# How to make money as a small influencer

URL: https://howinfluencersmakemoney.com/how-to-make-money-as-a-small-influencer/
Facts checked: 2026-10-21
Independent and unsponsored: no company paid for, reviewed, or approved this page.

Small influencers earn by selling, not from platform pay. UGC needs no audience, and JoinBrands' default for a basic US video is $60. Amazon Associates usually wants 500 organic social followers. Later's July 2026 guide estimates nano creators with 1,000 to 10,000 followers charge $100 to $500 per sponsored post. A digital product can sell from day one.

A small account can earn real money, but rarely from the platform itself. Several pay-per-view programs open only at 10,000 followers or more, TikTok's Creator Rewards Program among them. Below that line, income comes from brands that pay for content, retailers that pay commission, and people who buy something you made.

This page covers five income streams that work under about 10,000 followers, what each pays according to named sources, and a 90-day plan to land your first payment. Rates from marketplaces and agencies are estimates, not rate cards. Within a few months your own numbers should replace them.

## The numbers

- JoinBrands' help center lists a $60 default and a $50 floor for a basic US UGC video, before its 20% fee.
- Amazon Associates asks social accounts for, in most cases, at least 500 organic followers, plus three qualifying sales in the first 180 days.
- TikTok Shop affiliate in the US asks for 1,000 followers, and ShopMy typically does too.
- Later's July 2026 guide estimates nano creators with 1,000 to 10,000 followers charge $100 to $500 per sponsored post.
- In Influencer Marketing Hub's 2026 survey of more than 600 marketers, 51.43% of those who answered planned to increase or start work with nano creators.

## Can you make money with under 10,000 followers?

Yes, but the money comes from selling, not from platform payouts. TikTok's Creator Rewards Program needs 10,000 followers, and YouTube's ad revenue share needs 1,000 subscribers plus 4,000 watch hours in 12 months. A few programs open lower. YouTube fan funding starts at 500 subscribers, Instagram Gifts at 500 followers and Twitch Affiliate at 25 followers, but expect pocket money from them at this size.

Brands do hire small accounts. Influencer Marketing Hub's 2026 Benchmark Report, published May 4, 2026 from a survey of more than 600 marketing professionals, found 51.43% of those who answered planned to increase or start work with nano creators. Most deals are small. Collabstr's 2026 report, as reported by Storyboard18 in March 2026, found nearly 80% of collaborations on its marketplace were priced below $300.

The table lists the five income streams that work at this size, with entry rules from each program's help pages on October 21, 2026. Platform-by-platform thresholds are in [how many followers you need to make money](https://howinfluencersmakemoney.com/how-many-followers-to-make-money/).

Income streams for accounts under 10,000 followers, October 2026

| Income stream | Followers needed | What it pays | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| UGC videos | None for the video itself. Some marketplaces screen at 1,000 | $60 default for a basic US video, before a 20% fee | JoinBrands help center |
| Affiliate links | About 500 for Amazon, 1,000 for TikTok Shop and ShopMy | 0% to 10% on Amazon, seller-set rates on TikTok Shop and ShopMy | Amazon, TikTok Shop and ShopMy help pages |
| Small brand deals | No fixed minimum. Later's nano tier starts at 1,000 | $100 to $500 per post, an estimate | Later, July 2026 |
| A digital product | None | Your price minus fees. Gumroad leaves $7.91 of a $10 sale | Gumroad pricing |
| A paid community | None | Your price minus fees. Skool's Hobby plan costs $9 a month plus a 10% fee | Skool pricing |

## UGC pays without an audience

UGC is the fastest paid work for a small account, because the brand posts the video and your follower count barely matters. You make a video, the brand runs it on its own page or as an ad, and you get a flat fee. JoinBrands' help center lists a $60 default and a $50 floor for a basic UGC video in the US, before its 20% fee, so the default nets $48.

