YouTube Brand Deals: Complete Guide to Sponsorships

Learn how much YouTubers make from brand deals, how to get sponsorships, what to charge, and how to maximize your earnings from brand partnerships.

Calculate Your Brand Deal Earnings

Use our free calculator to estimate your potential brand deal earnings based on your subscriber count, engagement rate, and niche.

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How Much Do YouTube Brand Deals Pay?

Brand deal rates on YouTube vary dramatically based on your subscriber count, engagement rate, niche, and audience demographics. Unlike ad revenue which pays per view, brand deals pay per sponsored video, making them much more lucrative for creators with engaged audiences.

Subscriber CountTypical Rate Per VideoFactors
1K-10K$20-$200High engagement (5%+) can command premium rates
10K-50K$200-$1,000Engagement rate and niche matter most
50K-100K$1,000-$5,000Consistent views and brand-friendly content
100K-500K$5,000-$20,000Premium niches (finance, tech) earn more
500K-1M$20,000-$50,000Audience demographics and engagement quality
1M+$50,000-$200,000+Top-tier creators with proven track records

Important: These are general ranges. Your actual rate depends on engagement rate, niche, audience demographics, content quality, and negotiation skills. A finance channel with 50K subscribers and 6% engagement might earn $5,000-$10,000 per deal, while a gaming channel with the same subscribers might earn $1,000-$3,000.

What Affects Brand Deal Rates?

Subscriber Count

More subscribers = higher rates, but engagement matters more. A 100K subscriber channel with 5% engagement often earns more than a 200K channel with 1% engagement.

Engagement Rate

Engagement rate is crucial. Brands pay 2-3x more for channels with 5%+ engagement vs 1-2%. Calculate: (likes + comments + shares) / views × 100.

Niche

Finance, tech, business, and beauty niches pay the most. Gaming and entertainment typically pay less. Premium niches can command 2-3x higher rates.

Audience Demographics

US, UK, Canada audiences command premium rates. Age demographics matter too—18-34 is most valuable. Brands pay more for target demographics.

How to Get Brand Deals on YouTube

  1. Build an Engaged Audience: Focus on engagement rate, not just subscriber count. Create content that encourages likes, comments, and shares. Aim for 3-5%+ engagement.
  2. Choose a Brand-Friendly Niche: Finance, tech, beauty, lifestyle, and business niches attract more brand deals. Gaming and entertainment are more competitive with lower rates.
  3. Create Quality Content: Professional editing, clear audio, and consistent posting schedule show brands you're serious. Brands want to work with creators who produce reliable, high-quality content.
  4. Make Yourself Findable: Add a business email to your channel's About page. Include your niche, subscriber count, and average views in your channel description. Use relevant keywords.
  5. Join Influencer Platforms: Sign up for AspireIQ, Creator.co, Upfluence, or similar platforms. These connect creators with brands looking for partnerships.
  6. Reach Out Directly: Research brands in your niche and email them with your channel stats, engagement rate, and why you'd be a good fit. Include a media kit with your rates and demographics.
  7. Network: Connect with other creators in your niche. They often share brand opportunities or can refer you to brands.

How to Price Your Brand Deals

Pricing brand deals is part art, part science. Here's a common formula many creators use:

Base Rate Formula:

$20-$50 per 1,000 subscribers

Adjust up for: High engagement (5%+), premium niche, US/UK audience, proven track record
Adjust down for: Low engagement (<2%), oversaturated niche, inconsistent posting

Example Calculations

  • 50K subscribers, 3% engagement, lifestyle niche: $1,000-$2,500 per video
  • 50K subscribers, 6% engagement, finance niche: $3,000-$7,500 per video
  • 200K subscribers, 4% engagement, tech niche: $8,000-$15,000 per video

Pro Tip: Always negotiate. Brands often have budgets 20-50% higher than their initial offer. Don't accept the first number—counter with your rate based on your engagement and niche value.

Common Brand Deal Mistakes to Avoid

  • Accepting the first offer: Always negotiate. Brands expect it and often have higher budgets.
  • Too many sponsored videos: Keep sponsored content to 10-20% of your uploads. More than that hurts authenticity.
  • Not disclosing sponsorships: Always use #ad or #sponsored. It's legally required and builds trust.
  • Working with irrelevant brands: Only partner with brands that fit your niche. Your audience will notice mismatches.
  • Not tracking performance: Track views, engagement, and conversions from brand deals to prove value for future partnerships.
  • Undervaluing yourself: Don't accept rates below your worth. Better to say no than devalue your channel.

Frequently Asked Questions

YouTube brand deal rates vary significantly by subscriber count and engagement. Small channels (1K-10K subscribers) typically earn $20-$200 per sponsored video, while channels with 100K-500K subscribers can earn $5,000-$20,000 per deal. Large channels (1M+ subscribers) can earn $50,000-$200,000+ per brand deal. Rates also depend on engagement rate, niche, audience demographics, and content quality.

To get brand deals: 1) Build an engaged audience (10K+ subscribers helps), 2) Create quality content in a brand-friendly niche, 3) Reach out to brands directly or join influencer marketing platforms (AspireIQ, Creator.co, Upfluence), 4) Network with other creators and brands, 5) Make your channel easy to find with clear contact info in your About page. Most brands look for 3-5%+ engagement rates.

A good engagement rate for brand deals is 3-5% or higher. Engagement rate = (likes + comments + shares) / views. Brands pay premium rates for channels with high engagement because it shows your audience is actively interested. Channels with 5%+ engagement can command 2-3x higher rates than channels with 1-2% engagement, even with similar subscriber counts.

Most YouTubers do 1-4 brand deals per month. Too many sponsored videos can hurt your channel's authenticity and viewer trust. A good rule: keep sponsored content to 10-20% of your total uploads. If you post 10 videos per month, 1-2 brand deals is ideal. Quality over quantity—one well-executed brand deal is worth more than multiple rushed ones.

While there's no strict requirement, most brands look for channels with at least 1,000-10,000 subscribers. However, micro-influencers (1K-10K) with high engagement (5%+) can still get brand deals. The key is engagement and audience quality, not just subscriber count. Some brands prefer smaller, highly-engaged audiences over large, passive ones.

Base your rate on: subscriber count, engagement rate, niche, and deliverables. A common formula: $20-$50 per 1,000 subscribers, adjusted for engagement. For example, 50K subscribers with 4% engagement might charge $1,000-$2,500 per video. High-paying niches (finance, tech) command 2-3x more. Always negotiate—brands often have budgets higher than their initial offer.

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