Updated July 2026 · Reviewed by Adams, Cameron & Co.
No. Changing your employing broker with the Florida DBPR (form RE 11) carries no state fee. It's a free record update, not a new license application. The costs that can show up when you switch brokerages come from somewhere else entirely: your local Realtor board or MLS membership transfer, and whatever your new brokerage charges for desk fees or onboarding, not from the state.
- The DBPR's change of broker form (RE 11) has no fee. This is the most common myth agents ask about before switching.
- Any real cost to switching comes from your local Realtor board or MLS, not the state. Confirm their specific transfer process directly, since it varies by board.
- Your new brokerage may have its own onboarding or desk fee structure, separate from anything DBPR-related.
- A short overlap in board or MLS dues is possible if your old and new memberships don't line up perfectly. Ask both boards how they handle a mid-cycle switch.
- None of this changes your license number or your standing with the state. Only your employing broker of record updates.
Is there a state fee to switch brokers in Florida?
No. The Florida DBPR processes a change of employing broker through form RE 11, and that transaction carries no state fee. You're not applying for a new license or paying to reissue anything. You're updating a single field on your existing record: who you're currently registered under. This surprises a lot of agents, since switching jobs almost always costs something in other industries.
So where does the idea of a transfer fee come from?
Some confusion comes from mixing up the DBPR change of broker with other, unrelated transactions that do carry small fees, like reprinting a physical license or certain address changes. Those are separate from a broker change and don't apply just because you're switching firms. If you see a dollar figure attached to "license transfer" anywhere, confirm exactly which transaction it's describing before assuming it applies to your situation.
What can actually cost you money when you switch?
The real costs sit outside the DBPR entirely. Your local Realtor board and MLS (not the state) typically require you to update your membership when you change brokerages, and some boards structure dues or transfer processes differently than others. If your old and new memberships don't align perfectly on timing, you can end up covering a short overlap. This is worth a direct call to your board rather than a guess, since it genuinely varies.
What about desk fees or onboarding costs?
Separately from anything DBPR or board related, your new brokerage may have its own cost structure: desk fees, technology fees, or a graduated commission split while you ramp up. These are brokerage-specific business terms, not government fees, and they're worth asking about directly and in writing before you commit to a move.
What doesn't change when you switch brokers
Your license number, your years of experience, and your standing with the state all stay exactly the same. A broker change is an administrative update, not a reset. The only thing that resets, in a sense, is your desk: your new brokerage's tools, splits, and support structure, which is the part actually worth comparing before you decide where to go.
Switching to Adams, Cameron & Co.
If you're weighing a move to Adams, Cameron & Co., the largest brokerage in Volusia and Flagler counties since 1963, a non-competing manager will walk you through exactly what your board transfer looks like and what our own fee structure is, in writing, before you decide anything. Start a confidential conversation.
Fee schedules are set by the DBPR, local Realtor boards, and individual brokerages, and can change. Confirm current requirements directly with those organizations. Educational only, not legal or financial advice.
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