If the shortfall is caused by your failure to fulfil your obligations under the agreement, the agent may have a basis for a claim against you. For example, if you fail to provide products you were committed to supplying.
In the case of self-employed agents, under UK and European law you are also required to notify the agent if you anticipate that sales will be lower than the agent could reasonably expect. Failure to do this could make you liable to cover any shortfall in the agent's income.
