How to make money on TikTok

TikTok isn’t just a playground for Gen Z dances and lip-syncs anymore—it’s a goldmine for creators who know how to play the game.

If you’re wondering how people are turning 15-second clips into full-time income, you’re not alone. With over 1.5 billion monthly users and a rapidly growing creator economy, TikTok has become one of the most lucrative platforms for digital entrepreneurs, micro-influencers, and even everyday users who know how to engage an audience.

In this guide, we’ll unpack the real ways to make money on TikTok, debunk myths, and give you a step-by-step breakdown of monetization strategies that actually work. Whether you’re just starting out or already racking up views, you’ll find actionable tactics tailored to your current stage

Can You Really Make Money on TikTok?

Absolutely—but the “how” depends on your content style, audience engagement, and monetization method.

Creators are earning anywhere from $50 to $10,000+ per month, depending on how they diversify their income streams. Some get paid directly through TikTok’s Creator Fund, while others land brand deals, run affiliate campaigns, or sell products through TikTok Shop. The platform’s massive reach, combined with its unique content discovery algorithm, gives creators a level playing field—meaning even small accounts can go viral and cash in.

Real-World Scenario:

Meet Sarah, a skincare enthusiast with 12K followers. She doesn’t have a viral video (yet), but earns roughly $800/month through affiliate links and small brand partnerships. Her secret? Educational content that answers questions like “how to build a simple skincare routine.”

Why TikTok Works for Monetization:

• Discoverability: The algorithm pushes your content to new audiences based on engagement, not follower count.
• Multiple income streams: From live gifting to digital product sales, TikTok supports both direct and indirect monetization.
• Platform investment: TikTok is aggressively investing in creators through its Creator Marketplace, Shop integrations, and paid ad tools.

If you’ve ever thought TikTok was just a “for fun” platform, it’s time to shift your mindset. In 2025, it’s a serious player in the creator economy—and it’s wide open for smart, strategic earners.

Monetization Eligibility: What You Need Before You Start

Before you dive into monetizing your TikTok account, it’s crucial to understand the platform’s baseline requirements. TikTok doesn’t hand out payouts or brand deals to just anyone—you need to meet specific engagement and content quality benchmarks to unlock income potential.

🔸 Core Requirements for Monetization

Monetization Method	Minimum Followers	Other Criteria
TikTok Creator Fund	10,000+	100,000 views in last 30 days, 18+ years old
TikTok Live Gifts	1,000+	Age 18+, must go Live regularly
TikTok Shop (US/UK)	No strict minimum	Must be approved as seller or affiliate
Brand Deals	Varies (500–5,000+)	Strong niche, consistent content, active audience

⚠️ Note: Eligibility requirements vary by region. Some monetization features may not be available in every country.

🔹 Engagement Over Follower Count

It’s not just about how many followers you have—it’s how your audience interacts. TikTok’s algorithm rewards high watch time, shares, and repeat views, all of which signal real engagement.

Ask yourself:

• Are your videos holding attention beyond 3 seconds?
• Are viewers commenting or saving your content?
• Are you posting consistently (3–5x per week minimum)?

These signals not only influence discoverability but also open doors for monetization opportunities like Creator Marketplace invitations and brand collabs.

🎯 Pro Tip: Optimize for Early Eligibility

Even if you’re starting from scratch, focus on:

• Niche targeting: Stick to a specific theme (e.g., fitness, beauty, finance).
• Content series: Create repeatable formats (e.g., “TikTok tip of the day”).
• CTA-driven videos: Ask viewers to like, follow, or comment—engagement boosts exposure.

Getting monetization-ready is more about strategic growth than going viral. Hit the foundational metrics, and income potential follows naturally.

TikTok Creator Fund: Pros, Cons & How It Works

The TikTok Creator Fund is often the first income stream new creators explore. Launched to reward original content, the fund pays eligible users based on views, engagement, and adherence to community guidelines.

But before you assume it’s your ticket to financial freedom, let’s break down what the Creator Fund really is—and what it’s not.

🔸 What Is the TikTok Creator Fund?

In short, it’s a payout program where TikTok compensates creators for generating engaging content. It’s not ad revenue (like YouTube’s AdSense), but rather a pool of money distributed to creators who meet TikTok’s criteria.

