What to ask an agency before you sign

Overview

Most creators sign with the first agency that offers, and find out what they agreed to somewhere around month three. The contract is rarely the problem. The questions nobody asked before signing it usually are.

Here is what to ask, and what a good answer sounds like.

What is the notice period?

If it is longer than thirty days, ask why. An agency that keeps people by being good does not need a lock-in to do it. Long notice periods exist to protect the agency from its own performance.

Who exactly manages my account?

A name, not a department. If they cannot tell you who it is before you sign, you are going into a queue and you will find that out slowly.

Ask what would make them turn you down. An agency that has never said no to anyone is not selecting. It is collecting.

What happens to my accounts if I leave?

The right answer is that they are yours and always were. Your audience, your content, your logins. Anything else, walk.

What is the fee, and what does it cover?

One number, everything included. If there is a list of add-ons underneath it, the fee is not really the fee.

The rest of the list

Three more worth asking on the call, and worth watching how quickly they answer.

• How many creators does each manager handle? Past a certain number nobody is managing anything, they are triaging.
• Can I speak to someone already on your roster? A confident agency connects you the same day.
• What would make you turn me down? The answer tells you whether they have standards or targets.

One last thing

You are not being difficult by asking any of this. You are doing what you would do before signing any other business contract, and an agency worth signing with will respect you more for it.