Choosing your first brokerage is the biggest financial decision a new agent makes. Here's what actually matters — and how to avoid the most common mistakes.
Most new real estate agents pick their first brokerage based on whoever recruited them most aggressively — usually a big-name traditional brokerage offering “training” and “support” in exchange for a 50/50 or 60/40 commission split for the first year or two.
That choice is expensive. On your first ten deals at a 50/50 split, you give up half your income. If your average commission is $8,000, that’s $40,000 you never see — gone in your first year, before you even know whether the brokerage’s training actually helped you.
10 deals × $8,000 commission × 50% split = $40,000 paid to your brokerage in year one.
The same 10 deals at Gromadzki Real Estate ($499/deal): $4,990 paid to your brokerage.
Difference: $35,010 stays in your pocket.
The pitch for traditional brokerages is “training and support.” That’s true — but it’s not unique. Every modern brokerage, including 100% commission brokerages like Gromadzki, provides:
The question isn’t “does the brokerage offer training” — it’s “are you paying tens of thousands of dollars per year for training you could get without giving up half your income?”
Forecast your first 5–10 deals. Calculate what the split + monthly fees would cost vs. a flat-fee brokerage. The difference is your “training tuition.”
Is the CRM included? E&O insurance? Compliance review? Marketing tools? Many brokerages charge à la carte after the split.
Can you call a licensed broker when you’re stuck on a contract? Or is “support” an email queue?
If a deal falls apart in month four, are you still paying $99–$200/month? Pay-as-you-close models eliminate this risk.
Can you leave whenever, or are you locked into 12+ months? Flexibility matters when you’re new and learning what works.
Many “agent-friendly” brokerages promise 100% after a cap — but the cap is $15K–$25K. That’s $15K–$25K of your commission gone before “100%” kicks in.
The most common reason new agents pick a traditional brokerage is access to an experienced agent or team. That’s a legitimate concern — but it’s solved by joining a team or hiring a coach, not by giving up half your commission to a brokerage’s brand.
Many new Florida agents at Gromadzki Real Estate join a team within the brokerage, work alongside experienced agents, or hire an independent coach with the money they save from not paying a split. The math works out enormously in your favor.
You’ll learn more in your first year by closing 8 deals at 100% commission than by closing 12 deals at a 50/50 split — because you’ll have the income to invest in your own growth.
Join Gromadzki Real Estate — Florida's 100% commission brokerage. $499 per closed deal. $0 monthly. Zero splits.
Join Gromadzki Real Estate →