Creator contract guides · Updated November 7, 2026

Should my manager or agency collect my brand deal payments?

Short answer

Some managers have brands pay them first, take their commission, and pass the rest to you. That's common, but it means your money sits with someone else. If you agree to it, the contract should say how fast they must pay you, that you get statements showing what the brand paid, and that you can see the brand contracts. Direct payment to you, with you paying the manager's commission, avoids the risk entirely.

What the clauses usually say

All payments due to Artist under any agreement procured by Manager shall be paid directly to Manager, who shall remit the balance to Artist after deducting Manager's commission and any expenses.
Manager shall remit payment to Artist within fifteen (15) business days of receipt and provide an accounting statement with each payment.

The first clause sets up the arrangement but gives no timeline and lets the manager deduct "expenses" you never agreed to. The second is what a protective version adds: a deadline and a statement every time.

What to get in writing

  • A remittance deadline: how many days after the brand pays before you're paid.
  • A statement with each payment: brand, gross amount, commission, any deductions.
  • A copy of every brand contract signed for you, so you know what the brand agreed to pay.
  • Expenses only with your approval in writing, ideally with a cap.
  • The right to audit or check the records once a year.
  • What happens to money for live deals when the management contract ends.

Red flags

  • No deadline for paying you.
  • You never see the brand contract, only what the manager says you earned.
  • "Expenses" deducted with no approval or itemization.
  • Brands told to communicate only with the manager, and you can't confirm payment directly.
  • Payments that keep arriving late with new excuses.

If payments are late

Ask the brand directly when they paid; a short, friendly email is normal and most brands will answer. Then ask the manager for a statement for that deal, citing the remittance clause. If money has been received and not passed on, that's a serious breach and worth taking to an entertainment lawyer.

What to send the brand

Copy, adjust the numbers, and send. Brands expect pushback on these; asking doesn't make you difficult.

“I'd prefer brands pay me directly, and I'll pay your commission within 7 days of receiving each payment.”

“If payments go through you, can we add a 10-business-day remittance deadline and a statement with each payment?”

“Please share a copy of each brand contract signed on my behalf, and get my written OK before deducting any expense.”

Got the actual contract?

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Questions

Is it normal for a manager to collect payments?

It's common, especially with agencies. It's not wrong in itself; the risk comes from having no timeline, no statements and no view of the brand contract.

Can I ask the brand what they paid?

Yes. You're a party to the brand deal (or should be). Asking the brand when payment went out is a normal question.

What's safer: direct pay or manager pay?

Direct pay to you is safer for you, since the money never sits with someone else. Managers sometimes prefer to collect because it guarantees their commission, so this is often a negotiation.

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