The fastest way to get paid for tarot readings online is to package the personal questions people already ask into defined paid offers: an asynchronous one-card or yes/no answer, a larger written or recorded spread, or a live session. State the scope, price, turnaround, boundaries, and refund terms before accepting payment.
FanBell is free to start, has no monthly fee, and has no follower minimum; it charges a 12% platform fee only when a fan pays (pricing). Payments and creator payouts are handled through Stripe (how it works).
How many Americans actually consult tarot cards?
About 11% of U.S. adults say they consult tarot cards at least once a year, and 30% consult astrology, tarot cards or a fortune teller at least annually, according to Pew Research Center's report of May 21, 2025, based on a survey of 9,593 U.S. adults fielded October 21-27, 2024 (Pew Research Center).
The same Pew report supplies the numbers that should shape how a paid tarot offer is priced, framed, and scheduled:
- Nearly a quarter of U.S. adults ages 18 to 29 consult tarot cards at least annually, compared with 6% of adults ages 50 to 64 and 3% of adults 65 and older (Pew Research Center).
- 20% of U.S. adults say they engage in astrology, tarot cards or fortune-telling mostly "just for fun," while 10% say they do so because they "believe the practices give them helpful insights" (Pew Research Center).
- 6% of U.S. adults take part in one or more of these practices at least weekly, and 14% do so at least monthly (Pew Research Center).
- Just 1% of U.S. adults say they rely "a lot" on what they have learned from a fortune teller, tarot cards or astrology when making major life decisions, and another 5% say they rely "a little" (Pew Research Center).
- 33% of LGBT adults consult tarot cards at least annually, roughly three times the 9% share among non-LGBT adults (Pew Research Center).
Read together, those Pew figures describe an audience that skews young, engages monthly rather than daily, and mostly treats a reading as entertainment - which is why a low-priced, clearly scoped, entertainment-framed offer matches the demand better than any promise of outcomes.
What questions can you turn into paid tarot readings?
Any recurring personal question you already field for free can become a paid tarot offer: one-card pulls, yes/no decisions, relationship check-ins, career choices, and week-ahead energy reads. The test is whether the question is specific to one person and needs your interpretation rather than a public post. These are the requests that repeat:
- “Will he come back?”
- “Is she thinking about me?”
- “Should I take the job, leave the relationship, or sign the lease?”
- “What does the Tower mean for what I’m going through right now?”
- “Can you do a one-card pull for my situation?”
- “Yes or no—is this the right decision?”
- “What’s my energy for this week?”
If you read cards for an audience, you may already recognize the pattern: someone watches your pull of the day, sees part of their situation in it, and asks for a personal interpretation. Answering every request for free can lead to burnout, while selecting only a few people may make the process feel arbitrary.
A paid offer gives followers a defined way to request an individual reading without expecting unlimited free work.
What should a paid tarot answer include?
A paid tarot answer should restate the question being read, name the cards drawn, explain how each card relates to that specific situation, mark the limits of the interpretation, and avoid presenting an uncertain outcome as guaranteed fact. That specificity, not length, is what separates a paid reading from a free card-emoji reply.
“Will he come back?” — Pulling the Two of Cups reversed suggests imbalance, not necessarily absence. That is not a guaranteed “no,” and it is not a countdown to a text. It can instead invite reflection on unresolved attention, expectations, and whether waiting is serving the person asking.
“Should I take the job?” — The Eight of Pentacles next to the Wheel of Fortune reads less like “yes, obviously” and more like an invitation to examine the hesitation. Is the concern the work itself, or does accepting mean acknowledging readiness for a larger opportunity? A fuller pull can explore more than a forced yes or no.
Framing matters as much as content: 20% of U.S. adults engage in astrology, tarot cards or fortune-telling mostly "just for fun" versus 10% who do so for "helpful insights" (Pew Research Center), so an entertainment-and-reflection framing describes what most buyers say they want.
A reader could hypothetically price a brief personalized answer at $5–$10, but that range is an illustrative example—not a market norm, earnings claim, or required FanBell price. Creators choose their own prices.
