. Change your ID cards
- If you're 59½ or older and the account is at least 5 years old
- 3. Evaluate other factors
- Summary of earned wage access apps
- Earning rates
- Best insurance company overall: Travelers
- Step 4: Refine your withholdings
- 3. Record of account transcript
- 3. Set up balance alerts to stay on top of spending
- 3. Child care
- 3. Learn to use AI tools
- 2. Take a cut with affiliate marketing
- International, global and emerging market funds
- Credit mix
- Lengthen the repayment term
- 5. Profits
- Bitcoin pros
- Hire an advisor
- Reduced basic economy restrictions
- 4. Social media manager
- Your strategy: Cast a wider net
- Warehouse workers in Sacramento, Calif.
- Smaller annual fee
- Disadvantages of mortgage protection insurance
- 4. Travel products and services
- PenFed: Best for a seamless application process
- Checkout 51
- Buying a put example
- Reduce the amount you need to borrow
- 6. Let your leasing company or lender know about your switch
- Reasons for unfreezing your credit
- Hawaiian Airlines
- 3. Swagbucks
- Other fuel cards to consider
- How much is Netflix a month?
- Do tipped workers earn the minimum wage?
- Greylock Federal Credit Union cards
- 4. Personal trainers
- How long will it take to pre-qualify?
- 5. Shop at partners
- Step 3: Buy the gold ETF
- Step 5: Sign and date your W-4
- 3. Pentagon Federal Credit Union (PenFed) Rewards
- 4. Wage and income transcript
- Shopping tips
- Check your plan's rules for 401(k) loans
- 2. How to get the most out of your points
- Home supply is still limited
- Allow up to 50% of your income for needs
- For passports issued more than a year ago
- 4. Pet sitting or dog walker
- Crashes and car theft
- Personal loan calculator
- Upgradeability
- Tap into equity
- 6. Lower risk
- How to share coupons
- 6. Where you'll use the annual free night
- Medicaid
- 3. India in business class for 80,000 Qmiles one way
- Ages 35 to 44
- Maximize your time
- Can I switch to permanent life insurance?
- 2. Calculate the car loan amount you can afford
- Where Trust Wallet falls short
- What factors affect the amount you can borrow
- Best for:
- Potential drawback
- Cheap car insurance after a speeding ticket
- 1. Cash dividends
- Overall economy
- Average car insurance costs after a speeding ticket in California
- Pros
- 6. Achieve Spirit Airlines elite status
- Bitcoin cons
- 5. Verification of non-filing letter
- Calculate whether you can afford loan payments
- 5. Blogger and affiliate marketer
- 4. Pay your bill before your issuer reports to the credit bureaus
- Credit score for FHA loans
- 5. Meal delivery services
- 5. Lawn care business
- Tips for unfreezing your credit
- Learn more about online banking
- Why it’s the best
- Home insurance
- How much is YouTube TV?
- CorPlatinum Visa Credit Card
- EarnIn: No-credit-check cash advances
- Dun & Bradstreet business credit scores
- Seller concessions
- Elite benefits on basic economy fares
- Navy Federal: Best for military members
- 4. It’s possible to use credit card travel credits to fund your United TravelBank
- Have a co-signer lined up
- 4. Consider flipping investment properties
- 1. Find a dividend-paying stock
- 2. Stock dividends
- Inflation
- Car loans
- Cons
- Get rid of FHA mortgage insurance
- Superior rewards-earnings
- Gift tax exclusion
- Outsized rewards through transfer partners
- What Trust Wallet is best for
- How do I access a HELOC?
- 3. Tap your home equity for a loan or line of credit
- Icelandair
- Damage you do to others
- 4. Consider extra coverage
- GET MORE MILES, MORE BENEFITS WITH A DELTA CARD
- 5. Newborn and post-pregnancy services
- 7. Built-in customer base
- 7. How to protect your purchases and travel
- 4. New Zealand in business class for 120,000 Qmiles one way
- Learn what happens if you leave your job
- 6. Freelance designer
- Find preapproved auto loans
- Leave 30% of your income for wants
- 6. Wedding products and services
- How can I qualify to borrow more?
- Google Maps
- 6. Housecleaning
- 3. Dividend reinvestment programs (DRIPs)
- 3. Land a brand deal and make sponsored content
- 4. Fiverr
- Home loans
- How much is Hulu?
