How to Sign Up for Monetization on Facebook

Turning your Facebook Page into a source of income is entirely possible, but navigating the setup can feel like a maze. If you’re ready to start earning from your content, you’re in the right place. This guide walks you through every part of signing up for monetization on Facebook, from making sure you’re eligible to activating your first money-making tool.

First Things First: Understanding Facebook's Ground Rules

Before you can earn a dime, you have to play by Meta's rules. They aren't trying to trick you, these policies are designed to maintain a healthy ecosystem for creators, users, and advertisers. Getting a handle on them now will save you headaches later. There are two main sets of standards you need to meet.

Partner Monetization Policies (PMPs)

Think of these as the fundamental rules of being a good partner to Facebook. They cover your behavior across your entire Page, not just a single video. Here's what they boil down to:

• Create content on an eligible surface: Monetization primarily happens on public Facebook Pages, not personal profiles. Groups and Events also have some options, but Pages are the main hub.
• Live in an eligible country: Not all monetization features are available everywhere. You must be a resident of a country that Facebook supports for the specific tool you want to use.
• Follow Community Standards: This one is a no-brainer. Don't post graphic violence, hate speech, or harmful content. If you wouldn't want your grandma to see it, it probably violates these standards.
• Share authentic content: Facebook cracks down hard on misinformation, clickbait, and engagement bait (e.g., "Like this post if you're an Aries!"). Your content should be original and provide genuine value. Don’t share content that’s already been flagged for being false.
• Monetize authentic engagement: You cannot buy likes, views, or followers to meet eligibility thresholds. Your growth must be organic.
• Follow payment terms and rules: Adhere to Facebook's rules around receiving payments and setting up your payout account correctly.

Content Monetization Policies (CMPs)

These rules are more specific and apply to the content itself - the individual videos, posts, and streams you publish. Even if your Page is generally compliant, a single video that violates these rules can't be monetized and could put your Page at risk.

• Avoid restricted formats: You can't monetize static videos (a single image with audio), text montages, looping videos, or content that runs through embedded ads.
• Stay away from prohibited categories: Content focusing on sensitive social issues, tragedy, conflict, or sexually suggestive themes is generally not eligible for ads. This is because brands don’t want their ads running next to that type of content.
• Respect copyrights: This is a big one. You must own the rights to all content in your video, including the music. Using popular songs you don’t have a license for is the fastest way to get your video demonetized.

The Big Question: Are You Eligible? Check Against These Numbers

Policy compliance is about behavior, but eligibility is about numbers. Each monetization tool has its own specific set of performance-based requirements. Below are the current targets for Facebook's most popular monetization tools. Find the one you’re aiming for and see how close you are.

In-Stream Ads for Videos on Demand

These are the ads that play before, during, or after your videos. This is one of the most common ways creators earn money on Facebook. To qualify, you need:

• A minimum of 5,000 followers on your Facebook Page.
• A combined total of 60,000 minutes watched in the last 60 days. This can come from a mix of your regular videos (VODs), live streams, and recordings of past live streams.
• At least 5 active videos published on your Page.

Stars

Stars are a virtual good that your fans can buy and send to you during a live stream. Think of it like a digital tip jar. It's often the first monetization tool creators become eligible for.

• A minimum of 500 followers for at least 30 consecutive days.
• Your Page must be located in a Stars-eligible country.
• You must agree to the Stars Terms of Service.

Fan Subscriptions

Subscriptions allow your most dedicated followers to pay a monthly fee in exchange for exclusive content, a special badge, and other perks you create. This is great for building a stable, predictable monthly income stream.

• 10,000 followers, OR,
• 250+ returning weekly viewers on your videos.
• And one of the following in the last 60 days:
  • 50,000 post engagements (likes, comments, shares).
  • 180,000 minutes watched across all your videos.

