Wondering How to Make Money on TikTok?
You’re definitely not the only one! A lot of us find ourselves glued to TikTok, watching people do all kinds of crazy stuff and wondering, “How did they start making money this way?” or “How did they just convince me to buy 100 rolls of toilet paper?”
TikTok can definitely be a cash cow, but it’s just as mysterious as it is lucrative.
Creators with over 100,000 followers usually make between $200 to $1,000 per month from TikTok’s Creator Fund. If you’re sitting on over a million followers, you could be raking in anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000 a month (or even more). And then there’s the rare breed of influencers who are making a jaw-dropping $100,000 to $250,000 for a single post working with big-name brands (yep, you read that right—one post!).
With the launch of TikTok’s new Creativity Program Beta in early 2023, things have shifted a bit. Creators now have a chance to make up to 10 times more than before. The catch? You’ll need to create videos longer than one minute to reap those rewards.
Here are 16 ways that brands and creators are making money on TikTok in 2025. Let’s dive into the strategies!
Short on Time? Here’s How to Make Money on TikTok:
- Sell products through TikTok Shop.
- Drive sales with TikTok ads.
- Participate in affiliate programs.
- Promote songs.
- Join TikTok’s Creativity Program Beta.
- Publish sponsored posts.
- Become a brand ambassador.
- Start a Patreon.
- Find new clients.
- Build and sell TikTok accounts.
- Collaborate with influencers and fellow creators.
- Receive donations through live gifting.
- Raise money through crowdfunding.
- Collect tips.
- Consult for a brand.
- Invest in TikTok Spark ads.
How to Make Money on TikTok in 2025
There’s something to be said for TikTok being a goldmine for both businesses and individual creators. But whether you’re a business using TikTok to sell products, or you’re the creator trying to make your TikTok your full-time gig, it’s all about creativity and consistency. Let’s go through some of the ways you can make money!
Read Also: How To Sell Short Stories On Amazon to make money
1. Sell Products Through TikTok Shopping
TikTok introduced TikTok Shopping back in 2021 to help businesses sell directly on the platform—so no more sending followers elsewhere to buy your products.
With TikTok Shopping, you get a shopping tab on your profile, showcasing products from your Shopify store. You can even tag your products in videos, making it super easy for viewers to click through and make a purchase. Don’t hesitate to mention your products—it’s the only way to get the word out, even if it feels a little pushy.
Pro tip: Find a balance between promoting your store and creating engaging content.
2. Drive Sales with TikTok Ads
Running ads on TikTok is a great way to drive traffic to your store, your TikTok Shop tab, or even just your website. You can create in-feed image ads or go all out with TopView ads (fullscreen takeovers). Both of these strategies can get more eyes on your products and boost your TikTok following.
Don’t forget that you can also use TikTok as a top-of-funnel marketing tool—getting users to sign up for your email or SMS campaigns. This keeps your TikTok presence less “salesy” while still making it a profitable revenue source.
3. Participate in Affiliate Programs
You don’t need to sell your own products to make money on TikTok. Instead, affiliate marketing allows you to promote other people’s products and make a commission on every sale made through your links.
You can share affiliate links in your bio or video descriptions, or even drive traffic to other platforms like Facebook or Pinterest where you can place affiliate links more freely. Simple, right?
4. Promote Songs
This one’s for the musicians or those aspiring to be! If you have a decent following, musicians will pay you to promote their songs in your videos. They know that when your TikTok goes viral, so does their track—leading to more downloads, concert tickets, and merch sales.
And if you’re a musician, TikTok is the place to promote your music. Don’t miss out!
5. Join TikTok’s Creative Academy
TikTok’s Creative Academy (formerly the Creator Fund) is a program that pays creators based on their engagement. The more views and interaction your videos get, the more TikTok will pay you. You need 100K video views in the last 30 days to qualify, but the program’s already been evolving over time and could become even more profitable.
6. Publish Sponsored Posts
You can collaborate with brands and get paid to feature their products on your account. Even if you’re a micro-influencer (let’s say with under 100,000 followers), brands are willing to pay for sponsored posts, especially if your audience is engaged and niche.
