How to Start a YouTube Channel

YouTube is an internet powerhouse, used by more than 8 out of 10 American adults and more than 2.1 billion people worldwide. Some 62% of YouTube users visit the site every single day. 

That’s a huge audience marketers will pay good money to access, which is how YouTubers make a living. If you start your own YouTube channel and build up a large following, you could provide quality content while building a money-making business. 

But before you switch on your camera, you’ll need to learn how to launch a business. Luckily, this step-by-step guide has all the information you need to start your successful YouTube business. 

Step 1: Decide if the Business Is Right for You

Pros and cons

Starting a YouTube business has pros and cons to consider before deciding if it’s right for you. 

YouTube industry trends

Industry size and growth

• Industry size and past growth – US YouTube ad revenue in 2021 was $5.56 billion after increasing 220% from its 2018 numbers.((https://www.statista.com/statistics/289660/youtube-us-net-advertising-revenues/))
• Growth forecast – US YouTube ad revenue is expected to grow 23% in 2022 to reach $6.87 billion.

Trends and challenges

Trends on YouTube include:

• Challenge videos are trending on YouTube, where two people or groups challenge each other in something that could be anywhere from a food challenge to a weightlifting challenge.
• YouTube shorts, which are videos less than 60 seconds and are posted on the Shorts channel, are the most popular videos on YouTube.

Challenges on YouTube include:

• Companies are avoiding advertising on any content that is in any way controversial, so YouTube businesses must be very careful about the videos they create.
• YouTube users generally skip ads as much as possible, and must watch an ad for at least 30 seconds before YouTube will pay the creator for the ad.

Popular products

The most popular video categories watched by YouTube users are comedy, music, entertainment/pop culture, and “how to.”

How to Start a YouTube Channel

To start your YouTube channel, you simply need to sign into your YouTube using your Google account. You can then click on the video icon, which will prompt you to create a channel if you don’t already have one. Then just follow the prompts to set up your channel.

Then, you’ll want to do the following:

1. Decide what type of content you want to post and what your brand will be. You should create some sort of a theme and identity for your channel. What you choose for your channel name, channel icon, channel banner, and channel trailer will be the branding of your channel. You can use YouTube tools to create these things.
2. Once you create your first video, you’ll upload it in the creator studio on YouTube.
3. You’ll have access to YouTube analytics to see how your video is doing.
4. Use the YouTube SEO tools to drive traffic to your channel.

The key to your YouTube strategy is to create engaging videos that will get many views. When you’re eligible for YouTube monetization, you’ll need to sign up for the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) in order to start getting YouTube ads revenue. 

To qualify for YPP you need to be in good standing with YouTube, have 4,000 valid public watch hours in the previous 12 months, and at least 1,000 subscribers.

How much does it cost to start a YouTube business?

Startup costs for a YouTube business range from $2,800 to $6,300. Costs include a computer and your video equipment. 

You’ll need a handful of items to successfully launch your YouTube business, including: 

• Computer
• Camera
• Microphone

How much can you earn from a YouTube Business?

Ad revenues are difficult to predict because they are determined by the YouTube algorithm. You can probably expect about $5 per 1000 views once you’ve reached the required levels to qualify for the YPP. Your profit margin should be about 90%. 

In your first year or two, you might get six million total views, bringing in $30,000 in annual revenue. This would mean $27,000 in profit, assuming that 90% margin. As your channel gains traction, views could climb to 20 million. With annual revenue of $100,000, you’d make a great profit of $90,000.

What barriers to entry are there?

The only barrier to entry for a YouTube business is the massive competition you’ll face.

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Step 2: Hone Your Idea

Now that you know what’s involved in starting a YouTube business, it’s a good idea to hone your concept in preparation to enter a competitive market. 

Market research will give you the upper hand, even if you’re already positive that you have a perfect product or service. Conducting market research is important, because it can help you understand your customers better, who your competitors are, and your business landscape.

