Registering a Business for OnlyFans: Step by Step (Germany)

If you earn money on OnlyFans in Germany on an ongoing basis and with the intention of making a profit, you usually have to register a business (Gewerbe) with your local trade office, which costs around EUR 20 to 60 depending on the municipality. Within one month you then submit the tax registration questionnaire to the tax office via ELSTER. Whether your activity counts as a liberal profession instead is decided by the tax and trade offices, not by you.

Last updated: September 2026. This article is general guidance and not tax or legal advice. For your individual situation, talk to a tax advisor or your local Chamber of Commerce (IHK).

Your first subscribers have arrived, so have your first payouts, and suddenly you wonder whether you need to register a business for OnlyFans. The good news: registration is straightforward. This guide goes through it step by step, from the question of trade or liberal profession, to the activity description and the tax office questionnaire, to the small business rule, the imprint obligation and the artists' social insurance fund.

How to tax your income correctly afterwards is explained in our detailed tax guide for OnlyFans in Germany. This article focuses on the registration itself.

Do I have to register a business for OnlyFans?

In most cases, yes. According to the start-up portal of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs, anyone who carries out an activity on an ongoing basis, on their own responsibility and for their own account with the intention of making a profit must register a business. Liberal professions are the exception. The obligation itself is set out in Section 14 of the Trade Regulation Act (GewO): anyone who starts running a business independently must notify the competent authority at the same time.

For OnlyFans this means that if you regularly offer content for payment and want to earn money with it, you typically meet these criteria. A short test over a few weeks is different from an account run on an ongoing basis with subscriptions, PPV and chatting.

Trade or liberal profession: what applies to creators?

Freelancers in liberal professions do not register a business; they go straight to the tax office. According to Section 18 of the Income Tax Act (EStG), liberal professions include independent artistic activity. Some creators therefore wonder whether their content counts as art.

The honest answer: it is decided case by case, and not by you. The start-up portal puts it clearly: whether you count as a freelancer or a tradesperson is not at your discretion; the final decision is always made by the tax office and/or the trade office.

Table sources: fees and process according to the start-up portal, allowance according to Section 11 of the Trade Tax Act (GewStG), chamber membership according to Section 2 of the IHK Act.

Note on the allowance: under Section 11 GewStG, the EUR 24,500 applies to natural persons and partnerships and relates to trade income. If your trade income is below it, no trade tax is due. And according to Section 3 of the IHK Act, small traders not entered in the commercial register are exempt from IHK fees as long as their trade income or business profit does not exceed EUR 5,200.

Registering a business step by step

1. Find the competent trade office

The trade office (Gewerbeamt) of your town or municipality is responsible. Ask whether you can submit the business registration online. If you work from home, your place of business is usually your home address.

2. Fill in the form

You need your ID card, your address, the start date and a description of your activity. According to the start-up portal, the fee is between EUR 20 and 60 depending on the municipality.

3. Describe your activity

The activity description is where many creators hesitate. It must be accurate, but you do not have to write down every detail. A factual wording describes what you actually do, for example creating and selling digital content via online platforms and looking after paying subscribers. If you also earn from advertising collaborations or affiliate links, include that too. What matters is that the description is not misleading. If you are unsure, ask the trade office or your IHK how they classify the activity.

4. Wait for confirmation

For a business that does not require a permit, the trade office confirms the registration within a few days, according to the start-up portal. The trade office then automatically informs the tax office and the competent employers' liability insurance association. You will receive post from these bodies afterwards.

The tax registration questionnaire

After registering your business, you must send the tax registration questionnaire (Fragebogen zur steuerlichen Erfassung) to your tax office within one month of starting your activity. This is done electronically via ELSTER, as the start-up portal explains. You then receive a tax number, which you need for invoices and your tax returns.

These points in the questionnaire tend to cause the most headaches:

• Estimated turnover and profit: Estimate realistically for the first and second year. Advance payments are based on this. Too high an estimate ties up money; too low leads to back payments.
• Small business rule: This is where you decide whether you want to use it. More on this in the next section.
• Profit calculation: As a small business or freelancer, you usually calculate your profit using cash-basis accounting (EÜR).
• Bank details: Ideally use a separate account for all OnlyFans payouts.

Small business rule 2026: which thresholds apply?

