If you're already making money as an OnlyFans creator, or you're just starting to earn, there's one thing you'll run into very soon: custom videos.
As we've covered in previous articles, chatting is by far the biggest revenue driver on OnlyFans. Selling custom videos or photos, so-called "customs", is one of the key building blocks that makes it seriously profitable. For a couple of reasons: you can charge far more than for regular PPVs, and it deepens the bond with the fan.
But in our experience, selling customs is also where creators make the most frustrating mistakes. The kind you look back on and wish you'd done differently. Whether it's pricing too low, handling payment the wrong way, unclear agreements, or people pushing your boundaries.
By the end of this article you'll know what you can charge, how to handle the process cleanly, what you should turn down, and how to say no without losing the fan.
What a custom video actually is
Before we get into the strategies, let's be clear on what we're talking about: what is a custom video?
A custom video is an individual video made for one specific fan, based on what he asked for. Usually the scenario, outfit, being addressed by name, specific acts and the length are all decided by that fan. So it's a one-off piece made for him, which is what sets it apart from regular PPVs that you send to every fan while sexting.
Because it's made just for him, fans are usually willing to pay several times what they'd spend on a regular sexting video. But what should you actually charge, and for what? Let's take a proper look at that.
What does a custom video cost? Realistic pricing
The good thing about the question "what does a custom cost?" is that there's no fixed scale for what you can charge. As mentioned, customs are a one-off product. So the strongest thing you can do is set prices individually, depending on the fan and what he wants.
That said, there are two big mistakes you have to avoid, and most creators make them.
Mistake 1: Making your prices public
Never put your per-minute prices or custom prices in your OnlyFans bio or in mass messages that go out to every fan. Sure, you think you'll get more qualified requests that way, but you're giving away your strongest card, which is individual pricing.
One fan might happily pay $200 for a 7-minute video, another one $600 for something similar of the same length. But once your prices are out in the open, you can never charge more than what you've publicly stated. Not even if that fan would have paid ten times as much.
Take an example from another industry: car manufacturers regularly charge different prices for the same model depending on the country and how much people there can afford. So remember: always negotiate individually. At Phoenix Studios we've sold customs for over $1,000 for our models more than once (for regular videos). That would never have happened if the pricing had been public.
Mistake 2: Charging too little
The second big mistake is closely tied to the first: charging too little for your customs. This is the one we run into again and again, and it usually comes from creators copying prices off other supposedly successful creators instead of testing what their own fans are actually willing to pay.
The problem with that: even if you want to raise your prices later, the fans who already order customs are used to the low ones. Getting them to suddenly accept higher prices becomes really difficult.
The other problem is that you lose exclusivity. Rolex charges luxury prices because it's part of the brand, and ironically that's exactly why more people want one. Nobody would proudly buy a Rolex if it were a cheap product. Same goes for your customs: you're creating exclusivity around your content and making high prices part of your brand.
The main reason creators charge low prices in the first place is probably the idea that more people will buy and fewer will say no. But that's not really how it works. Even at $50 for 10 minutes there'll be plenty of people saying no. Never set your prices around your low spenders. You're better off selling a few high-priced customs to people who appreciate them than a pile of cheap ones to low spenders who haggle over every cent. The first is more profitable and takes less time, which matters, because you've got other things to do as a creator.
A look behind the scenes
That said, I know you want a rough idea of the numbers. Fair enough, so here's a look behind the curtain: most successful models don't sell customs for less than $20 to $40 per minute. And that minimum applies to longer videos from 7 minutes up. Shorter ones usually go for considerably more per minute, $40 to $60 as a floor. And customs get ordered at those prices regularly. That's the reality.
On top of that, the price depends on the effort involved, special requests (buying an outfit, props, multiple locations) and how specific the request is. For custom photos, a reasonable minimum is usually $20 to $60 per photo. Same logic here: fewer photos for more money, with the price scaling with the effort. And depending on how specific the request is, whether it's video or photos, you can push the price up massively.
So now you know a fair bit about pricing customs and the mistakes around it. Let's move on to the next big source of errors: handling and delivering the customs.
