For established YouTube creators, making money through AdSense and brand partnerships can be very lucrative but also inconsistent and often delayed. As your channel grows, you might find yourself in need of more resources to expand your content or expand your business. Whether you’re looking to upgrade equipment, hire a team, or explore new content ideas, funding can be the key to taking your channel to the next level. So, what are the funding options out there, and which one is right for you? Let’s take a look!
Different Types of YouTube Funding Options
Back Catalog Sale
Selling the rights to your existing videos can provide you with a lump sum of money upfront. This model works well for channels with a significant library of content that generates consistent views and revenue. By selling the rights, the buyer would receive the ongoing AdSense revenue and full control over those videos. Often times these deals come with strict posting schedules and unknown hidden costs or lost profits. Be aware of how much they are getting in return for your content and what taxes you are paying on the capital you receive. These deals may appear cheap at the start but can cost you quite a bit by the end.
Fixed-Fee Advance
With a fixed-fee advance, you receive funding upfront without giving up ownership of your content. That’s what we do at Breeze! We evaluate your channel’s earning history and provide an offer based on your monthly AdSense revenue. From here we give you all the details right up front so you know exactly what Breeze gets, and you keep full visibility and creative control of your content. When your channel takes off you keep the upside of your channel’s revenue.
Equity Deals or Crowdfunding
Equity deals involve giving a stake in your future earnings to investors. Alternatively, you can use platforms like Patreon or Kickstarter to raise funds from your community. Although you can deepen audience connection this way, you may have to share profits with investors, and there can be expectations from backers. These deals may give you cheap upfront cash but often don’t have end dates so you can lose a piece of ownership, control and long-term earnings of your channel
Bank Loan
Traditional loans are often a cost-effective funding option but are very tricky and time-consuming to get. Banks and credit unions are mostly not equipped or understand the YouTube space and are limited in how much they can offer. To make these deals work you may be looking at leveraging your house or other businesses to get cash for your channel.
Main Questions to Consider When Seeking Funding
Before diving into any funding option, it’s important to ask yourself these questions:
Will I Maintain Creative Control?
Will you have control over your content, posting schedule, and plans for future growth? As the creator economy evolves—with new monetization features like Shorts and emerging platforms—you need the flexibility to adapt. Ensure you aren’t giving up significant rights in exchange for funding.
How Will Taxes Impact Your Funding?
Is the money you receive taxable right away or over a period of time? Are there tax advantages, like deductible expenses? Taxes can greatly affect the true value of your funding, so it’s crucial to understand their impact.
How Much Is It Going to Cost?
Consider the financial value of what you're gaining compared to what you’re giving up. For a back catalog sale, you lose future revenue. Equity deals mean sharing long-term profits, while a bank loan includes interest costs. Calculate the cost per dollar you receive to ensure there are no surprises or hidden expenses.
What Kind of Commitment Are You Making?
Will the funding tie you to long-term agreements or require you to post content on a strict schedule? Think about the level of flexibility you need and the value of maintaining your freedom.
What Are the Contingency Terms?
If things don’t go as planned, what are the consequences? What if you can’t meet a commitment, want to sell your channel, or decide to explore opportunities outside of video content? Understand the penalties or conditions for unexpected situations.
How Complex Is the Funding Process?
Is the funding process straightforward or time-consuming? Banks may offer lower rates but involve lengthy procedures, while other funding options might hinge on hard-to-predict metrics. Decide if a complex deal is worth it or if a simpler approach better fits your needs.
What Happens to Your Cash Flow After the Deal?
Consider your financial situation post-deal. Will your cash flow be heavily impacted, or will you find yourself back at square one, needing to generate revenue just to catch up?
Why Are You Looking For Funding?
Is the funding for expanding your channel, growing your business, or a personal expense? Knowing your purpose for seeking funding can help you select a partner whose terms align with your objectives.
Why Choose Breeze?
Breeze offers a unique funding solution designed with YouTubers in mind. Here’s why many creators prefer our fixed-fee advance:
Keep the Financial Upside:
Your channel’s revenue growth remains yours. Breeze doesn’t take a cut of your future earnings if your channel blows up after receiving the advance.
Tax Benefits:
Our advance is tax-free and the fee is tax deductible. This means more earnings stay in your pocket and less go to Uncle Sam.
Full Creative Control:
Unlike some funding models that limit your content freedom, Breeze ensures you maintain creative control. You decide what, when, and how you post.
Proven Track Record:
We’ve worked with a diverse range of creators, from travel vloggers to gaming reviewers, providing the funding they need without the stress of losing their creative edge.
Creators Who Have Worked With Breeze
Anthony Padilla — YouTube Channel: @Smosh
Eighteen years ago, Anthony Padilla and Ian Hecox created Smosh, a major YouTube success. By 2017, they had split, and new ownership stepped in.
With upfront cash from Breeze, Anthony and Ian were able to reunite as co-owners and successfully buy back Smosh. Anthony even considered remortgaging his house to secure the necessary funds—but Breeze stepped in with a creator-friendly funding option without taking creative control or licensing rights, which allowed them to convert future YouTube revenue into cash for a fixed fee.
This funding marked a new era for Smosh. Since regaining ownership, they’ve added 1.2 million subscribers (and growing), grown from 16 million to 52 million monthly views, and racked up 130 million back catalog views and 156 million views on new videos.
David Hoffmann — YouTube Channel: @DavidsBeenHere
David Hoffmann wanted to elevate his food travel channel with more adventures, better video quality, and improved editing. However, relying on unpredictable AdSense payments made planning tough.
He turned to Breeze for a simple, tax-free cash advance. This hands-off funding allowed David to pre-plan trips, boost views, and increase overall watch time. His channel views have more than doubled in the past year, jumping from 3 million to nearly 7 million monthly views.
With Breeze’s fixed fee structure, David retained creative control over his posting schedule, all while benefiting from his channel’s growth.
Choosing the right funding option can be the turning point that transforms your YouTube channel from stagnant to thriving. While some options may seem cheaper at the start they may end up costing you much more later on. Securing an advance with Breeze stands out for creators looking to keep creative control of their content. Breeze offers a simple, creator-friendly solution without sacrificing future revenue potential or long-term flexibility. By prioritizing your creative vision and providing upfront cash with no hidden drawbacks, Breeze makes it easier to achieve your financial goals and elevate your channel to the next level.