- Revocable life insurance trusts
- Is it better to get a second mortgage or refinance?
- Switch from an adjustable- to a fixed-rate loan
- Medicare
- Ages 45 to 54
- Estate tax exclusion
- 3. How to win with the "Chase Trifecta"
- How much can refinancing save?
- 5. You can't use United TravelBank funds for other travel purchases
- 4. Take surveys for money
- How much does a HELOC cost?
- Learn more about online banking safety
- Job growth
- 8. Be your own boss
- 4. Barclays rewards
- Equifax business credit scores
- Consider alternatives
- 5. Monitor your total credit utilization
- Home prices keep climbing
- 1099-A
- Trust Wallet at a glance
- 7. Housesitting
- 2. Evaluate the stock
- Cheap auto insurance after an accident
- 4. Special dividends
- Injuries to you
- Credit cards
- 5. Get a quote
- Best insurance company for affordability: NJM
- 8. There's a small-business version of the card now
- No more elite earnings on basic economy fares
- 7. Freelance coder
- Your strategy: Make a budget and stick to it
- HSAs and FSAs
- 3. Set a target purchase price
- Oneworld alliance elite status
- 7. Food truck
- Other economic indicators
- JSX and Silver Airlines
- Why it’s the best
- 6. Bring a car seat — or rent one
- Similarities
- 6. Enrichment activities for children
- Alternatives for large expenses
- 5. Short-haul first class awards
- Ages 55 to 64
- 1. Have a goal for your index funds
- Houston teachers strike
- Our pick for: Current users
- Pay bills on time
- Debt-to-income ratio
- 1099-B
- Closed-loop cruises
- 8. Errand-running
- Best for:
- Potential drawback
- 5. Preferred dividends
- Personal loans
- How much is Disney+?
- Irrevocable life insurance trusts (ILITs)
- Schedule 1: Additional income and adjustments to income
- Compare car insurance rates for 35-year-olds
- Medicaid
- 8. Online thrifter
- Family and group travel come easy
- Average annual cost of term life insurance for nonsmokers
- Extra perks
- Commit 20% of your income to savings and debt paydown
- Full details about Trust Wallet's ratings
- Carfax Car Care
- Buying a put vs. shorting example
- 5. Rent out a room
- 3. Decide how much stock you want to buy
- Federal Reserve
- 4. Sell some merch
- California car insurance rates after a speeding ticket by company: 35-year-old drivers
- Fare flexibility/ticket changes
- Afterpay: No-credit-check buy now, pay later loans
- What do I need for my loan application?
- Experian business credit scores
- Nurses strike in Santa Clara
- Earned Income tax credit
- Keep credit utilization below 30%
- 8. Home rentals
- 9. Seasonal chores
- 6. The United TravelBank doesn't earn interest
- 6. Dividend funds
- Home warranty
- Your stolen stuff
- 5. American Express Membership Rewards
- Ages 65 to 74
- 2. Research index funds
- Average annual cost of term life insurance for smokers
- 4. The Chase 5/24 rule
- 1099-C
- Purchasing a Plumeria Lounge day pass
- 5. Make money from your blog with affiliate links
- 4. Borrow from your 401(k)
- Qatar Airways
- Index funds
- 5. Upwork
- California car insurance rates after a speeding ticket by company: 20-year-old drivers
- How much is Max?
- Schedule 2: Additional taxes
- Baggage and boarding
- 7. Mobile apps and entertainment for children
- Warehouse workers in Sacramento, Calif.
- Competition remains steady
- Keep credit accounts open
- Land or sea border crossings
- 10. Selling handmade crafts
- Resident status rules
- Differences
- Which is easiest to qualify for?
- 1. Restricting regulations
- Medicare
- IHG Rewards
- 9. Data entry guru
- Down payments and gift funds
- 1099-CAP
- Cheapest car insurance after a DUI
- 5. Offer memberships
- Fleet expense management tools
- Appraisal fee
- Lots of people
- MASS MoCa UAW members
- Space out credit applications
- 9. Coffee shop
- 11. Making greeting cards
- Specialty or alternative funds
- How much is Apple TV+?
