How to Start an OnlyFans - The Step-By-Step Quickstart Guide for OnlyFans Creators
Starting an OnlyFans account can be a thrilling yet challenging venture, especially if you're aiming to turn it into a profitable business.
We decided to make your OnlyFans journey pitfalls-free and designed this guide designed to walk you through each step of setting up your account, from selecting the right niche to managing your content efficiently.
Without further undo, let's get started.
First Thing First — Mind the Specifics of OnlyFans
Before you join OnlyFans, create an account and start growing it, make sure you are well-aware of the specifics of the platform and viable approaches to running business with it.
First of all, OnlyFans is a platform with very high competition. With its larger than 2 million content creators base, it caters to the unique preferences of more than 1 billion of users monthly. So, the good piece of news is that OnlyFans enjoys its rapidly growing popularity and welcomes new content creators to occupy its niches.
Secondly, you have also probably heard that OnlyFans could become a million-dollar business and this is one of the main hooks that catches new content creators. Indeed, top OnlyFans earners make six figures on the platform but the trick is that they were pretty famous before joining OnlyFans. The average income of OnlyFans creators, in turn, is $200 per month in the beginning of their journey but after the $1000 threshold is reached, cashing money out of OnlyFans becomes significantly easier.
That’s why OnlyFans could become one of the best side hustles you can choose but you should mind another possible pitfall — running OnlyFans business can eat all your free time in the case of improper workflow management. To start smart from the very beginning, consider all-in-one OnlyFans management software for solo creators, and we, in the meanwhile, will focus on how to start an OnlyFans and turn this business into a profitable venture.
Choose the Trendy Niche That Feels Right for You
On OnlyFans, niche-specific accounts have the highest chances to be winning. For example, pay attention to the best male OnlyFans accounts — all of them have a narrow niche and their loyal audience, be it fitness, lifestyle or babyface. What’s more, OnlyFans has growing niches for both Safe-for-Work (SFW) and Not-Safe-for-Work (NSFW) content, so here they are for 2024:
- Ethnicity-based niches (black, Latina, Asian). They attract audiences who have specific cultural interests or preferences.
- Physical attributes (tattoos etc.). Content featuring distinctive physical attributes like tattoos or body modifications attracts fans who like specific personal expression.
- LGBTQ. LGBTQ niches cater to a diverse and inclusive audience. Now, this is one of the hottest trends on OnlyFans.
- Cosplay. Cosplay appeals to fans of pop culture and fantasy, allowing creators to embody characters from movies and games, occasionally turning them into adult game personages.
- Gaming. If you are a fan of gaming as a sport, OnlyFans has a dedicated niche for such creators and their fans as well. Stoner niches attract viewers who appreciate content related to cannabis culture, including lifestyle, humor, and relaxation.
- ASMR and mindfulness. Being one of the newest niches on OF, ASMR and mindfulness content provides relaxation and stress relief through soothing sounds and meditative practices.
When choosing a niche, keep in mind that the most popular creators in each of them really enjoy what they do. That’s why they engage with their audiences naturally and organically, while their fans are eager to pay for their exclusive content and personalized attention. So, choose what is close and feels right for you — with this approach, making money on OnlyFans will be significantly easier and more enjoyable.
A lot of those considering OnlyFans as a content selling business also frequently wonder how to start an OnlyFans without showing your face. If you are also not ready to show your face on OnlyFans, consider either neutral niches, like traveling or cooking, or be just a little trickier. Consider wearing masks, costumes, or other disguises that can conceal your identity or use such camera angles and framing techniques to keep your face out of view while showcasing other parts of your body or content.
Prepare the Necessary Equipment and Tech Infrastructure
So, how to start an OnlyFans career? The next attention point is that running a successful OnlyFans (OF) business requires a combination of hardware, and software to create, manage, and promote content efficiently. Here’s what you need in the beginning of your OnlyFans journey.
Hardware
- Computer or laptop for content management, editing, and communication. As for the specs, a decent processor (e.g., Intel i5/Ryzen 5 or better), at least 8GB RAM, and sufficient storage (SSD preferred).
- Smartphone for on-the-go content creation, communication with fans, and social media management with a high-quality camera and good battery life.
- Camera to produce high-quality images and videos. Pay attention to DSLR or mirrorless cameras for professional quality, or high-end smartphones with excellent cameras for a budget-friendly option.
- Lighting equipment. At this point, you can choose between ring lights, softbox lighting, or LED panels to enhance video and photo quality.
- Microphone for clear audio in videos and live streams. Consider USB or XLR microphones with good sound quality, such as the Blue Yeti or Rode.
- Tripod or stabilizer to keep your camera or smartphone steady during shoots.
Software
- Content creation and editing software. Adobe Photoshop, or free alternatives like GIMP and DaVinci Resolve could be enough.
