Keeping 100% of Nothing Is Still Nothing—and a Bad Broker Can Cost You More Than Any Split Ever Will
Written by Devone Richard
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Realtors Have Become Obsessed With the Wrong Number
I hear it constantly.
“I get 100% commission.”
Okay.
How much did you produce?
Because 100% sounds fantastic until there’s nothing to take 100% of.
If you closed two deals all year, have no pipeline, no database, no marketing strategy and no idea where your next client is coming from…
Congratulations. You kept 100% of a business that sucks.
That commission split isn’t your biggest problem.
Your business is.
100% OF ZERO IS STILL ZERO
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Agents will leave a brokerage over 5%.
They’ll chase 100% commission across town.
They’ll save a few thousand dollars in splits…
And lose tens of thousands because they joined a company that gives them absolutely nothing to help them grow.
Let’s make this simple.
100% of $50,000 = $50,000.
90% of $200,000 = $180,000.
Which business would you rather own?
Stop obsessing over the percentage.
Start obsessing over the production.
AND YOUR BROKER MATTERS
This is the part the 100% commission conversation conveniently leaves out.
Who’s your broker?
Can you reach them?
Do they know contracts?
Can they solve problems?
Will they protect your license?
Will they tell you when you’re about to make a terrible decision?
Are they actually building a company that helps agents become better?
Or do they collect your paperwork and disappear?
Because when everything is going smoothly, everybody thinks they don’t need a broker.
Then the transaction blows up.
There’s a disclosure problem.
A client threatens litigation.
An agent makes a serious mistake.
Now suddenly…
You care who your broker is.
CHEAP CAN BECOME VERY EXPENSIVE
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I’m not saying agents should give away huge portions of their commission.
You should absolutely understand your compensation.
But commission split should be one part of the decision—not the entire decision.
What are you getting?
Leadership?
Technology?
Training?
Compliance?
Marketing?
CRM?
Broker accessibility?
A professional environment?
Actual business support?
If another company helps you produce another $100,000 in income, are you really losing because you paid them 10%?
The cheapest brokerage isn’t automatically the most profitable brokerage.
STOP CHOOSING YOUR BROKERAGE LIKE YOU’RE BUYING DISCOUNT GAS
Some agents ask one question when interviewing a brokerage:
“What’s the split?”
Wrong first question.
Ask:
“Can this environment help me build a better business?”
Because a terrible business at a 100% company is still a terrible business.
And a terrible broker attached to that company can make things even worse.
Your broker isn’t supposed to be somebody whose name appears on paperwork.
Your broker should bring value.
BROKERS NEED TO EARN THEIR SPLIT TOO
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And brokers, we’re not getting a free pass either.
If you’re taking part of an agent’s commission…
What are you doing for it?
If agents can’t reach you…
If there’s no leadership…
No technology…
No support…
No training…
No compliance…
No direction…
Then don’t be shocked when agents start asking why they’re paying you.
The relationship works both ways.
Agents need to produce.
Brokers need to provide value.
FINAL THOUGHT
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Realtors, stop bragging about your commission split like it’s your production.
Nobody cares that you keep 100% if you’re barely selling anything.
I’d rather build a $300,000 business and keep 90% than build a $60,000 business and proudly announce that I kept every penny.
The goal isn’t to keep the highest percentage.
The goal is to make the most money, build the strongest business and become the best Realtor you can become.
And choose your broker carefully.
When something goes wrong—and eventually something will—you want experience, leadership and somebody who actually answers the damn phone.
So the next time somebody tells you:
“I get 100% commission.”
Ask them:
“100% OF WHAT?”
Because if your business sucks and your broker sucks…
That 100% split isn’t the deal you think it is.
Written by Devone Richard
Broker/Owner | OYT Real Estate
California Broker #01857383
Nevada Broker #1002115
📞 626-500-1212 | 702-941-0202
🌐 OYTRealEstate.com