Business Operating Framework

N.I.L.E.M.S. Business Operating Framework

Name, Image, Likeness, Executive, Marketing, & Strategy

Field	Detail
Legal Entity	Echelon Media Sports LLC (Ohio)
DBA	N.I.L.E.M.S.
Owner	Roechard D. Lewis
Partner	Russell Johnson (IT, Graphics, Database)
Advisory	Cloud Magic Technology Group (CMTG)
Year 1 Revenue Target	$150K — $300K
Year 1 Athlete Target	10 — 25 signed athletes
Primary Market	Ohio collegiate & amateur athletes
Version	1.0
Date	February 2026

Executive Summary
Business Operating Framework
Technology Stack Recommendations
AI Integration Strategy
Revenue Model Framework
Compliance Framework
Growth Framework
Risk Assessment
Financial Projections
Appendices

1. Executive Summary

N.I.L.E.M.S. enters the NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) market at a pivotal inflection point. Since the NCAA’s 2021 interim NIL policy and subsequent state-level legislation, the NIL market has grown to an estimated $1.17 billion annually (Opendorse, 2025), with projections reaching $2.5B by 2028. Ohio’s NIL statute (SB 187, effective July 2021, updated 2023) provides a permissive regulatory environment that favors agency-model operators.

The opportunity for NILEMS is clear: Ohio hosts 13 Division I schools, dozens of Division II and III programs, and a growing NAIA presence. Ohio State alone generates $250M+ in annual athletic revenue, creating a massive halo of brand-partnership demand. Yet the majority of Ohio athletes below the top-tier revenue sports remain underserved by NIL agencies concentrated in SEC and Big Ten powerhouse states.

NILEMS will differentiate through:

Full-service agency model covering branding, deal sourcing, compliance, content, and financial literacy
AI-accelerated operations reducing time-to-deal from industry average of 45 days to under 14 days
Compliance-first approach building trust with athletic departments and university compliance offices
Ohio-focused density strategy creating deep local brand networks before expanding regionally

CMTG will serve as the technology advisor and platform builder, deploying an Astro-based operations portal on Cloudflare and integrating AI tools throughout the deal lifecycle.

2. Business Operating Framework

2.1 Organizational Structure

                    Echelon Media Sports LLC
                           |
                    N.I.L.E.M.S. (DBA)
                           |
          +----------------+----------------+
          |                |                |
   CEO / Principal    IT & Operations    Advisory
   Roechard Lewis     Russell Johnson     CMTG
          |                |                |
     +----+----+      +---+---+        Technology
     |         |      |       |        Strategy
  Athlete   Brand   Tech    Data       Compliance
  Relations Match   Stack   Mgmt       Support

Core Roles (Phase 1)

Role	Person	Responsibilities
CEO / Principal Agent	Roechard D. Lewis	Deal sourcing, athlete recruitment, brand relationship management, compliance oversight, financial management
Director of Technology & Operations	Russell Johnson	IT infrastructure, graphic design, database management, content production, portal administration
Technology Advisor	CMTG	Platform architecture, AI integration, cybersecurity, compliance technology, operations portal

Phase 2 Hires (Month 6-12)

Role	Type	Est. Cost	Justification
Athlete Relations Coordinator	Part-time / Contract	$25K-$35K/yr	Manage day-to-day athlete communications, social media coordination, event logistics
Content Creator / Social Media Manager	Contract	$20K-$30K/yr	Video, photo, social content for athletes and NILEMS brand
Compliance Specialist	Part-time / Contract	$15K-$25K/yr	NCAA compliance monitoring, disclosure filings, school liaison
Financial Literacy Workshop Facilitator	Contract per event	$500-$1,500/event	Deliver financial workshops (can be outsourced to CPA partners)

Phase 3 Hires (Month 12-24)

Role	Type	Est. Cost
Junior Agent / Scout	Full-time	$40K-$55K/yr
Marketing Director	Full-time	$50K-$65K/yr
Legal Counsel (Retainer)	Contract	$3K-$5K/month

2.2 Deal Lifecycle Workflow

The NILEMS deal lifecycle has seven stages. Each stage has defined inputs, outputs, responsible parties, and technology touchpoints.

[1] PROSPECT --> [2] EVALUATE --> [3] SIGN --> [4] MATCH --> [5] NEGOTIATE --> [6] EXECUTE --> [7] SETTLE

Stage 1: PROSPECT (Athlete Sourcing)

Objective: Identify and make initial contact with prospective athlete clients.

Item	Detail
Owner	Roechard Lewis
Inputs	University rosters, social media profiles, athletic performance data, referrals
Activities	Campus outreach, social media engagement, referral network development, athletic department introductions
AI Touchpoint	AI-powered athlete discovery scanning social followings, engagement rates, sport visibility
Output	Qualified prospect list in CRM with contact info, sport, school, social metrics
SLA	10 new qualified prospects per week (Phase 1)
Tools	CRM, social media listening tools, university databases

Prospect Scoring Model:

Factor	Weight	Scoring
Social media following (combined)	25%	<1K=1, 1-5K=2, 5-25K=3, 25-100K=4, 100K+=5
Engagement rate	20%	<1%=1, 1-3%=2, 3-5%=3, 5-8%=4, 8%+=5
Sport marketability (local market)	20%	Niche=1, Moderate=3, High demand=5
Athletic performance / ranking	15%	Walk-on=1, Starter=3, All-Conference+=5
Years of eligibility remaining	10%	Senior=1, Junior=2, Sophomore=3, Freshman=4
Geographic relevance (Ohio market)	10%	Out-of-state=1, Ohio=3, Columbus/Cincy/Cleveland=5

Athletes scoring 3.5+ are prioritized for outreach.

Stage 2: EVALUATE (Due Diligence)

Objective: Assess athlete’s NIL potential, verify eligibility, and determine fit.

Item	Detail
Owner	Roechard Lewis + Russell Johnson
Inputs	Prospect profile, social media audit, compliance status, athlete interest
Activities	Social media deep-dive, brand safety audit, eligibility verification, athlete interview, preliminary valuation
AI Touchpoint	Automated social media audit (sentiment analysis, brand safety scan), AI-generated preliminary valuation model
Output	Athlete evaluation report, preliminary valuation, risk assessment
SLA	Complete evaluation within 5 business days of prospect qualification
Tools	Social media analytics, AI valuation model, compliance database

Athlete Valuation Factors:

Category	Metric	Data Source
Social Reach	Total followers across platforms	Instagram, TikTok, Twitter/X, YouTube
Social Engagement	Avg. likes, comments, shares per post	Platform APIs / analytics tools
Athletic Performance	Stats, awards, rankings	University athletics, ESPN, sports reference
Market Size	University enrollment, metro population	Census, university data
Sport Demand	Brand advertiser demand for sport category	Market research, brand surveys
Content Quality	Production value, consistency, authenticity	Manual review + AI assessment
Compliance Risk	Pending violations, school policy restrictions	University compliance office

Stage 3: SIGN (Athlete Onboarding)

Objective: Execute representation agreement and onboard athlete into NILEMS systems.