To qualify, you need:

• 10,000+ followers
• 100,000 video views in the past 30 days
• To be 18 or older
• A TikTok Pro or Creator account
• To be in an eligible country (e.g., U.S., U.K., France)

Once accepted, creators are paid based on a formula involving:

• Video views
• Watch time
• Authenticity (not bots or engagement pods)
• Content quality

🔹 How Much Can You Actually Earn?

Here’s where it gets a bit controversial.

Most creators report earning $0.02 to $0.04 per 1,000 views—which means a video with 1 million views might earn $20 to $40.

👤 Example: A tech creator with ~30,000 followers earns around $60/month from the Creator Fund. It’s passive income, but not enough to live on.

✅ Pros:

• Easy to join once eligible.
• No need to promote or sell anything.
• It’s a passive income layer that adds up over time.
• Helps boost your credibility and brand positioning as a paid creator.

❌ Cons:

• Low payouts unless you go viral often.
• Some creators report reduced reach after joining (though TikTok denies this).
• Not available in all countries.
• You still need to diversify income streams to make serious money.

🎯 Bottom Line:

The Creator Fund is a nice baseline, but it shouldn’t be your only income plan. Use it to complement other monetization strategies—like brand deals, affiliate marketing, or selling products.

💬 Insider Insight: Many high-earning creators actually opt out of the Creator Fund altogether, instead focusing on brand partnerships and TikTok Shop, where ROI is significantly higher.

Brand Sponsorships & Influencer Deals

If the Creator Fund is a trickle, brand deals are a waterfall. Sponsorships are where most successful TikTok creators make the bulk of their income—and you don’t need millions of followers to land one.

Brands are hungry for authentic voices and niche micro-influencers who drive real engagement. In fact, companies often prefer creators with 5K–50K highly engaged followers over celebrities with millions of passive ones.

🔹 How Do TikTok Brand Deals Work?

Brands pay creators to:

• Promote a product or service in a TikTok video
• Create custom content for the brand’s own use (UGC)
• Join a campaign using branded hashtags or filters

Depending on your niche, follower count, and engagement rate, you can earn anywhere from $100 to $10,000+ per video.

👤 Example: A fitness creator with 20K followers charges $300/post and lands 2–3 sponsorships per month. That’s nearly $1,000 in brand revenue alone.

🔸 Where to Find Sponsorships

You don’t have to wait for brands to slide into your DMs. There are several platforms that connect TikTok creators with brand campaigns:

• TikTok Creator Marketplace (TikTok’s official tool)
• AspireIQ
• Influencity
• Collabstr
• Upfluence

🔍 Pro Tip: Build a professional media kit that highlights your audience demographics, average engagement, and niche relevance. Brands want to see data.

💼 How to Pitch Yourself to Brands

Whether you’re applying via a platform or cold-emailing a brand:

1. Personalize your pitch – Mention their product or campaign.
2. Show social proof – Link to previous sponsored posts or engagement metrics.
3. Offer creative ideas – Suggest how you’d showcase their brand organically.
4. Be transparent – Include your rates, timelines, and deliverables.

📉 Mistakes to Avoid

• Saying yes to every offer (stay on-brand!)
• Not disclosing sponsorships (violates TikTok guidelines and FTC rules)
• Undervaluing your work (your audience is your asset)

🎯 Quick Win: Build Brand Trust

Start by tagging brands organically in videos you already use. When they notice you driving engagement without being paid, you’re more likely to land a deal.

💬 “I started by posting about a skincare brand I loved—just for fun. They reached out within two weeks and offered me a paid partnership for their next launch.” — @beautywithlara, 15.8K followers.

Brand Sponsorships & Influencer Deals

If the Creator Fund is a trickle, brand deals are a waterfall. Sponsorships are where most successful TikTok creators make the bulk of their income—and you don’t need millions of followers to land one.

Brands are hungry for authentic voices and niche micro-influencers who drive real engagement. In fact, companies often prefer creators with 5K–50K highly engaged followers over celebrities with millions of passive ones.

🔹 How Do TikTok Brand Deals Work?

Brands pay creators to:

• Promote a product or service in a TikTok video
• Create custom content for the brand’s own use (UGC)
• Join a campaign using branded hashtags or filters

Depending on your niche, follower count, and engagement rate, you can earn anywhere from $100 to $10,000+ per video.

👤 Example: A fitness creator with 20K followers charges $300/post and lands 2–3 sponsorships per month. That’s nearly $1,000 in brand revenue alone.

