An agency takes a percentage of your earnings, usually 20 to 40 percent for full management, in exchange for services like chatting, marketing, and management. The number that matters is whether commission comes off gross earnings or off net after the platform takes its cut. Always confirm gross or net in writing before you sign.
Agency commission is the most misunderstood number in the creator economy, not because the percentages are complex but because the base they apply to changes everything. Two agencies quoting the same percentage can leave you with very different take home pay. This quick take clears it up. For the full breakdown, read the complete guide on how agency revenue splits work. This is educational, not legal advice; have any contract reviewed by a qualified lawyer.
Common commission tiers
Commission tracks the level of service. The table below shows the common tiers reported across the industry in 2026. Full management commands the highest percentage because the agency runs chatting, marketing, and operations for you.
| Service level | Typical commission | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Recruitment only | Around 10 percent | They bring you on, little ongoing work |
| Recruitment plus onboarding | Around 20 percent | Setup help and early guidance |
| Full management | Often 30 to 40 percent | Chatting, marketing, and day to day management |
Gross vs net, the key question
Here is the part that costs creators money: does the agency take its cut from gross earnings, the full amount before the platform fee, or from net, what lands after the platform takes its share? Platforms like OnlyFans take 20 percent of gross. An agency charging 30 percent of gross takes far more than one charging 30 percent of net. Always ask, and get the answer in writing.
Same percentage, different base, very different paycheck. Confirm gross or net in writing before you sign anything.
A worked example
Say you bill 10,000 dollars in a month. The platform takes 20 percent, or 2,000 dollars, leaving 8,000 net. Now compare a 30 percent agency commission on each base. On gross, the agency takes 3,000 dollars, leaving you 5,000. On net, the agency takes 2,400 dollars, leaving you 5,600. Same headline percentage, a 600 dollar difference in your pocket, every month. Before you sign, read how much you should pay an agency and learn to negotiate your agency split.
- Agencies charge a percentage, usually 20 to 40 percent for full management.
- Commission tiers track service: recruitment, onboarding, or full management.
- The key question is whether commission comes off gross or net.
- Platforms like OnlyFans take 20 percent of gross first.
- Same percentage on gross versus net changes your take home meaningfully.