What Patreon is (in plain English)

Patreon is a creator-owned home base where you bring your fans together, share work on your terms, and get paid without ads or algorithms getting in the way. It’s built for real connection and steady income: you decide what to offer, who can see it, and how you earn. That’s the core promise: direct relationships, creative control, and no ad interruptions. (news.patreon.com)

What you can offer your audience

• Memberships (monthly or annual): Set simple tiers (or just one) with clear benefits like early access, bonus posts, or behind‑the‑scenes updates. You can start small and refine as you grow. (support.patreon.com)

• One‑time digital products (Shop): Sell individual videos, podcast episodes, images, PDFs, and more to anyone—no subscription required. Fees only apply when a sale processes. (support.patreon.com)

• Native, ad‑free video: Upload HD video directly to Patreon, share previews, and keep the experience ad‑free and focused on your members. (news.patreon.com)

• Community chats and comments: Create up to 10 themed chat spaces for members (free or paid) to connect with you and each other. It’s a lightweight way to build daily engagement. (support.patreon.com)

• Free memberships: Let fans join your world for free (email included) so you can reach them reliably and convert the most engaged into paying members over time. (support.patreon.com)

• Integrations that fit your flow: Sync Patreon tiers with Discord for roles and private rooms, or export contacts to tools like Zapier when you need automations. (patreon.com)

Why this matters for a solid Back Office

• Single source of truth for your audience: The Audience Relationship Manager acts like a built‑in CRM. Filter by tier, join date, or status; message segments; track shipping info; and export data when needed. You own the relationship. (support.patreon.com)

• Clear, actionable analytics: Insights dashboards show membership growth (free and paid), cancellations, post performance, shop sales, and traffic—making it easier to plan content and forecast revenue. (support.patreon.com)

• Team access and roles: Invite teammates to help with benefits, messages, and community management—without sharing your login. This keeps operations clean and auditable. (support.patreon.com)

• Predictable payouts and controls: Turn on automatic payouts, understand pending timelines (including iOS purchase timing), and choose payout methods that fit your accounting cadence. (support.patreon.com)

• Tax handling that reduces admin work: Patreon collects and remits VAT/GST where required, and provides documentation, while U.S. creators get guidance and reporting for forms like 1099‑K. (support.patreon.com)

How money works (at a glance)

• Platform fee: New creators publishing after August 4, 2025 pay a standard 10% platform fee for core features (memberships, digital sales, video hosting, chats, analytics). Earlier creators may be on legacy pricing (5–12%). (support.patreon.com)

• Payment processing: Typical card/PayPal rates start around 2.9% + $0.30 in the U.S., with regional variations; currency conversion adds 2.5% when applicable. (support.patreon.com)

• Shop and iOS specifics: For one‑time purchases, standard platform and processing fees apply; on iOS, Apple’s fee may apply and funds can remain pending for up to 75 days before payout. (support.patreon.com)

• Sales tax/VAT on creator fees: Depending on your location, indirect taxes may be applied to Patreon’s fees and are shown in your earnings. (support.patreon.com)

Day‑to‑day operations you can rely on

• Content and benefits delivery: Post to all members, paid‑only, or free‑only. Use DMs, chats, and Discord roles to deliver perks neatly and on time. (support.patreon.com)

• Promotions that you can measure: Run limited‑time Special Offers or first‑month/year discounts to drive spikes in sign‑ups, and track what sticks in Insights. (support.patreon.com)

• Payout cadence you control: Withdraw manually or let auto‑payout send funds on the 5th each month; deposits typically arrive within standard banking timelines. (support.patreon.com)

Who it’s great for

• Podcasters, musicians, writers, artists, and video creators who want dependable income and direct fan relationships without an ad‑driven algorithm. If your work benefits from community and recurring access, Patreon gives you the tools to run it like a business. (patreon.com)

Quick setup path (practical and tidy)

• Start with one clear tier and a simple benefit stack; add more as demand grows. (support.patreon.com)

• List a few digital products in your Shop to catch casual fans who aren’t ready to subscribe. (support.patreon.com)

• Enable auto‑payouts and review processing timelines so finance has no surprises. (support.patreon.com)

• Turn on community chats and connect Discord for deeper engagement and retention. (support.patreon.com)

• Use discounts or Special Offers during launches or seasonal pushes, then measure results in Insights. (support.patreon.com)

The back‑office bottom line

With Patreon, you get an all‑in‑one setup that blends audience, content, payments, analytics, and communications. That means fewer tools to wrangle, cleaner data, clearer tax and payout records, and a community you can actually reach—all of which adds up to a sturdier, more professional back office behind your creative work. (news.patreon.com)