Before signing, identify the work, compensation, rights, deadlines and exit terms. Use this checklist to organize questions for a qualified adviser; it is not a contract or a legal opinion.
Get the complete offer in one place
Collect the agreement, attached campaign brief and any written promises made in messages. Ask which document controls if the brief and agreement conflict. Keep a dated copy of the version you are reviewing so revisions do not disappear into a long message thread.
Work and approval
- How many posts, videos, appearances or other deliverables are required?
- Who writes the brief, and who gives final approval?
- How many revisions are included, and what counts as a new request?
- Are production, travel and rescheduling responsibilities clear?
Try a calendar rehearsal. Put every proposed deadline next to class, competition and travel. A deliverable that looks small on paper can create several separate approval windows.
Compensation and expenses
Separate cash, products, discounts and performance-dependent payments. Record when payment is due and what triggers it. Ask who pays expenses, what documentation is required, and how a disputed invoice is handled. A headline value is not the same as cash available to pay your bills.
Usage rights
Ask an adviser to explain the media, geography, duration and permitted edits. Distinguish a brand sharing your post from running paid ads with your face or account. Ask whether sublicensing, voice replication, AI-generated versions or future uses are included. Do not assume a short campaign means a short permission period.
Exclusivity and exit
Identify the restricted product category and the restriction’s duration. Ask what happens if a sponsor changes direction, you are injured, your schedule changes or you transfer. Review cancellation, repayment, dispute and renewal provisions with your adviser. Write down unresolved questions rather than guessing what a clause means.
Reporting and public disclosure are different jobs
For Division I athletes, the College Sports Commission describes NIL Go reporting for third-party agreements worth at least $600, generally within five business days of execution or agreement on payment. Entry and transfer circumstances require additional attention; confirm the current instructions for your status.
Source: College Sports Commission NIL guidance ↗ · Checked October 26, 2026.
Separately, audience-facing endorsements need clear disclosure of a material brand relationship. Reporting a deal to a school does not replace telling your audience about sponsorship.
Source: FTC disclosure guidance ↗ · Checked October 26, 2026.
A useful final question
“Can I explain what I give, what I receive, what I keep and how this ends?” If the answer is no, take the unresolved items to your adviser. Use the worksheet to collect those questions in a printable summary.