Item	Detail
Owner	Roechard Lewis
Inputs	Completed evaluation, athlete consent, compliance clearance
Activities	Representation agreement execution, school notification (if required), CRM onboarding, brand asset collection, goal-setting session
AI Touchpoint	AI-generated representation agreement (from templates), automated school notification letter
Output	Signed representation agreement, athlete profile in CRM, school notification filed
SLA	Complete onboarding within 3 business days of athlete commitment
Tools	DocuSign / PandaDoc, CRM, document templates, compliance tracker

Onboarding Checklist:

Stage 4: MATCH (Brand Pairing)

Objective: Identify and vet brand partners aligned with each athlete’s profile and values.

Item	Detail
Owner	Roechard Lewis + Russell Johnson
Inputs	Athlete profile, brand database, market demand data
Activities	Brand outreach, campaign opportunity identification, athlete-brand alignment scoring, proposal development
AI Touchpoint	AI brand-matching engine scoring alignment based on athlete demographics, values, audience overlap, brand category
Output	Matched brand shortlist, deal proposals, athlete approval
SLA	Present first brand matches within 14 days of signing
Tools	Brand database, AI matching engine, CRM pipeline

Brand Match Scoring:

Factor	Weight
Audience demographic overlap	30%
Brand values alignment	25%
Geographic relevance	20%
Deal size potential	15%
Long-term partnership potential	10%

Stage 5: NEGOTIATE (Deal Structuring)

Objective: Negotiate deal terms favorable to the athlete while maintaining brand relationships.

Item	Detail
Owner	Roechard Lewis
Inputs	Brand interest confirmation, athlete approval, deal parameters
Activities	Term sheet development, negotiation calls/meetings, athlete review, legal review, compliance check
AI Touchpoint	AI-generated term sheet drafts, comparable deal analysis, negotiation position recommendations
Output	Executed NIL agreement, compliance documentation
SLA	Close deals within 21 days of brand match
Tools	Contract templates, comparable deal database, compliance checker

Standard Deal Parameters:

Element	Range	Notes
Duration	1-12 months	Prefer 3-6 month terms for new athletes
Compensation type	Cash, product, equity, hybrid	Cash preferred; track fair market value for all
Deliverables	Posts, appearances, content, exclusivity	Clearly enumerate in contract
Exclusivity	Category-specific or non-exclusive	Non-exclusive unless premium comp
Usage rights	Duration and scope of content rights	Default: 6 months post-campaign
Morals clause	Standard	Mutual morals clause recommended
Termination	30-day notice standard	Pro-rated compensation for early termination
NILEMS commission	10-20%	Per commission structure in Section 5

Stage 6: EXECUTE (Campaign Delivery)

Objective: Deliver all contracted campaign elements on time and to brand specifications.

Item	Detail
Owner	Russell Johnson (production) + Roechard Lewis (relationship)
Inputs	Signed NIL agreement, campaign brief, content calendar
Activities	Content creation/production, scheduling, posting, brand review/approval, performance tracking
AI Touchpoint	AI-assisted content creation (copy, captions, hashtags), automated posting schedules, performance dashboards
Output	Completed campaign deliverables, performance report
SLA	All deliverables completed by contracted deadlines
Tools	Content management, social media scheduling, analytics dashboards

Stage 7: SETTLE (Payout & Reporting)

Objective: Collect brand payments, distribute athlete compensation, and report performance.

Item	Detail
Owner	Roechard Lewis (collections) + Russell Johnson (reporting)
Inputs	Completed campaign, brand invoice, performance metrics
Activities	Invoice brand, collect payment, calculate commission, pay athlete, generate tax documents, file compliance reports, performance debrief
AI Touchpoint	Automated invoicing, payment tracking, tax document generation, compliance report filing
Output	Athlete paid, compliance reports filed, campaign performance report delivered
SLA	Athlete paid within 14 days of brand payment receipt
Tools	Accounting system, payment processing, compliance tracker, reporting dashboard

Payout Workflow:

Brand Payment Received
        |
   Verify against contract terms
        |
   Calculate NILEMS commission (10-20%)
        |
   Deduct any pre-approved expenses
        |
   Issue athlete payment (ACH/check)
        |
   Generate 1099 documentation
        |
   File compliance disclosure (school + state)
        |
   Archive deal records (7-year retention)

2.3 Operating Cadence

Cadence	Activity	Participants
Daily	CRM pipeline review, social media monitoring, athlete communications	All
Weekly	Pipeline review meeting, content calendar review, brand outreach status	Roechard + Russell
Bi-weekly	Athlete check-ins (each signed athlete), compliance audit	Roechard
Monthly	Financial review, KPI dashboard review, brand partner reporting	All + CMTG
Quarterly	Strategic review, athlete portfolio assessment, market analysis, CMTG advisory session	All + CMTG
Annually	Contract renewals, tax preparation, compliance audit, strategic planning	All + Legal + CMTG

3. Technology Stack Recommendations

3.1 Architecture Overview

+------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                    NILEMS Operations Portal                       |
|                  (Astro + Cloudflare Pages)                       |
|                                                                  |
|  +------------+  +------------+  +------------+  +------------+  |
|  | Document   |  | Athlete    |  | Deal       |  | Compliance |  |
|  | Library    |  | Dashboard  |  | Pipeline   |  | Tracker    |  |
|  +------+-----+  +------+-----+  +------+-----+  +------+-----+  |
|         |               |               |               |        |
+---------|---------------|---------------|---------------|--------+
          |               |               |               |
   +------v-----+  +------v-----+  +------v-----+  +------v-----+
   | Cloudflare |  | Supabase   |  | Stripe     |  | AI Layer   |
   | R2/KV      |  | (Database, |  | Connect    |  | (Gemini /  |
   | (Docs)     |  |  Auth)     |  | (Payments) |  |  OpenAI)   |
   +------------+  +------------+  +------------+  +------------+
          |               |               |               |
   +------v-----+  +------v-----+  +------v-----+  +------v-----+
   | External   |  | Social     |  | Accounting |  | Content    |
   | Compliance |  | APIs       |  | (QBO)      |  | Creation   |
   | (Inflcr/   |  | (IG, TT,   |  |            |  | (Canva,    |
   |  COMPASS)  |  |  X, YT)    |  |            |  |  CapCut)   |
   +------------+  +------------+  +------------+  +------------+

3.2 Core Platform: NILEMS Operations Portal

Technology: Astro 4.x + Cloudflare Pages Purpose: Central hub for document management, athlete dashboards, deal tracking, and compliance workflows. Why Astro + Cloudflare:

Static-first architecture with server-side rendering where needed (Cloudflare Workers)
Zero server costs for the document library (static pages)
Global edge deployment for fast access
CMTG already has Cloudflare deployment expertise and infrastructure
Progressive enhancement: start as document library, grow into full operations portal

Portal Modules (Progressive Build):

Module	Phase	Description
Document Library	Phase 1	Templates, SOPs, compliance guides, onboarding materials
Athlete Directory	Phase 1	Profiles, contact info, status tracking
Deal Pipeline	Phase 2	Kanban-style deal tracker with stage management
Compliance Dashboard	Phase 2	Disclosure tracker, school notification status, audit log
Brand Partner Database	Phase 2	Brand profiles, contact info, deal history
Analytics Dashboard	Phase 3	Revenue metrics, athlete performance, social analytics
Athlete-Facing Portal	Phase 3	Self-service portal for athletes to view deals, earnings, documents

3.3 CRM & Athlete Management

Primary Recommendation: HubSpot CRM (Free Tier to Start)