Rates rise once you have samples to show. Collabstr's 2026 Influencer Marketing Report, as reported by HelloPartner in January 2026, puts average UGC costs on its marketplace under $197. Insense, a UGC marketplace, published estimates in September 2026 of $50 to $400 per video for beginners. Some marketplaces still screen by audience. Insense asks for 1,000 Instagram followers, and TikTok One projects need at least 1,000 followers.

Start on a fixed-rate marketplace to build three to five sample videos, then quote your own rate on the others. Charge extra when a brand wants to run your video as a paid ad. [How UGC creators make money](https://howinfluencersmakemoney.com/how-ugc-creators-make-money/) covers usage rights and contracts.

## Affiliate links pay on what you already recommend

Affiliate links pay a commission on sales, so they work at any size as long as your followers buy what you show them. A 2,000-follower account that reviews kitchen gear can out-earn a 20,000-follower comedy account, because its viewers came to shop.

Amazon Associates is the easiest to join. Its help center asks social accounts for a substantive number of organic followers, in most cases at least 500, and three qualifying sales within the first 180 days. Fixed commission rates run from 0% to 10% by category, and the cookie lasts 24 hours. TikTok Shop affiliate in the US opens at 1,000 followers for creators 18 or older, with sellers setting rates from 1% to 80%. ShopMy typically asks for 1,000 followers but reviews each application, and creators keep 82% of the commission.

Pick one program that matches what you already post, and put links where people ask what you used. Disclose every link. Rates, cookie windows and payout dates are in [affiliate marketing for influencers](https://howinfluencersmakemoney.com/affiliate-marketing-for-influencers/).

## What nano creators charge for brand deals

Later's pricing guide, published July 7, 2026, estimates that nano creators with 1,000 to 10,000 followers charge $100 to $500 per sponsored post. Influencer Marketing Hub's estimates, last updated October 6, 2026, run lower for creators under 10,000 followers. It puts them at $10 to $100+ per Instagram post, $50 to $200 per TikTok video and $20 to $200+ per YouTube video. Neither source publishes its method, so treat both as rough ranges.

That gap is a reason to price from your own numbers. A 4,000-follower account whose Reels average 6,000 views is worth more to a brand than a 9,000-follower account averaging 800. Quote from your median views over your last 10 to 15 posts, using the formulas in [how much to charge for sponsored posts](https://howinfluencersmakemoney.com/how-much-to-charge-for-sponsored-posts/).

Expect product-only offers. Later's guide says many nano creators accept gifted products or lower flat fees. Take free product only when you would post about it anyway, and say no when the brand also wants set deliverables, a deadline or usage rights. A free product still has to be disclosed under the [FTC rules](https://howinfluencersmakemoney.com/ftc-disclosure-rules-for-influencers/). In the US, a product you get in exchange for a post also counts as income at its fair market value, as explained in [how influencer taxes work](https://howinfluencersmakemoney.com/influencer-taxes/).

## Sell a small digital product

A digital product has no follower bar at all, because selling platforms charge a fee instead of setting a minimum. Templates, presets, guides, checklists and recipe packs all work if your posts already answer the question the product answers.

At this size, fees should decide the platform. Gumroad charges 10% + $0.50 per direct sale plus card processing, which leaves $7.91 of a $10 sale. Stan charges no sales fee but costs $29 a month, so it only beats Gumroad once you sell about 20 products of $10 a month. Below that, a percentage platform costs less. The full comparison is in [how to sell to your fans](https://howinfluencersmakemoney.com/how-to-sell-to-your-fans/).

Price low and solve one problem. A $15 guide that answers the question your comments keep asking is easier to sell than a $99 course. As worked math, if 1% of a 3,000-person audience buys it, that is 30 sales and $450 before fees.

## Start a paid community

A paid community works once a few dozen people want ongoing access to you, and no platform sets a follower minimum for it. Skool's pricing page lists the Hobby plan at $9 a month with a 10% transaction fee, and its help center puts the full charge at 10% + $0.30 per transaction, so a $9 membership pays out $7.80. Patreon charges new creators 10% plus 2.9% + $0.30 per US card payment, which leaves $8.41 of a $10 membership.

