Walkthrough
How to choose a site, check it, and sign up safely
Eight steps that take you from a type of channel to a tested account. It works for any site, because it relies on what you can verify yourself.
Before you start
Four things to have ready
You must be at least 18, or the age of majority where you live if that is higher. Then gather these.
A separate email
A new address used for selling and nothing else.
A stage name
One that does not appear on any of your personal accounts.
Valid photo ID
Reputable sites confirm in private that you are an adult.
A payout method
A bank account or payment service the site supports in your country.
Step by step
From a type to a tested account
Take the steps in order. Each one is quick, and each one can end with "this site is not for me", which is a good result.
Compare the five typesSettle on one type of channel
Picking a type first turns hundreds of possible websites into a handful that work the same way.
- Use the matcher or the decision flow on the home page if you have not already.
- Read the "best for" line of your type again and check that it honestly describes you.
- Stick to one type for now. A second can be added once the first is running.
Shortlist two or three sites of that type
You are looking for sites that are open about how they work, not for the one with the loudest adverts.
- Search for the type by name and note the sites that come up again and again in seller discussions.
- Open each site and look for a company name, terms of use, a privacy policy, and a help centre.
- Drop any site where those basics are missing or hard to find.
Read the money pages before anything else
Fees and payouts decide whether a sale is worth making, so read them on the site itself and not second hand.
- Write down what it costs to join, what the site keeps per sale, and whether a membership renews by itself.
- Confirm that a payout method works in your country and note the minimum amount and waiting time.
- Check who carries the loss when a buyer disputes a payment.
Check privacy and rules
These are the parts that are hardest to undo later, so they deserve a slow read.
- Find out exactly what buyers can see about you, and what only the site can see.
- Look for country or region blocking, user blocking, and watermark options.
- Read the list of allowed and banned content, plus what happens to your photos if the account closes.
Prepare before you register
Ten minutes of preparation keeps your selling identity apart from your everyday one.
- Create the separate email and decide on the stage name first.
- Remove location data from your photos. Most phones can switch this off in the camera settings.
- To stay anonymous, shoot against plain backgrounds and keep tattoos, jewellery, and anything that identifies your home out of frame.
Sign up and verify on the site itself
Type the address into your browser yourself, and only ever upload ID through the site’s own verification page.
- Use a unique password and turn on two step login if it is offered.
- Never send ID documents by email, chat, or social media, whoever asks.
- Pay any membership fee with a method you can cancel, and note the renewal date.
Start small and test a payout
Treat the first few weeks as a trial of the site, not of yourself.
- Publish a small first batch and see how listing, messaging, and support actually behave.
- Withdraw as soon as you reach the minimum so you know that payouts really arrive.
- Keep every conversation and payment on the platform.
Review after a month
A calm look at real numbers beats any prediction, including this guide’s.
- Compare what you were paid with what you spent on fees and the hours you put in.
- If the site falls short on payouts, support, or safety, move to the next one on your shortlist.
- Keep a simple record of income and costs. In most countries this money is taxable.
When to stop and walk away
Leave a site, or a buyer, the moment you are asked to pay to release your earnings, to accept gift cards, to move the conversation elsewhere, or to share a password. The full list is in the red flags section.
Not sure which type is yours yet?
The matcher asks five questions and explains its answer, so you can disagree with it if you like.