The process: How to handle customs cleanly
There's plenty that can go wrong here too, so let's walk through it step by step.
1. Pin down what the fan actually wants
When a fan has an idea for a custom, don't sell it to him until the details are nailed down. How long should it be, what exactly should you do, any other specifics?
This matters so he has no grounds to complain afterwards, even when you delivered exactly what was agreed, and can't get OnlyFans support involved to claw his money back. It's also important that you can give him a realistic delivery time. Don't tell him it'll be ready tomorrow if you can only film it in two weeks.
2. Name your price and get it confirmed
Next you tell the fan what you're charging for the idea. The key here: set the price as high as you realistically can. You can always come down if he says it's too much for him.
Negotiating isn't a problem as long as you stick to your pricing principles and don't go below your minimum. He can't pay your minimum? No deal. Once he's agreed to the price, we get to the part where most things go wrong: payment.
3. Payment upfront is non-negotiable
Once a fan has agreed to the price, always have him pay upfront. No exceptions. The thing is, fans often change their minds after the negotiation.
So if you only collect the money once the custom is finished, chances are he's already had second thoughts and doesn't want it anymore. Don't take the risk: always upfront, even with fans you trust.
4. Write everything down
The fan has paid, now it's time to make it. Take notes on everything that matters (fan's name, amount, length, details, hard nos). That way there's no argument later, you keep track, and you can deliver the custom properly without missing anything.
5. Film and deliver
Once you've got everything noted down, it's time to actually make it. Include every detail he mentioned so he's happy and likely to buy again, and deliver within the timeframe you agreed on. Then you send him the video with a nice message and you're done.
6. Follow up
Happy customers usually buy again. Definitely use that moment to get him interested in more customs.
Your boundaries: What you can turn down and what you have to turn down
As a creator you will absolutely reach the point where you get custom requests you should say no to. And it's worth drawing a clear line here between turning something down for personal reasons, which is entirely your call, and hard boundaries, meaning anything that breaks OnlyFans' platform rules.
When it comes to personal reasons, we're not going to give you a rule: anything that makes you uncomfortable, anything that's too much effort, or anything you simply don't feel like doing is yours to turn down as you see fit.
With hard boundaries though, you need to keep OnlyFans' terms of service in mind. Anything that breaks those rules should be declined. That includes prohibited roleplay, scat content, meeting the fan in person, and taking payment outside of OnlyFans. If you do agree to something that isn't allowed, you're putting your account on the line. That's not worth it, no matter what's being offered.
How not to lose the fan when you say no
Saying no is completely normal and completely right, whether it just doesn't work for you or it breaks the rules. But it's important to stay friendly about it, explain it to him calmly, and offer him an alternative if you can.
Even when you're turning down his idea, staying friendly and calm is what keeps him around. He doesn't feel brushed off, and chances are he'll buy something else down the line.
How to sell more customs
We've covered the main traps around customs and how to avoid them. Now let's look at how you actually sell more of them as a creator.
One thing first: it's usually not worth offering customs to new subscribers, unless they specifically ask and won't let it go. New fans might be genuinely interested, but they're not used to the price level yet. Offer them something for $200 or more right away and most of them will just be put off.
A good moment to sell a custom is as an upsell: a fan has already spent a lot on content in one session and still wants more. That's a great opening to get him interested in something exclusive and made just for him, while he's still in buying mode.
Another approach comes down to knowing your fans and what they're into. If you know a fan has money to spend and a clear fetish, it's not particularly hard to sell him a custom built around exactly that.
And this is the key point, same as everywhere else: know your fans and keep proper track of every detail that matters. That way you won't just sell more customs, you'll sell more regular content too, and build a much better connection with them.
Of course, chatting at that level consistently is a challenge. At Phoenix Studios we've spent years helping creators grow their revenue through our account management and strategy. If you want to see what that could look like for you, feel free to get in touch through our contact form for a no-obligation first call, where we'll go through your situation and where your biggest levers are.
Hope you got something out of this article.