How to Officially Check Your Monetization Status

Guessing if you meet the requirements is stressful. Instead of tracking it all manually, Facebook gives you a dashboard to see exactly where you stand. Here’s how to find it:

1. Navigate to Meta Business Suite. This is the central hub for managing your professional Facebook and Instagram presence.
2. On the left-hand navigation menu, look for and click on "Monetization." If you don’t see it, it may be under the "All tools" section.
3. You'll land on the Monetization Overview page. Here, you will see a list of your Pages and a high-level status next to each one.
4. Select the Page you want to check. You’ll see a list of all monetization tools like "In-Stream ads" and "Stars." Next to each one, you can click "View criteria" to see a progress bar showing exactly how close you are to meeting the requirements. The progress bars will update as you gain more followers and watch time.

This page is your single source of truth. Bookmark it and check it regularly to monitor your progress.

The Step-by-Step Guide to Applying for Monetization

Once those progress bars in Business Suite are all green for a specific tool, it's time to apply! The process is pretty straightforward, but you will need to have some personal and financial information handy.

Step 1: Start the Setup

In the Monetization tab of Meta Business Suite, find the tool you are now eligible for (e.g., In-Stream Ads). The button next to it that used to say "View criteria" will now say "Set Up." Click it to begin.

Step 2: Review and Agree to the Terms

The first screen you’ll see is a summary of the terms and conditions for that monetization tool. Read them over to understand what you're agreeing to and click "Agree to Terms."

Step 3: Set Up Your Payout Account

This is the most important part - telling Facebook where to send your money. You can’t get paid without it. You will be asked for the following information:

• Tell Us About Your Business: Select your country and business type. For most individual creators, this will be "Individual/Sole Proprietor."
• Tell Us About Yourself: Provide your legal name (it must match your tax documents), address, and date of birth. This verifies your identity.
• Add Your Payment Details: This is where you connect your bank account or PayPal account. Double-check your account and routing numbers to avoid payment delays. Facebook typically makes payments around the 21st of each month for the previous month's earnings.
• Provide Your Tax Information: You’ll be prompted to complete a tax form directly within the setup process.
  • If you're in the US, this will be a W-9 form. You’ll need to provide your Social Security Number (SSN) or Employer Identification Number (EIN).
  • If you are outside the US, you will likely need to fill out a W-8BEN form.
  • This is required by law for tax reporting purposes. Facebook will issue a 1099 form if you earn over a certain amount each year. We always advise you to consult with a tax professional regarding your earnings.

Once completed, your payment setup will be saved, and you can use it for any other Facebook monetization tools you apply for in the future.

Step 4: Submit Your Page for Review

After your payout account is configured, Meta's team will review your Page. They are manually checking to confirm that your Page's content and overall presence align with their Partner Monetization Policies. This review process can take a few days or sometimes a couple of weeks, so be patient. You will get a notification in Meta Business Suite once a decision has been made.

Congrats, You’re Approved! Now What?

Getting that approval notification is a great feeling. But don't forget the final step: activating the tool on your actual content.

• For In-Stream Ads: Go to the Content tab in Business Suite. When you upload a new video, you’ll see an In-Stream Ads toggle during the publishing flow. You can turn it on and choose automatic ad placement or manually select where you want mid-roll ads to appear. You can also turn on ads for older, eligible videos too.
• For Stars: Stars are typically enabled automatically once you’re approved. The best way to encourage people to use them is by giving them a shoutout during your next live stream and letting them know that Stars are now enabled. A small graphic overlay can help, too!
• For Subscriptions: Here, you need to set up your offerings. Go to the Subscriptions section under Monetization and define your monthly price and the exclusive benefits subscribers will receive (e.g., behind-the-scenes content, a supporters-only group, merch discounts).

Final Thoughts

Signing up for Facebook monetization involves meeting clear follower and engagement metrics, adhering to their policies, and carefully setting up your payout information. By consistently producing authentic, original content that resonates with your audience, you put yourself in the best position for approval and long-term success.

Meeting and maintaining those monetization thresholds is all about consistency, and that's precisely why we find tools like Postbase so valuable. Using the visual calendar to plan out an entire month of content ensures you always have a backlog of fresh videos ready to go. With its reliable scheduler, we can upload and set everything once, freeing ourselves up to focus on creating great content and engaging with our audience instead of worrying about manual publishing.