🔸 Where to Find Sponsorships

You don’t have to wait for brands to slide into your DMs. There are several platforms that connect TikTok creators with brand campaigns:

• TikTok Creator Marketplace (TikTok’s official tool)
• AspireIQ
• Influencity
• Collabstr
• Upfluence

🔍 Pro Tip: Build a professional media kit that highlights your audience demographics, average engagement, and niche relevance. Brands want to see data.

💼 How to Pitch Yourself to Brands

Whether you’re applying via a platform or cold-emailing a brand:

1. Personalize your pitch – Mention their product or campaign.
2. Show social proof – Link to previous sponsored posts or engagement metrics.
3. Offer creative ideas – Suggest how you’d showcase their brand organically.
4. Be transparent – Include your rates, timelines, and deliverables.

📉 Mistakes to Avoid

• Saying yes to every offer (stay on-brand!)
• Not disclosing sponsorships (violates TikTok guidelines and FTC rules)
• Undervaluing your work (your audience is your asset)

🎯 Quick Win: Build Brand Trust

Start by tagging brands organically in videos you already use. When they notice you driving engagement without being paid, you’re more likely to land a deal.

💬 “I started by posting about a skincare brand I loved—just for fun. They reached out within two weeks and offered me a paid partnership for their next launch.” — @beautywithlara, 15.8K

and offered me a paid partnership for their next launch.”

TikTok Shop & Livestream Selling: The Future of Social Commerce

TikTok isn’t just a content platform—it’s rapidly evolving into a full-blown ecommerce engine. With TikTok Shop and Live Selling, creators can now sell products directly within the app, turning views into real-time revenue.

This isn’t the future of shopping. It’s happening right now.

🔹 What Is TikTok Shop?

TikTok Shop is an in-app marketplace that allows you to:

• Sell physical products as a business or individual
• Earn commissions as an affiliate on other people’s products
• Tag products directly in your videos and Lives
• Manage sales, inventory, and shipping—all inside TikTok

👤 Example: A creator in the kitchen niche links TikTok Shop products in every “5-Minute Recipe” video and earns daily commissions from followers buying featured tools.

🔸 Livestream Selling: Why It Converts Like Crazy

Going live on TikTok is like hosting your own QVC show—with a direct buy button.

TikTok Lives give you a chance to:

• Demonstrate products in real-time
• Build urgency and FOMO with flash discounts
• Interact with your audience while pitching offers

Conversion rates during Lives are significantly higher than in-feed content—especially when you include time-sensitive offers, bundles, or live-only discounts.

📈 Stat: TikTok reported that 67% of viewers are more likely to buy from brands they engage with during Live sessions.

🛍️ How to Get Started with TikTok Shop

1. Sign up at shop.tiktok.com
2. Choose to become:
   • A Seller (you upload and sell your own products)
   • An Affiliate (you earn commission from other sellers)
3. Connect your TikTok account and upload product listings
4. Start tagging products in:
   • Organic videos
   • TikTok Lives
   • Product showcase tabs

📌 As an affiliate, you don’t need inventory—just promote listed items and collect your share.

🔥 Best Practices for TikTok Shop Success

• Use “TikTok made me buy it” style hooks
• Include product demos or unboxings in every video
• Pin products in Lives with clear verbal CTAs
• Encourage reviews and repost UGC for social proof

💡 Creator Tip: Combine Tactics

Run a 30-second product video, then go Live to answer questions, and follow up with a discount countdown in your bio. This multiplies visibility and urgency across the funnel.

💬 “I went live with my planner for 45 minutes. Made 83 sales. That’s more than I made all month on my website.” — @organizedash, digital product seller

How Much TikTokers Actually Make

If you’re wondering whether you can make real money on TikTok, you’re not alone. While some viral creators seem to make millions, the reality is that earnings vary significantly depending on the monetization strategy, audience size, and engagement.

In this section, we’ll break down average earnings for different monetization methods and highlight the factors that affect your income potential.

🔸 Breakdown of Earnings by Method

Monetization Method	Average Earnings	Factors Impacting Income
Creator Fund	$0.02–$0.04 per 1,000 views	Views, engagement, location
Brand Deals	$100–$10,000+ per post	Follower count, niche, engagement
Affiliate Marketing	$0.50–$10,000+/month	Product type, audience interest
Selling Products	$500–$20,000+/month	Product price, number of sales
TikTok Shop & Livestream Sales	$100–$10,000+/month	Live sessions, product demand

🔹 Creator Fund Earnings: A Trickle, Not a Stream

The TikTok Creator Fund pays based on video performance, but the payouts are low compared to other methods. As mentioned earlier, you’re looking at $0.02 to $0.04 per 1,000 views. For a video that gets 1 million views, expect to earn anywhere from $20 to $40.

