Went to my office meeting and was told we have been 'merged' with Keller Williams. I liked my company as they didn't interfere with my business and there were no corporate fees.

I do not know much about KW. Can anyone please share their insight and experience with KW? I know there has been info about this company posted here in the past. I tried to do a search but couldn't find anything.

I heard something about $18K/year?

Thanks!

Happens all the time. I get letters trying to buy me out or merge with them a few times a month. I just throw in the trash.

Can you start your own company?

Super - I don't think the original poster (or anyone else) cares if you have been contacted by KW or not. They want to know about KW.

KW has a strong business model and is known for it's training and focus on agent development. They usually pay 70/30 and cap out the company dollar at 18k or so.. and then go to a 100% agent payout (restrictions apply). They have a franchise fee and bunch of office fees, and operate with so-called "market centers" that tend to be sizeable. Agents supposedly support each other but also compete with each other and corporates philosophy is to come in and attract agents thereby capturing marketshare. They have a recruiting bonus plan based on the monthly profitablity of each office. Some people think there is a religious undertone to KW and it is certainly not for everyone.

KW has recently gone big into commercial in my area and if I was a commercial agent I'd probably be attracted to them with their 18k cap and then 100% commission payout (i think it's 18k still).

They will grow and gobble up firms while the market is soft. Same with Warren Buffet and his Home Services of America division.

KW also just won the JD Power Award for Buyer Satisfaction for the second consecutive year. I've been happy with them so far.

i know that kw gives a 70% commission then i hear that the agent has to pay a 6% franchise fee

so total commission to agent is 64%


10k gross commission then the agent makes 6400k

pretty expensive imho

outside of teh split i think it is a great company for some, i could not work there

Cygnus you were with a small company because you didn't want to pay the fees.Your answered your own question as it sounds like you are being put into with the merger exactly what you are trying to get away from.

I don't care for these big companies.They offer training to agents in the beginning.After that you really don't need them period.

I generate all my own business.If they were handing you FULLY QUALIFIED leads on a silver platter that is one thing.Every one of these big companies I know fee you to death but never provide the leads.

Leads is what puts money in your pocket with closings.If you stay at a big company you are giving them money for nothing and enhancing their market share.

No benefit where I come from.Everyone will have a different take on this.If you are a newer agent you might need the hand holding but if you have been doing this awhile you should go on your own.

Both wrong. Incorrect splits are being reported in this thread. Further, three FREE training CE classes have been offered within the last six months at my market center alone that were appropriate for seasoned agents and I have received leads from my market center. Granted, they were not converted, but they were leads. The company is not perfect, but those who are interested in knowing more about it would do well to speak with someone on the inside before arriving at conclusions.

I agree with the red.

in fact, i am going to a kw thing tonight(a friend is renting a club to host the party). my friend has tried on numberous occasions to recruit me and the 70% and 6% is what he told me were the fees to join up. If those fees are not correct, let me know what the fees are.

FULLY QUALIFIED leads - not junk leads the big companies hand out.

I am talking they have talked with them on the phone,qualified them with income statements and credit pulled,etc. and then handed them off to you.

Not RE/Max street leader or whatever it's called and all that other kind of junk the big companies provide.Some have internet response teams too.

If you like Keller Williams fantastic. I don't like the big companies but run my own show.

Let's say 6 classes a year at 50 bucks each is 300 total I have to pay to take myself.The classes aren't free but factored into the overall pricing model and commission and fee structure.The cost is simply allocated into other areas you pay for commission splits,franchise fees,etc.

I have friends that love big companies and have been there for 15 years etc. It works for some and not for others.

I second the 70%. Know about it and am good friends with several KW agents, one of which attempted to recruit me as well. I didn't know about the 6% thing but it would not have mattered anyway. Once you're at 100% you don't want to take anything less....

I have been with KW since I got my license in May. I love it there! Great training!! I don't know how long you have been in the business but I think training is always important. There are office fees but they cover websites, office equipment, voicemail, etc. There is a commission split until you hit a cap and then it goes to 100%. They do have a profit sharing program if you do bring other agents in but you do not have to. It's just a bonus.

Around here that is a better split than what is offered anywhere except Remax - and they have fairly heavy desk fees. It depends on where you are. In our area brokerages have held on tight to their 50:50 splits PLUS franchise fees. Unless you are producing in the top 5% or so - that's what you get. End of story. So Keller is a breath of fresh air.

I work from home so that I don't end up accumulating fees for things like copies. I have a fully functioning home office as a result.

I think about paying a 50/50 split and I pretty much puke a bit in my mouth (yeah... that's how disgusting it is...)

Top 5% or no... I'd open my own shop before I'd give someone else 50% of my income for a few training classes...

I'm at a 100% shop and I can't for the life of me understand why anyone would work any other way... even if your brokerage HANDS you leads on a silver platter... wouldn't it be worth a 100% increase in pay to "learn how to do it yourself"?