What do gross and net mean?
This guide looks at one detail: the figure a commission is calculated on. For the wider picture of how agencies charge and what a commission should cover, read how OnlyFans agency commission works first.
Gross is the total fans paid for subscriptions, tips, messages and anything else on your page in a period. Net is what is left after the platform has taken its fee, which is the amount that actually reaches your account.
An agency’s commission can be a percentage of either figure. Neither is wrong in itself, but they are not the same deal, and you need to know which one you are agreeing to.
Where does the platform fee sit?
The platform takes its share before anyone else. OnlyFans says creators receive 80% of what fans pay (the platform keeps 20%); Fansly also pays creators 80%. Check each platform’s current terms, because fees change: see the OnlyFans terms (external site) and the Fansly terms of service (external site).
So the order is always the same: fans pay, the platform keeps its fee, and the rest is paid out to you. A gross commission is worked out at the top of that chain, on money you never receive. A net commission is worked out further down, on money you do.
How much difference does it make in a $1,000 month?
Here is the same month worked out both ways. The numbers are made up and round. The 30% rate is illustrative, not a typical or recommended rate.
| Line | Commission on gross | Commission on net |
|---|---|---|
| Fans paid (gross) | $1,000 | $1,000 |
| Platform fee at 20% | $200 | $200 |
| Reaches you (net) | $800 | $800 |
| Figure the commission is worked out on | $1,000 | $800 |
| Agency commission at 30% | $300 | $240 |
| You keep | $500 | $560 |
On gross, the agency takes $300 out of the $800 you received. That is 37.5% of your money, even though the agreement says 30%.
And in a $5,000 month?
The gap grows as earnings grow, because it is a percentage of the platform fee itself.
| Line | Commission on gross | Commission on net |
|---|---|---|
| Fans paid (gross) | $5,000 | $5,000 |
| Platform fee at 20% | $1,000 | $1,000 |
| Reaches you (net) | $4,000 | $4,000 |
| Figure the commission is worked out on | $5,000 | $4,000 |
| Agency commission at 30% | $1,500 | $1,200 |
| You keep | $2,500 | $2,800 |
A $60 gap in a quiet month becomes $300 in a busier one. Over a year that adds up, so compare offers on the same base. Our commission calculator lets you try your own numbers both ways.
What else can change the base?
Gross or net is only the start. Ask how each of these is treated, and get the answer in writing.
- Refunds and chargebacks: if a fan’s payment is reversed, is the commission on it reversed too?
- Tips, messages and pay-per-view: are all income types in the base, or only some?
- Paid promotion: if you agree to spend on promotion, is that cost taken off before commission, or charged on top?
- Currency: platforms often pay out in US dollars. Which exchange rate and date are used, and are bank conversion fees counted?
- Timing: is commission based on earnings in the month, or on payouts received in the month? They can differ.
How do I read my monthly statement?
A clear statement lets you check the maths yourself in a few minutes. Look for:
- Total gross earnings for the period, broken down by income type if possible.
- The platform fee and the net amount that reached you.
- The figure the commission was worked out on, labelled gross or net, and the rate used.
- Any refunds, chargebacks or adjustments, and how they changed the base.
- Any other charges, listed separately from the commission.
- The total owed, and when it is due.
Check the figures against your own platform dashboard. If they do not match and nobody can explain why, that needs sorting before the next invoice is paid.
What are the red flags, and what should I ask?
- The agreement gives a percentage but never says what it is a percentage of.
- The base changes from month to month, or quietly switches from net to gross.
- New fees appear after you have signed, such as tools, editing or “admin” charges.
- The statement shows only the amount you owe, with no working.
- The agency wants your payouts sent to it rather than straight to you.
Before signing, ask five things. Is commission calculated on gross or net? Which income types count, and how are refunds and chargebacks handled? Are there costs outside the commission, and who approves them? Which currency and exchange rate are used? Can you see a sample monthly statement?
Our guide to OnlyFans agency red flags covers warning signs beyond money.
This is general information, not legal or tax advice. For the rest of the agreement, use our agency contract checklist and our complete guide to OnlyFans and Fansly management agencies.
How Pout approaches this
Pout is an independent creator management agency for OnlyFans and Fansly. We charge a fair commission agreed in writing before we start, with the base stated plainly, and every monthly statement shows how it was worked out. We do not publish the rate, and payouts always go straight from the platform to you.
Official sources
Links last checked . Rules, fees and deadlines change, so check the current version on each source before you rely on it.
- OnlyFans terms (external site) (onlyfans.com)
- Fansly terms of service (external site) (fansly.com)
Written by the Pout Marketing Team. This guide is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Platform features and rules change, so check your platform’s current terms. Last checked .
