1. What exactly does my athlete have to do?

The deliverables are the heart of any NIL deal. They should be listed plainly: how many social posts, on which platforms, over what period, plus any appearances, autograph signings, or photo shoots. Each item needs a number and a deadline. Watch for vague phrases like "reasonable promotional activities," which can stretch into unlimited free work. Also check who approves content before it goes live and how many rounds of edits are included. If the brand can demand endless revisions or extra posts at no extra cost, the deal pays less than it looks. Get the deliverables into the contract itself, not into a text thread.

2. How and when does the money actually arrive?

A good contract states the total amount, the payment schedule, and the method. Common structures are a signing payment, monthly installments, or payment as each deliverable is completed. Note the due dates and what happens if a payment is late. If money is tied to performance metrics, those metrics should be spelled out and measurable, not "at the company's discretion." For smaller local deals, payment on completion is normal, but your athlete should never finish all the work before any money moves. A simple test: the payment terms should be clear enough that you could put every date on a family calendar.

3. Is the deal exclusive?

Exclusivity decides what other deals your athlete can sign. Category exclusivity is common: a sports drink brand may block your athlete from promoting competing drinks. Full exclusivity, where your athlete promotes no other brands at all, is a much bigger ask and should come with much bigger money. Check the scope: which products, which competitors, and for how long. Also check for carve-outs. Your athlete's school and team have their own sponsors, and a personal deal that clashes with a team sponsor can create real problems. The school's compliance office can usually tell you where the boundaries are.

4. Who can use my child's name, image, and likeness, and where?

This is the IL in NIL, and it is what the brand is actually buying. Look for which channels are covered: organic social posts, the brand's own accounts, paid advertising, websites, billboards, broadcast. Paid usage is worth more than a repost, and some contracts quietly include "whitelisting," where the brand runs ads through your athlete's own account. Check geography and term: a deal granting worldwide rights forever is very different from one covering a single campaign for six months. Rights that survive the contract should be narrow, specific, and priced accordingly.

5. How long does the contract last?

Note the start date, the end date, and any renewal language. Auto-renewal clauses can roll a short deal into a long one if nobody remembers to cancel, so mark the notice deadline on a calendar the day you sign. Multi-year deals deserve extra care: your athlete's value, school, and situation can all change, and a contract signed as a freshman may look very different by junior year. Shorter terms with clear options to extend are usually friendlier to the athlete than one long lock-in.

6. How do we get out of it, and what does that cost?

Every contract needs an exit. Look for a termination clause that says who can end the deal, for what reasons, and with how much notice. Some deals include a kill fee: a payment due if one side walks away early. Check whether it runs in both directions. A brand that can drop your athlete freely while your athlete owes thousands to leave is a lopsided deal. Morals clauses deserve a careful read too. They should be mutual, so your athlete can exit if the company ends up in the headlines for the wrong reasons, not just the reverse.

7. What happens if my athlete transfers, gets hurt, or stops playing?

Deals built around a specific school or team can fall apart when life changes. If your athlete transfers, does the contract end, pause, or continue? If they are injured and cannot play or post, do the deliverables still apply? The answers should be in writing. This matters even more now that athletes move frequently and deals are sometimes pitched as tied to a particular roster. A fair contract addresses transfer, injury, and stepping away from the sport, and it does not treat an injury as a breach. If the contract is silent, ask for language to be added before signing.

8. Who owns the content once it is made?

Photos and videos your athlete creates for a deal have a life of their own. Can the brand keep using them after the contract ends? Can it edit them, or drop them into future ads without asking? On the other side, can your athlete keep the content in a portfolio or on their own channels? A common, reasonable arrangement lets the brand use the content during the term and for a defined window after, while your athlete keeps the right to show the work. Unlimited, perpetual reuse for no extra money is where value quietly leaks away.

9. What does this mean for taxes?

NIL money is taxable self-employment income. Brands paying $600 or more generally report it on a 1099-NEC, but the income is taxable even below that line, and self-employment tax of 15.3 percent applies once net earnings pass $400. Your athlete should set aside a portion of every payment from day one; many families use a separate savings account just for this. Larger deals may call for quarterly estimated payments, which is where a tax professional earns their fee. For a fuller walkthrough, see our guide on whether NIL money is taxable.

10. Who has reviewed this besides us?

Before signing, someone whose job is protecting your athlete should read the contract. For a small one-off deal, that might be a careful parent plus the school's compliance office. For anything significant, it should be a lawyer who knows NIL or a reputable agent. Agents and marketing representatives commonly charge 15 to 20 percent of the deals they negotiate, so weigh that fee against what they actually bring to the table. Also know that deals of $600 or more are disclosed through the NIL Go clearinghouse, and your school may have its own disclosure rules. A deal no one is allowed to see is not a deal you want.

Print this list, or keep it on your phone. When a deal lands in your inbox, walk through all ten questions in order. The brands worth working with will answer every one without flinching. If anything about the offer feels off while you work through the list, read the red flags parents should know before you reply.

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