- Schedule 3: Additional credits and payments
- Seat selection
- 8. Shared accessories and attire
- Medicaid
- 6. Capital One Rewards
- 1. Automate transfers
- 1099-DIV
- Best for:
- Potential drawback
- Dividend per share (DPS)
- Seniors that are good drivers
- Discount points
- 3. Pick your index funds
- 10. College consultant
- 1. Know the types of term life policies
- Monitor your credit reports
- Upgrade your booking class
- 12. Art teacher
- 6. Sell your wares on Etsy
- Earning rates
- How to have more taxes taken out of your paycheck
- Stocks
- UAW in Kentucky negotiate deal with Ford
- Solar panel incentives by state
- 10. Farmers Market Stall
- How quickly could the IRS implement the child tax credit expansion?
- Dividend yield
- IHG Rewards Club
- Part-year resident status rules
- Appendix: How the math works in our examples
- Best insurance company for accident forgiveness: Geico
- Alternatives for small expenses
- Repetition
- Your strategy: Use leverage where you have it
- 2. Consider policy riders
- FHA appraisal
- 1099-G
- 13. Musician
- Home insurance
- 6. OfferUp
- How much is Peacock?
- Popular cash advance apps
- Upgradeability
- 2. Initial cost
- Resident status rules
- 7. Citi ThankYou Points
- Escrow account funds
- 2. Count your coins and bills
- Hilton Honors
- 11. Online tutor
- Bus drivers and mechanics stage two-day strike in Virginia
- 5. Enter a debt management plan
- Benefits
- How much can you borrow?
- Seniors with an at-fault accident
- How to have less taxes taken out of your paycheck
- Bonds
- Prepared to put down roots?
- 1099-INT
- Utility-based clean energy incentives
- 14. Music lessons
- Cheapest auto insurance for poor credit
- How much is Prime Video?
- 9. Shared home improvement equipment
- 4. Decide where to buy your index funds
- Casino workers in Las Vegas reach deal ahead of the Super Bowl
- 7. Self-publish an e-book
- YOTEL
- Nonresident status rules
- Drawbacks
- Allianz Global Assistance
- 3. Ongoing investment
- Vanguard 500 Index Fund (VFIAX)
- Flood determination and monitoring fees
- 3. Prep for grocery shopping
- Our pick for: Varo users
- 15. Farmers market vendor
- Dividend payout ratio
- How to use a W-4 to owe nothing on a tax return
- 8. Bank of America® rewards
- 12. Translator
- Mutual funds
- Teachers Strike Breaks Records in Boston Suburb
- How do you get a perfect credit score?
- 1099-K
- Bonzah
- How much is Sling TV?
- When do you have to pay it back?
- Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund (VTSAX)
- Government recording fees
- One price is not always just one price
- 3. Understand the approval process
- Mortgage insurance
- 16. Candle maker
- Avis and Budget Rent-a-Car
- 7. Poshmark
- Soft vs. hard credit inquiry
- 4. Potential for conflict
- Part-year resident status rules
- How's your job security?
- Pros
- Rental Cover
- 10. Vacation rentals
- Seniors with a speeding ticket
- Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund (VBTLX)
- Loan-origination charges
- 5. Buy index funds
- 13. Cybersecurity consultant
- Exchange-traded funds
- 17. Retail arbitrage
- 8. Get advertising revenue from your blog or YouTube channel
- How much is Fubo TV?
- SEIU United Healthcare Workers West — Prime Healthcare
- 1099-LTC
- Other details you should know about Trust Wallet
- Cons
- Sure
- Best insurance company for having few customer complaints: American Family
- 5. Lack of financial privacy
- Vanguard Balanced Index Fund (VBIAX)
- Mortgage insurance or fees for government-backed loans
- 4. Minimize restaurant spending
- Tourist traps
- 18. Graphic designer
- No-credit-check loan example
- 11. Electronics repair
- Are the proceeds taxable?
- Compare car insurance rates for drivers with a DUI
- Nonresident status rules
- 14. Transcriptionist
- Gifting large sums of money to family
- Are you financially prepared?
- 1099-MISC
- Selling a put example
- Seniors with a DUI
- Vanguard Growth Index Fund (VIGAX)
- 6. Keep an eye on your index funds
- Is Trust Wallet right for you?
- 19. Technology tutor
- California earned income tax credit (CalEITC)
- Is the interest paid tax-deductible?