How do the common ways to sell online tarot readings compare?
No single sales channel is best, and each keeps a different share of the payment: Etsy charges sellers a 6.5% transaction fee, Fiverr pays sellers 80% of the purchase amount, and FanBell charges a 12% platform fee only when a fan pays. Choose on discovery, timing, and fees.
| Method | Best suited to | Main trade-off | Typical workflow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marketplace listing (Etsy, Fiverr) | Readers who want built-in discovery | Marketplace rules, competition, and platform-dependent fees | Create a listing and fulfill orders under the marketplace’s process |
| Social-media DMs | Testing demand with an existing audience | Manual payment tracking, boundaries, and message organization | Agree on scope, collect payment separately, and reply in the DM |
| Live video or phone calls | Long, interactive readings | Requires scheduling and real-time availability | Book a time, collect payment, and conduct the session live |
| Memberships | Recurring group content or regular access | Requires ongoing delivery and retention | Charge periodically for readings, posts, lives, or member benefits |
| Async paid questions | Short, personal readings answered on your schedule | Less real-time conversation | Fan submits and pays for a question; reader responds later by text |
| Async creator services | Larger written, audio, photo, or video spreads | Requires a clearly defined scope and delivery window | Fan orders a service; reader creates and delivers the agreed reading |
Each alternative carries its own cost and its own rules. Etsy charges sellers a 6.5% transaction fee on the displayed listing price (plus shipping, where applicable) on every sale made through the marketplace, plus a $0.20 listing fee for each item listed, and Etsy.com listings expire after four months (Etsy Fees & Payments Policy). Etsy's payment-processing fee in the United States is a further 3% + $0.25 per sale, and that rate varies by country.
Etsy also limits what a reader may list. Etsy's seller help center states that "metaphysical services, such as reiki and spell casting, are prohibited on Etsy," and that "tarot or psychic readings that include a physical or digital copy of said readings (e.g., a recording, email, or tarot spread photo) may be sold on Etsy" (Etsy Help Center, "What Can I Sell on Etsy?").
Fiverr keeps a larger share: Fiverr's help center states that for every completed order a seller earns 80% of the purchase amount, including Gig Extras and tips, leaving the platform a 20% commission (Fiverr Help Center, "Your earnings page"). Collecting payment for a DM reading through PayPal's Send/Receive Money for Goods and Services costs the seller a standard domestic rate of 2.99% per transaction (PayPal Merchant Fees), and the reader must still track who has paid and reply manually.
Applying those published rates to a single $10 reading gives the effective take of each channel:
| Channel | Published rate | Fee on a $10 reading | Creator receives |
|---|---|---|---|
| FanBell + Stripe | 12% platform fee + 2.9% + $0.30 | $1.79 | $8.21 |
| Etsy | 6.5% transaction fee + 3% + $0.25 US processing + $0.20 listing fee | $1.40 | $8.60 |
| Fiverr | 20% commission (seller earns 80%) | $2.00 | $8.00 |
| PayPal Send/Receive for Goods and Services | 2.99% | $0.30 | $9.70 |
Every figure in that table is calculated from the published rates cited above, and excludes taxes, refunds, disputes, and currency conversion; the PayPal row also excludes the storefront, order tracking, and delivery workflow the other three provide.
Follower requirements differ as sharply as fees. TikTok requires a creator to be at least 18 years old, have at least 10,000 followers, and hold an account at least 30 days old to be eligible for Video Gifts (TikTok Support, "Video Gifts on TikTok"), while FanBell has no follower minimum.
Readers comparing business models can also browse creator resources, platform comparisons, examples for different creator categories, and FanBell’s available features.
How can you sell short tarot answers asynchronously?
Sell short tarot answers asynchronously by having the fan submit the situation as text and pay up front, then replying privately on your own schedule, with no call to book, no camera, and no audience watching someone else's personal reading. On FanBell that flow is Paid Private Questions.
It is the paid, asynchronous version of a question that might otherwise sit unanswered in a comment section.
Stripe's minimum charge amount is 0.50 USD, so even a $4 one-card pull clears the processing floor.
