The average creator loses $4,800 in their first year with a bad agency. That's not from the commission they pay—it's from missed opportunities, damaged audience trust, and revenue that never materialized because the agency couldn't deliver.
At Take Profit, we've reviewed hundreds of agency contracts, interviewed creators who've worked with 50+ different agencies, and analyzed what separates partnerships that thrive from those that drain. This checklist distills everything we've learned into 15 non-negotiable evaluation points.
Use it before your next agency conversation. Print it out if you need to. The 20 minutes this takes could save you months of frustration and thousands of dollars.
The Complete 15-Point Agency Evaluation Checklist
Click each item as you verify it with any agency you're considering. Your score will update automatically, with a final recommendation based on your results.
Agency Evaluation Score
1. Transparent Commission Structure
Commission percentage is clearly stated in writing. You understand if it's gross or net revenue, and all additional fees are disclosed upfront.
💰 Financial Terms2. Verifiable Case Studies
They can show real before/after analytics (blurred names are fine). You can request to speak with 1-2 current clients in your niche.
📊 Proof of Results3. Detailed Service Breakdown
You know exactly what's included: chatting hours, marketing platforms, content strategy, DMCA protection, etc. Nothing is vague or "as needed."
📋 Service Clarity4. Reasonable Contract Length
Initial commitment is 3-6 months maximum. Exit clause requires 30 days notice (not 60+). No "completion of campaign" language.
📝 Contract Terms5. Analytics & Reporting Schedule
Weekly or bi-weekly reports are standard. You have access to dashboards or regular metric reviews. They track KPIs that matter (not vanity metrics).
📊 Transparency6. Content Ownership Confirmed
Contract explicitly states you retain 100% ownership of all content. No clauses about "agency-created assets" or shared intellectual property.
⚖️ Legal Protection7. Niche-Specific Experience
They have demonstrable experience in your niche (GFE, fitness, cosplay, etc.). They can explain how strategy differs for your audience type.
🎯 Specialization8. Reasonable Creator-to-Manager Ratio
Each account manager handles 10 or fewer creators. You're not one of 50 accounts being managed by a single overwhelmed rep.
👥 Service Quality9. Clear Communication Channels
Slack/Discord for quick questions, scheduled weekly/bi-weekly calls, and documented response time expectations (ideally under 4 hours during business hours).
💬 Communication10. Structured Onboarding Process
They audit your current performance before proposing strategy. There's a documented 7-14 day onboarding with clear milestones.
🚀 Getting Started11. Realistic Growth Expectations
They provide month-by-month projections based on data, not "we'll 10x you in 30 days" hype. They acknowledge variables and potential challenges.
📈 Expectations12. DMCA & Privacy Protection
Content protection is included or clearly explained. They have a process for handling leaked content and protecting your identity.
🔒 Security13. Manager Access (Not Password)
They request OnlyFans manager permissions, NOT your account password. Password sharing is never required by legitimate agencies.
🔐 Account Security14. No Exclusivity Overreach
If there's an exclusivity clause, it's reasonable (same niche agencies only). No language preventing you from using other platforms (Fansly, etc.).
⚖️ Your Rights15. Aligned With Your Goals
They understand your specific objectives (maximize revenue, work-life balance, brand building, etc.) and their strategy reflects these priorities.
🎯 Goal AlignmentThe Red Flags That Should Make You Walk Away
Some warning signs are so serious that no amount of positive signals can compensate. If you spot any of these, end the conversation immediately:
"We Guarantee You'll Make $X"
No legitimate agency can guarantee specific income. Results depend on too many variables including your content, niche, and commitment. Guaranteed income claims are either lies or signs of unsustainable tactics.
Requesting Your Account Password
OnlyFans has a manager permission system specifically for agencies. Any agency asking for your password is either incompetent or planning something shady. This is a security risk you should never accept.
12+ Month Contracts with Harsh Exit Penalties
If an agency needs to lock you in for a year to make their model work, they're not confident in delivering value. Reputable agencies earn your loyalty through results, not legal traps.
