Updated June 2026 · Reviewed by Adams, Cameron & Co.
The three common brokerage fee structures are a traditional split (the brokerage keeps a percentage of every commission), a cap model (you pay a split until you hit an annual cap, then keep 100% plus a monthly fee), and a desk-fee or 100% model (you keep everything but pay flat monthly and per-transaction fees). Which one nets you more depends entirely on your production. Enter your numbers below to see your real take-home under each.
- The three common models are traditional split, cap, and desk-fee/100%. Each favors a different production level.
- Low-to-moderate producers often net more under a traditional split once fees are counted.
- High-volume producers can come out ahead under a cap or desk-fee model once they clear the cap or fixed costs.
- A model's fees only tell half the story. What's included (marketing, CRM, tools) is the other half.
- Run your own production through all three before assuming the model with the highest advertised split wins.
Traditional split
Cap model
Desk fee / 100% model
Why the same production nets different take-home under each model
A traditional split takes a fixed percentage of every commission, all year, no matter how much you produce. A cap model works like the split for the first part of the year, then stops taking a percentage entirely once the brokerage has collected its annual cap, so the more you produce past the cap, the more of each additional dollar you keep. A desk-fee or 100% model charges flat costs regardless of production, so the fees are the same whether you close two deals or twenty, which means your effective cost per deal drops fast as you produce more.
Which model wins at which production level
At lower or moderate production, a traditional split often nets more than a cap or desk-fee model, because you haven't produced enough to clear the cap or offset the flat fees. At high production, a cap or desk-fee model can pull ahead, since the fixed costs get spread across many more transactions. There's no universal answer: it depends entirely on your actual numbers, which is exactly why this calculator uses your production instead of a generic example.
What the calculator doesn't include
This compares fee structures only. It doesn't account for what each model includes: marketing, a CRM, agent websites, training, and manager support cost real money if you have to buy them yourself, and a model with a lower headline number can still win once you add those costs back in on the models that don't include them. See the honest brokerage comparison for experienced agents for what's actually included at each type of firm.
This calculator is a simplified estimate and ignores taxes, referral fees, and brokerage-specific terms. Confirm exact terms with any brokerage. Educational only, not financial advice.
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