educational

Basic Business Sense

One of the first questions of any newcomer to the adult entertainment industry is inevitably "How much money can I make?" Anyone involved with the industry boards has seen this question asked over and over again with predictable frequency. I can almost envision seasoned webmasters sitting back and shaking their heads, muttering to themselves, "here we go again."

The answer of course fluctuates wildly, everything from the sarcastic to the generic and all shades in between. To a certain extent, that vague response is a justifiable tap dance, justifiable in the sense that the question itself is relatively redundant in the sense of business preparation. Very rarely do we see any practical advice given, and in the cases where it is given, rarely do I see the correct response, which is namely, "What is your business background?"

Regardless to the approach you take to the industry, the fundamental and determining factor in answering that question is really a simple matter of understanding business, developing a plan, and working your field. Far too often we see people begin in this industry only to be greatly disappointed with low profitability for the sometimes huge investment in hours spent to trying to make it.

I am not going to dive into the aspects that make up a good adult entertainment web site, for that you need only point your browser to the huge volumes of tips, tricks, and techniques contained in the article archives of this adult resource. Instead I want to focus on the basics of business, any business.

Notwithstanding the nature of the business you are getting into, every business is going to have some common basic principals. Specifically, you should have in your plan an effective outline to deal with Accounting, Analysis, Legal and Finance. I intentionally left out Marketing and Product because they are outside of the scope of this article.

There is no such thing as a free ride, and this business is no exception to that rule of life. Accounting is the basics of business, a component that will, if done correctly, sustain every other part of your business. It's more than just 'we pulled this cash in' and 'we paid that cash out.' Effective accounting practices can predict, regulate and caution the business owner on everything else that they do. It tells you what to pay the taxman, what you can invest and most importantly, what you walk away with as a paycheck. It acts as a gas gauge and should incorporate a quantifiable game plan as defined in your business plan.

The Finance element is an extension of accounting; it derives its limits from your business plan based on a percentage that reality dictates as a result of your accounting. Sometimes finance is an absolute, and based on the product, it can also be an abstract. In the brick and mortar world, finance deals with banks, assets and real property collateral. Finance is the acquisition arm of your business and if you are to maintain any kind of reasonably consistent personal income, it must be a planned resource.

Way too often while trying to cut corners, we overlook what I consider to be the essential element of legal resources. In this day and age, it's becoming more important than it ever has been before in this industry, and frankly my belief is that you are crazy to enter or operate in this business without a sound legal plan. A legal resource plan should be figured in on your baseline business plan. Not unlike financial resources, it should be a finite percentage that is automatically ear marked as part of your operating structure. Best advice is to set a goal to reach, and then move excesses back into your plan once that goal is obtained. If you never have to use it, that is great, but the time to discover if you can do without it is not when you are forced to use it.

Any business plan is a living breathing guideline. It's intent is to provide a road map to success and as such can and should be in a constant state of evolution. Changes to your plan should not be haphazard but rather based on a solid method of analysis of the state of your business. Analytical technique is a very important component, not only in the traditional sense that is applied to marketing and sales, but also in terms of meeting business plan milestones. Effective analysis is what allows your business to grow from an informed perspective and allows your plans to evolve with an eye to risk management. Analytical skills are greatly sought after in the business world and spending a little time to familiarize yourself with these techniques can only benefit and accent your success.

The components of business basics are more involved than this space provides to promote a decent understanding. Any businessperson intent on success should spend the time to look into these concepts from a more proper perspective. Many books and tutorials have been written that run through the essential elements of good business concepts. It doesn't matter if you are just getting started, or if you are already well into the rat race, everyone can benefit from a working knowledge of basic business. There is really is no such thing as too late and the old phrase "Better late than never" has never been more true. It is far too easy for one to say, "Heck, I am doing just fine." The question is, "Could you be doing better?"

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More Articles

profile

WIA Profile: Leah Koons

If you’ve been to an industry event lately, odds are you’ve heard Leah Koons even before you’ve seen her. As Fansly’s director of marketing, Koons helps steer one of the fastest-growing creator platforms on the web.

Women in Adult ·
opinion

What France's New Law Means for Age Verification Worldwide

When France implemented its Security and Regulation of the Digital Space (SREN) law on April 11, it marked a pivotal moment in the ongoing global debate surrounding online safety and access to adult content.

Corey D. Silverstein ·
opinion

From Tariffs to Trends: Staying Resilient in a Shaky Online Adult Market

Whenever I check in with clients these days, I encounter the same concerns. For many, business has not quite bounced back after the typical post-holiday-season slowdown. Instead, consumers have been holding back due to the economic uncertainty around the Trump administration’s new tariffs and their impact on prices.

Cathy Beardsley ·
opinion

Optimizing Payment Strategies for High Ticket Sales

Payment processing for more expensive items, such as those exceeding $1,000 per order, can create unique challenges. For adult businesses, those challenges are magnified. Increased fraud risk, elevated chargeback ratios and heavier scrutiny from banks and processors are only the beginning.

Jonathan Corona ·
profile

WIA Profile: Lexi Morin

Lexi Morin’s journey into the adult industry began with a Craigslist ad and a leap of faith. In 2011, fresh-faced and ambitious, she was scrolling through job ads on Craigslist when she stumbled upon a listing for an assistant makeup artist.

Women In Adult ·
profile

Still Rocking: The Hun Celebrates 30 Years in the Game

In the ever-changing landscape of adult entertainment, The Hun’s Yellow Pages stands out for its endurance. As one of the internet’s original fixtures, literally nearly as old as the web itself, The Hun has functioned as a living archive for online adult content, quietly maintaining its relevance with an interface that feels more nostalgic than flashy.

Jackie Backman ·
opinion

Digital Desires: AI's Emerging Role in Adult Entertainment

The adult industry has always been ahead of the curve when it comes to embracing new technology. From the early days of dial-up internet and grainy video clips to today’s polished social media platforms and streaming services, our industry has never been afraid to innovate. But now, artificial intelligence (AI) is shaking things up in ways that are exciting but also daunting.

Steve Lightspeed ·
opinion

More Than Money: Why Donating Time Matters for Nonprofits

The adult industry faces constant legal battles, societal stigma and workplace challenges. Fortunately, a number of nonprofit organizations work tirelessly to protect the rights and well-being of adult performers, producers and industry workers. When folks in the industry think about supporting these groups, donating money is naturally the first solution that comes to mind.

Corey D. Silverstein ·
opinion

Consent Guardrails: How to Protect Your Content Platform

The adult industry takes a strong and definite stance against the creation or publication of nonconsensual materials. Adult industry creators, producers, processors, banks and hosts all share a vested interest in ensuring that the recording and publication of sexually explicit content is supported by informed consent.

Lawrence G. Walters ·
opinion

Payment Systems: Facilitator vs. Gateway Explained

Understanding and selecting the right payment platform can be confusing for anyone. Recently, Segpay launched its payment gateway. Since then, we’ve received numerous questions about the difference between a payment facilitator and a payment gateway. Most merchants want to know which type of platform best meets their business needs.

Cathy Beardsley ·
Show More