How Much Can You Sell a YouTube Channel For?

Most YouTube channels sell for 24-48x their monthly net profit. A channel earning $5,000/month could sell for $120,000-$240,000. The exact price depends on factors like niche, growth trajectory, revenue diversification, audience demographics, and owner dependency. Finance and business channels command the highest multiples, while gaming and entertainment channels typically sell at lower multiples.

A YouTube channel with 100K subscribers can be worth anywhere from $20,000 to $500,000 depending primarily on its monthly revenue. A 100K-subscriber finance channel earning $10,000/month could sell for $240,000-$480,000, while a 100K-subscriber gaming channel earning $1,500/month might sell for only $18,000-$36,000. Subscriber count is a rough proxy -- revenue is what actually determines the sale price.

The commonly cited range is $0.50-$5.00 per subscriber, but this metric is unreliable and misleading. A cooking channel with 100K subs earning $500/month is worth far less than a finance channel with 50K subs earning $10,000/month. Per-subscriber pricing fails to account for the factor that matters most: revenue. Always use revenue multiples (24-48x monthly profit) for a more accurate valuation.

Yes, significantly. A monetized channel with active AdSense and a proven revenue track record will sell for 3-10x more than a non-monetized channel of similar size. Monetization proves the channel is in good standing with YouTube, generates verifiable income, and provides a concrete basis for valuation. Channels with multiple revenue streams (AdSense + sponsorships + affiliate) command the highest premiums.

A channel with 1,000 subscribers is typically worth $200-$2,000. If the channel is monetized (which requires 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours), it could sell for more based on its revenue. Non-monetized channels at this size sell primarily for their niche positioning, content library, or established watch history data. The buyer pool at this level consists mainly of people looking to skip the monetization threshold.

Finance, investing, business, real estate, and insurance channels sell for the highest prices due to their premium CPMs ($15-$50) and high-value audiences. A finance channel with 100K subs can be worth more than an entertainment channel with 1 million subs. Other high-value niches include legal, B2B software, and education. The lowest-value niches tend to be gaming, music, and general entertainment due to lower CPMs and higher owner dependency.

Start by calculating your average monthly net profit over the past 12 months. Multiply that figure by 24 (conservative estimate) to 48 (premium estimate) to get a valuation range. Factor in growth trajectory, niche CPM, revenue diversification, and owner dependency. For the most accurate estimate, analyze comparable sales in your niche on marketplaces like Flippa. Tools like OutlierKit can help you understand the analytics metrics that buyers evaluate.

Yes, but the value will be significantly lower. Non-monetized channels sell based on subscriber count, niche potential, content library value, and watch history. A non-monetized channel with 50K subscribers in a valuable niche might sell for $5,000-$15,000, while a monetized channel with the same subscriber count earning $3,000/month could sell for $72,000-$144,000. If possible, get monetized before selling to dramatically increase your sale price.

While exact figures for the largest sales are often kept confidential, publicly reported sales have exceeded $10 million for channels with millions of subscribers and substantial monthly revenue. Automotive, finance, and media channels in the 1M-10M subscriber range have sold for $1-$10 million. The record-breaking sales typically involve channels with diversified revenue (AdSense + sponsorships + merchandise + licensing) and brand-independent content.

First, calculate your channel's value using the revenue multiple method (24-48x monthly profit). Prepare your analytics data covering the past 12 months. List your channel on a trusted marketplace like Flippa with detailed documentation including revenue proof, traffic sources, and audience demographics. Expect the sale to take 30-90 days. Use escrow for payment protection, and plan for a 2-4 week transition period after the sale. A 50K channel in a good niche with steady revenue can sell for $15,000-$150,000+.