* Commissions: Most agents receive a commission on the sale of a client's book. This commission is usually 15% of the final sale price, but can vary depending on the agent and the publisher.
* Flat fees: Some agents charge a flat fee for their services, rather than a commission. This is usually the case when the agent is working with a client on a smaller project, such as a short story or an article.
* Hourly fees: Some agents charge an hourly fee for their services. This is usually the case when the agent is doing research or other work on behalf of the client.
In addition to these three main sources of income, agents may also receive royalties from their clients' books. Royalties are payments that publishers make to authors on a percentage basis of sales. The percentage of royalties that an agent receives varies depending on the contract between the agent and the author.
Agents typically receive their payment after the sale of a book is completed and the publisher has paid the author. This can mean that they may wait months or even years to receive their full commission or fee.