New thresholds have applied since 2025. According to Section 19 of the VAT Act (UStG), your turnover is VAT exempt if your total turnover did not exceed EUR 25,000 in the previous calendar year and does not exceed EUR 100,000 in the current calendar year. These figures also apply in 2026.

Whether the small business rule makes sense for you and how your OnlyFans turnover is treated for VAT also depends on whom you supply your service to. OnlyFans is operated by a company in the United Kingdom, and according to its Terms of Service, creators in the EU must comply with the applicable EU VAT rules. Clarify this with a tax advisor before filling in the questionnaire. You will also find details in our tax guide.

Do I need an imprint as a creator?

The imprint obligation is set out in Section 5 of the Digital Services Act (DDG). Anyone offering commercial digital services, usually for payment, must keep their name and address and details for quick electronic contact, including an email address, easily recognisable and permanently available. IHK Cologne points out that business profiles on platforms such as Facebook or LinkedIn are also covered.

This is sensitive for creators because you have to state the address at which you are established. If this affects you, for example with your own website, a link page with commercial links or social media profiles used for business, get advice on solutions such as a business address you are legally allowed to use. Deal with this before you promote profiles commercially. You can read more about protecting your identity in our guide OnlyFans without showing your face.

Artists' social insurance fund: can creators join?

Through the artists' social insurance fund (Künstlersozialkasse, KSK), self-employed artists and publicists are insured for health, long-term care and pension insurance under the Artists' Social Insurance Act. According to the KSK, an artist is someone who creates, performs or teaches music, performing arts or visual arts. The activity must be self-employed and pursued commercially, and the expected annual income must generally exceed EUR 3,900.

Whether content on OnlyFans qualifies is assessed by the KSK case by case. There is no blanket admission for creators. If you work as a photographer, musician or performer, for example, and OnlyFans is just one of several sales channels, an application may be worthwhile. But do not count on it, and plan your health and pension insurance so that it works without the KSK.

Checklist: registering a business for OnlyFans

1. OnlyFans account with completed age verification (18+).
2. Clarify whether trade or liberal profession; if in doubt, ask the tax office or the IHK.
3. Business registration with the trade office, around EUR 20 to 60.
4. Describe your activity accurately and factually.
5. Submit the tax registration questionnaire via ELSTER within one month.
6. Decide on the small business rule (EUR 25,000 / 100,000).
7. Set up a separate business account and bookkeeping.
8. Check the imprint obligation for your website and business profiles.
9. Sort out health and pension insurance and check a possible KSK application.

Want to estimate when the effort pays off? Run different scenarios with our OnlyFans earnings calculator. Different rules apply in Austria and Switzerland, which we explain in OnlyFans in Austria and OnlyFans in Switzerland.

Business registered, now what?

With registration done, the focus shifts to growth. Many creators quickly realise that content, marketing and chatting together take more time than expected. That is exactly where an OnlyFans agency comes in. You can find our own services under OnlyFans management.

Frequently asked questions

When do I have to register a business for OnlyFans?

As soon as you work on an ongoing basis, on your own responsibility and with the intention of making a profit, and at the same time as you start. There is no minimum turnover. The Trade Regulation Act requires notification when you start the business.

How much does business registration cost?

Around EUR 20 to 60 depending on the municipality, according to the start-up portal. Your trade office will tell you the exact amount.

What do I write as the activity on the form?

An accurate, factual description of what you do, for example creating and selling digital content via online platforms. Additional activities such as advertising collaborations should also be included. If in doubt, ask the trade office.

Will my employer find out about the registration?

According to the start-up portal, the trade office informs the tax office, the employers' liability insurance association and, where applicable, the local court. Whether you have to report a side activity to your employer depends on your employment contract.

Do I have to pay trade tax?

Only if your trade income exceeds the allowance of EUR 24,500. Below that, no trade tax is due for a natural person.

Can I be insured as an artist through the KSK?

It is possible if your activity is recognised as artistic, you work self-employed and commercially, and you earn more than EUR 3,900 a year from it. The KSK decides case by case.

Does FEM Management help with business registration?

We are not tax advisors and do not handle registrations. As an OnlyFans management agency we take care of growth, marketing and chatting. If you would like to talk, you can reach us via the contact form.