When Do You Start Making Money on Tiktok? Here’s the Answer!

Key Points

• To start making money on TikTok through the official program, you generally need at least 10,000 followers and 100,000 video views in the last 30 days, and be at least 18 years old, residing in an eligible country.
• You can also earn money earlier through live streams with 1,000 followers if you’re 18+, or via brand partnerships without specific follower counts.
• The evidence leans toward the Creator Rewards Program being the main way, but other methods like selling products add flexibility.

Direct Answer

TikTok offers several ways to start making money, but let’s focus on the official route first, which is through the TikTok Creator Rewards Program. Here’s how it works in simple terms:

• What You Need: You generally need at least 10,000 followers, 100,000 video views in the last 30 days, and to be at least 18 years old. You also need to live in a country where the program is available, like the US, UK, or Germany.
• How It Works: Once you meet these, apply through the app under “Creator tools.” If accepted, TikTok pays you based on how well your videos perform, like views and engagement, especially for content that’s at least one minute long and original.
• When You Start Earning: You start earning once you’re accepted into the program, and your eligible videos begin generating rewards.

But here’s an unexpected detail: you don’t have to wait until 10,000 followers to make money. If you have at least 1,000 followers and are 18+, you can go live and receive gifts from viewers, which can be converted to cash. You can also earn through brand partnerships or selling products, even with fewer followers, depending on your audience and content.

So, while the official program has clear requirements, there are earlier opportunities to earn, making TikTok flexible for creators at different stages.

Understanding the TikTok Creator Rewards Program

The primary official way to earn money directly from TikTok is through the TikTok Creator Rewards Program, previously known as the Creativity Program Beta and before that, the Creator Fund. This program, launched in its current form in March 2024, is designed to reward creators for high-quality, original content, particularly videos longer than one minute. It replaced the earlier Creator Fund, which was criticized for low payouts, and aims to offer up to 20 times more earnings based on performance metrics.

Eligibility Criteria

To join the program, you must meet the following requirements:

• Age: You must be at least 18 years old.
• Followers: You need at least 10,000 followers, indicating a significant audience.
• Video Views: Your account must have at least 100,000 video views in the last 30 days, showing active engagement.
• Country: You must reside in an eligible country, such as the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, South Korea, France, and Brazil, among others. The program is rolling out gradually, so availability may vary.

These criteria ensure that only creators with a proven track record of engagement and reach can participate, aligning with TikTok’s goal to reward impactful content.

How to Apply and Start Earning

Once you meet the eligibility, the application process is straightforward:

1. Open the TikTok app and go to your profile.
2. Tap the menu button (three horizontal bars), then tap Settings.
3. Navigate to “Creator tools” and then “Creator Fund.”
4. Tap “Switch” to join the Creator Rewards Program if you’re switching from the old fund, or apply directly if not enrolled.

After submission, TikTok reviews your application, which can take a few days. Once accepted, your eligible videos—those that are original, at least one minute long, and comply with community guidelines—start generating rewards. Payments are based on proprietary metrics, including originality, play duration, audience engagement, and search value, with potential earnings ranging from $0.4 to $1 per 1,000 views, a significant jump from the old Creator Fund’s $0.02 to $0.04.

Alternative Ways to Make Money on TikTok

While the Creator Rewards Program is the flagship monetization tool, there are several other ways to start earning on TikTok, especially for creators who haven’t yet reached the 10,000-follower threshold. These methods offer flexibility and can be pursued simultaneously.

Live Streams and Gifts

One of the earliest ways to make money is through TikTok Live, where viewers can send virtual gifts during your streams, which can be converted to real money. To go live, you need:

• At least 1,000 followers.
• To be at least 16 years old to stream, but 18 or older to receive gifts.

This means that as soon as you hit 1,000 followers and turn 18, you can start earning through live interactions, making it a viable option for newer creators. For example, engaging content like Q&A sessions, product demos, or entertainment can encourage viewers to send gifts, providing an immediate revenue stream.

Brand Partnerships and Sponsorships

Another avenue is partnering with brands for sponsored content. While there’s no strict follower count requirement, brands typically look for creators with a significant following and high engagement rates. This can start even with a few thousand followers if your niche is valuable to the brand. For instance, a fitness creator with 5,000 engaged followers might land a deal with a sportswear brand, earning through sponsored posts or shoutouts.

Selling Products and Merchandise

Creators can also sell their own products, such as merchandise, digital products, or services, directly through TikTok or linked platforms. The TikTok Shop feature allows for in-app sales, and there’s no specific follower requirement, though having an audience helps drive purchases. Affiliate marketing, where you earn commissions for promoting products, is another option, accessible to creators at various stages.

Comparative Analysis of Earning Methods

To better understand when you can start making money, here’s a table comparing the requirements and potential earnings for each method:

This table highlights that while the Creator Rewards Program has higher barriers, live streams offer an earlier entry point, and brand deals can be pursued with lower follower counts, depending on your audience’s value.

The Journey to Earning on TikTok

For many creators, the journey starts with building an audience through consistent, engaging content. Here’s a typical progression:

1. Early Stage (0–1,000 Followers): Focus on creating viral, niche content to grow your following. At this stage, you can’t go live or join the creator program, but you can lay the groundwork for future earnings.
2. Mid Stage (1,000–10,000 Followers): Once you hit 1,000 followers and are 18+, you can go live and start earning through gifts. This is a great way to test monetization without the higher requirements of the program.
3. Advanced Stage (10,000+ Followers): At this point, you can apply for the Creator Rewards Program, unlocking payments for your video performance, and likely attract brand deals due to your larger reach.

Challenges and Considerations

While the Creator Rewards Program offers higher potential earnings, it’s not without challenges. Some creators have reported lower-than-expected payouts, and the program’s availability is limited to certain countries, which may exclude creators in regions like Australia as of recent reports. Additionally, the requirement for longer videos (at least one minute) may not suit all content styles, and there’s a need for original content, which can be harder to produce consistently.

For live streams, success depends on viewer generosity, which can be unpredictable, and brand partnerships require negotiation skills and sometimes legal agreements, adding complexity.

Conclusion

In summary, you can start making money on TikTok through the Creator Rewards Program once you have at least 10,000 followers, 100,000 views in the last 30 days, are 18+, and reside in an eligible country. However, earlier opportunities exist, such as live streams with 1,000 followers if you’re 18+, or brand deals and product sales with fewer followers, offering flexibility for creators at different stages. Understanding these options can help you plan your monetization strategy effectively.