Have you ever wondered, how long does it take to go full-time on YouTube? If you’re grinding away at your channel, uploading consistently, and feeling like you’re spinning your wheels—this is for you.
I’m Lauren Bateman, and I crossed 500,000 subscribers this year on my guitar teaching channel. But this wasn’t an overnight success. My journey took nearly three years before I was able to make a full-time income on YouTube. In this article, I’ll walk you through the lessons I learned, year by year, so you can understand what it really takes to go full-time on YouTube—and maybe even get there faster than I did.
The Viral Tipping Point: Why Patience Matters
Did you know that, on average, it takes 2–3 years to get your first viral video on YouTube?
Many creators don’t talk about this. I’ve interviewed countless successful YouTubers, and their stories seem to strangely match up with mine: it often takes years of consistent effort before one video finally takes off and catapults their channel into momentum. For me, that moment came in late 2019—after nearly three years of putting in the work.
That’s why it’s so critical not to give up early. You never know which video will become your breakout.
Year 1: The Hardest and Most Exhausting
Started in: 2017
Videos uploaded: 39
Subscribers gained: 236
Revenue: $590 (from course sales)
When I launched my YouTube channel, I was doing everything myself—filming, editing, thumbnails, titles—you name it. And despite the massive effort, the results were minimal. At one point, I even bought fake views (don’t do this!) which gave me zero benefit and nearly risked my channel.
Key lesson: Year 1 is about learning, building, and staying consistent. The rewards come later.
Year 2: Slight Progress, But Still a Grind
Year: 2018
Videos uploaded: 17
Subscribers gained: 1,200
Revenue: $3,438 (from YouTube ads and course sales)
Surprisingly, I uploaded fewer videos than the year before, but my subscriber count grew significantly. Why? The content I’d published the previous year began to “marinate”—YouTube started surfacing those videos more.
Key lesson: YouTube has a compounding effect. Old content can become valuable months (or years) later.
Year 3: Almost Gave Up… Then Everything Changed
Year: 2019
Videos uploaded: 15
Subscribers gained: 8,100
Revenue: $10,295
This was the year I almost quit. The grind was real, and the results felt underwhelming. But one heartfelt email from a viewer changed everything. A veteran told me my video helped him through a dark period—and that reminded me why I started: to help people.
And then, almost like magic, one of my old videos from 2017 started going viral. That one video set everything in motion. This was the true catalyst that allowed me to go full-time on my YouTube channel.
Key lesson: Focus on serving your audience, not just making money. The impact you create is your fuel.
Year 4: Going All-In During a Pandemic
Year: 2020
Videos uploaded: 96
Subscribers gained: 45,400
Revenue: $129,385
COVID-19 shut down my brick-and-mortar music schools. YouTube and my online courses saved me. I went all-in, uploading two videos a week and hiring an editor to free up time. The result? A six-figure year, mostly driven by course sales and a viral video.
Key lesson: When your systems are in place, scaling becomes possible—but you need help to grow.
2021–2022: Scaling Big
2021 Revenue: $490,000
2022 Revenue: $629,505
Videos uploaded annually: 96
By sticking with two uploads a week and refining my offers, I dramatically increased revenue. But burnout was creeping in. I was losing the joy from creating content. I felt like I was just going to through the motions focusing too much on click through rates, the perfect thumbnail, hooks, title, etc.
Key lesson: Sustaining a content grind long-term requires purpose and balance. Without it, burnout is inevitable.
2023–2024: Doing Less and Making More
Videos per year: 52 (cut in half)
2023 Revenue: $847,000
2024 Revenue: $884,000
I decided to scale down to one video per week to reclaim my energy—and surprisingly, my revenue still went up. Why? Because I focused on better content and more targeted marketing.
Even with fewer uploads, I was attracting the right audience (older adults learning guitar) and converting them into buyers through strategic email marketing. Not only that, I was able to start enjoying the process again and have a lot more work life balance.
Key lesson: Success doesn’t always come from doing more. Sometimes, less is more—if you’re focused and intentional.
2025 and Beyond: Sustainable, Profitable, Purpose-Driven
This year (2025), I’m on track to hit over $1 million in revenue, creating just one video per week. By refining my content strategy and leaning into email marketing, I’ve scaled without sacrificing my well-being.
So, how long does it take to go full-time on YouTube?
For me, it took almost three years of consistent work before I could rely on YouTube for a full-time income. And even then, the real breakthroughs came from:
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Staying consistent even when the results were slow
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Building a library of helpful, evergreen content
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Putting my audience first, always
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Investing in help (like hiring an editor)
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Getting laser-focused on who I was creating for
Your Timeline Might Look Different—and That’s Okay
Not every creator’s path is the same. But if you’re wondering how long does it take to go full-time on YouTube, know this: it’s a marathon, not a sprint. The creators who win are the ones who stick around long enough to let their content work for them.
You’re just one video away from your breakthrough. Keep showing up.