Picking a brokerage is the single biggest career decision a new (or relocating) agent can make. The contract you sign dictates your take-home pay, branding freedom, tech stack, and mentorship access. Use the seven checkpoints below to filter the noise and land the firm that actually fits your goals. It's okay to be a little cautious while interviewing brokerages, this is a big decision and it needs to be the right one.
1. Commission Math
Before making decisions run the math. Plug in your target GCI and watch how fast a “70% split” evaporates after desk fees, transaction fees, franchise fees, and misc expenses. It's not always about the split percentage either. Sometimes a 95% split yields less net than a 80% split if the brokerages fees are high.
2. Gross vs Net
- Desk fees
- Franchise fees
- Transaction fees
- Brokerage split
You need to understand these costs associated with your business.
See What You’ll Net
Run your numbers through our Commission Calculator before you sign anything. Add up all the misc fees including monthly dues and put them in the calculator.
3. Tech Stack Audit
Reliable technology will help you close deals. Agents need systems to stay organized and top of mind to clients if they want to be relevant long term. Ask each brokerage if they offer a CRM and if they do, ask if they own your leads? Many times brokerages won't allow you to take your business if you switch brokerages.
4. Mentorship
Who's truly supporting you and wants to see you succeed in Real Estate?
High collaboration = faster growth. Also ask yourself, are they making money on you or with you? You might have all the support in the world but it may come at a cost.
5. Exit Clauses
My biggest bias is contracts that lock agents into brokerages for set periods of time, being unable to switch to better opportunities is both restrictive & treats you more like an employee then an entreprenour. Find out if theirs any exit clauses before signing anything. If you're really serious, you can even get an attorney to review on-boarding agreements before signing.
6. Lead Distribution
Some offices feed the top 10% and starve the rest. Ask who the top agents are at the brokerage if they're related to the broker-owner red flag because that's assuming a majority of the inbound leads are being spoon fed right to friends or family in the brokerage.
7. Equity & Rev Share
It's not the 1980s anymore, but many brokerages still think we are. If you don't own part of the company you're helping to build, then you're more of an employee then a business owner. Also, what's actually going to set up free for retirement? Closing tons of deals is the goal at any brokerage, but what happens if you can't work for a few months or deals dry up. Rev Share is the answer to building passive income that can set you free for life.
Quick-Print Checklist
- ✅ Brokerage Split In Writing
- ✅ All Fees In Writing
- ✅ Tech Stack
- ✅ Support & Mentorships
- ✅ Retirement, Rev share & Equity
Still Weighing Options?
Book a zero-pressure call and I’ll walk you through the real math.