Aspect	Detail
Cost	Free tier (up to 1,000 contacts), $20/mo Starter when scaling
Why	Pipeline management, email tracking, deal stages, reporting
NIL-Specific Use	Custom properties for sport, school, social metrics, valuation score
Integration	API connects to NILEMS portal, Zapier/n8n for workflow automation
Alternative	Pipedrive ($14/user/mo) — better for sales-heavy workflows

CRM Custom Fields for NIL:

Athlete Record:
  - Full Name, DOB, Contact Info
  - University, Sport, Position, Class Year
  - Eligibility Status (Active/Inactive/Transfer Portal)
  - Instagram Handle + Follower Count
  - TikTok Handle + Follower Count
  - Twitter/X Handle + Follower Count
  - YouTube Handle + Subscriber Count
  - Combined Social Reach
  - Average Engagement Rate
  - Prospect Score (calculated)
  - Representation Agreement Status
  - School Compliance Officer Contact
  - Financial Literacy Workshop Completion
  - Active Deals Count
  - Lifetime Earnings Through NILEMS
  - Commission Rate Tier

3.4 Compliance Tracking

Recommendation: Custom-built module in NILEMS Portal + Integration with school systems

Tool	Purpose	Cost
NILEMS Portal (Custom)	Internal compliance tracking, disclosure management, audit trail	Included in portal build
COMPASS (NCAA)	University-side compliance platform (if school uses it)	No direct cost to NILEMS
Inflcr / TEAMWORKS	School-facing compliance reporting (if school requires it)	Varies by school partnership
Vanta	SOC 2 compliance for data protection (Phase 3)	$10K/yr — justified when handling significant athlete financial data

Compliance Tracking Features (Portal):

School notification log with timestamps and confirmation receipts
Disclosure filing tracker (state and school level)
Contract review checklist with automated reminders
Audit trail for all deal modifications
Document retention management (7-year minimum)
Automated compliance calendar (filing deadlines per school)

Tool	Purpose	Cost	AI Integration
Canva Pro	Graphic design, brand kits, templates	$13/mo/user	AI image generation, Magic Write
CapCut Pro	Video editing, short-form content	$8/mo	AI captions, effects
Buffer or Later	Social media scheduling	$6-$18/mo	AI caption suggestions, best-time posting
Google Drive	Asset management, collaboration	Free (Workspace: $7/mo/user)	Gemini integration
Cloudflare R2	Media asset storage (portal)	~$0.015/GB/mo	—

3.6 Financial Tracking

Tool	Purpose	Cost
QuickBooks Online (Simple Start)	Accounting, invoicing, expense tracking, 1099 generation	$30/mo
Stripe Connect	Payment processing (brand-to-NILEMS-to-athlete)	2.9% + $0.30/transaction
Gusto or Deel	Contractor payments to athletes (1099 compliance)	$6/contractor/mo

Payment Flow:

Brand --> Stripe Connect (NILEMS Platform Account)
                    |
            Commission split (automatic)
                    |
         +----------+----------+
         |                     |
   NILEMS Account        Athlete Payout
   (Commission)         (via Stripe Connect
                         or Gusto/ACH)

3.7 Communication & Collaboration

Tool	Purpose	Cost
Google Workspace	Email (nilems.com), Docs, Sheets, Calendar	$7/user/mo
Slack (Free)	Internal team communication	Free
Calendly	Meeting scheduling with athletes and brands	Free tier
Loom	Video messaging for athlete communications	Free tier

3.8 Security & Infrastructure (CMTG Stack)

Tool	Purpose	Cost
Cloudflare (Pro)	DNS, CDN, DDoS protection, Pages hosting	$20/mo
ThreatLocker	Endpoint protection (when team grows)	Phase 2
Webroot	Antivirus/anti-malware	$3-$5/endpoint/mo
Acronis Cyber Protect	Backup for critical business data	$5-$10/endpoint/mo
1Password Business	Password management	$8/user/mo
Google Workspace	2FA, device management, email security	Included

3.9 Technology Budget Summary

Category	Monthly Cost (Phase 1)	Monthly Cost (Phase 2)	Monthly Cost (Phase 3)
CRM (HubSpot)	$0	$20	$50
Social Media Tools	$27	$45	$75
Content Creation	$21	$42	$42
Financial Tools	$30	$36	$50
Communication	$14	$28	$56
Security/Infrastructure	$28	$50	$100
AI Services	$20	$50	$100
Portal Hosting (Cloudflare)	$20	$20	$25
Total	$160/mo	$291/mo	$498/mo
Annual	$1,920	$3,492	$5,976

4. AI Integration Strategy

4.1 AI Integration Map

AI is integrated at every stage of the deal lifecycle to accelerate operations, reduce manual effort, and improve decision quality. The goal is to reduce the time from prospect identification to first deal from the industry average of 45+ days to under 14 days.

Deal Stage         AI Application                    Impact
-----------        ----------------                  ------
PROSPECT           Athlete Discovery Engine           5x prospect pipeline
EVALUATE           Social Media Audit + Valuation     80% faster evaluation
SIGN               Contract Generation                90% faster document prep
MATCH              Brand-Athlete Matching Engine       3x more relevant matches
NEGOTIATE          Comparable Deal Analysis            Better deal positioning
EXECUTE            Content Generation + Scheduling     60% faster content delivery
SETTLE             Automated Invoicing + Reporting     95% automation of admin

4.2 AI Tools by Function

4.2.1 Athlete Discovery & Evaluation

Tool: Custom AI pipeline (Google Gemini API + social media APIs) Cost: ~$20-50/month (API costs)

Capabilities:

Scan university rosters and cross-reference social media profiles
Calculate prospect scores using the scoring model defined in Section 2.2
Identify trending athletes (rapid follower growth, viral content)
Brand safety scan (flag problematic content using sentiment analysis)
Generate athlete evaluation reports automatically

Implementation:

Input: University name, sport
  --> Scrape roster (public athletic directory)
  --> Match to social media profiles (Instagram, TikTok, X)
  --> Pull follower counts + engagement rates (APIs)
  --> Run Gemini analysis on content quality + brand safety
  --> Calculate prospect score
  --> Generate evaluation report
Output: Ranked prospect list with scores and AI-generated summaries

ROI: Replaces 20+ hours/week of manual research with 2-3 hours of review.

4.2.2 Contract & Document Generation

Tool: Gemini API with structured output + document templates Cost: Included in Gemini API usage

Capabilities:

Generate representation agreements from templates with athlete-specific terms
Create NIL deal contracts with negotiated terms auto-populated
Produce school notification letters customized per university requirements
Generate 1099 and tax documentation
Create compliance disclosure forms

Templates Required:

Athlete Representation Agreement
NIL Deal Contract (brand-facing)
School Notification Letter (per Ohio law)
Photo/Video Release Form
Financial Literacy Workshop Acknowledgment
Confidentiality / NDA
Brand Partnership Proposal
Campaign Performance Report
Invoice Template (brand billing)
Athlete Earnings Statement

ROI: Contract generation from 2-4 hours to 15 minutes. Compliance error reduction estimated at 90%.

4.2.3 Brand-Athlete Matching Engine

Tool: Custom matching algorithm (Gemini API + structured data) Cost: ~$10-20/month

How It Works:

Athlete Profile:
  - Demographics (age, gender, location, sport)
  - Audience demographics (age range, gender split, geography)
  - Content categories (fitness, lifestyle, gaming, faith, food, etc.)
  - Values alignment (community, competition, education, etc.)
  - Engagement rate and reach

Brand Profile:
  - Industry/category
  - Target demographics
  - Campaign objectives
  - Budget range
  - Brand values
  - Geographic focus

Matching:
  --> Vector similarity scoring across all dimensions
  --> Gemini reasoning layer for qualitative alignment
  --> Output: Ranked list of matches with confidence scores and rationale

ROI: Increases match quality (higher deal close rate) and reduces brand outreach waste.

