What Creators Should Know Before Signing a Management Contract

Most creators sign their first management contract without a lawyer, without a comparison, and without fully understanding what they're agreeing to. By the time they realize the terms aren't in their favor, they're locked in.

This post covers the five clauses every creator should scrutinize before signing — and what to look for in each.

1. The Exclusivity Clause

This is the big one. An exclusivity clause means the agency is your sole representative — you can't work with other managers, and in some cases, you can't even negotiate your own deals.

What to look for: Does exclusivity cover all platforms or just specific ones? Does it cover all deal types (brand partnerships, appearances, licensing) or just sponsorships? Is there a revenue floor — a minimum the agency has to generate before exclusivity kicks in?

Red flag: Blanket exclusivity with no performance minimum. If your manager isn't generating deals, you should be free to find someone who will.

What good looks like: Non-exclusive representation, or exclusivity tied to a performance commitment — "We're exclusive as long as we deliver $X in deal value per quarter."

2. The Commission Structure

Industry standard is 15-25% on all deals. Some agencies take more for smaller creators, some less for bigger names. The key isn't the percentage — it's what it applies to.

What to look for: Does the commission apply to deals the agency sourced, or to all your income? Does it cover inbound deals that came from your own audience? Does it apply to deals closed after the contract ends (the "sunset clause")?

Red flag: Commission on all revenue including inbound, merch, and direct fan monetization. Your Patreon earnings have nothing to do with your manager.

What good looks like: Commission only on deals the agency actively sourced and closed. Inbound deals at 0% or a reduced rate.

3. The Term and Termination

How long are you locked in, and how do you get out?

What to look for: Contract length (1 year is standard, 2+ years favors the agency). Auto-renewal clauses — does the contract automatically renew unless you send written notice 60-90 days before expiration? Termination for cause vs. termination for convenience.

Red flag: Multi-year terms with auto-renewal and no out clause. If you're unhappy at month 6, you shouldn't have to wait 18 more months.

What good looks like: Month-to-month or annual with 30-day notice termination. No penalties for leaving.

4. The Sunset Clause

The sunset clause determines what happens with deals that are "in the pipeline" when you leave. Most agencies want commission on any deal that closes within 6-12 months of termination, even if they're no longer your manager.

What to look for: How long is the sunset period? Does it cover deals they actually introduced, or any deal with a brand they ever mentioned to you? Is the commission rate the same or reduced?

Red flag: 12+ month sunset on any brand "introduced" to you. If your manager once emailed Nike on your behalf and Nike comes back 11 months after you left, should your old manager get 20%?

What good looks like: 90-day sunset on deals with documented active negotiations at the time of termination. Reduced commission rate (e.g., 10% instead of 20%) during the sunset period.

5. The IP and Content Rights

Some contracts include clauses about intellectual property — who owns the content strategy, pitch materials, or even content created during the partnership.

What to look for: Does the agency claim any ownership over content you create? Do they retain rights to pitch decks or media kits they built for you? Can they use your name and likeness for their own marketing after the contract ends?

Red flag: Any clause that gives the agency ownership or perpetual license over your content. Your content is yours.

What good looks like: You own everything. The agency has a limited license to use your name/likeness for their marketing during the contract term only.

The Bottom Line

A management contract should feel like a partnership, not a trap. If the terms make you nervous, that's your gut telling you something. Get a lawyer to review it — a few hundred dollars now can save you tens of thousands later.

And if an agency won't let you walk away, ask yourself: is it because they're so confident in their value, or because they know you'd leave if you could?

At Prscnt, we don't use contracts. No exclusivity, no lock-in, no sunset clauses. We keep our creators by being worth keeping. If that ever stops being true, they should leave.