How to Start an OnlyFans for Beginners: A Step-by-Step Guide

OnlyFans paid out $5.3 billion to creators in 2023. That’s real money going straight to people who figured out how to turn their content into cash.

Getting started is easier than you think. Whether you want a side hustle or a full-time income, OnlyFans lets you make money from your content, connect with fans, and grow a loyal audience. You do not need a massive following or a specific niche. You just need the right approach.

This guide covers how to start an OnlyFans account for beginners, from setting up your profile to making your first sale. You’ll also learn how OnlyFans works for beginners and how AI tools like Supercreator can help you manage and grow your account faster.

How Does OnlyFans Work (for Beginners)?

OnlyFans is like any other social media platform that allows users to create content and share it with others. Unlike other platforms, there’s no limit on the type of content you can create. It runs on a subscription-based model where fans pay a specific monthly fee to view your content. In turn, you get to set the monthly fee and offer discounts and promotions to your subscribers. 

OnlyFans exists to help creators make money on their own terms. You can charge anywhere from $3 to $20 a month, and with the right strategy, that adds up fast. Imagine pulling in 1,000 subscribers every month—that’s serious cash. Blac Chyna took it to another level, making around $20 million per month.

What Type of Content Is Allowed on OnlyFans?

OnlyFans allows creators to share a wide range of content, from videos to photos to live streams. The platform also allows other content types, like direct messages and PPV content. There’s no restriction on what you can upload on your OnlyFans account as long as it doesn’t violate their terms of service. But before you jump in, there are a few things you should consider to set yourself up for success.

Things to Know Before Starting an OnlyFans

We know you’re eager to start making money on OnlyFans, but before you dive in, here’s what to keep in mind:

Privacy concerns

Sharing content online threatens your privacy since it is hard to take back what you share. So, decide the extent of what you want to share with your audience. For example, you might choose to stay anonymous, use pen names, or prevent users from certain regions from viewing your content. Creators like Yasmin Habibi use face coverings to protect their identity.

Understand OnlyFans fees and payout

Most beginner creators often ask questions like, “How much does OnlyFans take? Is there a limit to what you can earn? When does the platform release payments?” 

First, OnlyFans takes a 20 percent commission on your earnings; this means you get to keep 80%. There is no limit on what you can earn, and there’s no reason for the platform to withhold your earnings. 

OnlyFans offers the option for automatic weekly payouts. There are also daily and monthly withdrawal options. It takes three to five business days for the platform to process withdrawals. To avoid delays in the withdrawal process, you must ensure the following:

• The account details are accurate.
• You have a minimum of $20 in the account.
• You have filled all the necessary forms, such as the W-9 for creators in the US
• Legal and Tax Considerations

Your OnlyFans income is taxable. However, the platform is not responsible for reporting or paying tax on your behalf. It’s better to keep at least 30 percent of your earnings for federal, state, and self-employment tax. US creators might refer to the IRS guidelines for more information. Better still, plan to hire a tax professional to help you handle any complications.

Consistency and commitments

Good things take time and effort, and your OnlyFans account is no exception. You need to show up by producing consistent content while maintaining quality and authenticity. So, plan a posting schedule and stick to it. Tools like Excel and Airtable are great for planning content postings. Besides planning a schedule, ensure you maintain engagements by messaging and interacting with fans. For new creators, this can be quite overwhelming. So, it’s alright to implement AI-driven chat automation tools to help you better manage the chats.

Key OnlyFans Terms You Should Know

Before you start, here are a few terms you will see often:

• Direct messages (DMs): It is a private communication tool that enables creators and fans to exchange messages and exclusive content.
• Pay-Per-View (PPV) content: PPVs are content that fans must pay a one-time fee to access. Note that PPVs are separate from subscription fees.
• Live streams: This tool enables fans to connect with fans in real time. In a livestream, fans get to send requests and watch the creator perform those requests.

If you’re new to the platform, you might come across other abbreviations like JOI, GFE, and PPM. Check out our full guide on OnlyFans abbreviations to learn what they mean and how to use them to boost engagement.  Now, let’s get into the logistics.

