Let’s Talk Money: A Creator’s Guide to Financial Freedom

If you’re making money as an online content creator, we need to have a chat about managing your finances.

Quick note: Everyone’s situation is different. It’s always a good idea to chat with financial and legal pros who can give you advice tailored to your specific situation.

Money talk isn’t the most exciting thing in the world, but getting this stuff right now will save you so many headaches down the road.

First Things First: Setting Up Your Business

When you first started creating content, you might not have thought about the business side of things. But here’s the deal: treating your work like a real business isn’t just about looking professional—it’s about protecting yourself and your money.

Getting Official

You’ve probably heard people talk about LLCs, and there’s a good reason for that. Setting up an LLC is like putting a shield between your personal life and your work life. If something goes wrong (fingers crossed it won’t), your personal stuff stays safe. Plus, it makes you look super legit to payment processors and platforms. That part is especially important for adult content creators who are often discriminated against on these platforms for the nature of the work.

Keeping Things Separate

Here’s a golden rule: don’t mix your personal money with your work money. Ever. Seriously. Here’s what you need:

A separate bank account for your work (any regular business checking account will do)
A business credit card (great for keeping track of expenses)
Different payment accounts for work stuff (keep those platform payments separate)

The Tax Talk

Taxes are about as fun as a root canal, but they’re part of the game when you’re your own boss.

Quarterly Taxes Are Your Friend

The government wants its money every quarter, not just once a year. Wild, right? Here’s what you need to know:

Stash away 25-30% of everything you make
Mark your calendar for quarterly tax payments (January, April, June, and September)
Consider finding a tax person who gets what you do (trust—it’s worth it)

Track Everything

Track every single thing. Every subscription, every prop, every piece of equipment. Why? Because these are all business expenses that could lower your tax bill. Use your phone to snap pictures of receipts or get an app to track expenses. Future you will be so grateful.

Dealing with Irregular Income

Some months you’re rolling in it, and others… not so much. Here’s how to deal with the financial roller coaster:

Your Emergency Stash

Think of this as your “sleep well at night” fund. Aim to save enough to cover 6-12 months of expenses. It sounds like a lot, but you’ll thank yourself when you hit a slow month or need to take a break.

Paying Yourself

Try this: figure out the minimum amount you need each month to live comfortably. That’s your “salary.” When you have a great month, resist the urge to splurge. Instead, save the extra for those inevitable slow periods.

Planning for the Future

Retirement

Retirement may seem like a million years away, but future you will be eternally grateful if you start planning now. There are some great options for self-employed folks:

SEP IRA: Perfect if you want something simple
Solo 401(k): Great if you want to save a lot
Regular IRA: A good add-on to either of the above

Growing Your Business

Smart Spending

Sometimes you gotta spend money to make money. But be smart about it:

Invest in quality equipment that makes your content better
Learn new skills that can help you stand out
Market yourself (but track what works!)
Keep your tech up to date

Getting Help

Don’t try to do everything yourself. Consider getting help with:

Taxes (because ugh, taxes)
Legal stuff (contracts are important!)
Financial planning (making your money work for you)
Insurance (protecting what you’ve built)

Protecting Yourself

Insurance Matters

You need insurance. Period. Here’s what to think about:

Health insurance (because bodies break)
Professional liability insurance (just in case)
Equipment insurance (because stuff breaks, too)

Keeping Track

Regular Money Dates

Set a monthly date with yourself (or your spreadsheets) to:

Check how much came in and went out
Track each platform and note which works best for you
Plan for upcoming expenses
Adjust your strategy if needed

Wrapping It Up

This might seem like a lot, but you don’t have to do everything at once. Start with the basics:

Separate your money
Save for taxes
Track your expenses
Build your emergency fund

Once you’ve got a handle on the smaller things, work your way up to the more complex stuff. Remember, every successful creator started exactly where you are now. Want to make some money moves? Start with just one thing from this guide. Small steps lead to big changes.

Photo by Pawel Czerwinski on Unsplash