How to Start an OnlyFans Account: Step-by-Step Setup Guide

So you’ve decided you want to start an OnlyFans. Maybe you’ve been thinking about it for weeks, maybe someone told you about it yesterday. Either way, you’re here, which means you’re ready to stop thinking and start doing.

This guide walks you through every single step of how to start an OnlyFans — from creating your account to setting your prices to preparing for your launch day. We’re going to make sure you don’t just set up a page, but that you set up a page that’s actually positioned to make money from day one.

No fluff. No vague advice. Just the exact steps, in order.

Before You Create Your Account: What to Decide First

Before you even touch the OnlyFans website, there are a few decisions you need to make. Skipping this step is why most new creators end up confused and frustrated two weeks in.

1. Are You Going Anonymous or Public?

This is your most important decision. Are you keeping your identity private, or are you comfortable with people knowing you create content on OnlyFans?

If you’re going anonymous, you’ll need a stage name, face-hiding strategies (masks, angles, cropping), and geo-blocking to prevent people in your area from finding you. If you’re going public, you’ll have more freedom but also more risk. Read our guide on staying anonymous on OnlyFans if privacy is a priority.

2. What’s Your Niche?

You don’t need to niche down to something hyper-specific, but you do need a general direction. Girlfriend experience? Fetish content? Couples content? Fitness? Cosplay?

Your niche determines your content strategy, your pricing, and your promotion approach. Pick something you’re comfortable with and can produce consistently.

3. What Equipment Do You Have?

You don’t need a professional camera. A smartphone works. But you do need:

• A phone with a decent camera (iPhone 11 or newer, or a mid-range Android)
• Good lighting (a $30 ring light from Amazon is enough)
• A clean, private space to film

If you’re missing any of these, get them before you launch. Quality matters more than you think.

4. How Much Time Can You Commit?

OnlyFans is not passive income. Plan on 2-4 hours a day minimum. If you’re doing this as a side hustle, you’ll need to batch your work and be extremely efficient.

Once you’ve made these decisions, you’re ready to create your account.

Step 1: Create Your OnlyFans Account

Go to OnlyFans.com and click “Sign up for OnlyFans.”

Email: Use an email address dedicated to OnlyFans. Don’t use your personal email. Create a new Gmail or ProtonMail account specifically for your creator business.

Username: This is public and permanent. Pick something memorable and brandable. Avoid numbers and underscores if possible. Your username will appear in your OnlyFans URL (onlyfans.com/yourusername).

Password: Use a strong, unique password. Enable two-factor authentication immediately for security.

Once your account is created, you’ll land on your dashboard. Don’t start posting yet. There’s more setup to do.

Step 2: Complete Your Profile

Your profile is the first thing fans see. A half-finished profile screams “amateur.” Let’s make yours look professional.

Profile Photo: Use a high-quality photo that represents your brand. If you’re staying anonymous, use a body shot or a cropped photo that doesn’t show your face. If you’re public, use a clear, flattering headshot.

Cover Photo: This is the banner at the top of your page. Use a high-resolution image that’s visually appealing and consistent with your niche. Canva has free OnlyFans banner templates if you need help.

Display Name: This is different from your username. You can change it anytime. Use your stage name or creator name.

Bio: Keep it short, engaging, and clear. Tell fans what they’ll get if they subscribe. Examples:

• “Exclusive content you won’t find anywhere else. New posts daily. Custom requests welcome.”
• “Your favorite girlfriend experience. Let’s get to know each other.”
• “Fetish-friendly. Open to customs. DM me your fantasies.”

Avoid vague bios like “Come see what I’m about.” Be specific about what you offer.

Wishlist (Optional): You can link an Amazon wishlist. Some fans enjoy buying gifts for creators. This is optional but can be a nice bonus income stream.

Step 3: Verify Your Identity

OnlyFans requires ID verification before you can earn money. This is a legal requirement and protects both you and the platform.

Go to your settings and click “Verify your account.” You’ll need:

• A government-issued ID (driver’s license, passport, or national ID card)
• A selfie holding your ID next to your face

Upload both. OnlyFans typically approves verification within 24-48 hours. You can’t start earning until you’re verified, so do this immediately.

Step 4: Set Up Your Payment Details

Go to “Banking” in your settings. You’ll need to add a bank account or a Paxum account to receive payouts.

OnlyFans pays out weekly or monthly, depending on your preference. Payouts take 7-10 days to process. Keep this in mind when planning your cash flow.

If you’re concerned about privacy, Paxum acts as an intermediary between OnlyFans and your bank account. Some creators prefer this for discretion.

Step 5: Set Your Subscription Price

This is a critical decision. Your subscription price sets expectations and determines your earning potential.

Most creators should start between $10-$20/month. Here’s why:

• $5-$7/month: Attracts low-quality fans who expect constant free content and rarely tip or buy PPV.
• $10-$20/month: Filters for serious fans who are willing to pay for quality. This is the sweet spot for new creators.
• $25-$50+/month: Only works if you already have a large following or offer something highly niche and valuable.

You can run promotions later, but starting at a mid-tier price gives you flexibility. For a deeper dive into pricing psychology, read our OnlyFans pricing strategy guide.

Step 6: Configure Your Privacy Settings

Go to your settings and review your privacy options.

Geo-Blocking: Block specific countries or states. If you’re worried about people in your area finding you, block your state or country.

