How NFT Creators Make Money
Primary sales, royalties, and other ways to earn from your work.
NFT creators earn in several ways: selling the initial mint (primary sale), earning a share of resales (royalties), and sometimes licensing or building a community around the work. Here’s how each works and what to expect on Solana.
Primary Sales
When you mint and sell an NFT for the first time, you receive the sale price (minus any platform or marketplace fee). That’s your primary sale. You can set a mint price if you’re doing a drop, or mint and then list on a marketplace at a price you choose. Revenue depends on demand and how you price.
Royalties (Secondary Sales)
Royalties are a percentage of every resale of your NFT. You set them in the metadata at mint time (e.g. 5% or 10%). When someone sells your NFT on a marketplace that honours royalties, you get that percentage. Enforcement is not guaranteed by the chain -it’s up to marketplaces. Major Solana marketplaces that support the standard will pay you; always check current policy.
Licensing and Commercial Rights
You can grant (or reserve) commercial rights in your terms or in the NFT description. Some creators sell “personal use only” and license commercial use separately. Others grant the buyer limited commercial rights. Clear terms help avoid disputes and can be a separate income stream (e.g. licensing a character or brand to a project).
Community and Ongoing Value
Many creators build a community around a collection: Discord, utility (access, perks), or future drops. That can support floor price and demand, which in turn affects primary and secondary sales. Revenue isn’t only from the first sale; it’s from the ecosystem you build around the work.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Are royalties guaranteed on Solana?
- No. Royalties are stored in metadata; marketplaces choose whether to read and pay them. Many do; some have reduced or made them optional. Check each marketplace’s policy.
- How much can I earn from primary sales?
- It depends on your audience, pricing, and demand. There’s no fixed formula. Start by minting and listing at a price you’re comfortable with and adjust based on response.
- Do I pay tax on NFT sales?
- Tax treatment varies by jurisdiction. NFT sales can be treated as income or capital gains. Consult a tax professional in your country.
- Can I set royalties after minting?
- Royalties are usually set at mint time in the metadata. Changing them later may not be possible if the metadata is immutable, or may require technical changes. Set them when you mint.
If you want to create and mint your NFT without coding you can use our Solana NFT creator tool which lets you generate metadata and mint NFTs directly on the Solana blockchain.
Create Your Solana NFT
Mint with optional royalties and list where your audience is. Start with one piece and grow from there.
Create NFT