- Content management system (CMS). To manage your content effectively, you need a content management system integrated with OnlyFans. For example, OnlyMonster is designed to be used on both OnlyFans side with the help of a dedicated browser and also serves as an all-in-one data analytics hub, providing an insight into the effectiveness of your efforts on the platform.
- Analytics and reporting tools to track performance and revenue. While the in-build analytics of OnlyFans is pretty limited, with OnlyMonster you can view and track total earnings and purchases, see your revenue breakdown by category and analyze the best time/days for fan interactions with the help of in-build heatmaps.
How to Start an OnlyFans Account
Now, let’s discover how to start an OnlyFans account step-by-step.
Step 1: Sign Up on OnlyFans
- Visit the OnlyFans Website
- Go to OnlyFans.com and click on “Sign up for OnlyFans”
- Choose to sign up using either:
- Email: Enter your email address, create a password, and choose a username.
- Social Media: Link your Twitter or Google account for quick registration.
- Complete Account Setup
- Check your email for a confirmation message from OnlyFans.
- Click the confirmation link in the email to activate your account.
- Log In
- Return to the OnlyFans homepage and log in using your email and password.
Step 2: Verify Your Identity and Meet OF’s Terms of Service
- Go to Your Account Settings
- Click on your profile icon in the top right corner and select Settings.
- Navigate to Account.
- Start Verification Process
- Click on Verification or Start Earning to begin the identity verification process.
- Provide Personal Information
- Enter your full name, date of birth, and address accurately.
- Upload Identification Documents
- Upload clear photos of your government-issued ID (front and back).
- Take and upload a selfie holding the ID to confirm your identity.
- Wait for Verification
- OF will review your documents, which may take up to 48 hours.
- You’ll receive an email notification once your identity is verified.
- Review and Accept OF’s Terms of Service
- Read through and accept OF’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, available via a link at the bottom of the site.
Step 3: Optimize Your Profile
- Choose a Catchy Username
- Select a username that is simple, memorable, and reflective of your content or brand.
- Upload a Profile Picture
- Choose a high-quality, well-lit image that clearly shows your face or signature pose.
- Ensure the image reflects your content style or personal brand.
- Write an Engaging Bio
- Keep your bio concise and engaging, highlighting what fans can expect from your content.
- Use relevant keywords and include a call to action to encourage subscriptions.
How to Start OnlyFans Without Followers: Charge Them Right!
If you have recently created an OnlyFans account, it would be logical to assume that for now you have fans and subscribers. So, how to start OnlyFans without followers? The answer is straightforward — you have to build such a monetization strategy that will attract users.
For example, if you are in a highly popular niche that has a strong, engaged audience (e.g., fitness or lifestyle), consider charging lower subscription fees to build loyalty and engage those who aren’t ready to invest a lot into subscribing to the most popular accounts. This strategy allows fans to enter your content space at a lower cost while offering premium experiences for additional revenue.
For specific niches, like LGBTQ or Asian (for the case you are lucky enough to belong to this race), you can charge higher subscription fees from the very beginning. Fans are likely willing to pay more for unique or specialized content, so there is no reason to hesitate.
There is also another approach that can work well for the long run — create different subscription tiers with varying levels of access to your content. For example, offer:
- Basic tier: Lower subscription fee for general content access (e.g., $5–$10 per month).
- Premium tier: Higher fee for exclusive or early-access content (e.g., $15–$25 per month).
- VIP tier: The highest subscription fee for highly personalized content or 1-on-1 interactions (e.g., $50+ per month).
Manage Your Content and Engagement
One of the best things about OnlyFans is that you can resell your content according to the Pay-Per-View model as many times as you want. With this idea in mind, create as much content as possible at the very beginning of your OnlyFans business but make sure you aren’t losing its quality and focus. At some point during your content portfolio growth, you will likely need to manage and organize your content effectively to maximize its value.
For this goal, consider OnlyMonster’s Vault Management feature. With its help, you can efficiently categorize and organize your content by assigning tags and adding descriptions to each piece, setting PPV prices, and even adding fan communication scripts for higher sales. Our smart search, in turn, ensures that you can quickly find any specific content you need.
Grow Your OnlyFans Business with OnlyMonster
Well, getting started with OnlyFans could be a little challenging but it is still a venture worth giving a shot. So, if you are looking for an effective and reliable solution to make your OnlyFans workflows simpler, consider OnlyMonster's all-in-one software.
From the very beginning of your OnlyFans journey, it helps you communicate with the fans in an AI-assisted way, providing deeper personalization and ensuring better engagement. With our advanced Vault Management feature, you can efficiently organize your content, while our comprehensive revenue analytics provide valuable insights into your efforts' ROI.
These aren't all the possibilities of OnlyMonster, so you are welcome to create an account and see how our solution can boost your OnlyFans business, despite you being new to it.
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