The biggest red flag is any agency or manager that asks you to pay them before they get you paid. The FTC says any agency asking for money to represent you is a scam. Other warning signs: pressure to sign fast, promises of guaranteed work or big earnings with nothing in writing, vague commission terms, a contract with no end date, and no real clients you can check.
Red flag 1: They want money up front
Legit representation is paid out of what you earn, not out of your pocket. The FTC's guidance on modeling and talent scams says real agencies will not charge you for a test shoot, for photos, or to "secure your spot," and that you should never pay an agency up front.
The entertainment law firm Pfeiffer Law says the same for creator managers: never pay your manager up front. They should get paid after you get paid.
Watch for fees dressed up with other names:
- "Onboarding" or "setup" fees
- "Admin" fees (Pfeiffer Law calls these junk fees)
- Required paid courses, coaching or "academy" programs
- A monthly fee you pay them, with no deals attached
Also be careful about how they want to be paid. The FTC warns against programs that insist on cash, gift cards, wire transfers or cryptocurrency.
Red flag 2: They rush you to sign
"This offer is only good today." "We have one spot left." Pressure is a sales tactic, not a business reason. The FTC says to take time to check out a company before you hand over money or personal information.
A real manager will give you time to read the contract and show it to a lawyer or a parent. If they get annoyed when you ask, that tells you something.
Red flag 3: Big promises with nothing behind them
The FTC tells people to walk away from agencies that guarantee work or promise big salaries, because nobody can promise jobs in an industry where work is irregular.
Some offers, including Plane Site's, come with a guaranteed payment to the creator. The difference that matters: a real guarantee is money the agency pays you, it is written into the contract, and it does not require you to pay anything to get it. If anyone offers you a guarantee, ask:
- What exactly is guaranteed, and how much?
- When does it start and how often is it paid?
- For how long?
- What do I owe in return?
- Is all of it in the contract?
If the answers are fuzzy, or the "guarantee" only kicks in after you pay a fee, walk away. The FTC's advice applies here too: get everything in writing, including anything promised out loud.
Red flag 4: The commission is unclear or unusually high
Commission is how most managers get paid, and it should be easy to understand. Pfeiffer Law puts the range at 10% to 20% or more, with 15% to 20% being the norm. Make Influence, a creator platform, flags a rate meaningfully above 20% with no explanation of what it covers as a red flag.
Read the commission section for:
- The rate. A percentage, written down.
- Gross or net. Pfeiffer Law notes gross (before expenses) is the industry standard and favors the manager, while net (after expenses) favors you. It is worth asking.
- What income counts. Only brand deals they bring in? Or everything, including ad revenue, merch, deals you found yourself, and appearances? Pfeiffer Law says to define exactly what is commissionable, including passive income and non-cash deals.
- Stacking. If you have both a manager and an agency, Make Influence says the two cuts together can take 25% to 40% of a deal.
More detail in our guide on how much influencer managers take.
Red flag 5: The contract never ends, or keeps paying them after it does
Check:
- Term. How long is the deal? Is there a clear end date?
- Auto renewal. Does it roll over on its own?
- How you can leave. Is there a way out if they are not getting you work?
- Post-term commission. Do they keep earning on deals after you part ways? For how long? Pfeiffer Law says to check how long commission continues after the agreement ends.
A contract with no exit and commission forever is a trap, no matter how friendly the people are.
Red flag 6: They control your accounts or your money
Be cautious if they want:
- Your passwords or full login access
- Brand payments sent only to them, with no clear statement of what came in and what they kept
- Ownership of your content, name or handles
You should be able to see every deal amount and every payment. Ask how they pay you and how fast.
Red flag 7: You must use their people
The FTC says to avoid agencies that make you use their own photographers or staff as a condition of getting work. The same logic applies to creators: be wary if you must buy their editing package, their photographer or their course before they will pitch you.
Red flag 8: Nobody has heard of their clients
The FTC warns about agencies that brag about success when no one has heard of them, and suggests asking for a client list and calling references. For a creator agency:
- Ask for two or three current clients you can message
- Search the agency name with words like "scam," "review" or "complaint," as the FTC suggests
- Check that the brands they name actually worked with their clients
- Be wary of no website or no real address
Red flag 9: They say they can "book" you, but say nothing about licensing
In some states, getting work for artists is regulated. California's Labor Code defines a talent agency as anyone whose occupation is procuring, offering, promising or attempting to procure employment or engagements for artists, and the definition of artists includes models and musical artists. California regulates and licenses talent agencies under that chapter. The FTC also suggests asking if a company is licensed or bonded where your state requires it, and checking with your state attorney general or consumer protection office. Our guide on talent manager vs talent agent explains the difference.
Green flags to look for instead
- They get paid when you get paid
- The commission rate and what it covers are written in plain words
- A clear term and a clear way out
- You see every deal and every payment
- They welcome you showing the contract to a lawyer
- Real clients will talk to you
How Plane Site helps
Plane Site Talent Management is built to be the opposite of these red flags: clients sign a guaranteed minimum monthly income deal that pays from Day 1, before any national brand signs, and every sponsorship we close is paid on top. We do not publish the amount or terms, so talk to us about the details and see how the guarantee works. Then book a call and bring your questions. You can also read what an influencer manager does first.
Questions
Is it normal to pay a talent manager up front?
No. The FTC says any agency asking for money to represent you is a scam, and Pfeiffer Law advises creators never to pay a manager up front. Managers are normally paid a commission after you are paid.
What commission is too high for a creator manager?
Pfeiffer Law puts the norm at 15% to 20%. Make Influence treats a rate meaningfully above 20% with no explanation as a red flag. Always check what income the percentage applies to.
How do I check if a creator agency is legit?
Ask for current clients you can contact, search the name with "scam" or "complaint," confirm the brands they claim, and check licensing where your state requires it. Get every promise in writing.
Can I get out of a management contract?
It depends on what you signed. Look for the term length, any auto renewal, the exit clause, and how long they keep earning commission after you leave. Read these before you sign, not after.
Is a guaranteed income offer a scam?
Not by itself. Be wary of any promise of work or earnings that is not in writing, or that requires you to pay first. A real guarantee is money paid to you, spelled out in the contract.