I’m Kayla. I run a paid page on OnlyFans, and yes, I pay my rent with it. It didn’t start that way. Month one was messy. I cried a little. I learned a lot. You want the real stuff? Cool—here’s my take, with numbers and things I did that got results.
BTW, I put together this longer play-by-play of how I tried making real money on OnlyFans in case you want every gritty detail.
And some fails too, because those hit hard.
My First 6 Months: Money, Mistakes, and Little Wins
- Month 1: $1,480 total. Price was $12.99. I got 93 subs and $350 in tips.
- Month 2: $2,920. I sent two paid mass messages at $7 each. I added 3-month bundles with 20% off.
- Month 3: $4,110. One live stream brought $420 in tips in 90 minutes. Wild night.
- Month 4: $3,560. I slowed down, got sick, posted less. Income dipped fast.
- Month 5: $4,980. I did a collab set and a “welcome” auto-DM with a $5 paid post.
- Month 6: $6,230. Holiday promos helped. I ran 7-day trials and a 30% off bundle. I also cleaned up my funnel.
Want to compare your potential earnings? I broke down my exact income numbers month by month over on Broke Girls Guide. For a macro view, this comprehensive analysis of creator earnings and income distribution on OnlyFans shows how wildly results can vary across the platform.
OnlyFans takes 20%. My bank got the ACH payout 2–3 days later, steady. That cut lines up with public filings—Reuters recently reported on the platform’s surging revenue and multibillion-dollar valuation, underscoring how those fees power its growth.
Setup That Didn’t Make Me Hate My Life
I played with price a lot. Too low, and I worked nonstop. Too high, and folks bounced. What worked:
- Base price: $11.99–$13.99. Sweet spot for me was $12.99.
- Bundles: 3 months at 20% off; 6 months at 30% off. People love a deal.
- Welcome auto-message: “Hey, I’m Kayla! Thanks for being here. Here’s a $5 intro set many fans like.” Simple. Not pushy.
I tried a free page once. Spam city. I switched back to paid and breathed again.
If you’re still figuring out the basics, you can follow this step-by-step setup guide that spells out what actually worked for me.
My Content Rhythm (So I Didn’t Burn Out)
I post like it’s a shift, not a sprint.
- 5 feed posts per week.
- 2–3 stories per day. Short. Casual. Behind-the-scenes.
- 1 longer video each week for paid messages.
- 1 live stream every other week, 60–90 minutes.
Tools that made it easy: CapCut for quick edits, Snapseed for photo tweaks, Canva for banners and headers. I keep a tiny calendar in Notion. I batch work on Sundays. Coffee, slippers, done.
You know what? Consistency beats perfect. Every time.
Where My Subscribers Came From (My Funnel, Plain and Simple)
- Twitter/X: Daily posts. Tease, don’t spam. 2–3 posts a day, max. I pin my page.
- Reddit: I joined niche subs with clear rules. I posted real photos, no heavy filters. My top 3 posts brought in 60% of my new subs in Month 3.
- TikTok: Safe, SFW clips. Vibes, humor, beauty tips, gym stuff. I used a “find me on my site” hint in my bio.
- Instagram: Soft looks. Behind-the-scenes. I never wrote the platform name. I used a link page. People can do the math.
- Chat rooms: Some creators swear by classic chat hubs; before diving in I checked out this in-depth look at Chat Avenue to see if the traffic is worth the effort, and the review breaks down room types, safety tips, and how to avoid spam so you can decide if it belongs in your promo toolbox.
- Local classified boards: If your brand has a beach-y, travel, or spring-break vibe, regional personals sites can funnel niche traffic. Creators targeting Florida tourists sometimes test listings on Backpage Daytona Beach to preview post styles, gauge competitiveness, and see which headlines pull clicks—the built-in filters and real-time ad rotations give you a free peek at what converts before you spend promo dollars.
One more thing: I answered DMs fast on social if they were kind. Good vibes bring buyers. Rude folks got a soft block. Protect your energy.
DM Strategy That Paid My Bills
DMs are the engine. I didn’t know that at first.
- Auto-welcome: A cheap paid post ($3–$5) that actually has value. No fluff.
- Lists: I tagged people as “Big Tipper,” “Quiet,” “Trial.” Then I sent the right thing to each group.
- Mass PPV messages: Twice a week worked. Price between $6–$15. If it didn’t sell, I offered a 24-hour discount and moved on.
- Notes to top fans: Short voice notes worked better than paragraph texts. Weird but true.
One night, a single voice note turned into a $100 tip. It felt like magic, but it was just care.
Live Streams: Nerve-Wracking, But Worth It
I did my first OnlyFans live with shaky hands. I set a goal: “If we hit $300 in tips, I’ll do a bonus Q&A later this week.” We hit $420. I wore cozy socks and drank tea. The mood felt close, not weird.
I keep a simple run-of-show:
- Greetings and rules (kindness, no weird demands)
- Q&A
- Quick breaks
- Wrap with a thank you and a teaser for next time
It’s work, but it’s also sweet. People show up for, well, you.
Collabs: Yes, But With Care
My best collab was with a creator my size. We made two sets. I sent my audience to her, and she sent hers to me. We both used watermarks. We agreed on do’s and don’ts, in writing.
One time I tried working with a “manager.” They promised magic. They posted spammy stuff under my name. I quit that after two weeks. Keep your voice. It matters.
Keeping People From Leaving (Churn Is Real)
Churn hurts. I used three simple things:
- Renewal discount: 20% if they renew within 48 hours.
- Win-back: A soft message like, “Miss you. Here’s a 24-hr return deal if you want back in.”
- Value stack: Weekly feed posts, plus two paid messages, plus DMs. Not too much. Not too little.
I also ran small holiday events—October cozy themes, Black Friday bundles, December wishlists. People love a mood.
Safety and Boundaries (Please Read This Part)
- I used a stage name, not my real one.
- PO Box for gifts. No home address ever.
- Two-factor login. Always.
- I watermarked all content with my name.
- I filed takedowns when stuff leaked. It’s a headache, but it works.
- I kept hard lines on my “no.” If someone pushed, I refunded and blocked. Peace first.
Need to stay extra private? Here’s how I made money on OnlyFans without ever showing my face—yes, it’s possible.
Sometimes I got sad or tired. On those days, I posted a safe, simple thing and logged off. Your brain is not a product.
The Money Side (Less Cute, Still Key)
- OnlyFans takes 20%. Plan for it.
- My payouts hit my bank in 2–3 days in the U.S.
- I tracked taxes with a simple spreadsheet. I saved 30% from every payout. Pain now, calm later.
- I wrote off gear, props, lighting, Canva Pro, and my PO Box. I kept receipts in a folder.
- I checked local rules on 1099 forms and quarterly tax stuff. Boring, but needed.
For more smart budgeting tips and side-hustle breakdowns, I swear by the no-fluff guides over at Broke Girls Guide.