Why? Identify an opportunity

Research YouTube channels to examine their topics and followings. You’re looking for a market gap to fill. For instance, maybe the market is missing a channel with DIY upcycling video content or a comedy YouTube channel with a certain theme.

You might consider targeting a niche market by specializing in a certain aspect of your industry, such as music videos or blog videos.

This could jumpstart your word-of-mouth marketing and attract clients right away. 

What? Determine your products or services

You’ll just need to decide what kind of videos you want to create. Some YouTube businesses also create branded merchandise to sell on their YouTube channel. 

How much should you charge for YouTube ads?

YouTube ad revenues are determined by the YouTube algorithm. Once you qualify for the YPP, you can expect around $5 per 1000 viewers. Your profit margin should be about 90%. 

Once you know your costs, you can use this Step By Step profit margin calculator to determine your mark-up and final price points. Remember, the prices you use at launch should be subject to change if warranted by the market.

Who? Identify your target market

Your target market will depend on the type of video content you create. If your target audience will be younger, you can market your channel on TikTok and Instagram. 

Where? Choose your business premises

It’s unlikely that you’ll ever need a space for your YouTube business, unless you decide to rent a production studio. You can find commercial space to rent in your area on sites such as Craigslist, Crexi, and Instant Offices.

When choosing a commercial space, you may want to follow these rules of thumb:

• Central location accessible via public transport
• Ventilated and spacious, with good natural light
• Flexible lease that can be extended as your business grows
• Ready-to-use space with no major renovations or repairs needed

Step 3: Brainstorm a Youtube Channel Name

Your channel name is your business identity, so choose one that encapsulates your objectives, services, and mission in just a few words. You probably want a name that’s short and easy to remember, since much of your business, and your initial business in particular, will come from word-of-mouth referrals.

Here are some ideas for brainstorming your business name:

• Short, unique, and catchy names tend to stand out
• Names that are easy to say and spell tend to do better 
• Name should be relevant to your product or service offerings
• Ask around — family, friends, colleagues, social media — for suggestions
• Including keywords that relate to your brand and themes boosts SEO
• Name should allow for expansion, for ex: “Jim’s Woodworking Crafts” over “Jim’s Wooden Closets Crafts”
• Avoid location-based names that might hinder future expansion
• Use online tools like the Step by Step Business Name Generator. Just type in a few keywords and hit “generate” and you’ll have dozens of suggestions at your fingertips.

Once you’ve got a list of potential names, visit the website of the US Patent and Trademark Office to make sure they are available for registration and check the availability of related domain names using our Domain Name Search tool. Using “.com” or “.org” sharply increases credibility, so it’s best to focus on these. 

Finally, make your choice among the names that pass this screening and go ahead with domain registration and social media account creation. Your business name is one of the key differentiators that sets your business apart. Once you pick your company name, and start with the branding, it is hard to change the business name. Therefore, it’s important to carefully consider your choice before you start a business entity.

Step 4: Create a Business Plan

Every business needs a plan. This will function as a guidebook to take your startup through the launch process and maintain focus on your key goals. A business plan also enables potential partners and investors to better understand your company and its vision:

• Executive Summary: Summarize the goal of your YouTube channel to create engaging, original content targeted at a specific audience, emphasizing strategies for growth and monetization.
• Business Overview: Describe the focus of your YouTube channel, such as producing content in a specific genre like educational tutorials, entertainment, or vlogging.
• Product and Services: Detail the types of content offered, including video series, live streams, and interactive sessions with viewers.
• Market Analysis: Assess the potential audience for your channel, considering factors like viewer interests, age groups, and trending topics on YouTube.
• Competitive Analysis: Compare your channel’s content and style to similar channels, highlighting your unique approach or niche.
• Sales and Marketing: Outline your strategy for promoting your channel and attracting subscribers, including SEO optimization, social media marketing, and collaborations with other YouTubers.
• Management Team: Highlight your skills and any team members’ expertise, particularly in video production, content creation, and digital marketing.
• Operations Plan: Describe the process of content creation, from ideation and filming to editing, uploading, and managing viewer interaction.
• Financial Plan: Provide an overview of financial aspects, covering equipment costs, potential revenue streams like ad revenue and sponsorships, and growth projections.
• Appendix: Include supplementary materials such as content calendars, viewer analytics, or partnership agreements to support your business plan.

