I set up an OnlyFans to make money. Here’s what actually worked for me.

I’m Kayla, and yes, I really set up an OnlyFans page. I did it to help cover rent and food when my hours got cut. Scary? A little. But it paid me back faster than I thought. You know what? It felt like running a tiny shop from my phone. If you want a blow-by-blow look at the process I mirrored, here’s the step-by-step OnlyFans guide I leaned on.

I’ll walk you through what I did, what flopped, and what paid. I’ll keep it clean and clear. No fluff. Just real steps and real numbers.

Step 1: The boring setup (but do it right)

  • You must be 18+. They check your ID. I used my driver’s license and got approved in a day.
  • Turn on two-factor login. I used an Authenticator app. It kept my account safe after a weird login alert from Brazil at 2 a.m.
  • Add your bank info and tax form. I filled a W-9. It took 10 minutes.
  • Pick a name you can live with. I used a stage name, not my legal name. That gave me peace.

Quick note: I blocked my home state and a few nearby countries. That helped my privacy. It’s a simple toggle in settings.

Step 2: Prices I tried (real numbers)

I played with price. A lot. My first month I set $9.99 because it felt fair. Here’s what happened:

  • Month 1: 38 subs at $9.99 = $379.62 gross. OnlyFans takes 20%. I got about $304. Tips were $120. Pay-per-view (PPV) messages brought $86. Total: about $510.
  • Month 2: I raised to $11.99. I got 92 subs. Gross $1,103.08. After fees: about $882. Tips: $260. PPV: $190. A couple refunds dropped $40. Total: about $1,292.
  • Month 3: I set $9.99 again and added short trial deals. 141 subs. Gross $1,408.59. After fees: about $1,127. Tips: $340. PPV: $410. Promo cost me $60. Total: around $1,816.

What did I learn? $9.99 pulled more people in for me. PPV and tips made the real jump. Also, a 7-day trial link once a month boosted subs without hurting the vibe. If you’re still wrestling with rates, this in-depth OnlyFans Pricing Strategy Guide 2026: How Much Should You Charge? walks through tested price points and the psychology behind them.

Step 3: A simple content plan that didn’t burn me out

I almost tried to post every day. Bad idea. I burned out in a week. So I made a light plan:

  • Monday: Batch shoot 6–8 pieces. Quick changes. Light edits.
  • Tuesday: Edit 30 minutes. Schedule posts for the week.
  • Wednesday: Post a teaser and do a poll. Ask what folks want more of. Keep it clean and friendly.
  • Friday: Send one PPV message ($7–$12). Short, simple, and on brand.
  • Sunday: Answer DMs for 30 minutes. I set a timer. Boundaries help.

I know it sounds stiff, but it saves your energy. And fans like routine. It sets trust.

Step 4: Make your page look legit (fast)

  • Banner: I made it in Canva. Kept one bright color and used the same font everywhere.
  • Bio: One line on what I post, one line on how often, and one boundary (like: no meetups, ever). Clear beats cute.
  • Welcome message: A friendly hello with a short thanks and a tip menu. I kept it warm and short.
  • Watermark: I added my handle in the corner. It looks small but helps.

I also used an auto-message for new subs. It said “Hey, I’m Kayla! Thanks for being here. I post 4x a week. Check pinned posts. Be kind in DMs.” Simple works.

Step 5: Promo without being weird

Here’s the thing: promo can feel loud. So I kept it clean.

  • X (Twitter): I posted safe teasers and behind-the-scenes. I used the same handle as my page.
  • Reddit: I found niche subreddits that allow creators. I read rules first. I posted 1–2 times a week with a clear title and a clean pic.
  • Instagram Stories: I used a “link in bio” page. No spam. No floods.
  • Collabs: I swapped shoutouts with two creators my size. Same style, same tone. It helped both of us.
  • Local classifieds: If you’re in the Chicago-land suburbs and want to reach fans who prefer discovering creators through discreet community listings, consider dropping a concise, tasteful teaser on the One Night Affair Backpage Plainfield board. People browsing there are already looking for new faces, so one well-written post can send high-intent locals straight to your OnlyFans without spamming your main socials.

Pro tip: Don’t overpost. It hurts reach. One good post beats five rushed ones. For a broader roadmap to scaling and promoting a page sustainably, skim the OnlyFans Success Guide: Build a Profitable Account 2025 for additional tactics you can slot into your workflow.

Step 6: My daily flow that kept me sane

  • Morning: Check DMs for 10 minutes. Approve tips and requests. I use canned replies for FAQs.
  • Lunch: Post one piece or a teaser. Reply to two comments.
  • Night: Pack one PPV for Friday. Then log off. Yes, log off.

I’m a night owl, but I gave myself a hard stop at 10 p.m. Boundaries = longer career.

A lot of my income comes from turning everyday chats into fun, flirty exchanges that respect both sides. If you’re still figuring out how to keep those messages spicy yet safe, the ultimate Sexting Handbook breaks down consent cues, tone shifts, and plug-and-play lines you can use to turn casual DMs into bigger tips and happier subscribers.

Money check: my first 90 days

  • Month 1: About $510 net after fees.
  • Month 2: About $1,292 net.
  • Month 3: About $1,816 net.

To squeeze the most out of every payout, I leaned on the free budgeting hacks over at Broke Girls Guide.

Stuff I wish someone told me

  • Fees are real: OnlyFans takes 20%. Budget around that.
  • Chargebacks happen: I had two. Annoying, but support handled it.
  • Set rules early: Mine were “no meetups, no illegal stuff, be kind.” It saved me time and stress.
  • Fans like clarity: Post days. Post times. Then stick to it.
  • Don’t fake “top 1%” claims: People can tell. Slow and steady is fine.
  • Keep your face safe if you want: I used masks and clever crops at first. It still sold. (Need more inspo? Here’s a primer on making money on OnlyFans without showing your face.)

Little tools I use and love

  • Phone + tripod + ring light: The $25 ring light was my MVP.
  • Canva: For banners, covers, and simple edits.
  • CapCut: Easy video cuts. Fast captions.
  • Snapseed: Quick photo fixes on my phone.
  • Google Drive: Backups, so I don’t lose work.
  • Trello: I track ideas, posts, DM replies, and due dates.
  • Authenticator app: For that 2FA lock.

Curious about turning that same setup into live income streams? Peek at this rundown on how I make money as a cam girl for extra tips.

  • Be 18+. No minors. Ever.
  • Know your local rules. Follow them.
  • Don’t post your address or workplace. Block locations if needed.
  • Save receipts. I kept a simple spreadsheet for tax time.
  • If someone is rude or pushes past a line, block and move on.

What actually made me money

  • Consistency over chaos: 4–5 posts a week beat 12 posts in one day.
  • Clean promos: One solid post on X or Reddit moved the needle each week.
  • PPV Fridays: $7–$12 worked best for me. More folks bought at that range.
  • Polls: Ask, then deliver. Fans felt seen. Churn dropped.
  • Kind DMs: A warm, quick reply brought tips and repeat subs.

I know this sounds simple. And it is. Simple doesn’t mean easy, though. Some