- Pest inspection
- 15. Travel planner
- 4. Compare prices
- Cheapest car insurance for young drivers
- 1. Access to capital
- Vanguard Small Cap Index Fund (VSMAX)
- 5. Get discounts on entertainment
- Paying for vacations, cars or other stuff
- Home purchase: Basic Home Mortgage 203(b)
- 1099-NEC
- 20. Blogger
- 9. Become an Instagram influencer
- California young child tax credit (YCTC)
- 14. Be prepared to carry them off the plane
- Prepaid expenses
- Association of Professional Flight Attendants
- How we review crypto wallets
- Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund (VTIAX)
- 1. Has the W-4 form changed?
- 16. Fundraiser
- Giving a laid-back loan
- FHA refinance loans
- 21. Podcaster
- California child and dependent care tax credit
- 12. Academics courses
- 2. Efficient growth
- 6. Map out major purchases
- 1099-OID
- Tax monitoring and research fees
- Setting up joint bank accounts
- 22. Social media influencer
- California adoption cost tax credit
- 2. What does it mean to be exempt from taxes?
- 17. Medical billing and coding
- 1099-PATR
- 10. Monetize your Twitch channel
- Home warranty
- Best insurance company for financial strength: Auto-Owners
- 3. Minimal employee supervision
- Title-related costs
- FHA renovation loans
- 23. Live-streaming gamer
- Cheapest auto insurance for senior drivers
- California nonrefundable renters tax credit
- 13. Language courses
- NYC tax rate schedule
- 7. Restrict online shopping
- Our pick for: Subscriptions
- 1099-Q
- 1. Take a driving class
- 18. Video producing
- Other specialty FHA loans
- 24. Photographer or videographer
- 4. Increased brand awareness
- 1099-R
- 3. When should I review my W-4?
- 25. Web designer
- 5. Reduced risk
- 8. Delay purchases with the 30-day rule
- 19. Publicist
- Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA)
- 1099-S
- 11. Sell your photography
- Home insurance
- 14. Business or marketing courses
- Compare auto insurance rates for drivers with poor credit
- 2. Choose a car that’s cheap to insure
- Pros
- 26. Transcription
- 4. Can I adjust my W-4 multiple times throughout the year?
- Real estate agent commissions
- 9. Get creative with gifts
- 20. Customer service representative
- 1099-SA
- Online loans
- 3. Protect your car
- Property and transfer taxes
- United Auto Workers (UAW)
- 27. Data entry
- 15. Personal wellness
- Best insurance company for discounts: Amica
- 1. Loss of complete brand control
- Cons
- Title insurance
- 21. Pet sitter or dog walker
- 28. Create an app or online game
- Co-signed or joint loans
- 10. Lower your car costs
- 2. Increased potential for legal disputes
- 4. Get credit for driving less
- 22. Arts and crafts master
- 12. Become a dog walker with Rover or Wag
- United Auto Workers (UAW) — Mack Trucks
- Secured loans
- 16. Courses in hobbies or interests
- 11. Reduce your gas usage
- 23. Accountant
- 3. Initial investment
- 5. Raise your deductible
- Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital
- Benefits of FHA loans
- Home warranty
- 24. T-shirt designer
- Our pick for: Those who are unbanked
- Family loans
- Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions
- Disadvantages of FHA loans
- 13. Sell unused gift cards
- Home insurance
- 17. Bookkeeping and accounting
- 4. Federal and state regulation
- 6. Drop coverage you no longer need
- 12. Bundle cable and internet
- 25. Cleaning service
- Equipment breakdown coverage
- Payment plans
- Writers Guild of America (WGA)
- Best insurance company for customer satisfaction: State Farm
- 7. Consider bundling your insurance policies
- 13. Switch your cell phone plan
- Credit union loans
- 18. Consulting
- 26. Massage therapist and wellness expert
- 14. List your spare bedroom on Airbnb
- Compare insurance rates for drivers with an accident
- Capital Good Fund
- 8. Shop around for coverage
- 14. Reduce your electric bill
- 27. Personal trainer
- 19. IT support
- 15. Lower your student loan payments
- 28. Interior decorator
- Best insurance company for military members: USAA
- 29. Event planner
- 15. Sell your gently used clothes
- 16. Cancel unnecessary subscriptions
- Our pick for: Spending guardrails
- 20. Graphic design
- 30. Caterer
- 17. Refinance your mortgage
- 31. Bed-and-breakfast manager
- 16. Trade in old phones, electronics for cash
- 21. Social media management