Communities suit coaches, hobby experts and anyone whose followers already message them for advice. They are also the most work of the five. Members pay monthly and leave when the posts stop, so start with one clear promise, such as a weekly live Q&A or one new template a month. Skip it if you cannot keep that schedule for six months.

## A 90-day plan for your first income

Pick one main income stream for the first 90 days, not five. The plan below starts with affiliate links and UGC because they can pay soonest, then adds a product once you know what your audience buys.

- **Days 1 to 14.** Switch to a creator or business account, write a bio that says what you post and who it is for, and add a contact email. Apply to one affiliate program that fits your niche.
- **Days 15 to 30.** Film three UGC sample videos with products you own and put them in a simple portfolio. Join one UGC marketplace and apply to every brief that fits.
- **Days 31 to 60.** Post on a fixed schedule and track median views per post. Add affiliate links to posts where people ask what you used, with a clear disclosure. Pitch five brands you already mention, with a one-page media kit.
- **Days 61 to 90.** Find the question people ask most in your comments and DMs, and turn the answer into a $10 to $20 digital product. Quote your first paid brand deal from your median views, and turn down product-only offers that come with deliverables.
- **Day 90.** Keep the stream that paid the most for the hours it took, drop the rest, and run the next 90 days with that stream as the focus.

## Questions people ask

### How much do small influencers make?

We found no reliable survey of total income for accounts under 10,000 followers. Rate estimates give a sense of scale. Later's July 2026 guide estimates nano sponsored posts at $100 to $500, and JoinBrands' default for a basic US UGC video is $60. A couple of deals and some affiliate sales a month is a realistic first goal.

### Can you get brand deals with 1,000 followers?

Yes. Later's July 2026 pricing guide starts its nano tier at 1,000 followers, and Meta's creator marketplace and TikTok One projects both list a 1,000-follower minimum. Brands care more about whether your audience matches their customers than about the raw count.

### What is the easiest way to make money as a small creator?

UGC, because the brand posts the video and your follower count barely matters. JoinBrands pays a $60 default for a basic US video before its 20% fee. Affiliate links come next if your followers already ask where you bought things.

### Do you have to pay tax on free products from brands?

In the US, a product you receive in exchange for a post counts as income at its fair market value under the IRS rules on bartering. In the UK, HMRC says gifts you receive for promoting products count as income. See [how influencer taxes work](https://howinfluencersmakemoney.com/influencer-taxes/).

### How many followers do you need to get paid by a platform?

Twitch Affiliate starts at 25 followers, Instagram Gifts and YouTube fan funding at 500, YouTube ad revenue at 1,000 subscribers plus watch hours, and TikTok's Creator Rewards Program at 10,000. Each threshold is in [how many followers you need to make money](https://howinfluencersmakemoney.com/how-many-followers-to-make-money/).

