Traditional independent brokerage splits

Independent brokerages without franchise affiliation typically use 70/30 or 80/20 splits, often with little or no desk fee. Splits are more negotiable than at franchises; experienced agents commonly retain 75-85%.

Independent brokerages (not franchised to a national brand like KW, RE/MAX, Coldwell Banker) typically use simpler split structures than franchise offices. Common configurations: 70/30 split with no desk fee for new-to-firm agents, scaling to 80/20 or 85/15 for established producers; some offices use a flat percentage with optional ancillary services (transaction coordination, marketing assistance) billed separately. Independent brokerages avoid franchise royalty fees (the 6-8% commonly charged by national franchise systems) and can pass that savings to agents in the form of higher splits or lower fees. The trade-off: less brand presence, smaller tools and training infrastructure, and no relocation referral network unless the brokerage is part of a relocation alliance. A mid-career agent at a strong independent commonly retains 75-85% of GCI before any external referral fees.