- 18. Set savings goals
- 32. Florist
- 33. Day care manager
- 17. Get a babysitting gig
- 22. Marketing copywriter
- 19. Track spending
- 34. Rideshare driver
- 23. Virtual assistant services
- 1. Gather your information
- 20. Pay off high-interest debt
- 35. Photographer
- Our pick for: A low security deposit
- 18. Rent out your car
- 21. Keep savings in a high-yield savings account
- 36. Landlord
- 2. Choose the right liability car insurance coverage levels
- 22. Create a 50/30/20 budget
- 37. Hair stylist or makeup artist
- 1. Do your research
- 19. Sign up for TaskRabbit
- 2. Get organized and make it official
- 38. Eldercare
- 23. Shop consignment and thrift stores
- 39. Brewer
- 20. Become a private tutor
- 3. Find the right financing
- 40. Tailor
- 3. Decide if you need full coverage car insurance
- 24. Join initiatives to get free items
- Our pick for: A mix of credit-building features
- 21. Drive for Uber, Lyft
- 1. Craft a business plan
- 25. Use car sharing services
- 2. Carve out a dedicated workspace
- 22. Make deliveries for Amazon, Uber Eats
- 3. Choose a business entity
- 26. Stock up on household supplies when they’re cheap
- 4. Collect and compare car insurance quotes
- 23. Find work as a housesitter
- 27. Enjoy community events
- 24. Sign up to be a mystery shopper
- 28. Cash in on your birthday
- 25. Put your drone to work
- Compare car insurance companies
1. Earn with ads as a YouTube Partner Program member
Let’s get this one out of the way first. You must join the YouTube Partner Program to earn money from advertisements. And you can’t become a YouTube partner who includes ads on your channel until it surpasses the 1,000-subscriber threshold. You’ll also need a collective 4,000 hours of watch time on long-form videos within the past 12 months or 10 million Shorts views within the past 90 days. (See No. 5 for how to join the Partner Program with reduced eligibility requirements.) Check those big boxes and it opens the door to ad revenue.
A few additional requirements apply before you can become a partner:
Your videos must abide by YouTube’s monetization policies.
You must live in an eligible area.
You need to link a Google AdSense account.
Click the “earn” section in YouTube Studio to apply. YouTube says it typically gets back to you within one month of reviewing your application to let you know if you’re approved or not.
As a YouTube partner, you can earn money through ads, chat features and from YouTube Premium subscribers who watch your content. The platform also allows YouTube partners to earn ad revenue on Shorts, which are YouTube’s version of short-form TikTok-like videos.
How many views on YouTube does it take to make money?
You don’t get paid per video view. Rather, you’re paid for the times when someone watches or clicks on an ad shown on your video.
Influencer Marketing Hub says that while payment varies, the average YouTube channel can expect to make about $18 per 1,000 ad views. That translates to $3 to $5 per 1,000 video views when you factor in the rate of ads actually viewed. The site has a YouTube calculator to gauge how much revenue you might make.
So when do you start making money on YouTube?
You'll be paid once your balance reaches $100. Say it takes approximately 1,000 video views to earn $4 from those viewers who saw ads. You would need 25,000 video views to make $100 through those ads.
If you have a small channel, you might get paid only every few months. You'll also want to be familiar with how Google, which issues AdSense payments, handles taxes.
Sound like a long road ahead?
Below are alternative ways to earn before you hit 1,000 subscribers.
2. Take a cut with affiliate marketing
Affiliate marketing might be the most beginner-friendly way to monetize your YouTube traffic, especially if you plan to make product review videos. It works like this:
You find a company or seller with an affiliate program, such as Amazon Associates, and apply to join.
Once accepted, you’ll use their process to create custom links to products you plan to feature in your videos.
Demo, review or make reference to the products in your YouTube videos, and paste your custom affiliate marketing link(s) in the description field when you upload.
As an affiliate of a brand, you’ll earn a commission when a viewer clicks your custom link and purchases the product.
