 | This article needs to be updated. (March 2021) |
The business of webcomics involves creators earning a living through their webcomic, often using a variety of revenue channels. Those channels may include selling merchandise such as t-shirts, jackets, sweatpants, hats, pins, stickers, and toys, based on their work. Some also choose to sell print versions or compilations of their webcomics. Many webcomic creators make use of online advertisements on their websites, and possibly even product placement deals with larger companies. Crowdfunding through websites such as Kickstarter and Patreon are also popular choices for sources of potential income.
Webcomics have been used by some cartoonists as a path towards syndication in newspapers, but few are chosen each year. Since the early 2000s, some webcartoonists have advocated for micropayments as a source of income, but this system has seen little success.
Some artists start their webcomics without the intention of making money off of them directly; instead, they choose to distribute online for other reasons, like receiving feedback on their abilities. Other artists start creating a webcomic with the intention of becoming a professional, but often don't succeed in part because they "put the business before the art."[1] Meanwhile, many successful webcomic artists are diversifying their income streams in order to not be solely dependent on the webcomic itself. As of 2015, the vast majority of webcomic creators are unable to make a living off their work.[2]