How to Start an OnlyFans Account (Step-by-Step)

Setting up your OnlyFans account is simple, but getting it right from the start can make a huge difference in how fast you grow and start earning. From signing up to optimizing your profile and setting your prices, we've outlined everything you need to launch your page the right way and set yourself up for success.

Step 1: Sign up and verify identity

Visit the OnlyFans website and provide your name and email to create an account. OnlyFans also allows you to sign up using your X account or linked Gmail accounts. 

The next step is to verify your identity. For this process, you will need to first verify your age by scanning the front and back of a valid ID. Ensure the photos are clear and the edges are visible. You can use state or federal-issued documents like passports, driver’s licenses, or state IDs.

The next directive is to take a selfie. So, clean your front camera and ensure there’s enough lighting. The software will notify you if your face is in the right position. It may take up to 72 hours for the platform to verify the account. You may increase your chance of getting verified by including your social media accounts during registration.

Step 2: Set up and optimize your profile

Your profile is the first thing fans will see when they visit your page, so you can’t afford to mess it up. Click on the “My Profile” button on the left side of the webpage. Next, select “Edit Profile” on the subsequent page. There are three main elements you can optimize:

Username

Keep it simple and memorable. Better still, ensure the username aligns with your brand and niche. You may avoid the allure of using special characters or complicated spellings, which makes it difficult for users to find your account. Here’s a trick that might help you out: try to maintain the same username across your social platforms. This will enable prospective fans from your social media accounts to locate your OnlyFans.

Profile photo and banner

It’s all about the visuals when selecting a profile photo. Use a high-quality photo that best represents your niche and brand. Case in point: OnlyFans cosplay creators may wear suggestive costumes in their profile pictures. For your banner images, we recommend using a collage of different images to give your users a foretaste of what to expect. Tools like Photoshop, Canva, and Lightroom are great for giving your pictures a professional touch.

Bio

The rule is to keep it short and interesting. This is where you highlight your niche, services, call to action, and copyright disclaimer. You might also include links to your social media accounts. Here’s an example of what a bio can look like:

Ana Cheri: OnlyFans Fitness Model

Bio: Everything Me, Ana Cheri 💋

➕All the things I can't share anywhere else 😏

🎬 BTS (behind the scenes), 📸 photoshoots, 🏋🏻‍♀️️ workouts, 😍 custom content, 📲 raw iPhone content & finally a place where I can answer my DMs! 📩

😈 VIP page: https://onlyfans.com/anacherivip

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/10LF5ESLJM6KH?ref_=wl_share

Step 3: Choose subscription pricing (free vs. paid accounts)

You can decide if you want a free or paid account by considering their pros and cons.

Pros of a free OnlyFans account:

• It allows you to attract a wide audience.
• It helps fans to better understand your content before they can become paid subscribers.
• You can still monetize your content through ticketed live streams or pay-per-view.

Cons of a free OnlyFans account:

• The non-exclusivity undermines the value of your content.

Pros of a paid OnlyFans account:

• Fans perceive your content as high value due to the exclusivity of a paid account.
• Opportunity to earn consistent income through monthly subscriptions.
• Protects your content from piracy since subscribers are less likely to leak it.

Cons of a paid OnlyFans account:

• It takes longer to grow a paid account due to the subscription barrier.

Step 4: Set up payment details and understand payout settings

OnlyFans supports payment options like e-wallets and bank transfers. So, set up your preferred payment in the account section. Your preferred payment option also determines how fast you get your withdrawals. Direct transfers via ACH are the fastest and may take between one and two business days. However, it takes up to five business days to get manual bank transfers and international money transfers.

Step 5: Plan and upload your first post

Your first post or welcome message sets the tone for your brand. While there is no fixed rule for the first post, it must be engaging enough to make your fans take the desired action. For example, share a photo or content to give them a taste of what to expect. In addition, get them to take action by offering incentives like free live streams or PPVs.

