Build a brand that belongs to the athlete.
AEANIL
College athletes can now be paid for the use of their name, image, and likeness. That created a new kind of entrepreneur: the college athlete entrepreneur.
The question is whether an athlete can capture that opportunity, protect it, and learn the legal, tax, and business skills that make it last beyond college.
NIL as a business
College athlete entrepreneurs, like many other entrepreneurs, are forming statutory entities such as limited liability companies and corporations. The main reason is to limit personal liability for the business’s debts. If a business contract is breached and an LLC was the contracting party, the LLC shields its individual owners from claims against the business.
Owning an LLC or corporation is a real responsibility. It requires several important decisions before the articles are filed, and once it is formed, the entity has to comply with the statute it was formed under.
NIL compliance & transfer portal
We help athletes navigate NCAA, state, and university rules and regulations, and protect our clients’ rights and livelihood. AEA can assist with transfer portal opportunities and help athletes find their own landing spots.
We represent the athlete in business and partnership negotiations, contracts, and endorsement deals that use their name, image, and likeness.
Education: understanding business, using business entities in NIL, how taxes apply to their business, classifying themselves under the law to pay themselves and save on taxes, and strategic planning for NIL funds.
NIL marketing & collectives
NIL representation supports brand partnerships and endorsements from start to finish, so each party, the athlete and the brand, fulfills the contract’s duties.
We have deep experience negotiating with the NIL collectives of college institutions, and negotiating contract terms that protect the athlete’s best interests.
The full NIL FAQ drops into this accordion as Steve finalizes it.