Watermarking: OnlyFans offers automatic watermarking for photos and videos. Turn this on. It won’t prevent leaks, but it makes it harder for people to steal and repost your content.

Messaging Settings: Decide if you want to allow free messages from fans or require a paid subscription before fans can DM you. Most creators allow free messages to build rapport, but this is personal preference.

Step 7: Create Your Launch Content

You need 10-15 pieces of content ready before you launch. This includes:

• 5-7 high-quality photos (solo, teaser shots, different outfits)
• 3-5 short videos (15-60 seconds, teasing content, showing personality)
• 1-2 longer videos (2-5 minutes, more explicit or premium content)

Variety matters. Mix teasing shots, implied content, and explicit content if you’re comfortable. Your page should look active, valuable, and worth subscribing to.

Don’t post everything at once. Space it out over the first week to keep your feed looking fresh and active.

Step 8: Build Your Promotion Platforms

OnlyFans has no built-in discovery. If you don’t promote, nobody will find you.

You need at least one promotion platform. Ideally, two or three. Here’s where to start:

Reddit: Create an account with the same username as your OnlyFans. Find subreddits related to your niche (r/OnlyFans101, r/OnlyFansPromotions, plus niche-specific subs). Post teaser content daily with your OnlyFans link in your bio.

Twitter/X: Twitter is creator-friendly and allows adult content. Post teaser clips, interact with other creators, and drive traffic to your OnlyFans link in your bio.

Instagram: Instagram is restrictive, but you can still use it for soft promotion. Post SFW teaser content and use a link in bio service (like Linktree) to direct followers to your OnlyFans.

TikTok: TikTok doesn’t allow adult content, but you can create SFW teaser videos and hint at exclusive content elsewhere. Be subtle.

Pick one platform and master it before adding others. Promotion is 80% of your success. For a complete breakdown, read our guide on how to promote your OnlyFans.

Step 9: Launch and Post Consistently

Launch day is exciting. Post your first 3-5 pieces of content. Announce your launch on your promotion platforms. Drive traffic to your page.

From here, consistency is everything. Post new content to OnlyFans at least 3-5 times per week. Post teaser content on your promotion platforms every single day.

Fans subscribe expecting regular content. If you go silent for a week, they’ll unsubscribe.

Step 10: Engage With Your First Subscribers

Your first 10-20 subscribers are critical. These are your early adopters. Treat them like gold.

Respond to every message. Thank them for subscribing. Ask what kind of content they want to see. Build relationships.

These fans are more likely to tip, buy PPV, and stick around long-term if they feel valued. Engagement is what separates creators earning $500/month from creators earning $5,000+.

Step 11: Start Testing PPV Messages

Once you have 10+ subscribers and they’ve been with you for at least a week, start testing pay-per-view messages.

Film a longer, more explicit video. Send it via DM with a price ($5-$20 depending on length and content). Personalize the message: “Hey [name], I made something special and thought of you.”

Don’t spam PPV messages daily, but one well-crafted PPV per week can significantly boost your income. For strategies on maximizing PPV revenue, check our OnlyFans income guide.

Step 12: Track Your Numbers

OnlyFans provides analytics. Use them.

Track:

• Subscriber count: How many new subs per day? Where are they coming from?
• Churn rate: How many people are unsubscribing? Why?
• Engagement: Which posts get the most likes, comments, and tips?
• Income breakdown: How much is coming from subscriptions vs. tips vs. PPV vs. customs?

Review your numbers weekly. Double down on what works. Cut what doesn’t.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Launching with an empty page: Stock your page with content first, then promote.

Setting your price too low: $3/month attracts low-quality fans. Start at $10-$20.

Not promoting daily: Promotion is not optional. If you’re not driving traffic, you won’t make money.

Ignoring messages: Engagement builds loyalty. Reply to your fans.

Burning out in week one: Pace yourself. OnlyFans is a marathon, not a sprint.

What to Expect in Your First 30 Days

Week 1: You’ll get a few subscribers. Maybe 5-10 if you’re promoting aggressively. Revenue will be small. That’s normal. Focus on creating content and promoting consistently.

Week 2: Subscribers will start to compound. You’ll have 10-20 if you’re doing everything right. You’ll start to see which promotion platforms work best for you.

Week 3: You’ll hit a rhythm. Content creation gets easier. You’ll identify your best-performing posts and double down on them.

Week 4: If you’ve been consistent, you should have 20-50 subscribers and be earning $500-$1,500. This is your foundation. From here, growth compounds.

Most creators quit in the first 30 days because they don’t see instant results. The ones who push through and stay consistent are the ones who hit five figures within 6-12 months.

One thing to plan for early: taxes. OnlyFans income is self-employment income, and you’ll need to set aside 25-30% for taxes. Use our OnlyFans tax calculator to estimate what you’ll owe, and read our complete OnlyFans taxes guide for the full breakdown.

What’s Next

You now have the exact roadmap to start an OnlyFans account and set yourself up for success. The difference between creators who make $200/month and creators who make $20,000/month isn’t talent or luck. It’s strategy and consistency.

If you want more tactical advice, read our OnlyFans tips for beginners to avoid common mistakes. If you’re trying to figure out how to balance OnlyFans with a full-time job, check out our guide on OnlyFans as a side hustle.

And if you want a team that’s already helped dozens of creators scale from zero to $10K+/month with a proven system, proven scripts, and proven promotion strategies, book a call with us. We’ll walk you through exactly how we build six-figure creator businesses and whether we’re the right fit to help you scale.