Content guidance on physical items

This article provides some clarification relating to some of the most common questions we've been asked about selling or offering physical items on Ko-fi.

This is not a comprehensive, exhaustive guide - please get in touch if you are not sure if your physical items can be offered on Ko-fi. The broader guidelines and terms of use can be found here:

A Few Reminders

  • These guidelines apply to all areas of the Ko-fi platform, including where physical items are offered elsewhere as a result of a payment made on Ko-fi.
  • As Ko-fi facilitates payments using PayPal and Stripe, content being sold must adhere to PayPal's acceptable use policy and Stripe's prohibited businesses terms.
  • Please ensure any physical items not allowed on Ko-fi are fully removed from the platform. e.g. Shop listings must be fully deleted from the platform. It is not acceptable to revert a listing to draft mode or temporarily close your shop.

 

Ko-fi Physical Items Guidance

Key:

βœ… = OK

❌ = Not allowed on Ko-fi

 

Adult Content:

βœ… Breastplates - if these are being modelled, the content should remain non-sexual.

βœ… NSFW Accessories - novelty or illustrated jewellery, clothing, trinkets, bags, stationary, etc.

❌ Sex toys/gadgets.

❌ Dirtied clothing items (e.g. used underwear, etc.).

 

Violence and Hate:

βœ… Items featuring fictional violence.

βœ… Literary items featuring personal stories of abuse, mistreatment or neglect.

❌ Items that glorifies/supports violence, abuse, discrimination or hate.

 

Weapons:

βœ… Cosplay and movie props made from non-metal materials (e.g. foam, fibreglass, latex, wood) that do not fire projectiles.

βœ… Models and figures equipped with weapons.

❌ Real weapons of any kind, including parts and ammunition, are not permitted. Note: We distinguish between weapons and tools intended for practical or culinary use (e.g., handcrafted general-purpose knives, kitchen knives). Due to sensitivities around this content, Ko-fi pages featuring such items will be unpublished until verifiable evidence of licensing is provided.

❌ In the case of replicas, highly realistic firearms.

❌ Any toy/replica weapons that fire projectiles e.g. BB guns, air rifles, etc.

Giveaways/raffles/lotteries:

❌ Pay-to-enter giveaways/raffles/lotteries.

❌ No mystery items at all.
❌ Giveaways or raffle/lottery entries.

 

Food:

⚠️ Important: creators are responsible for ensuring their products meet the legal requirements for selling food.

βœ… Food items should only be made available in countries/territories for which they are compliant.

Creators planning on selling food may first be required to obtain a license/register a food business. We strongly advise researching the regulations for your home country.
For countries that are part of the European Union, there are other rules that you may have to oblige, such as food labelling rules. You can access a more comprehensive database of EU food rules here.

For regulations in the United States of America, visit https://www.fda.gov/food.
For starting a food business in the UK, see here.

If you are satisfied that you meet all of the regulations, it is also worth checking the rules for individual courier services.

 

Cosmetics, Candles and Soaps:

⚠️ Important: creators are responsible for ensuring that they meet the legal requirements for selling cosmetics, candles and soaps.
Specific laws and regulations vary by country. For the protection of yourself and others, it is extremely important to be in compliance with these.

βœ… Cosmetics and Soaps

Factors to consider include, but are not limited to, product labelling and liability insurance. See the links below for further details:
UK regulations
US regulations
EU regulations


βœ… Candles

Factors to consider include, but are not limited to, product labelling, the material(s) being used to make the candle, liability insurance and industry standards. See the links below for further details:
UK regulations
US regulations
EU regulations

 

Medical Supplies and Information:

βœ… Decorative face masks

❌ Other medical supplies

❌ Surgical instruments

❌ Unofficial/unauthorised guides containing dosage specifications

❌ Items promoting medical misinformation

 

Please get in touch if you are not sure if your physical items can be offered on Ko-fi.