Creators

Your first €10,000 as a creator: what to do with it, in order

Updated: 6 October 2026 Holdwise editorial team

Use your first €10,000 in this order: set aside money for tax, build a buffer, and then buy gear that earns money. Investing comes later. Creator income goes up and down, platforms change their rules overnight, and the tax bill comes a year after you receive the money. The same order applies to every amount up to roughly €25,000, whether it is €8,000, €15,000 or €20,000. At Holdwise, we keep this answer up to date. You find the steps further down this page.

Step one: set aside money for tax

You pay tax on this year's income next year, long after you have received the money. While you still earn in your own name, put 35–40% of every payout in a separate account. Treat this money as already spent. The VAT you charged comes on top of that, and it was always money for the state. Creators who skip this step have an empty account when their first tax bill comes. Many tax problems start this way. See the way back.

Step two: the personal buffer

Save three months of your real living costs in a savings account and leave the money there. With this buffer, you can decline a bad brand deal, get through a month with little income and negotiate from a strong position. For most new creators, this is €5,000 to €8,000. Most of the first €10,000 is therefore already used before you start investing.

Step three: gear that earns

Spend what remains on production: camera, light, sound and editing help. These are deductible business costs (items above roughly €450 are depreciated over several years). Through the deduction, the state pays part of the cost. A €1,500 camera costs you much less than its price in the shop. You find the details in the complete deduction list.

What can wait

Wait with stocks, crypto and property until your buffer is in place and your income is regular. Many creators invest too early and then have a bad second year. A BV (besloten vennootschap, the Dutch private limited company) with a holding usually saves tax from about €78,350 to €87,600 of yearly profit, if you keep the profit in the company. See start here.

The order of the steps

With your first €10,000, set aside the tax, build your buffer and improve your gear. You can start investing at around €50,000.

Free advice

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Part of Doing Business in the Netherlands, the complete 2026 guide.

Frequently asked questions

How much of my creator income should I set aside for tax? +

35–40% of every payout, while you earn in your own name. Put it in a separate account, together with any VAT you charged. The tax bill comes a year later, and you then pay it from this reserve.

Should I start investing with my first €10,000? +

Buffer and tax reserve come first. Investing starts once three months of living costs are saved untouched and the income has repeated for a few months.

Is new camera gear a smart use of early money? +

Yes. Production gear is a deductible business cost that raises earning capacity, which makes it the best-returning purchase available at this stage.

Does this plan also apply at €5,000 or €15,000? +

Yes. Every amount up to roughly €25,000 follows the same order: tax reserve, buffer, gear, with block sizes scaled to your living costs.