- Escorts agencies are businesses that provide and arrange companions, or escorts, to clients for a fee. The escorts may meet the client at their house, hotel room or another specified area. Any additional activity besides companionship requires an additional fee negotiated between the client and the escort.
- Escort agencies recruit people through employment ads or by referrals from current escorts. The agencies screen their escorts to ensure that they have no obvious drug problems or criminal records. Most female escort agencies attempt to employ women with pleasant personalities and that are skilled, attractive, educated, well-groomed and youthful. Agencies will commonly only specialize in one sex. A list is maintained of the different ages and appearances to be able to better cater to the varying interests of the clients.
- Escort agencies advertise in regional publications and telephone listings. Some larger agencies have websites and provide a photo gallery of their available escorts. clients will contact the agency and explain what they are looking for. The agency will then suggest an escort that fits the client's request. Client information is collected and the escort is contacted. Most agencies will, usually to protect the identity of their escorts and to ensure effective communication, arrange the appointment. For safety reasons, the escort is usually required to contact the agency upon arriving and leaving the appointment.
- Most escort agencies claim that they are only sending their companions to provide "companionship." Prostitution laws forbid them to take payment for sexual acts or advertising sex-for-hire. Many agencies protect themselves by skirting the legal line in their advertisements and by accepting a flat fee for their services. Any sexual acts and the fees for them are negotiated between the client and escort. There are some agencies that follow the law and do not permit prostitution.