What to Post on OnlyFans

Now, you know how to start an OnlyFans account. The next hurdle is knowing what to post and which niche to major in. Before it gets overwhelming, use these steps to create posts on the platform:

1. First, find a niche

Your niche makes you stand out. It also helps fans better understand what you’re offering. As a beginner, here are niches to try out:

• ASMR: ASMR is a good fit if you understand how to use sensory triggers like whispering, soft speaking, and tapping to evoke the desired emotions. There’s not enough competition in this niche, so it’s easy to stand out.
• Cosplaying: Here’s another niche that’s quite easy to break into. You might stick to one cosplay theme or explore multiple themes, from waifu to pop culture to gaming characters. However, this might require you to have a large collection of costumes.
• Adult content: Choose this niche if you’re not afraid of going all the way. The adult niche has a lot of sub-niches based on sexual preferences, from BDSM to fetishes to roleplaying.
• Lifestyle: You can never run out of content ideas in the lifestyle niche. Creators could choose to share their travel adventures, daily lives, or hobbies like cooking or dancing.

2. Invest in tools to boost the quality of your posts

Create posting schedules through tools like Excel, Google Sheets, SuperCreator, or Airtable. Set a minimum of 3 to 5 pieces of content weekly. Next, invest in good lighting, cameras, props, and editing tools.

Create a schedule for engaging with your prospective fans. You could use advanced analytics AI tools to track fans’ behavior to note when they’re most active. 

3. Create content around these beginner-friendly content ideas

New OnlyFans creators should try out these content ideas:

Welcome post: Your welcome message is also about creating a lasting first impression. So, start with a picture or video that shows what you can do and gives users reasons for subscribing. However, don’t show it all; just enough for them to come back for more.

Behind-the-scenes (BTS): This makes your content more relatable and shows your authentic side to the audience. Share the process behind your work, be it a travel vlog or fitness routine.

Q&A sessions: Fans will be curious about your content and niche. So, create content around those questions.

Lifestyle content: It may surprise you that fans are also interested in what your typical day looks like. So, share snippets about your day.

*Tip: Focus and stay consistent. Pick one or two niches that match your strengths and passions instead of trying to do everything. Quality always wins over quantity, so create content that keeps fans coming back.

How to Promote Your OnlyFans and Gain Subscribers

The competition is fierce since you're competing with creators who have spent years perfecting their craft. So, you need to promote your content and grow a loyal following by using these strategies:

Using social media to promote your OnlyFans 

You’re missing out on new fish if you’re not promoting on social media. These platforms boost your content reach and enable you to convert followers to OnlyFans subscribers. We’ve compiled some top tips on how to maximize your content reach on different social media platforms:

Tips for promoting OnlyFans on Instagram:

• Optimize your Instagram profile by uploading a high-quality, catchy profile picture and using the bio to introduce yourself and give a hint of what you do. You can write something along the lines of, “Yes, you know where to find me.” 
• Add a third-party link website to the profile page. IG may suspend accounts with OnlyFans links. So, use websites like Linktree and Lnk.Bio.
• Invest more in reels since they often have a higher user engagement. Include a captivating hook at the beginning to prevent them from scrolling further. 
• Research and use hashtags that are specific to your niche. You'll find most hashtag ideas from your creators in your niche. 
• Engage and collaborate with other creators. 

Tips for promoting OnlyFans on TikTok:

• Create tease content that is not explicit enough for you to get suspended or shadow banned. 
• Include a link aggregator site like Linktree in your bio. Provide a hint about what users may get by clicking the link. 
• Consistently create content using relevant hashtags. Start by replicating the hashtags used by creators in similar niches. 
• Use trending sounds and filters. 

Engage in OnlyFans promotion groups

These groups or communities assist creators in networking and promoting their content. In such groups, you collaborate with other creators to cross-promote each other’s content. Here’s how to find promotion groups on some social media platforms:

• Telegram: Input relevant keywords like “OnlyFans promotion” or "OnlyFans community for beginners.” You might narrow it down and make it niche-specific to get better results. For instance, fitness OnlyFans models may type in “ONlyFans fitness community.”
• Reddit: First, locate subreddits that cater to your theme or niche interests. Use the search option in the top bar to locate them. Use niche-specific keywords to get more precise results.

