Practice Management / Compensation

Analyzing Commission Models: Split vs. Desk Fee

A structural breakdown of modern compensation models. When does a flat monthly desk fee outperform a traditional percentage split for the house, and how do caps impact annual P&L forecasting?

The compensation model you choose dictates your brokerage's culture, recruiting power, and ultimate profitability.

The Traditional Split (e.g., 70/30)

The house takes a percentage of every transaction. This aligns the broker's incentives with the agent's—the house only makes money when the agent does.

The 100% Commission (Desk Fee) Model

The agent pays a flat monthly fee (e.g., $1,000/mo) and a small transaction fee, keeping 100% of their commission. This shifts the risk entirely to the agent but is highly attractive to top producers.

Find the Breakeven

Every model has a mathematical inflection point. Find out exactly when an agent should switch models.

Run Desk Fee Analyzer