How to Evaluate Real Brokerage Based on Your Production, Goals, and Business Expenses

by Amanda Zito

How do you know if Real Brokerage actually makes sense for your business?

Don’t start with the split.

Start with what it costs you to run your business for an entire year.

That means looking at Real’s fees, the expenses you already pay, the expenses that could disappear if you switch, and any new costs you may need to take on.

Because a brokerage can look cheaper on paper and still cost you more in real life.

Most agents start by asking:

“What’s the split?”

I understand why. It’s an easy number to compare.

But your split only tells you what the brokerage keeps from your commission. It doesn’t tell you what you’ll spend on everything else.

One brokerage may have a higher split but include an office, transaction support, training, leads, or other tools.

Another may have a lower cost but leave more of those expenses up to you.

So instead of asking whether Real has a “good split,” I think there’s a better question:

What will my total cost of doing business look like at Real compared with where I am now?

That’s what we’re going to break down.

One quick disclosure before we start: I’m a Real agent. If you join Real and name me as your sponsor, I can earn revenue share. I want to be clear about that.

I also don’t think every agent should move to Real.

Sometimes the numbers say staying where you are makes more sense.

Step 1: Start With Your Actual Production

Pull your numbers from the last 12 months.

You really only need two things to start:

How many transactions you closed
Your total gross commission income, or GCI

Use what you actually closed, not what you hope to close next year.

Your production matters because Real’s cost structure changes once you hit the cap.

As of November 2026, Real’s published U.S. agent fee structure includes:

An 85/15 split until you pay $12,000 toward the cap during your anniversary year
A $6,000 cap for most eligible team members
A $50 Compliance and Broker Review fee on each transaction
A $900 annual brokerage fee, collected as $300 from your first three closings
After you cap, a $285 fee per sale, or 15% of the commission if that amount is lower
A $125 fee per lease after capping
A one-time $249 sign-up fee
No monthly brokerage fee

Real changed some fees on September 1, 2026, so be careful when reading older articles, videos, or brokerage comparisons.

What could that look like?

Here’s a simple example for a solo agent earning an average of $10,000 in commission per closing.

Deals Per Year	GCI	Approx. Paid to Real	Effective Rate
5	$50,000	$8,650	17.3%
12	$120,000	$14,640	12.2%
25	$250,000	$18,995	7.6%
40	$400,000	$24,020	6.0%

The exact numbers matter, but the pattern matters even more.

If you’re below the cap, you’re still paying the 15% split plus fees.

Once you cap, your effective percentage starts dropping as you close more business.

That’s why one of the first questions I would ask is:

Will you cap, and if so, how early in your anniversary year?

Step 2: Look at the Rest of Your Business Expenses

This is where brokerage comparisons usually get more interesting.

Your brokerage split is only one part of your business expenses.

According to the National Association of REALTORS® 2026 Member Profile, the median REALTOR® spent $9,530 on business expenses in 2025.

Agents with larger businesses can spend much more.

I would take your expenses from the last year and sort them into three groups.

Costs That Stay the Same

These are expenses you’ll probably have no matter where your license hangs.

Examples include:

MLS and association dues
License renewals and continuing education
Your vehicle and mileage
Your phone
Your own CRM
Self-employment taxes

These expenses still belong in your overall business budget, but they usually don’t help you decide between brokerages because they’re there either way.

Costs That Could Go Away

Now look at what your current brokerage charges you beyond the split.

This is where I recommend looking at your actual statements instead of relying on memory.

Possible examples:

Monthly desk fees
Technology fees
Admin fees
Franchise royalties
Marketing fund fees
Required programs you rarely use
Transaction-related risk or E&O fees

If you currently pay a separate E&O or risk fee, confirm exactly what Real’s coverage replaces before assuming that expense disappears.

Costs You May Have to Take On Yourself

This is the part agents sometimes forget.

Real is a cloud-based brokerage. There isn’t a traditional physical office.

For some agents, that doesn’t matter at all.

For others, it matters a lot.

Ask yourself what your current brokerage gives you that you would need to replace.

That could include:

Coworking or office space
A transaction coordinator
An assistant
Administrative help
Coaching
A mastermind or accountability program
Brokerage-provided leads
Signs
Printing
Marketing materials

This is where two agents with the same production can come up with completely different answers.

If you already pay for your own CRM, TC, coaching, and marketing, you may not be giving up much.

If your current brokerage provides most of those things, replacing them could cost more than you expect.

Step 3: Put Everything Into One Annual Number

Now you can compare the real numbers.

Take your brokerage cost and add the expenses that would change if you moved.

That gives you a much better picture of what it actually costs to run your business at each brokerage.

Here’s a simple example.

This agent closed 14 transactions last year and earned $140,000 in GCI.

