Complete TikTok Money-Making Guide 2025 | 7 Monetization Methods + Real Monthly Earnings

Introduction: Can You Actually Make Money on TikTok?

"Can you really make money on TikTok?" — it's the question every new creator asks.

The answer: absolutely yes. But how much you earn, and how, depends on your strategy and follow-through. Some people earn a few hundred dollars a month as pocket money; others earn over NT$100,000 monthly and treat TikTok as their full-time job. The key is which monetization method you choose — and whether you're willing to put in the time to build it.

This article provides a complete breakdown of 7 tested TikTok monetization methods, suitable for everyone from beginners to advanced creators. More importantly, it covers real earnings data, threshold requirements for each method, and how to break through the hardest barrier — the follower threshold. For a full overview of TikTok's features and how to use the platform, see our Complete TikTok Guide.

Real Case Studies: How They Actually Make Money on TikTok

Before getting into the methods, let's look at 3 verified real-world earnings examples from Taiwan creators.

These 3 cases span food, performing arts, and handmade goods — with monthly incomes ranging from NT$15,000 to NT$100,000+, all with confirmed data.

Case 1: Xiao Mei's Daily Cooking (Food | Monthly: NT$15,000)

Background:

• Full-time employee who films after work
• Followers: 25,000
• Average video views: 500,000

Revenue sources:

• Creator Fund: ~NT$8,000/month
• Brand deals (food/kitchen brands): 1–2 per month at NT$7,000–10,000 each

Creator's insight:

"I started by just sharing how I cook. As followers slowly built up, brands started reaching out. Now I earn an extra NT$15,000/month — enough to cover my living expenses."

Case 2: AJ Guitar (Performing Arts | Monthly: NT$40,000)

Background:

• Music student, part-time creator
• Followers: 80,000
• Live streams 3x/week, 2 hours each

Revenue sources:

• Live gifts: ~NT$25,000/month
• Brand deals (musical instrument brands): 1 per month, ~NT$15,000

Creator's insight:

"Live streaming is more exhausting than filming, but the income is stable. My audience is very supportive — there are always regulars sending gifts each stream. Sponsorship came naturally as my follower count grew."

Case 3: Sunny Studio (Handmade Goods | Monthly: NT$100,000+)

Background:

• Handmade jewelry creator using TikTok as the primary sales channel
• Followers: 150,000
• Uploads 5 videos per week

Revenue sources:

• Driving sales to Pinkoi: NT$80,000–100,000/month
• Brand deals: 2–3 per month at NT$20,000–30,000 each

Creator's insight:

"TikTok is basically free advertising for me. I film videos showing my work, then guide followers to Pinkoi to purchase. The brand deals are extra income — my main revenue is product sales."

What These Cases Have in Common

These three examples reveal:

1. You don't need millions of followers to earn (the smallest has 25,000 and earns NT$15,000+/month)
2. Diversified income is more stable (Creator Fund + brand deals + e-commerce)
3. Consistency is the key (none of them became overnight successes — they built steadily)

But they all faced the same challenge: the cold start phase.

Getting from 0 to 1,000 followers is the most painful stage — low video exposure, low engagement, the algorithm won't push your content. Most people quit at this point. If you're just starting out, see our TikTok Registration Guide to get set up quickly.

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Method 1: Creator Fund (Threshold: 1,000–10,000 Followers)

The Creator Fund is the most direct monetization path.

The platform pays you based on your video performance — no extra actions needed.

Eligibility Requirements

TikTok (international):

• At least 10,000 followers
• At least 18 years old
• At least 100,000 video views in the past 30 days

Douyin (China):

• At least 1,000 followers (lower threshold)
• Requires Chinese identity verification (see Douyin Identity Verification Guide)
• Must meet view count requirements

Earnings Formula

Basic calculation: Earnings = Views × Completion Rate × Engagement Rate × Unit Price

Real data (Taiwan market reference):

• 1,000 views ≈ NT$1–3
• 100,000 views ≈ NT$100–300
• 1,000,000 views ≈ NT$1,000–3,000

Key factors affecting earnings:

• Completion rate: Did viewers watch through to the end? (Most important)
• Engagement rate: Likes, comments, shares, saves
• Content type: Educational > entertainment > pure comedy
• Viewer region: Some countries pay higher rates

Real Earnings Examples

Case A: Food Tutorial Creator

• Followers: 25,000
• Average views per video: 500,000
• Monthly uploads: 20 videos
• Monthly earnings: ~NT$8,000–12,000

Case B: Knowledge Creator

• Followers: 15,000
• Average views per video: 300,000
• Monthly uploads: 15 videos
• Monthly earnings: ~NT$6,000–9,000

The Real Barrier: Getting to That Follower Threshold

You're probably thinking: "10,000 followers sounds incredibly hard to reach!"