Offers a reader could test, with illustrative prices only — not market averages or earnings guarantees:
- “One card: what do I need to know about this right now?” — $5–$12
- “Yes or no, with a short explanation of why” — $4–$8
- “Three-card spread: past, present, and future on this decision” — $10–$18
- “What’s my energy walking into this week?” — $6–$12
Some of these questions overlap with what a dating coach, career coach, or astrologer might receive. The difference is that a tarot reader answers through a card-based interpretation rather than a coaching framework.
For a closer comparison with scheduled sessions, see paid DMs vs. coaching calls. The broader case for charging for personalized answers is covered in how to get paid for expert advice online.
How can you sell a larger tarot spread online?
Sell a larger spread as a defined paid service with a set price and a stated delivery window, covering the requests that need more than one card: a relationship spread, a month mapped out, photos of the cards, or an explanation delivered by voice instead of text. On FanBell, Creator Services support a creator-selected turnaround of up to 120 hours.
Creator Services lets a creator set the price and choose a turnaround window of up to 120 hours; delivery can include text, card photos, or a recorded voice walkthrough. A creator can also decline and refund a request that is not a fit.
Illustrative offers only — not market norms, required prices, or earnings promises:
- “Full Spread Reading” — Five-to-seven-card written spread with photos — $15–$25 — 48 hours
- “Situationship Spread” — Targeted three-card relationship reading — $10–$18 — 24–48 hours
- “Voice Reading” — Recorded audio walkthrough — $12–$20 — 48 hours
- “Monthly Guidance Deck” — One card per week, delivered as one report — $18–$30 — 72 hours
- “Year Ahead Spread” — 12 cards, one per month, written or filmed — $25–$40 — 72–96 hours
A live session can be worthwhile when a fan wants real-time discussion. A written or recorded service is more suitable when both parties prefer a personal reading without needing to be available at the same hour.
Which tarot-reading format fits each request?
Match the format to the message: a quick yes/no fits a paid private question answered on your own schedule, a multi-card situation read fits a creator service with a creator-selected turnaround of up to 120 hours, an occasion gift fits a personalized shoutout, and plain gratitude fits a tip that owes no reply.
| Fan’s message | Best format | Hypothetical price example* | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| “Will he come back?” or another quick yes/no | Paid Private Question | $4–$15 | Async, on the creator’s schedule |
| “Read my whole situation” or a three-plus-card spread | Creator Services | $10–$40 | Creator-selected window of up to 120 hours |
| Birthday pull or gifted “energy check” | Personalized Shoutout | Creator-set | Creator-set turnaround, delivered as a recording or file |
| “That pull hit hard—thank you” | Tips | Any creator-accepted amount | No reading or reply owed |
*The displayed dollar ranges are hypothetical pricing examples, not observed market averages, earnings guarantees, or FanBell requirements.
What other paid offers can complement tarot readings?
Four offers commonly sit alongside readings on the same page: personalized shoutouts for birthdays and new-job energy checks, tips for gratitude after a public pull, project support toward a named goal such as a new deck, and brand-collaboration inquiries that keep partnership pitches out of the reading queue.
Personalized Shoutouts can fit specific occasions, such as a birthday card-pull video framed around what the next year may bring or an “energy check” sent to someone starting a new job.
Tips give fans a way to show appreciation after a public or private pull without buying another reading or expecting a reply.
If you are saving for something specific—a new deck, ring light, or backdrop—Project Support lets fans contribute toward a named goal with a progress bar. If a deck maker, candle shop, or wellness app wants to propose a partnership, Brand Collaboration Inquiries keeps the pitch separate from reading requests.
These options can live on one paid fan interaction link, giving fans a choice between questions, services, tips, gifts, project support, and business inquiries.
How do FanBell and Stripe fees affect net receipts?
FanBell charges a 12% platform fee only when a fan pays. Stripe’s published US card-processing rate is typically around 2.9% + $0.30 per successful domestic card transaction, and applies on top of the FanBell platform fee.