Her current brokerage — we’ll call it Brokerage X — has:

An 80/20 split
An $18,000 cap
A $100 monthly tech fee
A $40 risk fee per transaction
An office
An in-house transaction coordinator

Her estimated annual cost at Brokerage X is $19,760.

Her estimated brokerage cost at Real would be $15,310.

At first glance, Real saves her about $4,450.

Sounds easy, right?

Not quite.

Let’s look at what happens if she has to replace some of the support she currently receives.

Scenario	Annual Cost at Real	Difference
She already pays for her own TC and rarely uses the office	$15,310	Saves $4,450
She needs a TC at $350 per closing	$20,210	Costs $450 more
She hires a TC and rents coworking space for $150/month	$22,010	Costs $2,250 more

Same agent.

Same production.

Three completely different answers.

That’s why I don’t think the split should be the deciding factor.

A lot of the decision comes down to what you’ll need to replace after you move.

There’s one more thing to think about: timing.

If you’ve already paid most of your current brokerage cap this year and you switch to Real, you’ll start a new Real cap.

That can wipe out a big part of your first-year savings.

Sometimes the right brokerage move at the wrong time still costs you money.

Step 4: Compare the Numbers With Your Goals

The numbers tell you what Real could cost.

Your goals tell you whether that cost is worth it.

Two agents can have the same spreadsheet and still make completely different decisions.

You Want to Keep More of What You Earn

This one is pretty simple.

If Real is less expensive after you include everything you would need to replace, the numbers support the move.

If Real only looks cheaper because of the split, keep digging.

You Want Income Beyond Your Own Closings

Real offers revenue share and stock opportunities.

That can be attractive, but I would look at both as possible upside rather than guaranteed income.

Revenue share depends on agents you sponsor joining Real, producing, and staying with the company.

It can change.

I would never build your monthly household or business budget around future revenue share.

You Want More Flexibility

Real doesn’t charge a monthly brokerage fee.

That can be helpful during slower months.

It can also be useful for agents who work across more than one market or hold licenses in multiple states where Real operates.

For me, that flexibility is one of the things I value because I work in both California and Texas.

You’re Planning to Slow Down

Maybe you’re heading toward part-time production.

Maybe you want to focus mostly on referrals.

If that’s the case, don’t evaluate Real based on what a high-producing capped agent pays.

Your production could be much lower, which changes the math.

Look at the cost of the business you actually plan to run.

You Work Better Around Other People

This one is harder to put into a spreadsheet.

Some agents are very productive working from home.

Others need an office, face-to-face accountability, and regular access to their broker or team.

There’s nothing wrong with either style.

But be realistic about what helps you perform.

If leaving an office environment hurts your productivity, that has a cost too.

When Staying at Your Current Brokerage May Make More Sense

Sometimes you can run all the numbers and realize moving isn’t the best decision right now.

That’s okay.

I would rather see an agent stay somewhere that helps them succeed than switch brokerages just because the split looks attractive.

Staying may make more sense if:

You probably won’t cap
You would cap very late in your anniversary year
You’ve already paid most of your current brokerage cap
Your brokerage includes an office, TC, coaching, or admin help you rely on
A large part of your business comes from brokerage-provided leads
You’ve already negotiated a strong compensation plan where you are

None of those things mean Real is a bad brokerage.

They simply mean Real may not be the best fit for your business right now.

Your answer can change.

If your production, expenses, team, or goals change six months from now, run the numbers again.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do you need to produce for Real Brokerage to make sense?

There isn’t one magic production number.

A big part of the answer depends on whether you’ll reach Real’s $12,000 cap and how early you reach it.

It also depends on what you would need to start paying for yourself after leaving your current brokerage.

Agents who cap earlier and already pay for most of their own support usually have a clearer financial comparison.

What business expenses do agents forget when comparing brokerages?

Usually the things their current brokerage quietly provides.

That could include:

Office space
Transaction coordination
Coaching
Signs and printing
Admin help
Brokerage-generated leads

If you’ll need to replace any of those, add the cost before comparing brokerages.

Is a lower split always better?

No.

A lower split can still cost you more if it comes with more out-of-pocket expenses.

Look at your total annual cost, not just the percentage printed on the compensation plan.

Want a Second Set of Eyes on Your Numbers?

If you’re seriously considering Real and want help running the numbers, I’m happy to look at them with you.

Bring your last 12 months of production, your current brokerage expenses, and the services your brokerage currently provides.

We can walk through it together.

And if the numbers tell me staying where you are makes more sense right now, I’ll tell you that too.

Call or text me at 949-484-9486, or reach out through SoldByZito.com.

Amanda Zito, REALTOR®
Real Brokerage
CA DRE #01740063
Real Broker, LLC | TX TREC #840088
SoldByZito.com

This post is for general information only and is not tax, legal, or financial advice. Real Brokerage fees referenced here are based on the published U.S. fee structure available as of November 2026 and may change. Always confirm current fees and policies directly with Real before making a brokerage decision.