You're right — this is the biggest pain point for beginners.

Getting from 0 to 10,000 followers typically requires:

• 3–6 months of consistent creation
• 60–120 videos published
• Countless rounds of refinement and optimization

And during all of this, you're earning zero income — running purely on passion. Many people quit in this phase.

Is there a faster way?

Yes. By strategically building an early follower base, you can help the algorithm recognize your content sooner.

Sign up with Lion Fans to use real user interactions to help you break through the cold start. When you reach the Creator Fund threshold faster, you start earning sooner — creating a positive cycle.

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Method 2: Live Gifts (Threshold: 1,000 Followers)

Live streaming is the fastest monetization method to see results.

Viewers send virtual gifts, and you keep 30–50%.

How the Gift System Works

Gift prices (TikTok):

• Rose: 1 Coin = NT$0.5
• Swan: 99 Coins = NT$50
• Lion: 299 Coins = NT$150
• Universe: 1,999 Coins = NT$1,000

Creator share:

• TikTok: ~50%
• Douyin: ~30–40%

Withdrawal threshold:

• Must accumulate at least US$10 (~NT$300) before withdrawing

Earning Potential

Small streamer (1,000–10,000 followers):

• Per stream: NT$500–2,000
• 3 streams/week: NT$6,000–24,000/month

Mid-tier streamer (10,000–100,000 followers):

• Per stream: NT$5,000–20,000
• 3 streams/week: NT$60,000–240,000/month

Top streamer (100,000+ followers):

• Per stream: NT$100,000+
• Monthly income: Seven-figure potential

Best Live Content Types

1. Performing arts (highest earning potential)

• Singing, dancing, instrument performances
• Magic, stunts

2. Chat and companionship

• Emotional support, life advice
• Q&A, casual conversation

3. Gaming streams

• Mobile games, PC games
• Play and chat simultaneously

4. Educational tutorials

• Makeup tutorials
• Cooking demonstrations
• Language learning

Tips to Boost Live Earnings

1. Stream on a fixed schedule

• Build a habit with your audience
• Go live 3–5 times per week consistently

2. Keep engagement high

• Read out the names of gift-senders
• Respond to comments in real time
• Design interactive games

3. Set visible goals

• "Today's goal: 100 roses"
• Unlock a reward when you hit it (sing a requested song, run a giveaway)

4. Create the right atmosphere

• Good lighting and audio
• Clean, distinctive background
• Appropriate appearance

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Method 3: Brand Sponsorships (Threshold: 5,000 Followers)

Sponsorships are the most popular monetization method among creators.

Brands pay you to promote their products, with rates based on followers and engagement.

Sponsorship Rate Reference (Taiwan Market 2025)

Note: Actual rates also depend on engagement rate, content type, and industry.

Factors That Affect Your Sponsorship Rate

1. Follower count (40%) — The base threshold

2. Engagement rate (30%) — Like rate, comment rate, share rate

• High engagement > high follower count in terms of brand value

3. Audience fit (20%) — Does your audience match the brand's target customer?

4. Content quality (10%) — Video production, editing, copywriting quality

Where to Find Sponsorship Deals

1. Influencer platforms (best for beginners)

• iKala: Taiwan's largest influencer platform
• Partipost: Good for 5,000+ followers
• KOL Radar: Strong data analytics

2. Direct outreach

• Brands contact you directly
• You proactively pitch to brands

3. Creator agencies

• Suitable for 50,000+ followers
• Agency takes 20–30% cut

Legal and Content Principles

Legal requirement:

• Must label sponsored content with #ad or #sponsored
• Not labeling may violate Taiwan's Fair Trade Act

Content principles:

• Stay authentic — don't lie about products
• Only accept deals for products you genuinely like
• Accepting bad products for money will cause you to lose followers

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Method 4: E-commerce Traffic Funneling (Best for Creators with Products)

If you have your own products or services, TikTok is a free advertising platform.

