How to become an OnlyFans creator, step by step: what to prepare, what it costs

Becoming an OnlyFans creator takes four things: an account, a valid government ID, a live selfie and payout details in your own name. Joining is free; the platform takes a share of what you earn. Here is the whole process, with what to prepare before you start.

Before you start

Gather these first, and the sign-up takes about half an hour:

• Age: you must be 18 or older.
• A valid government ID: passport, national ID card or driving licence, not expired.
• A phone with a camera for the ID photo and the selfie.
• A bank or payout account in your own legal name. The name must match your ID.
• A dedicated email address used only for this work, with a strong password.
• A stage name and username you are happy to keep. Changing your username later changes your profile URL and breaks old links.

Steps 1 and 2: Create the account and a basic profile

1. Go to the OnlyFans website and sign up with your dedicated email.
2. Confirm your email address from the message the platform sends you.
3. Turn on two-factor authentication in your security settings straight away.

Add a profile picture, a banner, a display name and a short bio. They do not need to be perfect yet. You can refine them before launch, but the application needs a complete profile.

Step 3: Verify your identity

This is the step that turns a fan account into a creator account.

1. Start the creator or "become a creator" flow from your settings.
2. Enter your legal details exactly as they appear on your ID.
3. Photograph your ID: physical document, plain dark surface, daylight, all four corners visible, no glare.
4. Take the live selfie: face a window or soft light, no hat or sunglasses, camera at eye level.

Step 4: Add payout details and wait

Add your bank or payout information and your tax details as requested. Then wait for review. Approval often arrives within a few days, though it can take longer. If you are rejected, check the ID photo, the selfie and the name match first, fix what is wrong, and reapply or contact support through the Help Center.

What it costs

Signing up is free. OnlyFans keeps 20% of each payment before VAT, per its terms at the time of writing; check the current figure in its Help Center. Your real costs are your time, equipment and any promotion you pay for.

Earnings are taxable in most countries. This is not tax advice. Check the current rules with your country's tax authority or an accountant.

Your first week as a creator

Once approved:

• Set your subscription price, or choose a free page.
• Write your welcome message.
• Upload a few dozen posts before you promote, so the page does not look empty.
• Pick two or three promotion platforms and read their content policies.
• Decide your boundaries and your posting schedule, and write both down.

The pitch. If you later join or start an agency, Inflowwww is a self-hosted dashboard for the business side: chats, vault, mass messages and reports. Deploy it yourself.