This is why most creators treat the Fund as “bonus income” rather than their primary revenue source

🔸 Brand Deals: The Real Money Maker

Brand sponsorships are where you can start making serious money. For creators with 10K to 50K followers, brand deal rates typically range from $200 to $2,000 per post. However, top-tier creators can make $10,000 or more per post—especially if they’re in lucrative niches like beauty, fashion, or fitness.

👤 Example: A fitness creator with 100K followers might earn $2,500 per post promoting a supplement brand, while a beauty influencer with 1 million followers can command $15,000 per video.

🔹 Affiliate Marketing: Passive, but Scalable

Affiliate earnings are largely passive, meaning the more you promote, the more you can earn without actively creating new content each time. Depending on your niche and affiliate network, creators can earn anywhere from $50–$2,000+ per month through affiliate commissions.

For example:

• A creator promoting beauty products on Amazon might earn around $100–$300/month.
• A tech creator recommending gadgets can earn $2,000+/month with a few well-placed links.

🔸 Selling Your Own Products: High Profit Potential

Selling your own products—whether digital items like eBooks and courses or physical products—can yield significantly higher margins. Digital goods typically have no inventory or shipping costs, so profit margins are 80% or higher.

For example:

• A creator selling a $20 digital planner could make $5,000–$10,000/month if they sell 250–500 units.
• Physical product sellers in niches like merchandise or health products can scale to $10,000–$50,000+/month depending on audience loyalty and demand.

🎯 Real-Life Examples of TikTok Income

1. @fitnessgirl: 80K followers — Earns $1,200–$2,500/month from brand deals and affiliate links.
2. @beautybabe: 1M followers — Earns $10,000+/month from affiliate marketing and sponsored content.
3. @techguru: 120K followers — Made $15,000 in one month from a product launch on TikTok Shop.

💡 Maximizing Your TikTok Earnings

• Diversify your income streams—don’t rely on just one source.
• Engage regularly with your audience to increase viewership.
• Use viral content trends to keep your visibility high.
• Be strategic with calls to action in your videos, pushing viewers toward purchases, affiliate links, or brand deals.

💬 “It wasn’t until I started selling my own products and doing brand collaborations that I hit my first $5,000 month on TikTok. The Creator Fund was nice, but it’s just a small piece of the puzzle.” — @creatorlexi, 50K followers

Conclusion & Key Takeaways

By now, you should have a clear roadmap for how to start making money on TikTok—whether you’re looking to build a sustainable side income or turn your passion into a full-time career. TikTok is an evolving platform, and the opportunities for creators are expanding daily. From the Creator Fund to brand deals, affiliate marketing, and selling your own products, there are multiple ways to earn money on the app.

But remember, success doesn’t happen overnight. Consistency, creativity, and understanding your audience’s needs are key factors in building a profitable presence.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• Start with content creation: Focus on making engaging, niche-driven content that resonates with your target audience.
• Experiment with monetization strategies: Don’t rely on just one income stream. Use a mix of the Creator Fund, brand deals, affiliate marketing, and your own products.
• Leverage TikTok’s native tools: Utilize TikTok’s Shop feature, affiliate links, and Live streaming to engage with your audience and boost sales directly within the app.
• Consistency is crucial: Regular content posting and engagement with your community can significantly increase your chances of success.

🎯 Your Next Steps:

1. Set up your TikTok Creator account if you haven’t already.
2. Start experimenting with different monetization strategies (e.g., try an affiliate marketing link in your bio or pitch to brands).
3. Create a content calendar for consistent posting to engage with your followers.
4. Keep learning about TikTok’s features to stay ahead of new updates and tools.

📌 Final Thoughts:

TikTok isn’t just a platform for viral dances and lip-syncs; it’s a thriving social commerce hub. Whether you’re starting small or already have a loyal following, there are plenty of ways to turn your creativity into cash. The key is to stay authentic, stay consistent, and most importantly—keep delivering value to your audience.

Remember, TikTok rewards creativity and community-building. By being authentic and providing value, you can not only create a loyal following but also turn your TikTok account into a profitable business.