How do you manage your first revenues as a streamer?

Tax returns for video game streamers

When you start generating income from your streaming activities, it's natural to wonder about your tax obligations. Depending on your country of residence, the rules vary, but generally speaking, earnings from streaming must be declared as additional income.

We recommend that you keep accurate records of your streaming-related earnings and expenses. This includes viewer donations, subscriptions, advertising revenue and other sources of income.

This information will be useful when you fill in your tax return online.

When to file your tax return as a streamer

As a streamer in France, the tax declaration period varies according to your status and income. With a simplified system, such as the micro enterprise system, you benefit from a simplified tax return, but keep a record of your income in a revenue book.

How to declare your streaming revenues

How you declare your streaming income will depend on your type of professional status. If you stream as a hobby, your earnings are considered miscellaneous income. On the other hand, if streaming is becoming your regular or main activity, you'll need to register as a sole trader or set up a company.

What legal form should you choose to become a professional video game streamer?

Business creation criteria for Twitch content creators

The choice of legal form will depend on your long-term objectives and the complexity of your business. A sole proprietorship may be appropriate to start with, as it's simple to set up. However, depending on your income and future plans, you may also want to consider options such as setting up a company. The type of business guides the choice of legal status.

Different statuses for streamers

• Auto-Entrepreneur or Micro-Entrepreneur. It is possible to set up a sole proprietorship under the auto-entrepreneur (or micro-entrepreneur) scheme. This simplifies administrative and tax formalities, but there are generally income ceilings to be respected.
• Société à Responsabilité Limitée (SARL). A SARL is a business entity separate from its owners. This means that the streamer's financial responsibilities are separate from his or her personal finances. However, setting up a SARL usually involves more complex administrative formalities.
• Entreprise Unipersonnelle à Responsabilité Limitée (EURL). The EURL is a variant of the SARL, adapted to individual entrepreneurs. It allows you to benefit from the advantages of a limited liability structure while operating as a sole shareholder. This may be appropriate for streamers wishing to associate other activities with their chain, while protecting their personal assets.
• Société par Actions Simplifiée (SAS). An SAS also offers a separation between the streamer's personal and professional finances. However, it contains several options in terms of structure and management, making it a popular choice for sole traders.

Steps to becoming a professional video game streamer

Financial management of a social gaming company

Creating good financial management enables any streamer who generates money from their content to become an accomplished stream professional with millions of viewers. It's advisable to keep accurate records of your income from Twitch, Amazon, Youtube, Plarium or other dedicated stream game platforms and your expenses. Draw up a budget and separate your personal and business accounts. This will make it easier to understand the financial side of your online streaming business.

Investments and streamer equipment

Investing in quality equipment

When you start making money as a contractor, you can invest in more powerful streamer equipment.

Make well-considered investment decisions that can help grow your channel and your community. Investing in a powerful connection and a high-end webcam type guarantees a stream with superior image quality for your viewers.

Professional microphones and lighting enhance the stream's connection with your community. Engaging your audience of streamers will be enhanced by the creation, at a good price, of a logo, template and thumbnail jpg images. This visual quality added to your content will help shape your channel's identity.

Improve stream image quality

Investing in the right equipment, including a good microphone, is an important part of this business to reach millions of viewers on YouTube or other gaming platforms like Plarium. The Amazon platform also offers tools to help you improve the quality of your streams before broadcasting them.

You can use a template and other visual elements to create a more professional viewing experience. You can add a striking image to your thumbnails. Images in jpg format are lighter to download. Don't forget to set prices to suit your audience, and be sure to link to your products or affiliations where appropriate. As a streaming entrepreneur, these steps become essential for working on platforms such as Twitch.

Optimizing community growth

Exploring options such as social gaming, present on platforms such as Twitch, Amazon or Plarium, allows you to diversify your content and strengthen the link with your community. Remember to use your template and logo to enhance the visual aspect of your streams. Investing in your streamer business can have a significant impact on the growth of your channel and your success in the online gaming world.

Career prospects for online streamers

Revenue diversification and partnership opportunities

As the audience of viewers grows, opportunities for partnerships and collaborations with brands and other creators emerge, paving the way for diversified revenue streams. The skills acquired as a streamer, from communication to content management, can also open doors in related fields such as digital marketing and consulting.

Build loyalty with your audience

Building a strong community around your streaming channel helps attract a loyal audience. Creating a logo and theme that reflect your identity will establish a connection between your different platforms and social networks for your viewers. Schedule game streams, a buying guide or an online discussion. Your community will grow over time, your streams will become more connected, and you'll be able to generate more money from loyal viewers. The social game opens up new perspectives for this business, bringing together millions of players around collaborative and competitive streams.