If you have more than 100K followers, you can apply to join the TikTok Creator Marketplace, where high-paying brands are looking for influencers to work with.
7. Become a Brand Ambassador
As a brand ambassador, you’ll work with brands on a longer-term basis, posting multiple videos in exchange for compensation and free products. The better your content performs, the better your deal will get.
Look for brands you genuinely like and that fit your personal vibe. It’s more sustainable and fun that way!
8. Start a Patreon
Patreon is a great way to offer exclusive content to your most dedicated followers. While TikTok offers free content, you can offer things like:
- Behind-the-scenes content
- Special shoutouts
- Exclusive live chats
- And even merchandise
When you build a strong community, people will want to support you—and with a little creativity, you can make Patreon work for you.
9. Find New Clients
TikTok isn’t just for influencers. It’s an excellent platform to showcase your skills and attract freelance or consulting clients. Whether you’re a graphic designer, marketer, or even a plumber, TikTok can be an awesome way to find clients.
Just show off your skills in creative and engaging ways, and let your personality shine through!
10. Build and Sell TikTok Accounts
If you’re good at growing audiences quickly, why not turn that into a business? Some creators make a great living by building TikTok accounts and selling them to businesses or other influencers.
Focus on building accounts around specific niches (no personal accounts here, just subject-driven ones), and you could make money flipping accounts.
11. Work with Influencers and Fellow Creators
Even if you don’t have a massive following, you can still team up with influencers to cross-promote content or sponsor products. A well-placed shoutout can do wonders for your account or business.
12. Receive Donations Through Live Gifting
Live streaming on TikTok opens up the possibility for followers to send you donations in the form of virtual gifts. But be careful—TikTok’s guidelines frown upon soliciting gifts, so keep things organic and fun.
You need at least 1,000 followers to go live and be able to accept gifts, and you must be over 18 to cash in on those coins.
Read Also: Make Money Online — What Are The Best Ways?
Raise Money Through Crowdfunding
TikTok can be an excellent platform to promote crowdfunding campaigns. Whether you’re raising money for a cause or a new project, you can use your audience to back your idea. Just make sure it’s a cause your followers will be excited to support.
1. Collect Tips
If you don’t have a product or service to sell, consider using platforms like Venmo or Buy Me a Coffee to collect tips. It’s a simple way for your audience to support your work.
2. Consult for a Brand
If you’ve mastered TikTok, why not use your expertise to consult with businesses looking to grow on the platform? TikTok is a massive marketing tool, and more businesses are realizing they need help navigating it.
3. Invest in TikTok Spark Ads
Spark Ads allow you to promote your own or others’ organic TikTok posts as ads. This can boost your visibility, increase engagement, and lead to more followers—ultimately helping you make money in the long run.
Don’t Make Money on TikTok
Wait, what? Yes, this is on purpose.
TikTok is first and foremost an entertainment platform. If you’re too focused on making money, your audience will sense it. Instead, focus on creating content that engages and entertains, and the opportunities for monetization will follow.
Justin Flom, the most-viewed magician, shared his insight: “Whatever you want to sell, you need to make your content so engaging that people want to finish watching.”
If you entertain first, the money will come later.
TikTok Money-Making FAQs
How many followers do you need to have on TikTok to make money?
Technically, you don’t need any followers to start making money. However, to qualify for TikTok’s Creator Fund or Creativity Program Beta, you’ll need at least 10,000 followers and 100,000 video views in the last 30 days.
How many views do you need on TikTok to make money?
Again, you don’t need a certain number of views to make money. But for some programs, like the Creativity Program Beta, you’ll need to hit 100,000 video views in the last 30 days.
How are TikTok Creator Program earnings calculated?
Earnings depend on the number of views, engagement, and authenticity of the content. TikTok’s algorithm rewards content that resonates with viewers, so it’s all about creating engaging, shareable videos.
Keep Learning and Growing
TikTok is still one of the best ways to grow your business or personal brand in 2025. So whether you’re using ads, affiliate marketing, or just building a solid presence, the platform offers plenty of opportunities. Get started and see where your creativity takes you!