Fees and earnings
Q: What does OnlyFans actually charge? OnlyFans takes 20% of all earnings — subscriptions, tips, PPV messages and custom requests. This fee includes payment processing. There are no monthly minimums or listing fees.
Q: Does Fanvue cost less than OnlyFans? Yes, in year one. Fanvue charges 15% for your first year on the platform, then 20% from year two. On $3,000/month gross, that saves you $150/month — $1,800 over 12 months.
Q: What does Fansly charge? Fansly charges a flat 20% on all earnings, identical to OnlyFans. No introductory discount.
Q: Why does MYM charge 25%? MYM charges more than competitors because its platform serves as the billing entity for many EU creators, handling VAT and SEPA payouts directly. The 5% premium partially covers EU compliance infrastructure. Whether that is worth it depends on how much you value SEPA payouts and German/French interface support.
Q: Can I negotiate a lower fee? On all four major platforms, fees are non-negotiable for individual creators. Agencies occasionally get modified terms, but solo creators cannot.
Q: Are platform fees tax-deductible? Yes. The platform fee is a business expense that reduces your taxable profit. If OnlyFans takes 20% of $5,000, you declare $5,000 as gross income and deduct $1,000 as a business expense.
Payouts
Q: How fast does OnlyFans pay out? OnlyFans applies a 7-day pending period to all transactions, then bank transfers take 3–5 business days. In the worst case, 12–13 days from transaction to account.
Q: How fast does Fanvue pay out? Fanvue processes earnings daily. Most creators receive funds within 1–3 business days from the processing date.
Q: What is the minimum payout on Fansly? Fansly’s minimum withdrawal threshold is $50. Fanvue and OnlyFans have lower minimums ($20 and $20 respectively).
Q: Does MYM support SEPA bank transfers? Yes. MYM pays EU creators via SEPA, which is the main reason DACH creators use it despite the higher fee.
Q: What is a W-8BEN and do I need one? The W-8BEN is an IRS form that certifies you are not a US taxpayer. All four major platforms are US-registered and require it from non-US creators to avoid 30% withholding. Submit it when you onboard and renew every 3 years.
Legal and compliance
Q: Do I need an Impressum as a creator in Germany? Yes, if you have any public website, landing page or link-in-bio page — even one that just links to your creator account. §5 TMG requires: full legal name, postal address and email. A PO box is not sufficient.
Q: Can I use a pseudonym? You must use your legal name in the Impressum. Your content can use a stage name. The Impressum does not appear in your content — it sits in the footer of your website or link page.
Q: Do I need a GDPR privacy policy? Yes if your website collects any data from EU visitors, including analytics (Google Analytics, Cloudflare) or contact forms.
Q: Do platforms handle age verification for me? For content hosted on their platform, yes. For your promotional website, you are responsible. If your promo site shows adult-coded content or links directly to adult content, a KJM-compliant age gate may be required in Germany.
Q: Do I need to register as self-employed? In Germany: yes, once you have recurring commercial income. Register with the Finanzamt using the Fragebogen zur steuerlichen Erfassung. There is no minimum earnings threshold for registration — it is triggered by commercial intent, not earnings level.
Taxes
Q: What tax rate applies to creator income in Germany? Progressive Einkommensteuer: 14% on income above the Grundfreibetrag (~€11,784 in 2026), rising to 45% above ~€277,000. Add Gewerbesteuer if your income is classified as gewerblich. Subtract business expenses first.
Q: Is creator income VAT-able in Germany? Below €22,000/year (Kleinunternehmer): no VAT. Above: register for VAT, charge 19% on German customers. For customers in other EU countries, use the OSS procedure.
Q: What is the US equivalent of the Kleinunternehmer rule? There is no exact equivalent. All US self-employment income is taxable from the first dollar. The $600 threshold is just when platforms issue a 1099; you must report income regardless.
Q: What percentage should I set aside for taxes? EU creators: 25–30% of gross payout as a starting point (adjust based on your actual rate). US creators: 30–35% (income tax + 15.3% self-employment tax).
Switching and multi-platform
Q: Can I be on OnlyFans and Fanvue at the same time? Yes. None of the major platforms prohibit multi-platform presence. Many creators run two simultaneously during a migration period.
Q: How long should I keep my old account active after switching? At least 90 days with a pinned migration post. Some fans check back months later.
Q: Will my fans follow me if I switch? 60-day migration rates typically run 40–65% for active subscribers depending on how actively you promote the move. Fans who pay monthly and engage regularly transfer at higher rates than occasional subscribers.
Q: What is the best time of year to switch? January and September see higher creator migration success because fans are actively reviewing their subscriptions.
Q: Which platform should I start on if I am new? OnlyFans for maximum audience reach and trust. Fanvue if you bring your own audience and want better year-one economics. Fansly if you want a visual discovery-first experience. MYM if your fanbase is primarily DACH-based.