How to Funnel Traffic

1. Put links in your bio

• Links to your Shopee, Pinkoi, or website
• In videos, remind viewers "link in bio"

2. Add links in video descriptions

• Short URLs (Bitly)
• Direct click-through

3. TikTok Shop (available in select regions)

• In-app checkout with the shortest purchase flow

Success Case

Handmade jewelry creator "Sunny Studio":

• Followers: 150,000
• Films the creation process and finished product showcases
• Directs viewers to Pinkoi for purchase
• Monthly revenue: NT$80,000–100,000

Strategy key points:

• Show the product's beauty and quality in videos
• Avoid hard-selling (7 casual lifestyle videos + 3 product promotion videos)
• Show authentic usage scenarios

Best Products for E-commerce Funneling

High-margin, visual products:

• Handmade items (jewelry, leather goods, ceramics)
• Clothing and accessories
• Beauty and skincare
• Home decor

Digital products/services:

• Online courses
• E-books
• Design services
• Consulting services

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Method 5: Affiliate Marketing (Best for Review Creators)

Promote other people's products and earn a commission.

No inventory or shipping required — low risk.

Affiliate Platforms in Taiwan

Domestic:

• TonLuoWang: Taiwan's largest affiliate platform
• LianMengWang: Diverse brand options
• Books.com.tw Affiliate: Books and electronics
• momo Affiliate: General e-commerce

International:

• Amazon Associates: Amazon US
• Taobao Alliance: Chinese marketplace

Commission Rates

Keys to Affiliate Marketing Success

1. Build trust

• Only promote products you've personally used
• Be honest — including the downsides

2. Provide value

• Detailed reviews and comparisons
• Solve real problems your audience has

3. Natural integration

• Don't make every video a promotion
• Blend into genuine lifestyle sharing

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Method 6: Sell Online Courses or E-books

Once you've built expertise and audience trust, launch paid content.

Course Platform Options

Taiwan platforms:

• Hahow: Taiwan's largest online course platform
• Yotta: Crowdfunded courses
• PressPlay: Subscription-based content

International platforms:

• Teachable: Feature-rich
• Gumroad: Ideal for e-books

Self-hosted:

• WordPress with membership plugin
• Full control, but requires technical setup

Pricing Guidance

E-books:

• NT$199–599 (entry level)
• NT$799–1,299 (advanced)

Online courses:

• NT$1,000–3,000 (short courses)
• NT$5,000–15,000 (comprehensive courses)

Creation Process

1. Market research — Confirm there's demand; analyze competitors' pricing
2. Course outline — Design chapter structure; ensure logical progression
3. Content production — Record videos or write content; prepare materials and exercises
4. Promotion — Publish related TikTok content; direct to purchase
5. Ongoing optimization — Collect student feedback; update content regularly

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Method 7: Sell Your TikTok Account (One-Time Income)

If you've built a follower base and want to exit, you can sell the account.

Market Prices (Reference)

Where Accounts Are Sold

• Facebook groups (TikTok account buy/sell communities)
• PTT (Marginalman board)
• Professional broker agencies

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• One-time lump-sum income
• No ongoing maintenance required

Cons:

• Short-sighted — long-term operation generates far more value
• Transaction risk (potential fraud)

Recommendation: Unless you're genuinely done with the account, long-term operation will always generate more than selling.

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7-Method Earnings Comparison Table

Recommended Strategy by Stage

Phase 1 (0–5,000 followers):

• Focus on building followers
• Try affiliate marketing (no threshold)
• If you have products, start e-commerce funneling

Phase 2 (5,000–10,000 followers):

• Start accepting brand deals
• Enable live gift earnings
• Continue e-commerce funneling

Phase 3 (10,000+ followers):

• Join the Creator Fund
• Run brand deals + live streams simultaneously
• Plan for an online course

Why Diversified Income Matters

Don't rely on a single income source.

Recommended portfolio:

• Creator Fund (stable baseline)
• Brand deals (primary income)
• Live streaming/e-commerce (supplementary income)

This way, even if one income source fluctuates, your overall earnings stay stable.