4.2.4 Content Generation & Assistance

Tool: Gemini API + Canva AI + CapCut AI Cost: Included in existing tool subscriptions

Capabilities:

Generate social media captions, hashtags, and posting schedules
Create content calendars aligned with sport seasons and brand campaigns
Draft athlete bios, press releases, and marketing copy
Suggest content ideas based on trending topics and athlete niche
Auto-generate campaign performance reports

Content Workflow:

1. AI generates content calendar for month (based on athlete schedule + brand campaigns)
2. AI drafts captions and suggests creative concepts
3. Russell Johnson produces visual content (Canva/CapCut)
4. Athlete reviews and approves
5. AI schedules posts at optimal times
6. AI monitors performance and adjusts strategy

ROI: 60% reduction in content production time per athlete.

4.2.5 Compliance Checking

Tool: Custom compliance rules engine + Gemini for interpretation Cost: Minimal (rules engine in portal, Gemini API for edge cases)

Capabilities:

Automatically check deals against Ohio NIL law requirements
Verify school notification timelines
Flag potential NCAA compliance issues
Track disclosure filing deadlines
Audit contract terms against prohibited categories (alcohol, tobacco, gambling, etc.)

Compliance Rules Engine:

Rule: school_notification_required
  Trigger: New athlete signed
  Check: Has school compliance office been notified?
  Deadline: 7 days from signing
  Action: Auto-generate notification letter, create task, send reminder

Rule: prohibited_category_check
  Trigger: New brand deal entered
  Check: Is brand in prohibited category for athlete's school?
  Action: Flag deal, require manual compliance review

Rule: disclosure_filing
  Trigger: Deal executed
  Check: State disclosure filed? School disclosure filed?
  Deadline: Per school/state requirements
  Action: Auto-generate filings, create tasks

4.2.6 Financial & Market Analysis

Tool: Gemini API + market data aggregation Cost: ~$10/month

Capabilities:

Comparable deal analysis (“What are similar athletes getting paid?”)
Market rate estimation for specific deliverables
Revenue forecasting per athlete
Portfolio-level financial analysis
Trend analysis (which sports/platforms are growing in NIL value)

4.3 AI Implementation Roadmap

Phase	AI Capability	Timeline	Complexity
Phase 1	Contract/document generation from templates	Month 1-2	Low
Phase 1	Social media caption + content assistance	Month 1-2	Low
Phase 1	Compliance checklist automation	Month 2-3	Low
Phase 2	Athlete prospect scoring pipeline	Month 4-6	Medium
Phase 2	Brand-athlete matching engine	Month 5-7	Medium
Phase 2	Automated compliance checking	Month 6-8	Medium
Phase 3	Full athlete valuation model	Month 9-12	High
Phase 3	Predictive deal analytics	Month 10-14	High
Phase 3	Athlete-facing AI assistant (chatbot)	Month 12-18	High

4.4 AI Cost Projections

Item	Phase 1/mo	Phase 2/mo	Phase 3/mo
Google Gemini API	$20	$40	$75
Social media API access	$0	$10	$25
Custom model fine-tuning	$0	$0	$50
Total AI Cost	$20	$50	$150

5. Revenue Model Framework

5.1 Revenue Streams Overview

                     NILEMS Revenue Streams
                            |
         +------------------+------------------+
         |                  |                  |
    Commission         Service Fees        Products
    (Primary)          (Secondary)        (Tertiary)
         |                  |                  |
    +----+----+        +----+----+        +----+----+
    |         |        |         |        |         |
  NIL Deal  Merch   Workshop  Consulting  Merch   Digital
  Commis-   Commis- Fees      Fees       Sales   Products
  sions     sions                        (Direct)

5.2 Revenue Stream 1: NIL Deal Commissions (Primary — 70% of Revenue)

Commission Structure:

Athlete Tier	Social Following	Typical Deal Size	Commission Rate	Avg. Annual Deals
Tier 1: Emerging	<5K combined	$250-$2,000	20%	3-6
Tier 2: Rising	5K-25K combined	$2,000-$10,000	18%	4-8
Tier 3: Established	25K-100K combined	$10,000-$50,000	15%	6-12
Tier 4: Star	100K+ combined	$50,000+	10-12%	8-15+

Why This Tiered Structure:

Emerging athletes need more hands-on work (branding, content coaching, deal sourcing) — higher commission justified by higher service intensity
Star athletes bring deal flow and credibility — lower commission rate offset by higher volume and deal size
Industry standard ranges from 10-25%; NILEMS sits in the competitive mid-range

Year 1 Commission Revenue Projection:

Scenario	Athletes	Avg. Deals/Athlete	Avg. Deal Size	Avg. Commission	Total Revenue
Conservative	10	4	$3,000	18%	$21,600
Moderate	17	5	$4,500	17%	$65,025
Aggressive	25	6	$6,000	16%	$144,000

5.3 Revenue Stream 2: Merchandising (15% of Revenue)

Model A: Athlete Merchandise (Commission)

NILEMS facilitates athlete merchandise creation and sales
Print-on-demand partnerships (Printful, Printify) minimize inventory risk
Commission: 15-25% of net merchandise profit
Athletes drive sales through their social channels

Model B: NILEMS-Branded Merchandise (Direct Sales)

NILEMS brand apparel and accessories
Sold at events, workshops, and online
Higher margin (40-60% gross)
Builds brand awareness

Merchandise Revenue Projection (Year 1):

Source	Units/Month	Avg. Price	Net Margin	Monthly Revenue	Annual Revenue
Athlete merch (commission)	100	$30	20% commission on $10 net	$200	$2,400
NILEMS brand merch	50	$35	50% margin	$875	$10,500
Total				$1,075	$12,900

5.4 Revenue Stream 3: Workshops & Events (10% of Revenue)

Workshop Types:

Workshop	Audience	Duration	Price	Frequency
Financial Literacy for Athletes	Athletes	2 hours	$0 (free, builds pipeline)	Monthly
NIL 101: Know Your Worth	Athletes + Parents	90 min	$0-$25/person	Monthly
Brand Building Masterclass	Athletes	3 hours	$99/person or team rate	Quarterly
NIL Compliance Seminar	Coaches, Athletic Dept.	2 hours	$500-$2,000/session	By request
Corporate NIL Strategy	Brands/Businesses	2 hours	$1,500-$3,000/session	By request

Workshop Revenue Projection (Year 1):

Workshop Type	Events/Year	Revenue/Event	Annual Revenue
Brand Building Masterclass	4	$1,500	$6,000
NIL Compliance Seminar	6	$1,000	$6,000
Corporate NIL Strategy	4	$2,000	$8,000
Free workshops (pipeline)	12	$0	$0
Total			$20,000

5.5 Revenue Stream 4: Consulting & Advisory (5% of Revenue)

Consulting Services:

