Is an agency offer actually worth it?

Why the break-even is higher than it looks

At a 40% commission, an agency has to grow your revenue by roughly two-thirds before you see a single extra dollar. Everything below that threshold is you working harder for the same money — or less.

This is the number to put in front of an agency during a pitch. "What growth do you commit to?" is a much better question than "what's your commission?", and the answer tells you whether they've thought about your side of the deal at all.

What to ask before signing

• Is the commission on gross or net? On gross, they take their cut before the platform takes theirs. The difference over a year is substantial.
• Does it apply to subscribers I already have? Paying commission on an audience you built alone is paying for work nobody did.
• Does it continue after I leave? Trailing commissions make leaving pointless, which is why they're in there.
• What happens if the growth doesn't come? If the answer is "nothing", the risk is entirely yours.

All four are in our contract red-flag list, and the free contract review will find them in an actual agreement.

What this doesn't count

Time. If an agency genuinely takes the messaging off your plate, that's worth real money even at flat revenue — a 40% commission for 30 hours a month back may be an excellent trade. Just make it deliberately, with the number in front of you.