If you’ve never created a business plan, it can be an intimidating task. You might consider hiring a business plan specialist to create a top-notch business plan for you.

Step 5: Register Your Business

Plus, registration is exciting because it makes the entire process official. Once it’s complete, you’ll have your own business! 

Choose where to register your company

Your business location is important because it can affect taxes, legal requirements, and revenue. Most people will register their business in the state where they live, but if you’re planning to expand, you might consider looking elsewhere, as some states could offer real advantages when it comes to YouTube businesses. 

If you’re willing to move, you could really maximize your business! Keep in mind, it’s relatively easy to transfer your business to another state. 

Choose your business structure

Business entities come in several varieties, each with its pros and cons. The legal structure you choose for your YouTube business will shape your taxes, personal liability, and business registration requirements, so choose wisely. 

Here are the main options:

• Sole Proprietorship – The most common structure for small businesses makes no legal distinction between company and owner. All income goes to the owner, who’s also liable for any debts, losses, or liabilities incurred by the business. The owner pays taxes on business income on his or her personal tax return.
• General Partnership – Similar to a sole proprietorship, but for two or more people. Again, owners keep the profits and are liable for losses. The partners pay taxes on their share of business income on their personal tax returns.
• Limited Liability Company (LLC) – Combines the characteristics of corporations with those of sole proprietorships or partnerships. Again, the owners are not personally liable for debts.
• C Corp – Under this structure, the business is a distinct legal entity and the owner or owners are not personally liable for its debts. Owners take profits through shareholder dividends, rather than directly. The corporation pays taxes, and owners pay taxes on their dividends, which is sometimes referred to as double taxation.
• S Corp – An S-Corporation refers to the tax classification of the business but is not a business entity. An S-Corp can be either a corporation or an LLC, which just need to elect to be an S-Corp for tax status. In an S-Corp, income is passed through directly to shareholders, who pay taxes on their share of business income on their personal tax returns.

We recommend that new business owners choose LLC as it offers liability protection and pass-through taxation while being simpler to form than a corporation. You can form an LLC in as little as five minutes using an online LLC formation service. They will check that your business name is available before filing, submit your articles of organization, and answer any questions you might have. 

Form Your LLC

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Step 6: Register for Taxes

The final step before you’re able to pay taxes is getting an Employer Identification Number, or EIN. You can file for your EIN online or by mail or fax: visit the IRS website to learn more. Keep in mind, if you’ve chosen to be a sole proprietorship you can simply use your social security number as your EIN. 

Once you have your EIN, you’ll need to choose your tax year. Financially speaking, your business will operate in a calendar year (January–December) or a fiscal year, a 12-month period that can start in any month. This will determine your tax cycle, while your business structure will determine which taxes you’ll pay.

The IRS website also offers a tax-payers checklist, and taxes can be filed online.

It is important to consult an accountant or other professional to help you with your taxes to ensure you’re completing them correctly.

Step 7: Fund your Business

Securing financing is your next step and there are plenty of ways to raise capital:

• Bank loans: This is the most common method but getting approved requires a rock-solid business plan and strong credit history.
• SBA-guaranteed loans: The Small Business Administration can act as guarantor, helping gain that elusive bank approval via an SBA-guaranteed loan.
• Government grants: A handful of financial assistance programs help fund entrepreneurs. Visit Grants.gov to learn which might work for you.
• Friends and Family: Reach out to friends and family to provide a business loan or investment in your concept. It’s a good idea to have legal advice when doing so because SEC regulations apply.
• Crowdfunding: Websites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo offer an increasingly popular low-risk option, in which donors fund your vision. Entrepreneurial crowdfunding sites like Fundable and WeFunder enable multiple investors to fund your business.
• Personal: Self-fund your business via your savings or the sale of property or other assets.