Service	Target	Rate	Description
NIL Program Development	Universities	$5,000-$15,000/project	Help athletic departments build NIL support programs
Brand NIL Strategy	Regional businesses	$2,000-$5,000/project	Help brands develop athlete partnership strategies
Athlete Family Advisory	Parents/guardians	$250-$500/session	NIL education for athlete families
Speaking Engagements	Conferences/Events	$1,000-$3,000/event	NIL industry speaking

Consulting Revenue Projection (Year 1):

Service	Engagements/Year	Avg. Revenue	Annual Revenue
NIL Program Development	2	$7,500	$15,000
Brand NIL Strategy	4	$3,000	$12,000
Speaking Engagements	3	$1,500	$4,500
Total			$31,500

5.6 Total Revenue Projection Summary

Revenue Stream	Conservative	Moderate	Aggressive
NIL Deal Commissions	$21,600	$65,025	$144,000
Merchandising	$6,000	$12,900	$25,000
Workshops & Events	$10,000	$20,000	$35,000
Consulting & Advisory	$12,000	$31,500	$50,000
Total Year 1	$49,600	$129,425	$254,000

To hit the $150K-$300K target, NILEMS needs to execute at the moderate-to-aggressive level, which requires:

15-25 signed athletes
4-6 deals per athlete per year
Average deal size of $4,500-$6,000
Active workshop and consulting revenue streams

5.7 Pricing Philosophy

Principle: Align incentives with athlete success.

NILEMS makes more money when athletes make more money. This alignment is critical for trust-building with athletes, families, and university compliance offices.

Commission rates decrease as deal sizes increase (reward loyalty)
Free financial literacy workshops invest in athlete relationships
No upfront fees to athletes (removes barrier to entry)
Brand-side consulting revenue supplements commission income
Merchandise is athlete-empowering (athletes earn majority of merch revenue)

6. Compliance Framework

6.1 Regulatory Landscape

Ohio NIL Law (SB 187, Updated 2023)

Requirement	Detail	NILEMS Action
Athletes may earn NIL compensation	No state restriction on compensation amount	Track and report all compensation
School notification	Athletes must disclose NIL activities to their institution	File notification within 7 days of agreement
No use of school IP	Athletes cannot use university logos, trademarks, or facilities in NIL deals (unless school permits)	Contract review checklist, brand education
No pay-for-play	Compensation cannot be contingent on athletic performance or enrollment	Contract language audit
Agent registration	Ohio requires registration for athlete agents (Ohio Revised Code 4771)	Roechard Lewis must register as Ohio athlete agent
No conflict with team contracts	NIL deals cannot conflict with team sponsorship agreements	Cross-reference with school’s existing sponsorships
Tax compliance	All NIL income is taxable	1099 generation, financial literacy education

NCAA NIL Policy (Current as of 2026)

Rule	Detail	NILEMS Action
Disclosure required	Athletes must disclose NIL activities to school	Automated disclosure filing
No quid pro quo	NIL deals cannot be used as recruiting inducement	Do not engage with recruits (prospective students)
Institutional involvement	Schools may facilitate but not pay directly for NIL	Understand each school’s specific policy
Collective restrictions	New restrictions on NIL collectives (post-2024 settlement)	NILEMS operates as agency, not collective — clear distinction
Transfer portal implications	NIL deals may influence transfer decisions	Document all deal timing relative to transfer activity

Federal Considerations

Area	Status	NILEMS Action
Federal NIL legislation	Multiple bills proposed, none passed as of 2026	Monitor actively, prepare for potential federal framework
Title IX implications	Equal NIL opportunity discussions ongoing	Track gender distribution of athlete roster
Antitrust (House v. NCAA settlement)	Revenue sharing framework evolving	Stay current on settlement implementation
Tax law	NIL income taxable as self-employment	Financial literacy workshops, 1099 compliance

6.2 Agent Registration Requirements

Ohio Revised Code Chapter 4771 — Athlete Agents

Roechard Lewis must complete:

Submit application to Ohio Attorney General’s office
Provide disclosure of criminal history, agency relationships, training
Pay registration fee (~$200-$500)
Post surety bond (if required — Ohio may require $25,000 bond)
Complete Uniform Athlete Agent Act (UAAA) registration
File with each state where athletes are recruited (if crossing state lines)
Maintain registration annually

UAAA Compliance:

The Uniform Athlete Agent Act has been adopted by Ohio
Requires 10-day right of cancellation in representation agreements
Mandates specific disclosures in representation agreements
Imposes record-keeping requirements

6.3 School-Specific Compliance Matrix

University	Conference	Compliance Platform	Notification Process	Key Restrictions
Ohio State	Big Ten	COMPASS / Opendorse	Online portal + compliance office email	Category restrictions per team sponsors
Cincinnati	Big 12	INFLCR	Online portal submission	Category restrictions, 7-day advance notice
Akron	MAC	TBD (verify)	Email to compliance office	Standard UAAA requirements
Kent State	MAC	TBD (verify)	Email to compliance office	Standard UAAA requirements
Toledo	MAC	TBD (verify)	Email to compliance office	Standard UAAA requirements
Youngstown State	Horizon/FCS	TBD (verify)	Email to compliance office	Standard UAAA requirements
Dayton	Atlantic 10	TBD (verify)	Email to compliance office	Standard UAAA requirements

Action Item: Contact each university’s compliance office to confirm notification procedures, restricted brand categories, and preferred communication methods. Build relationships with compliance officers as trusted partners.

6.4 Compliance Workflow

+-------------------+     +-------------------+     +-------------------+
| NEW ATHLETE SIGN  | --> | COMPLIANCE CHECK  | --> | SCHOOL NOTIFY     |
| Collect info      |     | Eligibility verify|     | Generate letter   |
| Verify enrollment |     | Agent registration|     | Submit via portal |
| Check school reqs |     | Bond current      |     | or email          |
+-------------------+     +-------------------+     | Confirm receipt   |
                                                     | Log in system     |
                                                     +--------+----------+
                                                              |
                                                              v
+-------------------+     +-------------------+     +-------------------+
| DEAL COMPLIANCE   | --> | ONGOING MONITOR   | --> | ANNUAL AUDIT      |
| Check prohibited  |     | Disclosure updates|     | Full portfolio    |
| categories        |     | New school rules  |     | review            |
| No pay-for-play   |     | Tax document prep |     | Registration      |
| Team sponsor      |     | Athlete status    |     | renewal           |
| conflict check    |     | changes (transfer,|     | Record retention  |
| Contract review   |     |  graduation)      |     | verification      |
+-------------------+     +-------------------+     +-------------------+

6.5 Document Templates Needed

#	Document	Purpose	Priority
1	Athlete Representation Agreement	Core contract between NILEMS and athlete	Critical
2	School Notification Letter (Template per school)	Notify school of representation relationship	Critical
3	NIL Deal Contract	Agreement between brand and athlete (NILEMS as facilitator)	Critical
4	NIL Disclosure Form	Athlete disclosure of NIL activity to school	Critical
5	Photo/Video/Likeness Release	Content usage rights	High
6	Brand Partnership Proposal Template	Pitch deck/proposal for brand partners	High
7	Financial Literacy Workshop Materials	Workshop content and acknowledgment form	High
8	Campaign Brief Template	Brand-to-athlete campaign specifications	High
9	Campaign Performance Report Template	Post-campaign metrics and results	Medium
10	Invoice Template (Brand Billing)	Billing brands for NIL services	Medium
11	Athlete Earnings Statement	Periodic earnings summary for athletes	Medium
12	Confidentiality / NDA	For sensitive brand discussions	Medium
13	Independent Contractor Agreement	For content creators, workshop facilitators	Medium
14	W-9 Collection Form + Instructions	Tax compliance for athletes	High
15	Right of Cancellation Notice	UAAA-required 10-day cancellation right disclosure	Critical

All templates will be housed in the NILEMS Operations Portal document library and available for AI-assisted generation.

