YouTube Brand Deals:
The Complete Guide

Learn how much YouTubers make from sponsorships, how to get brand deals, and exactly what you should charge in 2026.

Calculate Your Brand Deal Potential

Use our professional estimator to see your potential earnings based on subscribers, engagement, and niche.

Brand deals for small YouTubers

Small YouTubers (1K–10K subscribers) can land brand deals: typical rates are $20–$200 per sponsored video. Micro-influencers with high engagement (5%+) often get the upper end. Brands care about engagement and audience fit, not just subscriber count—so a 5K channel with 6% engagement can out-earn a 20K channel with 1%.

How Much Do Brand Deals Pay?

Brand deal rates on YouTube vary dramatically. Unlike ad revenue which pays per view, brand deals pay per sponsored video, making them the primary income source for most pro creators.

Subscriber Count	Typical Rate	Success Factors
1K-10K	$20-$200	High engagement (5%+) commands premium
10K-50K	$200-$1,000	Niche and audience quality matter most
50K-100K	$1,000-$5,000	Consistent views and brand-friendliness
100K-500K	$5,000-$20,000	Premium niches (finance, tech) earn 2x
500K-1M	$20,000-$50,000	Global reach and deep audience trust
1M+	$50,000-$200K+	The elite tier with massive leverage

What Affects Your Rate?

Subscriber Count

More subs = higher baseline, but engagement matters more. A 100K channel with 5% engagement often out-earns a 200K channel with 1%.

Engagement Rate

Crucial for brands. They pay 2-3x more for channels with 5%+ engagement. Calculate: (likes + comments + shares) / views × 100.

Niche Value

Finance, tech, and business niches pay the highest. Gaming and entertainment typically have lower rates due to advertiser demand.

Demographics

US, UK, and Canada audiences command premium rates. The 18-34 age demographic is usually the most valuable to sponsors.

How to Get Brand Deals

Focus on Engagement

Create content that encourages community. High engagement proves your audience trusts you.

Professional Kit

Make a media kit with your stats, demographics, and best performing video examples.

Be Findable

Put a clear business email in your About page and video descriptions. Brands need to reach you.

Join Platforms

Pricing Your Sponsorships

The Baseline Formula

$20 - $50

Per 1,000 Subscribers

Adjust this rate based on your engagement. High engagement (5%+) commands the top end of the range, while niche value can push it even higher.

Example Calculations

50K Subs (3% engagement)$1,000 - $2,500
50K Subs (6% engagement)$3,000 - $7,500
200K Subs (4% engagement)$8,000 - $15,000

Avoid These Mistakes

✕Accepting the first offer (Always negotiate!)

✕Too many sponsored videos (Keep it to 10-20%)

✕Not disclosing sponsorships (#ad is required)

✕Working with irrelevant brands (Hurts trust)

✕Not tracking performance (Prove your ROI)

✕Undervaluing your audience (Know your worth)

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.

Small YouTubers (1K–10K subscribers) typically earn $20–$200 per brand deal. Channels with 5%+ engagement or in valuable niches (finance, tech) can reach the higher end. Focus on engagement and a clear niche to attract brands; many small creators get their first deal through direct outreach or platforms like Aspire or Creator.co.

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.