What does it take to turn a YouTube channel into a valuable, sellable business? That's what I wanted to explore with this week’s guest, Tyler Chou (aka The Creators' Attorney).

Having spent 20 years as an entertainment attorney at giants like Disney and BuzzFeed, Tyler now represents some of YouTube's biggest channels, helping them navigate exits and build sustainable enterprises.

In this episode, Tyler pulls back the curtain on the legal mistakes creators often make, the crucial steps to take to protect your assets, and why sometimes, a creator doesn't need to sell at all - they just need a sabbatical. Tyler shares insights on how to build a business that can eventually sell for 8 or 9 figures, and what investors are really looking for beyond just views.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction
01:09 Private equity looks to buy YouTube channels
03:52 Creator burnout
04:52 Protecting your IP and avoiding mistakes
08:20 Diversifying revenue beyond AdSense and brand deals
10:43 Avoiding misclassification lawsuits
12:46 The problem with reaction channels
17:45 Why buyers love recurring revenue and technical products
23:11 The power of artificial scarcity
28:20 How to make your brand less dependent on the creator
37:48 Should creators sell their business?
43:49 You might need a sabbatical, not an exit
45:00 How to protect yourself from predatory buyers
51:08 Hiring operators to run products
54:19 The power of angel investors on your cap table
56:29 The value of books for creators
1:11:08 Building a network of channels
1:14:10 Where to find Tyler

If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with your friends, and leave a review. I read every single one.

Learn more about the podcast: https://nathanbarry.com/show

Follow Nathan:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathanbarry
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbarry
X: https://twitter.com/nathanbarry
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenathanbarryshow
Website: https://nathanbarry.com
Kit: https://kit.com

Follow Tyler:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheCreatorsAttorney
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thecreatorsattorney
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecreatorsattorney

Featured in this episode:
Kit: https://www.kit.com

Highlights:
01:38 - Why private equity is buying YouTube channels
07:50 - The power of building independent revenue streams
12:58 - Why reaction channels are worthless to buyers
38:00 - The surprising downsides of taking an exit
59:20 - The power of books for creator credibility

$100M YouTube Lawyer Reveals How to Protect Your Channel in 2026 | Tyler Chou | 145

The Nathan Barry Show

$100M YouTube Lawyer Reveals How to Protect Your Channel in 2026 | Tyler Chou | 145