How are agents paid and should new athletes expect to pay a retainer?

Most motorsports agents work on commission (percentage of deals they close) rather than retainers. Bob Walker from Connections explained he prefers betting on himself - if he can't produce deals, he doesn't feel right taking money. Retainer-plus-percentage models are more common in NASCAR. For newer athletes without proven track records, some representation may be valuable because agents have extensive networks (Bob has 8,500 contacts) and credibility with brands that athletes don't have. The agent's relationships can get athletes meetings they couldn't get on their own.