Using those figures, the following examples show estimated receipts before taxes, refunds, disputes, currency conversion, or any other applicable Stripe charges:
| Customer payment | FanBell fee at 12% | Stripe fee at 2.9% + $0.30 | Estimated creator receipt |
|---|---|---|---|
| $5.00 | $0.60 | $0.45 | $3.95 |
| $10.00 | $1.20 | $0.59 | $8.21 |
| $20.00 | $2.40 | $0.88 | $16.72 |
Two Stripe thresholds matter at tarot price points. Stripe's minimum charge amount is 0.50 USD or the equivalent in the charge currency. Stripe also lists a $15.00 dispute received fee for each dispute and a $15.00 dispute countered fee for each dispute answered manually, returned if the dispute is won — which is why a clear scope and refund line on a $10 reading is worth more than the reading itself.
These are calculated examples, not earnings guarantees. Actual processing costs and net receipts can vary with the payment method, country, currency, refunds, disputes, taxes, and Stripe account terms.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an online tarot reading cost?
There is no fixed price. The cost depends on the reader, number of cards, depth of interpretation, delivery format, and turnaround time.
On FanBell, creators set their own prices. Any dollar figures in this article are hypothetical examples—not going rates, platform requirements, or earnings guarantees.
Is a paid tarot reading on FanBell the same as booking a live session?
No. Paid Private Questions and Creator Services are asynchronous: a fan pays and submits a question or service request, and the creator responds through the applicable workflow rather than joining a live call.
Creator Services can have a creator-selected turnaround window of up to 120 hours. If a request is unsuitable, the creator can decline and refund it.
Do I need a certification or license to read tarot for money?
FanBell does not require a tarot certification or follower minimum to create an offer. That does not replace any legal requirements that may apply where the creator operates.
The U.S. Small Business Administration states that license and permit requirements vary by business activity, location, and government rules. Creators should therefore check applicable state and local requirements, including whether their jurisdiction has rules specific to fortune-telling or entertainment services.
Income from paid readings can also create tax obligations. The IRS states that the self-employment tax rate is 15.3% and that you must pay self-employment tax if your net earnings from self-employment were $400 or more (IRS, Self-Employment Tax (Social Security and Medicare Taxes)). Following the One Big Beautiful Bill, the IRS states that third-party settlement organizations are not required to file Form 1099-K unless the gross amount of reportable payment transactions to a payee exceeds $20,000 and the number of transactions exceeds 200; reading income is still reportable when no form is issued. General federal filing guidance is in the IRS Self-Employed Individuals Tax Center, and state and local tax requirements may differ.
Paid-reading descriptions should not make false or guaranteed claims. The FTC's advertising guidance states that claims in ads "must be truthful, cannot be deceptive or unfair, and must be evidence-based". The FTC has applied that standard to psychic services: in a settlement announced November 14, 2002, Access Resource Services and Psychic Readers Network, the promoters of the "Miss Cleo" psychic lines, agreed to forgive an estimated $500 million in outstanding consumer charges and to pay $5 million to the FTC over alleged deceptive advertising, billing, and collection practices.
Tarot should not be presented as a substitute for medical diagnosis, legal counsel, or regulated financial advice. Refer medical concerns to qualified healthcare professionals, direct legal questions to USA.gov’s legal-aid guidance, and direct investment questions to registered professionals and Investor.gov’s guidance on working with an investment professional. A reading can still be offered as reflection or entertainment without claiming professional authority or a guaranteed outcome.
What fees and payout timing apply on FanBell?
FanBell is free to start, has no monthly fee, and has no follower minimum; its 12% platform fee applies only when a fan pays.
Stripe’s published US card-processing rate is typically around 2.9% + $0.30, and applies on top of the FanBell platform fee. Stripe handles creator payouts.
Stripe says a first payout is typically scheduled 7–14 days after the first successful payment, although timing varies by country and account risk level (Stripe payout documentation). Later payouts follow the creator’s applicable Stripe payout schedule.
Start with one clearly scoped offer, choose a price that reflects the work involved, and use actual demand to decide whether larger spreads or shoutouts belong on your page too. Create your free FanBell link and put a price on the question you're already being asked.
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