Offer discounts, free trials, and other incentives

Don’t be stingy with your freebies. Offer discounts for the first monthly subscription or package deals for quarterly or annual subscriptions. In addition, you may offer free trials for a specific timeframe to give fans a taste of your content. Remember to use this strategy sparingly; too many incentives might reduce your content appeal.

Collaborate with other creators

You can reach a wider audience by collaborating with other OnlyFans creators. You may join shout-out or promotion groups, host joint giveaways, or create joint content. r/OnlyFanscollabdates is one of the communities for collaborating with creators. Sometimes, you need to create an agreement or pay the required sum to collaborate with some creators.

How to Make Money on OnlyFans as a Beginner

Now that you know the basics of starting an OnlyFans account as a beginner, let’s talk about how to monetize it. New creators can follow these strategies to maximize their earnings from day one:

Set your subscription prices wisely

Be a spy and see what other creators are charging. Start by checking what other creators in the same niche are charging. Next, try to find a middle ground by using the average of their subscriptions. 

New creators often charge between $2 and $15 per month. You can also offer tier-based subscriptions to accommodate fans with low spending power. For example, offer $5 per month for basic access and $25 per month for exclusive content, including livestreams. A one-time first-month discount is another strategy for attracting new fans.

Sell PPV content and custom requests to earn extra income

Besides subscriptions, fans also pay for exclusive photos or videos, such as themed photos or behind-the-scenes videos. Some fans may request custom videos or pictures that are specific to their taste or preference. You might also charge for such requests, but ensure to demand an upfront payment for them.

Engage with fans to increase revenues

Set up Q&A sessions and run polls to know what kind of content they want to see. You might also ask these questions in your DMs. These engagement activities make your fans feel heard and more likely to pay more for your services.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Starting an OnlyFans

Mistakes are costly since they deprive you of precious cash and time. So, here are common mistakes to avoid as you’re starting an OnlyFans account.

Underpricing content

Most creators fall for the mistake of setting low prices for subscription or PPV content. However, this makes it difficult to earn a sustainable income. You can avoid this error by researching what others are charging and setting a mid-range price. In addition, don’t be afraid of charging higher prices for premium content. You may use a time-limited discount to attract new subscribers.

Ignoring marketing and promotion

It’s a big mistake if you think OnlyFans’ internal traffic is enough to grow your account. Remember that you’re competing with millions of creators on the platform. So, step outside your comfort zone by using social media platforms and by collaborating with other creators.

Neglecting audience engagement

What’s the price for this mistake? Well, your follower count will either decrease or remain stagnant since old fans are not renewing their subscriptions. You’re also leaving a lot of money on the table by not engaging with fans. So, avoid this situation by responding promptly to messages and hosting live streams to engage with the audience. AI tools like Supercreator help to not only automate chats but also reply to them.

Inconsistent posting schedule

It’s easy to get overwhelmed and not consistently post content. As a new creator, you must prevent this mistake by building a content calendar. Furthermore, create content in batches to save time and cost if you’re using a rented studio.

Stick to at least two niches 

You can’t appeal to everyone, so stick to at least one or two niches. Identify your unique interests and strengths and use them to determine your niche. You should also research what content your target audience is looking for and customize your content accordingly.

Your OnlyFans Journey Starts Now

You now know how to start an OnlyFans account and set yourself up for success. The real work is in keeping it going. Here’s what matters:

• Set up your account properly from the start.
• Pick a niche that fits your strengths and interests.
• Promote yourself on social media and collaborate with other creators.
• Stick to a posting schedule and keep your content high quality.
• Engage with fans through messages, live streams, and polls.
• Use AI tools to save time and boost interactions.
• Track your analytics to see what’s working and adjust your strategy.
• Keep evolving with fresh content ideas.

Starting is the easy part. Staying consistent and adapting is what builds long-term success. Take your time, figure out what works for you, and keep pushing forward.