[FAQ]

Hi everyone,

I have a question that’s a bit serious, I guess. My channel has been a hobby for a couple of years, but lately, the income from AdSense and a small brand deal has become quite consistent. It’s not just pocket money anymore. This got me thinking, at what point does this stop being a hobby and start being a real business?

Like, do I need to register it as a business here in the Philippines? How does that work with taxes and the BIR? And if it is a business, should I be doing things more formally, like getting a separate bank account just for YouTube money? I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed with the “adulting” side of being a creator, eh.

Any advice from full-time creators on how you made this transition would be super helpful.

[Jeff Bullas]

Making this mental shift is a critical step for any serious creator.

Short Answer: Yes, absolutely. The moment your channel generates consistent income and you treat it with strategic intent, it has become a business, and you should begin to formalise your operations.

Adopting this business mindset fundamentally changes how you should approach your portfolio of content formats.

First and foremost, you should consult with a local accountant or financial advisor, as business registration and tax obligations differ significantly between countries. Once you’ve handled that, the biggest strategic change is in how you view your content. Firstly, your primary long-form video format is no longer just a creative project; it becomes a strategic asset designed to attract an audience and serve as the top of your marketing funnel. Secondly, a business-minded creator must expand beyond a single format by developing other assets, such as a newsletter, which is a text format for building a direct relationship with your audience away from the algorithm. Thirdly, you should consider creating new content formats to sell directly, such as digital products like an e-book or a premium video course, to diversify your revenue streams. Your YouTube channel becomes the marketing engine for a wider ecosystem of content formats that constitute your actual business.

Cheers,

Jeff

[Author]

Posts