Bank and SBA loans are probably the best option, other than friends and family, for funding a YouTube business. You might also try crowdfunding if you have an innovative concept. 

Step 8: Apply for Licenses/Permits

Starting a YouTube business requires obtaining a number of licenses and permits from local, state, and federal governments.

Federal regulations, licenses, and permits associated with starting your business include doing business as (DBA), health licenses and permits from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), trademarks, copyrights, patents, and other intellectual properties, as well as industry-specific licenses and permits. 

You may also need state-level and local county or city-based licenses and permits. The license requirements and how to obtain them vary, so check the websites of your state, city, and county governments or contact the appropriate person to learn more. 

You could also check this SBA guide for your state’s requirements, but we recommend using MyCorporation’s Business License Compliance Package. They will research the exact forms you need for your business and state and provide them to ensure you’re fully compliant.

If you feel overwhelmed by this step or don’t know how to begin, it might be a good idea to hire a professional to help you check all the legal boxes.

Step 9: Open a Business Bank Account

Before you start making money, you’ll need a place to keep it, and that requires opening a bank account.

Keeping your business finances separate from your personal account makes it easy to file taxes and track your company’s income, so it’s worth doing even if you’re running your YouTube business as a sole proprietorship. Opening a business bank account is quite simple, and similar to opening a personal one. Most major banks offer accounts tailored for businesses — just inquire at your preferred bank to learn about their rates and features.

Banks vary in terms of offerings, so it’s a good idea to examine your options and select the best plan for you. Once you choose your bank, bring in your EIN (or Social Security Number if you decide on a sole proprietorship), articles of incorporation, and other legal documents and open your new account. 

Step 10: Get Business Insurance

Business insurance is an area that often gets overlooked yet it can be vital to your success as an entrepreneur. Insurance protects you from unexpected events that can have a devastating impact on your business.

Here are some types of insurance to consider:

• General liability: The most comprehensive type of insurance, acting as a catch-all for many business elements that require coverage. If you get just one kind of insurance, this is it. It even protects against bodily injury and property damage.
• Business Property: Provides coverage for your equipment and supplies.
• Equipment Breakdown Insurance: Covers the cost of replacing or repairing equipment that has broken due to mechanical issues.
• Worker’s compensation: Provides compensation to employees injured on the job.
• Property: Covers your physical space, whether it is a cart, storefront, or office.
• Commercial auto: Protection for your company-owned vehicle.
• Professional liability: Protects against claims from a client who says they suffered a loss due to an error or omission in your work.
• Business owner’s policy (BOP): This is an insurance plan that acts as an all-in-one insurance policy, a combination of the above insurance types.

Step 11: Prepare to Launch

As opening day nears, prepare for launch by reviewing and improving some key elements of your business. 

Essential software and tools

Being an entrepreneur often means wearing many hats, from marketing to sales to accounting, which can be overwhelming. Fortunately, many websites and digital tools are available to help simplify many business tasks. 

You may want to use industry-specific software, such as Adobe, Canva, or Animoto, to create, edit, and organize your videos. 

Accounting

• Popular web-based accounting programs for smaller businesses include Quickbooks, Freshbooks, and Xero. 
• If you’re unfamiliar with basic accounting, you may want to hire a professional, especially as you begin. The consequences for filing incorrect tax documents can be harsh, so accuracy is crucial.

Develop your website

Website development is crucial because your site is your online presence and needs to convince prospective clients of your expertise and professionalism.

You can create your own website using services like WordPress, Wix, or Squarespace. This route is very affordable, but figuring out how to build a website can be time-consuming. If you lack tech-savvy, you can hire a web designer or developer to create a custom website for your business.

They are unlikely to find your website, however, unless you follow Search Engine Optimization (SEO) practices. These are steps that help pages rank higher in the results of top search engines like Google.

