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Starting an OnlyFans can feel overwhelming, but the actual setup is straightforward. The harder part comes after: creating content consistently and promoting your page to get subscribers.
This guide covers everything you need to know to start an OnlyFans from scratch, including account setup, verification, content strategy, pricing, and getting your first subscribers.
Gather these before creating your account.
Age requirement: You must be 18 or older. No exceptions.
Government ID: Passport, driver's license, or national ID card for verification.
Bank account: To receive payments. Must be in your legal name.
Email address: Preferably a new email dedicated to OnlyFans.
Smartphone or camera: For creating content.
Before starting, think about:
Your niche: What type of content will you create? Adult, fitness, lifestyle, art?
Your privacy level: Will you show your face? Use your real name? Read our guide on is OnlyFans safe for detailed privacy considerations.
Your commitment level: Is this a side project or serious income goal?
Your boundaries: What content are you comfortable creating? What will you never do?
Having clarity on these questions before starting helps you build a sustainable approach.
Account creation takes about 5 minutes.
Email tip: Create a new email address specifically for OnlyFans. This keeps your creator business separate from personal email and adds privacy protection.
Display name tip: You can change this later, but choose something memorable that fits your brand.
Check your inbox for the OnlyFans verification email and click the link inside.
If you do not see it:
You cannot proceed to creator verification without confirming your email.
This is the more serious verification that confirms your identity and age.
Fill in accurately:
All information must match your ID. Mismatches cause rejection.
OnlyFans uses Ondato for identity verification.
The system will prompt you to take a selfie to confirm you match your ID photo.
This must be taken live, not uploaded from your camera roll.
Enter your bank details to receive payments:
Your bank account name must match your verified legal name.
Verification typically takes 24 to 72 hours. You will receive an email when approved.
While waiting, you can set up your profile and prepare content.
Your profile is your landing page. Make it compelling. Check out our OnlyFans bio examples for detailed tips and templates.
Write a bio that:
Example structure:
Important settings to review before launching.
Set your monthly subscription price.
Pricing considerations:
Free vs paid accounts:
For detailed pricing strategies, see our OnlyFans PPV pricing guide.
Hide subscriber count: Turn this on when starting. An empty subscriber count can deter potential fans.
Hide media count: Optional, but useful when you have minimal content.
Geoblocking: Block specific countries or regions from seeing your profile. Useful for hiding from people in your area.
Never launch an empty page. Have content ready before promoting. Need inspiration? Check out our guide on OnlyFans content ideas for 50+ ideas.
Recommended starting content:
Lighting: Good lighting makes a huge difference. Natural light or a ring light works well.
Stability: Use a tripod or phone mount for steady shots.
Audio: For videos, ensure clear audio without excessive background noise.
Background: Clean, uncluttered backgrounds look more professional.
Mix different types:
Variety keeps subscribers engaged and gives new fans reasons to stay.
How you price affects who subscribes and how much you earn.
Free account strategy:
Low price strategy ($3 to $7):
Mid price strategy ($10 to $20):
Premium strategy ($25+):
Charge for individual content beyond the subscription.
Typical PPV ranges:
Start lower and increase as you learn what your audience pays for. Our complete PPV pricing guide covers this in detail.
OnlyFans allows promotional pricing:
Use promotions strategically to grow your subscriber base.
This is where the real work begins. OnlyFans has no discovery features, so promotion is essential.
OnlyFans does not:
Every subscriber must come from external promotion.
Twitter (X): Best platform for OnlyFans promotion. Allows adult content with proper settings. Post teasers, engage with potential fans, link directly to your OnlyFans.
Reddit: Massive organic reach through niche communities. Find subreddits matching your content type and participate authentically.
TikTok: Huge reach but strict rules. No explicit content or direct OnlyFans links. Build following through entertaining content, funnel to other platforms.
Instagram: Restrictive but useful for brand building. Keep content SFW and link through bio.
OnlyFinds indexes over 249,000 OnlyFans profiles searchable by category, location, and price. Getting indexed on discovery platforms brings passive traffic from people actively searching for creators.
First impressions matter. Set up an automatic welcome message for new subscribers.
A good welcome message:
See our complete guide on OnlyFans welcome messages for examples and templates.
OnlyFans income is taxable. As a creator, you are self-employed.
Key tax facts:
For complete tax information, read our OnlyFans taxes guide.
Avoid these errors when starting.
Do not promote an empty page. Have content ready before driving traffic.
Start moderate and adjust based on results. Extremely high prices deter new subscribers. Extremely low prices may undervalue your content.
Subscribers expect regular content. Establish a posting schedule you can maintain.
Creating content without promoting is like opening a store with no signage. Promotion is half the work.
Respond to messages. Engage with subscribers. Personal connection drives tips, PPV purchases, and retention.
Most creators do not see significant income in their first months. Success requires consistent effort over time.
What to do in your first week as a creator.
Day 1 to 2:
Day 3 to 5:
Day 6 to 7:
What to actually expect when starting. For detailed earnings data, see how much OnlyFans creators make.
Month 1: Setting up, creating content, building promotional presence. Likely minimal subscribers.
Months 2 to 3: Growing audience if promoting consistently. Maybe a few dozen subscribers.
Months 4 to 6: Meaningful traction possible with sustained effort. Potentially hundreds of subscribers.
Months 6+: Established presence for dedicated creators. Income depends on niche, content, and promotion.
Most creators earn modest amounts. Top earners are the exception.
Factors affecting income:
Treat the first few months as foundation building rather than income generating.
OnlyFans is the largest platform, but not the only option. Some creators use multiple platforms for security and reach.
Popular alternatives include Fansly, Fanvue, and LoyalFans. See our complete OnlyFans alternatives comparison to understand your options.
Setup steps:
Key success factors:
Avoid:
Once your OnlyFans is set up and running, getting discovered helps growth.
OnlyFinds indexes over 249,000 OnlyFans profiles searchable by category, location, and price.
Passive discovery supplements your active promotion efforts.
Starting an OnlyFans is easy. Building a successful one takes consistent effort over time. This guide provides the foundation, but your results depend on execution.