Operator guide · Compliance

Compliance checklist for new agencies.

Before you sign your first creator, work through four phases: set up the business, lock down age and consent records, get tax and worker classification right, and secure data and payments. This checklist turns the legal foundations into concrete steps. It is general information, not legal advice, so confirm details with a local lawyer and accountant.

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How to use this checklist

Run the four phases in order. Phase one and two should be complete before you onboard any creator, because they protect the people you work with and your ability to operate at all. Phase three and four can finish in your first weeks but should not slip. For the reasoning behind each item, read our agency legal and compliance foundations.

Phase 1 · Set up the business

✓Register a business entity such as an LLC or limited company.
✓Open a dedicated business bank account, separate from personal funds.
✓Set up bookkeeping from day one, even if it is a simple system.
✓Draft a fair creator agreement and have a lawyer review it.
✓Prepare staff agreements and confidentiality terms for chatters and team.

Phase 2 · Age, consent, and records

✓Verify every creator is a consenting adult using a government ID.
✓Record and securely store name, date of birth, and any stage names.
✓Confirm your record keeping duties under local law, such as 18 U.S.C. 2257 in the United States, with a lawyer.
✓Document consent for the work your agency will perform on each account.
✓Understand age verification rules in your creators' markets, such as the UK Online Safety Act.

Phase 3 · Tax and worker classification

✓Register for income tax and any sales tax or VAT once thresholds apply.
✓Classify chatters and staff correctly as contractors or employees under local tests.
✓Issue the right tax forms, such as a 1099 for United States contractors.
✓Set aside funds for tax and avoid mixing creator payouts with agency cash.
✓Engage a creator focused accountant to confirm your setup.

Phase 4 · Data security and payments

✓Use strong, unique credentials and a password manager for creator accounts.
✓Limit who on your team can access each account and log access.
✓Follow data protection law such as GDPR where it applies to your creators.
✓Have a plan for chargebacks and refunds before they happen.
✓Keep agency operations strictly business to business and safe for work where they touch processors.

Put it to work

Compliance and good operations reinforce each other. A clean foundation makes it easier to set clear communication standards, handle chargebacks and refunds, and ultimately keep creators longer. When your house is in order and you want qualified creator leads, get matched through our service.

Frequently asked questions

What should a new agency do before signing its first creator?

Complete the business setup and the age, consent, and records phases first. That means a registered entity, a lawyer reviewed creator agreement, and a verified age and consent record for every creator. Tax, classification, data, and payment items follow in your first weeks.

Do I need a business entity to run an agency?

In almost all cases yes. A registered entity such as an LLC or limited company gives you liability protection, a clean separation of funds, and credibility with creators, banks, and payment processors. Confirm the right structure with a local accountant.

How do I keep payment processing valid?

Keep your own business operations strictly business to business and safe for work where they touch processors, keep clean books, and avoid mixing creator payouts with agency cash. The creators you support publish on their own platforms, which handle their own payment rails.

Is this checklist legal advice?

No. It is general information to help you organize your setup. Rules differ by country and state, so confirm the specifics with a qualified lawyer and accountant in your jurisdiction before you rely on any item.

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Last updated May 26, 2026