Marketing

Launching a YouTube channel is an exciting venture, and effective marketing is key to gaining visibility. Here are practical strategies to boost your channel’s presence:

1. Compelling Thumbnails and Titles: Craft attention-grabbing thumbnails and titles; they are your first impression and can significantly impact click-through rates.
2. Consistent Branding: Establish a consistent visual identity with a recognizable logo, color scheme, and style across your videos, making your channel easily identifiable.
3. Optimize Video Descriptions and Tags: Use relevant keywords in your video descriptions and tags to improve searchability and increase the likelihood of appearing in search results.
4. Engage with Your Audience: Respond to comments, ask questions, and encourage viewers to share their thoughts; building a community fosters loyalty and word-of-mouth promotion.
5. Collaborate with Other YouTubers: Partner with creators in your niche for collaborations; cross-promotion exposes your channel to new audiences and can result in mutually beneficial growth.
6. Utilize Social Media: Share snippets, behind-the-scenes content, and announcements on platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook to drive traffic to your YouTube channel.
7. Create Playlists: Group related videos into playlists; this encourages viewers to watch more of your content, increasing overall watch time and improving your video ranking.
8. Leverage Trending Topics: Stay informed about trending topics within your niche and create timely content to capitalize on current interests and maximize discoverability.
9. Run Contests and Giveaways: Generate excitement and engagement by organizing contests or giveaways, encouraging viewers to subscribe, like, and share your content for a chance to win.
10. Optimize Upload Schedule: Establish a consistent uploading schedule to train your audience to anticipate new content, increasing the likelihood of viewers returning regularly.

Focus on USPs

Unique selling propositions, or USPs, are the characteristics of a product or service that sets it apart from the competition. Customers today are inundated with buying options, so you’ll have a real advantage if they are able to quickly grasp how your YouTube business meets their needs or wishes. It’s wise to do all you can to ensure your USPs stand out on your website and in your marketing and promotional materials, stimulating buyer desire. 

Global pizza chain Domino’s is renowned for its USP: “Hot pizza in 30 minutes or less, guaranteed.” Signature USPs for your YouTube business could be:

• Learn how to remodel your home with our DIY videos
• Subscribe to our channel — daily laughs guaranteed! 
• Beat your friends! A new challenge video every week

Networking

You may not like to network or use personal connections for business gain. But your personal and professional networks likely offer considerable untapped business potential. Maybe that Facebook friend you met in college is now running a YouTube business, or a LinkedIn contact of yours is connected to dozens of potential clients. Maybe your cousin or neighbor has been working on YouTube for years and can offer invaluable insight and industry connections. 

The possibilities are endless, so it’s a good idea to review your personal and professional networks and reach out to those with possible links to or interest in YouTube. You’ll probably generate new customers or find companies with which you could establish a partnership. Online businesses might also consider affiliate marketing as a way to build relationships with potential partners and boost business.

Step 12: Build Your Team

If you’re starting out small from a home office, you may not need any employees. But as your business grows, you will likely need workers to fill various roles. Potential positions for a YouTube business include:

• Actors – appear in YouTube videos
• Camera Operator – shoot videos
• Marketing Lead – SEO strategies, social media

At some point, you may need to hire all of these positions or simply a few, depending on the size and needs of your business. You might also hire multiple workers for a single role or a single worker for multiple roles, again depending on need. 

Free-of-charge methods to recruit employees include posting ads on popular platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, or Jobs.com. You might also consider a premium recruitment option, such as advertising on Indeed, Glassdoor, or ZipRecruiter. Further, if you have the resources, you could consider hiring a recruitment agency to help you find talent. 

Step 13: Run a Youtube Channel – Start Making Money!

YouTube is an extremely influential platform with a massive global audience. If you’re creative and want to make a splash online, with just a few unique videos you could start to build a YouTube following and grow your channel into something great. If your videos go viral, there’s no limit to your channel’s income potential! 

You’ve done your due diligence to learn the ropes of starting a business, so now it’s time to fire up that camera and get your successful YouTube business up and running.