OnlyFans creators swiftly joining ranks of small business owners but not yet recognised by ABS

The creators of racy content for the multibillion-dollar OnlyFans juggernaut aren’t recognised yet in Australian employment statistics - but reckon they hustle and work just as hard as any 9-to-fiver. Here’s what they say

The creators of racy content for the multibillion-dollar OnlyFans juggernaut aren’t recognised yet in Australian employment statistics - but reckon they hustle and work just as hard as any 9-to-fiver.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics is reviewing the way occupations are classified, but for now, content creators are lumped in a catch-all “other” category.

The platform, which predominantly features adult content, has paid out more than $15bn to creators globally since its inception in 2016.

The promise of making big money from your own bedroom saw the number of creators rise by 47 per cent in a single year to 2022.

In Australia, every creator is effectively a small business operator, requiring an ABN as well as provisions for tax, superannuation and other crucial systems.

Small business accounts for 98 per cent of all business in Australia.

Love Island 2023 contestant Kirra Schofield has signed on to OnlyFans.

Among the newcomers is former childcare worked Kirra Schofield, 26, who launched her OnlyFans two months ago, fresh off an appearance on the latest series of reality tv show Love Island.

Ms Schofield said she’d made “a ballpark figure” of more than $30,000 in the first two months.

“It’s trumped what I made in a year working childcare last year, so I’m feeling pretty good about it,” she said.

“My goal is to make six figures in the next few months so I’ve got to keep hustling and grinding.

“A lot of people think starting an OnlyFans is like a get-rich-quick scheme.

“I work every day – you’ve got to be making content, you’ve got to be keeping it new and fresh.

“If you slack off, you’re not going to be making money.”

Love Island 2023 contestant Kirra Schofield has signed on to OnlyFans.

OnlyFans parent company, London-based Fenix International, reported the platform had generated $US5.6bn gross site volume for the year ending November 2022, up from $US4.8bn the previous year.

After costs, tax and returning 80 per cent of the takings to creators, Fenix had $US1.08bn in revenue for a $US403m net profit.

The company was yet to report its 2023 results.

While some creators are doing good business, many have been caught out at tax time, being unaware of their obligations to the ATO.

While some creators have been confused, there’s also a lack of clarity among regulators about where content creators, including OnlyFans performers, sit in terms of occupation.

Gold Coast City Council said they “may be aligned with the internet Publishing and Broadcasting sector” which accounts for about $10 million in gross value added to the Gold Coast economy each year.

The ATO could not provide data on tax paid by content creators because there is no designated occupation for them under the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO).

The ANZSCO is used by governments and others as a database for affirmative action issues, the incidence and prevalence of accidents, wage rises, occupation-related morbidity rates, job vacancies and careers counselling.

Small Vanilla Girl is one of the Sunshine Coast's top earning OnlyFans creators. Picture: Instagram / @small.vanillagirl

Adelaide OnlyFans creator Amy Mae said she made over $1m in 2023.

Gold Coast OnlyFans star Dale Egan said many newcomers fell into a trap of spending their new-found wealth without coming up with a solid business strategy.

“At the end of the day, it’s a business – I’ve got an accountant and a book keeper, I know what I can and can’t claim,” he said.

“The best advice I have is to keep your costs low and make sure you put some money away for tax.

“When you start earning good money, don’t blow it.”

Mr Egan said anyone hoping for easy money on the platform would be disappointed.

“When people say to me, ‘should I do OnlyFans?’ I usually just say no, because you need to be a particular type of person to do it,” he said.

“The people who have made a lot of money, it’s because they’ve made the right choices in how they market themselves on social media.

“And there’s definitely heartache involved. You can’t care about what Bob says at the pub or what Jane says at the hairdresser.”

Dale Egan at home. Pic: Supplied.

Griffith Business School’s Graeme Hughes said the growth of the gig economy – which also included jobs like food delivery and rideshare driving – was shifting the framework of work.

“Many digital creators go from influencer to business owner in quick succession, often without completing appropriate due diligence, registrations and set-up,” Mr Hughes said.

“While the hurdles to entry are reduced, it can mean that many individuals engaging in the gig economy fail to obtain proper financial and set-up advice, often leaving individuals playing catch up with registering an ABN, insurance, financial systems, taxes, along with planning for and making regular superannuation payments.”

As well as staying on top of tax, every successful business owner knows it’s no good having a great product if no-one knows it exists.

For OnlyFans creators, social media marketing is crucial, while a reality television appearance gives the ultimate profile boost.

Love Island 2023 contestant Kirra Schofield with sister Bronte Schofield, who appeared on MAFS.

As well as her stint on Love Island, some may recognise Ms Schofield from controversial show Married At First Sight, where she made a lauded cameo appearance while her sister Bronte was a contestant.

Bronte Schofield has also launched her OnlyFans career, telling media she’d made $100,000 in her first three days. 

Other MAFS alumni to have launched on the platform include Gold Coasters Jessika Power and Mitch Eynaud, Olivia Fraser, Hayley Vernon and Mishel Laurie.

“I guess when I left (Love Island) and I was still single, I thought, if I didn’t get love, I may as well capitalise on this in a different way,” Ms Schofield said.

“You come off the show and you have a whole new platform of followers so it’s like – why not?

“There will be some heavy opinions and they will be pretty disgusting, but it is what it is.

“For me, I don’t really care, I’ll wipe my tears with my $100 bills.”