6.6 Compliance Calendar

Timeframe	Activity	Responsible
Within 7 days of signing	School notification filed	Roechard
Within 7 days of deal execution	NIL disclosure filed with school	Roechard
10 days post-signing	Right of cancellation period expires	System auto-track
Monthly	Compliance status review for all athletes	Roechard
Quarterly	Audit of all active deals for compliance	Roechard + Legal
January 31	1099-NEC forms issued to all athletes	Russell + Accounting
Annually (registration date)	Ohio agent registration renewal	Roechard
Annually	Surety bond renewal (if applicable)	Roechard
Ongoing	Monitor NCAA/state regulatory changes	All + CMTG

6.7 Risk Mitigation

Risk	Likelihood	Impact	Mitigation
Operating without proper agent registration	Medium	Critical	Prioritize registration before signing first athlete
School notification deadline missed	Medium	High	Automated reminders in portal, 3-day buffer
Prohibited brand category deal	Low	High	Automated category check in deal pipeline
Pay-for-play allegation	Low	Critical	Strict contract language, compliance training
Athlete tax non-compliance	Medium	Medium	Mandatory financial literacy, 1099 automation
Data breach of athlete PII	Low	High	CMTG security stack, encryption, access controls
NCAA rule change impacts active deals	Medium	Medium	Quarterly compliance review, legal counsel retainer

7. Growth Framework

7.1 Phase 1: Foundation (Months 0-6)

Theme: Build the Machine

Objectives

Establish legal and regulatory foundation
Sign first 5-10 athletes
Close first 10-20 NIL deals
Launch NILEMS Operations Portal v1
Build brand partner pipeline of 25+ local/regional brands
Generate $25K-$50K in revenue

Month-by-Month Milestones

Month 1: Legal & Infrastructure

Ohio athlete agent registration filed
UAAA compliance verified
Echelon Media Sports LLC operating agreement updated for NILEMS DBA
Domain registered (nilems.com or similar)
Google Workspace set up
CRM configured with custom fields
Document templates drafted (top 5 critical templates)
NILEMS Operations Portal development begins (CMTG)
Brand identity finalized (logo, colors, brand guide)

Month 2: Market Entry

NILEMS Operations Portal v1 launched (document library)
First 3 athlete prospects contacted
10 brand partners identified and contacted
Financial literacy workshop curriculum developed
Social media presence launched (Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, X)
University compliance office introductions (start with 2-3 schools)
First athlete signed

Month 3: First Deals

3-5 athletes signed
First NIL deals closed
First financial literacy workshop hosted
Brand partner database at 15+ contacts
School compliance relationships established at 3+ universities
AI contract generation operational
Social media content pipeline running

Month 4: Momentum

5-8 athletes signed
5-10 active deals
First athlete merchandise live (print-on-demand)
Portal v1.5 with athlete directory module
Brand partnership proposal template refined
First consulting engagement secured

Month 5: Optimization

7-10 athletes signed
10-15 cumulative deals closed
Process refinements based on first deals
AI brand-matching engine pilot
Second compliance seminar delivered
Revenue tracking and reporting operational

Month 6: Phase 1 Review

10 athletes signed (minimum target)
15-20 cumulative deals closed
$25K-$50K revenue generated
Phase 1 retrospective and Phase 2 planning
Brand partner pipeline at 30+
Hire plan for Phase 2 confirmed

Phase 1 KPIs

Metric	Target	Measurement
Athletes signed	10	CRM count
Deals closed	20	CRM pipeline
Revenue	$25K-$50K	Accounting
Brand partners in pipeline	30+	CRM contacts
School relationships	4+ universities	Compliance log
Time to first deal (per athlete)	<21 days	CRM tracking
Compliance incidents	0	Compliance tracker

7.2 Phase 2: Scale (Months 6-12)

Theme: Accelerate & Systematize

Objectives

Scale to 15-25 signed athletes
Close 50-75 cumulative deals
Hire first team member(s)
Launch athlete-facing features on portal
Establish NILEMS as recognized Ohio NIL agency
Generate $75K-$150K cumulative revenue

Key Milestones

Month	Milestone
Month 7	Hire Athlete Relations Coordinator (part-time)
Month 7	Portal v2: Deal pipeline + compliance dashboard modules
Month 8	AI brand-matching engine fully operational
Month 8	First NIL Compliance Seminar sold to a university
Month 9	15 athletes signed, 30+ deals closed
Month 9	Content creator/social media manager hired (contract)
Month 10	Merchandise program generating consistent revenue
Month 10	Speaking engagement at Ohio sports/business event
Month 11	AI-powered athlete valuation model v1 launched
Month 11	20 athletes signed
Month 12	Phase 2 review: $75K-$150K cumulative revenue
Month 12	Strategic plan for regional expansion finalized

Phase 2 KPIs

Metric	Target	Measurement
Athletes signed	15-25	CRM count
Deals closed (cumulative)	50-75	CRM pipeline
Revenue (cumulative)	$75K-$150K	Accounting
Average deal size	$4,000+	CRM data
Repeat brand partners	30%+	CRM tracking
Athlete retention rate	90%+	CRM status
Time to first deal	<14 days	CRM tracking
Workshop/event revenue	$15K+	Accounting
Compliance incidents	0	Compliance tracker

7.3 Phase 3: Expand (Months 12-24)

Theme: Regional Authority & Product Diversification

Objectives

25-50 signed athletes
Expand to adjacent states (Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan)
Launch premium service tier
Develop proprietary NIL marketplace technology
Generate $200K-$500K annual revenue (Year 2)
Establish NILEMS as top-3 Ohio NIL agency

Key Milestones

Quarter	Milestone
Q5 (Month 13-15)	Junior agent hired, regional expansion begins (1-2 adjacent states)
Q5	Portal v3: Athlete self-service portal with deal tracking, earnings dashboard
Q5	Premium tier launched (dedicated content team, priority deal sourcing)
Q6 (Month 16-18)	Marketing Director hired, NILEMS brand awareness campaign
Q6	First NIL collective partnership (facilitate, not operate)
Q6	35+ athletes signed
Q7 (Month 19-21)	Legal counsel on retainer
Q7	Proprietary NIL marketplace MVP (connecting brands to athletes at scale)
Q7	Conference/industry speaking: National NIL events
Q8 (Month 22-24)	50 athletes signed
Q8	Annual revenue run rate: $300K-$500K
Q8	Year 2 strategic plan: National expansion or vertical specialization

Phase 3 KPIs

Metric	Target	Measurement
Athletes signed	25-50	CRM
Annual revenue (Year 2)	$200K-$500K	Accounting
States with active athletes	3-6	CRM geography
Average deal size	$6,000+	CRM data
Repeat brand rate	40%+	CRM tracking
Athlete retention	85%+	CRM status
Team size	5-8 (FT + contract)	HR
Industry recognition	2+ press mentions or awards	Media tracking

