If I go on Tryst, set location to anywhere, service type BDSM, I get 76 pages of results, with about 24 ads per page, that’s roughly 1,800 Dommes and that’s just Tryst.
"1,800 Dommes"
Impressive numbers but I'd be more interested in if they were any good.

I guarantee you they don’t all have web pages. You can argue well don’t see a Domme without a webpage but in my experience you will miss out on some terrific Dommes.
Oh, I'm sure there are some great Dommes out there who don't have the
internet. I always encourage a website, for Domme and sub, because it greatly reduces the chance you're dealing with a scammer -- and they are everywhere.
I saw a Domme last year that only communicates by DM on Twitter/X. Crazy if you ask me, but to each their own.
Yeah, that's not safe. There are a lot of people out there who don't understand legal risks. If you are discussing a session on someone else's platform -- Twitter/X, FetLife, BlueSky, etc -- you aren't assured privacy. "Private" means from the public, not from the site owners. That means it's very easy for that platform, and any LE that might happen to subpoena that platform (very easy to do, ya know), to get your exchanges. *cringey face*
I’m glad I started this thread, I’ve learned a lot. I’ve gone from “I won’t pay an application fee” to “I would pay a fee, but it would depend a lot on the circumstances “. Personally I’m trying to stop seeing new Dommes and focus on the ones I know I truly enjoy but that’s been a challenge for me. I tend to have a “let’s try something new” approach. But I appreciate the new perspective on fees.
I'm glad you started it, too, Chi. Thank you. And I'm glad you expanded your views because of it.