Breaking Through the Follower Threshold: The Most Critical First Step

After reviewing all 7 methods, you'll notice they share one requirement: almost all need a follower threshold.

• Creator Fund: 10,000 followers
• Brand deals: At least 5,000 followers
• Live earnings: At least 1,000 followers to be meaningful

But this is the biggest trap for beginners:

No followers → algorithm won't recommend → no exposure → no follower growth → vicious cycle

The Harsh Reality of the Cold Start Phase

How TikTok's algorithm works:

1. New video is published → given 200–500 initial impressions
2. If that batch shows high engagement (completion, likes, comments) → pushed to more people
3. If engagement is low → video sinks

The beginner's problem:

• No follower base → low initial engagement rate
• Algorithm judges content quality as poor → stops recommending
• Even if the content is great, it never gets the chance to be seen

The numbers don't lie:

• 90% of beginners quit before reaching 1,000 followers
• Average of 60–120 videos needed to break through 10,000 followers
• Time cost: 3–6 months with zero income

How to Break Through the Threshold Faster

Many creators ask: "Is there a faster way to hit the follower threshold?"

The answer: Yes — but you have to do it right.

Wrong approach:

• Buying zombie followers (the algorithm detects abnormal growth — actually hurts your reach)
• Mutual-follow groups (followers aren't targeted; no genuine engagement)

Right approach:

• Consistently improve content quality
• Study what makes videos go viral
• Build genuine early follower engagement

The key: Make the algorithm see that people genuinely like your content — then it'll push it to even more people.

Sign up with Lion Fans to break through the cold start phase with real user interactions. When your videos get genuine views, likes, and comments, the algorithm identifies it as "quality content" and starts recommending it more broadly. This isn't buying followers — it's investing in authentic early engagement so you enter the positive cycle faster.

Investment mindset:

Rather than grinding through 3–6 months of zero income, make a strategic investment in early growth. When you hit your follower threshold faster, you can:

• Start accepting brand deals sooner
• Join the Creator Fund earlier
• Shorten the time from "spending" to "earning"

Explore Lion Fans' professional growth plans — calculate your time cost and opportunity cost to make the smartest investment decision.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Can you make money with 0 followers?

A: Yes, but your options are limited.

You can do at 0 followers:

• Affiliate marketing (earn commissions from product promotion)
• E-commerce funneling (if you already have products)

What requires a threshold:

• Creator Fund (10,000 followers)
• Brand deals (at least 5,000 followers)
• Live gifts (at least 1,000 followers to be meaningful)

Suggestion: At the 0-follower stage, focus on building your audience while practicing affiliate marketing.

Q2: How long until I start earning money?

A: It varies — typically 3–12 months.

Timeline reference:

• 1–3 months: Building followers, testing content directions
• 3–6 months: Reaching initial thresholds (5,000–10,000 followers)
• 6–12 months: Starting to earn consistently
• 12+ months: Monthly income potentially reaching NT$30,000–100,000 (with sustained effort)

Q3: Do I have to show my face to earn money?

A: Not at all.

Content types that succeed without showing your face:

• Handcraft tutorials (show only your hands)
• Pet accounts
• Food preparation
• Knowledge-based slideshows
• Animation/editing content

The key is: Does the content have value? Not whether your face appears.

Q4: How much startup capital do I need?

A: Minimum NT$0 — but investing in equipment speeds up success.

Start at zero:

• Film with your smartphone
• Free editing apps (Jianying/CapCut)
• Natural lighting

Recommended investment (NT$5,000–15,000):

• Ring light (NT$500–2,000)
• Microphone (NT$1,000–3,000)
• Tripod (NT$500–1,500)
• Paid editing software (optional)

Q5: Full-time or part-time — which is better?

A: Start part-time; consider full-time once things stabilize.

Why part-time is safer:

• Stable income source
• No financial pressure
• More time to test and iterate

When to consider going full-time:

• TikTok income consistently exceeds your current job income
• You've maintained stability for 3–6 months
• You have at least 6 months of living expenses saved

Q6: Do I have to accept brand deals?

A: No — but it's the most common monetization path.

When you might skip brand deals:

• You have your own products or services to sell
• You're satisfied relying on Creator Fund + live earnings
• Your followers are extremely loyal and willing to support you directly

The right approach depends entirely on your content type and goals.