7.4 Growth Strategy Levers

Lever 1: University Relationship Depth

Build formal relationships with compliance offices at all 7 target schools
Offer free NIL education workshops on campus
Become the recommended agency for athletes seeking representation
Sponsor university athletic events (visibility)

Lever 2: Brand Network Density

Build an Ohio brand partner network of 100+ businesses
Create a “NILEMS Brand Partner” program with benefits (priority access to athletes, co-marketing)
Develop industry-specific brand packages (restaurants, car dealers, fitness, apparel, tech)
Target both local businesses and regional/national brands with Ohio presence

Lever 3: Content as Distribution

Athletes create content that markets NILEMS organically
Successful deal announcements drive inbound interest from both athletes and brands
Workshop content becomes marketing material (video clips, social posts)
Thought leadership content (blog, podcast, LinkedIn) establishes expertise

Lever 4: AI-Driven Efficiency

AI reduces cost-to-serve per athlete, enabling more athletes at lower commission tiers
Faster deal cycles mean more deals per athlete per year
AI valuation data creates defensible pricing (“your deal is worth X because of Y data”)
Automated compliance reduces risk and builds trust with universities

Lever 5: Strategic Partnerships

Partner with sports law firms (referral agreements)
Partner with financial advisors and CPAs (workshop facilitators, cross-referrals)
Partner with content agencies for overflow production work
Partner with local NIL collectives (consulting, not competing)

8. Risk Assessment

8.1 Risk Matrix

#	Risk	Probability	Impact	Severity	Mitigation
1	Federal NIL legislation changes rules	Medium	High	HIGH	Monitor actively, build adaptable contracts, maintain legal counsel
2	NCAA settlement changes NIL landscape	High	High	CRITICAL	Diversify revenue beyond commission, stay current on House v. NCAA
3	Ohio law becomes more restrictive	Low	High	MEDIUM	Engage Ohio legislature, maintain compliance buffer
4	Unable to sign enough athletes	Medium	High	HIGH	Diversify outreach, offer free workshops, build referral network
5	Deal flow insufficient for revenue targets	Medium	High	HIGH	Build dense brand network, diversify revenue streams
6	Compliance violation	Low	Critical	HIGH	Compliance-first culture, automated tracking, legal review
7	Athlete controversy damages NILEMS brand	Medium	Medium	MEDIUM	Morals clauses, brand safety screening, crisis communication plan
8	Competition from established agencies	High	Medium	HIGH	Ohio-focused density, relationship depth, AI speed advantage
9	Technology platform failure	Low	Medium	LOW	CMTG-managed infrastructure, backups, redundancy
10	Key person risk (Roechard or Russell)	Low	Critical	HIGH	Document all processes, build team, cross-train
11	Cash flow challenges (commission lag)	High	Medium	HIGH	Upfront brand deposits, diversified revenue, line of credit
12	Brand partners not paying	Medium	Medium	MEDIUM	Net-30 terms, deposits, Stripe payment automation

8.2 Competitive Landscape

Competitor Type	Threat Level	NILEMS Advantage
National NIL agencies (Opendorse, INFLCR)	Medium	Local relationships, personal attention, lower fees
NIL collectives (school-specific)	Medium	Agency model (not collective), multi-school coverage
Sports agents expanding to NIL	High	NIL-first focus, digital native, AI-powered
DIY athlete self-management	Low	Full-service value proposition, compliance support
Other Ohio-based NIL agencies	Medium	First-mover in comprehensive Ohio-focused approach

9. Financial Projections

9.1 Startup Costs

Category	Cost	Notes
Ohio Agent Registration + Bond	$500-$25,500	$500 registration + potential $25K bond
LLC Updates / Legal	$1,000-$2,500	Operating agreement update, DBA filing
Technology Setup (Phase 1)	$1,920	First year tech stack (see Section 3.9)
NILEMS Portal Development (CMTG)	$5,000-$15,000	Depending on scope (document library to full portal)
Brand Identity & Design	$1,000-$3,000	Logo, brand guide, templates
Insurance (E&O + General Liability)	$2,000-$4,000/year	Errors & Omissions critical for agent work
Initial Marketing	$2,000-$5,000	Website, social media, business cards, event materials
Working Capital (3 months)	$10,000-$20,000	Cover expenses before commission revenue flows
Total Startup	$23,420-$76,920

Recommended minimum capitalization: $30,000-$50,000

9.2 Monthly Operating Costs

Category	Phase 1/mo	Phase 2/mo	Phase 3/mo
Technology stack	$160	$291	$498
Insurance	$250	$250	$350
Legal (as needed)	$200	$500	$3,500
Marketing/Advertising	$500	$1,000	$2,000
Office/Coworking	$0-$200	$200-$500	$500-$1,500
Travel & Networking	$300	$600	$1,000
Contractor payments	$0	$2,500-$5,000	$8,000-$15,000
Miscellaneous	$200	$400	$600
CMTG Advisory Retainer	TBD	TBD	TBD
Total Monthly	$1,610-$1,810	$5,741-$8,541	$16,448-$24,448
Total Annual	$19,320-$21,720	$68,892-$102,492	$197,376-$293,376

9.3 Break-Even Analysis

Scenario	Monthly Costs	Required Monthly Revenue	Deals Needed/Month (at avg $4,500, 17% commission)
Phase 1	$1,700	$1,700	2.2 deals
Phase 2	$7,000	$7,000	9.2 deals
Phase 3	$20,000	$20,000	26.1 deals

Phase 1 break-even is achievable with 3 deals per month at average deal size. This is realistic by Month 3-4 with 5+ signed athletes.

9.4 Three-Year Revenue Projection

Year	Athletes	Deals	Avg. Deal Size	Commission Rev	Other Rev	Total Revenue	Operating Cost	Net Income
Year 1	10-25	40-100	$4,000	$27K-$68K	$23K-$62K	$50K-$130K	$20K-$70K	$30K-$60K
Year 2	25-50	100-250	$5,500	$94K-$234K	$50K-$100K	$144K-$334K	$100K-$200K	$44K-$134K
Year 3	50-100	250-500	$7,000	$263K-$525K	$100K-$200K	$363K-$725K	$200K-$350K	$163K-$375K

10. Appendices

Appendix A: Ohio NIL Law Quick Reference

Ohio Senate Bill 187 (Updated 2023) - Key Provisions:

Right to Earn: Ohio college athletes may earn compensation for use of their name, image, or likeness
No School Compensation: Schools may not directly compensate athletes for NIL (separate from House v. NCAA revenue sharing)
School Notification Required: Athletes must notify their institution of NIL agreements
No School IP: Athletes may not use institutional trademarks, logos, or facilities in NIL activities without permission
Academic Standing: NIL activities must not conflict with team activities or academic requirements
Agent Requirements: Athlete agents must comply with Ohio Revised Code Chapter 4771 (UAAA adoption)
No Recruiting Inducement: NIL deals cannot serve as recruiting inducements for prospective athletes
Tax Compliance: All NIL income is subject to Ohio and federal income tax

Appendix B: Target University Profiles

University	Enrollment	Division	Conference	Key Sports (NIL Potential)	Metro Market
Ohio State	61,000+	D-I FBS	Big Ten	Football, Basketball, Wrestling, Hockey	Columbus (2.1M)
Cincinnati	47,000+	D-I FBS	Big 12	Football, Basketball, Soccer	Cincinnati (2.2M)
Akron	16,000+	D-I FBS	MAC	Football, Soccer, Track	Akron (700K)
Kent State	27,000+	D-I FBS	MAC	Football, Gymnastics, Track	Kent/Akron (700K)
Toledo	19,000+	D-I FBS	MAC	Football, Basketball	Toledo (650K)
Youngstown State	11,000+	D-I FCS	Horizon	Football, Basketball	Youngstown (540K)
Dayton	11,000+	D-I (no football)	A-10	Basketball, Soccer	Dayton (800K)