While Amazon Associates is a great way to make money on Amazon, endless other opportunities exist. Search on affiliate marketing sites such as ShareASale and ClickBank for possible corporate partners and products to feature. You can also search your favorite brands’ websites for information on how to become an affiliate.
If your channel eventually reaches more than 15,000 subscribers and you meet other eligibility requirements, you can explore the YouTube Shopping Affiliate program as a way to boost your earnings.
Don’t forget to properly notify your viewers about your affiliation with the brand or brands featured, and be sure to point them to the “link in description” when you shoot your video.
3. Land a brand deal and make sponsored content
Companies interested in your channel’s audience might sponsor your videos or offer you product placement deals in exchange for a shoutout, called brand deals in the biz.
The operative word here is “audience,” which means these types of deals are more likely to present themselves when you develop a following. As your channel grows, you can contact the brands you’d like to work with directly, or use resources like the aforementioned affiliate marketing sites to find corporate partners that complement your style of content.
With brand deals, you can receive lump sum payments, earn commission on a per-sale basis or get the product or service for free.
Keep in mind: If you do have an endorsement or use product placement in a video, you must notify YouTube by ticking a box in your video details.
4. Sell some merch
If you have merchandise or offer a service that’s relevant to your audience, let them know about it and provide links in your videos. For example, creator Marques Brownlee, of popular tech review channel MKBHD, leaves a link to his own line of T-shirts and accessories in every video he posts.
Selling a physical product might require you to buy materials or find a manufacturer, but you can also sell downloadables such as e-books, art prints or virtual classes. Have a secure payment system in place before you advertise your goods.
Incentive to sell: While creating your own products can be a lot harder than pitching those of other companies, you could stand to make more money this way, since you’ll keep the bulk of your proceeds as the product owner.
5. Offer memberships
A membership model is another way to monetize viewership. With this method, fans of the channel pay a small subscription fee for perks and/or an exclusive tier of access.
Patreon is a popular third-party membership platform. YouTube has been rolling out its own channel memberships feature, but you need to be part of the YouTube Partner Program to be eligible.
For channel memberships, you can join the Partner Program with 500 subscribers, 3 public uploads in the last 90 days, and either 3,000 public watch hours on long-form video in the last 365 days or 3 million Shorts views in the last 90 days. That’s as opposed to the higher Partner Program eligibility requirements if you want to earn revenue through ads on your channel.
As always, more viewers can lead to more revenue. Incentives such as members-only livestreams, chats or other perks may entice viewers to become paying members.
How much money can you make on YouTube?
Breakout YouTube stars with millions of followers stand to make the most money, easily reaching seven figures. But even lesser-known content creators with a modest following can make some solid income on the side, or even full time.
According to Forbes, creator Jimmy Donaldson of the hugely popular channel MrBeast earned $54 million in 2023, in large part from the 237 million subscribers he’s racked up on YouTube. That kind of success is more the exception than the rule.
On the more modest side, Cinquanta Cox-Smith, a YouTuber focused on print-on-demand content with 11,900 subscribers, brings in about $120,000 in annual revenue, according to Career Ahead, a career-focused educational magazine.
Matt Par, a YouTube sensation who became successful as a teenager with a Top 10 list channel and now runs multiple channels including on how to make money on YouTube, tells viewers that the platform's Partner Program can be a good income-building source. He says he earns $30,000 per month in ad revenue through the program.
Earn an audience, and earn more in the long run
YouTube offers opportunity for all, but it’s not a get-rich-quick platform. It takes time, effort and an engaged audience to make money on YouTube. The good news is, with a little motivation and a lot of practice, you can find ways to earn before the coveted 1,000-subscriber threshold.
Keep these tips in mind as you get started:
The more videos you make and upload, the easier it is to reach the viewing-hours threshold.
The better you target your content to a specific audience or niche (e.g., film photography), the more likely your viewers will be to subscribe for more.
Thoughtful, entertaining videos are more likely to get views, so it pays to put effort into planning and production.
Don’t discount the power of a targeted title and standout thumbnail to attract viewer attention.
Other ways to make money
If making money on YouTube isn’t for you, consider these alternative routes:
Want to try another video platform? Learn how to make money on TikTok or get paid on Instagram.
If you’re crafty, learn how to make money on Etsy.
Looking to clean house? Try to sell stuff online or make money on eBay.