## Sources

- Later: Influencer pricing benchmarks, the complete 2026 guide, July 7, 2026: https://later.com/blog/influencer-pricing-benchmarks-the-complete-2026-guide/ (accessed 2026-10-21)
- Influencer Marketing Hub: Influencer rates, last updated October 6, 2026: https://influencermarketinghub.com/influencer-rates/ (accessed 2026-10-21)
- Influencer Marketing Hub: Influencer Marketing Benchmark Report 2026, May 4, 2026: https://influencermarketinghub.com/influencer-marketing-benchmark-report/ (accessed 2026-10-21)
- Storyboard18: 80% influencer deals under $300, brands shift to UGC, coverage of Collabstr's 2026 report, March 20, 2026: https://storyboard18.com/how-it-works/80-influencer-deals-under-300-brands-shift-to-ugc-report-92782.htm (accessed 2026-10-21)
- HelloPartner: Industry report reveals the 7 influencer marketing trends defining 2026, January 13, 2026: https://hellopartner.com/2026/01/13/industry-report-reveals-the-7-influencer-marketing-trends-defining-2026 (accessed 2026-10-21)
- JoinBrands: How much can I earn?: https://help.joinbrands.com/en/articles/6267226-creators-how-much-can-i-earn (accessed 2026-10-21)
- JoinBrands: Creator fees: https://help.joinbrands.com/en/articles/12946168-creators-joinbrands-creator-fees (accessed 2026-10-21)
- Insense for creators: https://insense.pro/for-creators (accessed 2026-10-21)
- Insense: UGC creator rates explained, September 2026: https://insense.pro/blog/ugc-creator-rates (accessed 2026-10-21)
- TikTok for Business Help: How creators can sign up for TikTok One: https://ads.tiktok.com/help/article/how-creators-can-sign-up-for-tiktok-one (accessed 2026-10-21)
- Instagram Help: Eligibility requirements for creators on Meta Creator Marketplace: https://help.instagram.com/1389278101788752 (accessed 2026-10-21)
- Amazon Associates Help: Three qualifying sales in 180 days and social media requirements: https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/help/node/topic/G8TW5AE9XL2VX9VM (accessed 2026-10-21)
- Amazon Associates: Fixed standard commission income rates: https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/help/node/topic/GRXPHT8U84RAYDXZ (accessed 2026-10-21)
- Amazon Associates Program Policies, updated April 14, 2026: https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/help/operating/policies (accessed 2026-10-21)
- TikTok Shop Academy US: Creator affiliate requirements, September 25, 2026: https://seller-us.tiktok.com/university/essay?knowledge_id=6939143037667118&lang=en (accessed 2026-10-21)
- TikTok Shop Academy US: Affiliate commission rates: https://seller-us.tiktok.com/university/essay?knowledge_id=6837873164896001&lang=en (accessed 2026-10-21)
- ShopMy Help: How do I join?: https://shopmy.helpkit.so/joining-shopmy/3ViMaZXyQ35LmFfKegLSNS/how-do-i-join/43V9gf7Co7FvbVeH6dp6or (accessed 2026-10-21)
- ShopMy Help: How does ShopMy make money from transactions?: https://shopmy.helpkit.so/earning-commission/3ViMaZXyQ1eDm8uT5tQWeC/how-does-shopmy-make-money-from-transactions-/3ViMaZXyQ2dBGoH26xz7we (accessed 2026-10-21)
- Gumroad pricing: https://gumroad.com/pricing (accessed 2026-10-21)
- Gumroad: Gumroad's fees: https://gumroad.com/help/article/66-gumroads-fees (accessed 2026-10-21)
- Stan: Creator vs. Creator Pro: https://help.stan.store/article/31-creator-vs-creator-pro (accessed 2026-10-21)
- Stan: Stan, Stripe, and PayPal transaction fees: https://help.stan.store/article/83-stan-stripes-transaction-fees (accessed 2026-10-21)
- Skool pricing: https://www.skool.com/pricing (accessed 2026-10-21)
- Skool: Skool Payments FAQs: https://help.skool.com/article/86-subscriptions-faq (accessed 2026-10-21)
- Patreon: A standard platform fee for new creators, effective after August 4, 2025: https://support.patreon.com/hc/en-us/articles/36426991446797 (accessed 2026-10-21)
- TikTok Creator Rewards Program Terms, US: https://www.tiktok.com/legal/page/global/creator-rewards-program-us/en (accessed 2026-10-21)
- YouTube Help: YouTube Partner Program overview and eligibility: https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/72851 (accessed 2026-10-21)
- YouTube Help: Overview of the expanded YouTube Partner Program: https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/13429240 (accessed 2026-10-21)
- Instagram Help: How to earn money on Instagram Gifts: https://help.instagram.com/738469380549477 (accessed 2026-10-21)
- Twitch Help: Joining the Affiliate Program: https://help.twitch.tv/s/article/joining-the-affiliate-program (accessed 2026-10-21)
- FTC: Disclosures 101 for Social Media Influencers: https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/disclosures-101-social-media-influencers (accessed 2026-10-21)
- IRS: Topic no. 420, Bartering income: https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc420 (accessed 2026-10-21)
- GOV.UK: Check if you need to tell HMRC about your income from online platforms: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-you-need-to-tell-hmrc-about-your-income-from-online-platforms (accessed 2026-10-21)