Appendix C: Brand Partner Category Targets

Category	Example Brands	Typical Deal Size	NIL Fit
Local Restaurants/Food	Chipotle (local), Skyline Chili, local chains	$500-$5,000	High (social posts, appearances)
Auto Dealers	Local dealerships, regional chains	$2,000-$15,000	High (appearance + social)
Fitness/Supplements	GNC, local gyms, supplement brands	$1,000-$10,000	Very High (natural alignment)
Apparel/Streetwear	Local brands, regional retailers	$500-$5,000	Very High (content-driven)
Technology	Regional tech companies, app companies	$1,000-$10,000	Medium
Financial Services	Local banks, credit unions, fintech	$2,000-$10,000	Medium (financial literacy tie-in)
Healthcare/Wellness	Hospitals, clinics, wellness brands	$1,000-$8,000	Medium
Real Estate	Apartment complexes, realtors	$500-$3,000	High (college housing)
Entertainment	Local venues, events, media	$500-$5,000	High
Non-Profit	Community organizations	$0-$1,000	Medium (exposure value)

Appendix D: Competitive Commission Rate Comparison

Agency/Model	Commission Rate	Services Included
Traditional Sports Agent	3-10%	Negotiation only (pro contracts)
NIL-Specific Agencies (National)	15-25%	Full service
NIL Collectives	0% (funded by donors)	Deal facilitation
NILEMS (Proposed)	10-20%	Full service + compliance + content + financial literacy
Self-Managed (Athlete DIY)	0%	No support

NILEMS is competitively positioned: lower than national NIL agencies, with more services than traditional agents. The tiered structure rewards athlete growth and loyalty.

Appendix E: CMTG Deliverables for NILEMS

Deliverable	Description	Timeline	Status
Business Operating Framework	This document	February 2026	Complete
NILEMS Operations Portal (v1)	Astro + Cloudflare Pages document library	March 2026	Planned
Portal v1.5 - Athlete Directory	Athlete profiles and status tracking	April 2026	Planned
Portal v2 - Deal Pipeline	Kanban deal tracker + compliance dashboard	June 2026	Planned
AI Integration - Contract Generation	Gemini-powered contract creation from templates	March 2026	Planned
AI Integration - Brand Matching	Athlete-brand matching engine	June 2026	Planned
Technology Stack Setup	CRM, social tools, accounting, security	March 2026	Planned
Ongoing Advisory	Monthly strategy and technology advisory	Ongoing	Active

Appendix F: Key Metrics Dashboard (Template)

NILEMS Monthly Dashboard
========================

ATHLETES
  Signed: ___ | Pipeline: ___ | Churned: ___
  Retention Rate: ___%

DEALS
  Active: ___ | Closed This Month: ___ | Pipeline Value: $___
  Avg. Deal Size: $___ | Avg. Time to Close: ___ days

REVENUE
  Commission Revenue: $___
  Merch Revenue: $___
  Workshop Revenue: $___
  Consulting Revenue: $___
  Total Monthly: $___
  YTD Total: $___

BRAND PARTNERS
  Active: ___ | Pipeline: ___ | Repeat Rate: ___%

COMPLIANCE
  School Notifications Filed: ___
  Disclosures Current: Yes/No
  Open Issues: ___

CONTENT
  Posts Published (athlete accounts): ___
  Avg. Engagement Rate: ___%
  Content Pieces Produced: ___

FINANCIAL
  Operating Expenses: $___
  Net Income: $___
  Cash on Hand: $___
  Accounts Receivable: $___

Document Prepared By: Cloud Magic Technology Group (CMTG) For: N.I.L.E.M.S. / Echelon Media Sports LLC Date: February 2026 Classification: Confidential - Client Advisory Document

This framework is a living document. It should be reviewed and updated quarterly as NILEMS scales, regulations evolve, and market conditions change. CMTG will support ongoing updates as part of the advisory engagement.

Business Operating Framework

N.I.L.E.M.S. Business Operating Framework

Table of Contents

1. Executive Summary

2. Business Operating Framework

2.1 Organizational Structure

Core Roles (Phase 1)

Phase 2 Hires (Month 6-12)

Phase 3 Hires (Month 12-24)

2.2 Deal Lifecycle Workflow

Stage 1: PROSPECT (Athlete Sourcing)

Stage 2: EVALUATE (Due Diligence)

Stage 3: SIGN (Athlete Onboarding)

Stage 4: MATCH (Brand Pairing)

Stage 5: NEGOTIATE (Deal Structuring)

Stage 6: EXECUTE (Campaign Delivery)

Stage 7: SETTLE (Payout & Reporting)

2.3 Operating Cadence

3. Technology Stack Recommendations

3.1 Architecture Overview

3.2 Core Platform: NILEMS Operations Portal

3.3 CRM & Athlete Management

3.4 Compliance Tracking

3.5 Content Management & Social Media

3.6 Financial Tracking

3.7 Communication & Collaboration

3.8 Security & Infrastructure (CMTG Stack)

3.9 Technology Budget Summary

4. AI Integration Strategy

4.1 AI Integration Map

4.2 AI Tools by Function

4.2.1 Athlete Discovery & Evaluation

4.2.2 Contract & Document Generation

4.2.3 Brand-Athlete Matching Engine

4.2.4 Content Generation & Assistance

4.2.5 Compliance Checking

4.2.6 Financial & Market Analysis

4.3 AI Implementation Roadmap

4.4 AI Cost Projections

5. Revenue Model Framework

5.1 Revenue Streams Overview

5.2 Revenue Stream 1: NIL Deal Commissions (Primary — 70% of Revenue)

5.3 Revenue Stream 2: Merchandising (15% of Revenue)

5.4 Revenue Stream 3: Workshops & Events (10% of Revenue)

5.5 Revenue Stream 4: Consulting & Advisory (5% of Revenue)

5.6 Total Revenue Projection Summary

5.7 Pricing Philosophy

6. Compliance Framework

6.1 Regulatory Landscape

Ohio NIL Law (SB 187, Updated 2023)

NCAA NIL Policy (Current as of 2026)

Federal Considerations

6.2 Agent Registration Requirements

6.3 School-Specific Compliance Matrix

6.4 Compliance Workflow

6.5 Document Templates Needed

6.6 Compliance Calendar

6.7 Risk Mitigation

7. Growth Framework

7.1 Phase 1: Foundation (Months 0-6)

Objectives

Month-by-Month Milestones

Phase 1 KPIs

7.2 Phase 2: Scale (Months 6-12)

Objectives

Key Milestones

Phase 2 KPIs

7.3 Phase 3: Expand (Months 12-24)

Objectives

Key Milestones

Phase 3 KPIs

7.4 Growth Strategy Levers

Lever 1: University Relationship Depth

Lever 2: Brand Network Density

Lever 3: Content as Distribution

Lever 4: AI-Driven Efficiency

Lever 5: Strategic Partnerships

8. Risk Assessment

8.1 Risk Matrix

8.2 Competitive Landscape