Can't or Won't Provide Client References
Every legitimate agency has happy clients who will vouch for them. If they claim "confidentiality" for all clients, they're hiding something. Even anonymized case studies should be verifiable.
Upfront Fees Before Any Results
Some agencies charge setup fees ($500-2000), which can be legitimate for intensive onboarding. But any agency wanting thousands upfront before proving value is a major red flag.
Vague Answers to Specific Questions
If you ask "What's your average client's retention rate after 90 days?" and they respond with generalities about "growing audiences," they either don't track data or don't like what it shows.
Green Flags: Signs You've Found a Good One
These positive indicators suggest an agency operates with integrity and delivers value:
They Ask More Questions Than They Answer
Good agencies want to understand your situation before proposing solutions. A first call that's 70% them asking about your goals, challenges, and current metrics is a great sign.
They're Honest About Their Limitations
"We're not the best fit for your niche" or "At your current revenue, you'd benefit more from focusing on X first" shows they prioritize good matches over closing deals.
Clear, Data-Backed Onboarding Process
They explain exactly what the first 30 days look like, with specific milestones. They audit your current data before making strategy recommendations.
Transparent About Challenges
They openly discuss what could go wrong, what factors are outside their control, and how they handle situations when growth stalls.
Essential Questions to Ask Every Agency
Before signing anything, get clear answers to these questions. Screen their responses for vagueness, deflection, or overpromising:
📊 Performance & Results
- What's the average revenue increase your clients see in months 2-3?
- What percentage of clients are still with you after 12 months?
- Can I speak with a current client in my niche?
- What happens if my revenue drops for 2 consecutive months?
💰 Financial Terms
- Is your commission on gross or net revenue (after OnlyFans' cut)?
- Are there any additional fees beyond the commission (setup, tools, etc.)?
- How and when are payments processed?
- What happens to pending commissions if we end the partnership?
🔧 Operations & Services
- How many creators does each account manager handle?
- What are your chatting team's working hours?
- What's your average response time for DMs during peak hours?
- How do you handle my content style and voice consistency?
📝 Contract & Exit
- What's the minimum contract length?
- How much notice do I need to give to exit?
- Are there any penalties for early termination?
- What happens to strategies/assets developed during our partnership?
How Take Profit Stacks Up
We designed Take Profit specifically to address the problems we saw with other agencies. Here's how we perform against this checklist:
- Commission: Transparent rate disclosed upfront, calculated on gross revenue
- Contract: 3-month initial term, 30-day exit notice, no penalties
- References: We'll connect you with current clients in your niche
- Reporting: Weekly reports + real-time dashboard access
- Manager ratio: Maximum 8 creators per account manager
- Specialization: Niche-trained chatting teams for GFE, DOMME, DDLG, and more
- Account access: Manager permissions only—we never ask for passwords
Want to See How We'd Approach Your Account?
Apply for a free strategy call. We'll review your current metrics and give you our honest assessment—even if we're not the right fit.
Apply for Strategy Call →Frequently Asked Questions
What questions should I ask an OnlyFans agency?
Focus on verifiable metrics: client retention rate, average revenue increase by month 3, creator-to-manager ratio. Ask to speak with current clients and request to see (anonymized) analytics from similar creators. Avoid agencies that deflect with generalities.
What are the biggest red flags when choosing an agency?
The top red flags are: guaranteed income promises, requests for your account password, 12+ month contracts with harsh exit penalties, inability to provide client references, and vague answers to specific metric questions.
How long should an OnlyFans agency contract be?
Ideally 3 months with 30-day notice for exit. This gives enough time to see meaningful results (90+ days) while protecting you from being locked into a bad partnership. Be very cautious of anything requiring 6+ months or 60+ days exit notice.
Should I hire an agency if I'm just starting out?
Generally no. Most agencies work best for creators already earning $2-5k+/month who have proven demand but hit a growth ceiling. If you're brand new, focus on building your initial audience first, then consider agency support when you have traction to scale.
Take Profit Team | OnlyFans Strategy, Analytics & Optimization
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