Is there any way to save money upfront on a celebrity endorsement?

The most common way to save money upfront is to negotiate a shared equity deal with your celeb. This is basically an agreement where you give the celebrity equity in your company in exchange for their endorsement. Of course, this is more common when you are using a celebrity spokesperson or making a licensing agreement, rather than a one-off ad.

You’ll probably still have to pay something upfront, but it will likely be significantly less than if you paid the entire amount upfront. Celebrities like these deals, too, because it offers them the possibility of a recurring income stream. And you don’t have to be a huge brand to get the benefit of an equity deal. Many celebs are on the lookout for up-and-coming business and startups with good potential for growth.