What is the single most important question to ask a brokerage before joining?

There isn't one universal answer, but asking what your literal first week of training and mentorship looks like, and getting a specific answer rather than a general promise, tends to reveal the most about whether real support exists.

Should I ask about commission splits before or after asking about training?

Both matter, but many experienced agents suggest asking about training and support first, since a slightly lower split at a brokerage with real mentorship often produces better results for a new agent than a higher split with no support.

Is it okay to ask to speak with current agents before joining?

Yes, and it's a smart step. Talking with current agents, not just the recruiter or manager, is one of the best ways to confirm whether a brokerage's answers about training, fees, and support match everyday reality.

What if a brokerage won't give clear answers to these questions?

Vague or shifting answers to direct, practical questions are worth taking seriously. A brokerage that can't clearly explain its splits, fees, or support structure before you join is unlikely to become clearer after you've signed on.

What Questions to Ask a Brokerage Before Joining as a New Agent

Updated July 2026 · Reviewed by Adams, Cameron & Co.

Quick answer

Before joining a new brokerage, ask direct questions about what training and mentorship actually look like in your first weeks, exactly what the commission split and any desk or transaction fees are, what marketing and lead support you’ll actually get, and who you can turn to with a real question on your first deal. The specific answers matter less than whether the brokerage answers clearly and consistently, since vague or shifting answers are often the clearest warning sign of what working there will really be like.

Key takeaways

Ask what a real, structured first week looks like, not just whether training exists in general.
Get the exact commission split and any recurring fees in writing, not just the headline percentage.
Ask directly whether a desk fee applies and what it covers before comparing brokerages.
Find out what marketing and lead support actually exists versus what you'll be expected to build yourself.
Ask for a name, not a department, for who answers your questions on your first deal.

Why the questions you ask matter before you sign

Choosing where to hang your license is one of the biggest early decisions you’ll make as a new agent, and a brokerage’s answers to a handful of direct questions tell you more than any recruiting pitch. Every brokerage will tell you they offer great training and support. The way to find out if that’s actually true is to ask specific, practical questions and see whether the answers are clear, consistent, and backed by real examples, not vague reassurances.

What does training and mentorship actually look like week one?

Ask what your literal first week looks like: is there a structured onboarding schedule, a mentor or experienced agent assigned to answer your questions, and scheduled check-ins, or are you handed a login and left to figure it out on your own? Ask how new agents are typically paired with more experienced agents, and whether that mentorship is formal (built into the brokerage’s structure) or informal (whoever happens to be around that day). New agents who get real, hands-on guidance in their first few months tend to close their first deal faster and with far less stress than those left to learn entirely by trial and error.

What are the commission splits and fees, really?

Ask for the exact commission split (the percentage you keep versus what goes to the brokerage), whether it changes as your production increases (sometimes called a cap structure), and what other recurring fees apply on top of the split, such as errors-and-omissions insurance, technology fees, or per-transaction fees at closing. Splits vary widely across brokerages and business models, so there’s no single right number to look for. What matters is getting a full, honest picture of what you’ll actually keep from a closed deal, not just the headline split percentage used in a recruiting conversation.

Is there a desk fee, and what does it cover?

Some brokerages charge a monthly desk fee (a flat cost for office space, admin support, or systems access) in exchange for a higher commission split elsewhere. Ask directly whether a desk fee applies, how much it is, and what it actually includes, whether that’s a private workspace, printing and admin support, or simply access to the brokerage’s internal systems. A desk fee isn’t automatically good or bad, but you need to know it exists before you can honestly compare one brokerage’s real cost against another’s.

What marketing and lead support actually exists?

Ask what marketing tools, templates, or budget the brokerage provides, whether the brokerage generates any leads for agents or if you’re expected to generate all of your own business, and whether there’s support for building a website, social presence, or print materials with your name and license attached. New agents especially benefit from a brokerage that provides real marketing infrastructure, since building all of that from scratch while also learning the job can be overwhelming in year one.

Who do you go to with a question on your first deal?

This is one of the most practical questions you can ask, and one new agents often forget. When you’re mid-contract and something unexpected comes up, a financing question, a title issue, a client getting cold feet, who do you actually call? Ask for a name, not a department. Is there a broker or manager who answers agent questions directly and quickly, or does it take days to get a response? A brokerage that can’t answer this question clearly is telling you something important about what your first real deal will feel like.

How to actually evaluate the answers you get

Pay attention not just to what a brokerage tells you, but how they tell you. Specific, confident answers backed by real examples, names, numbers, a walk-through of an actual new agent’s first few months, are a good sign. Vague answers, deflection, or pressure to sign before you’ve gotten clear answers are worth noticing. Talking to a few current agents at the brokerage, not just the recruiter, is one of the best ways to confirm whether the answers you were given actually match day-to-day reality.

Bringing your questions to the right conversation

Adams, Cameron & Co., the area’s largest brokerage since 1963, has answered these exact questions for new agents in Daytona Beach for decades: real week-one mentorship, a clear commission split, and a manager you can actually reach on your first deal. Start a conversation and ask us these questions yourself.

Commission splits, fees, and brokerage policies vary and can change; confirm current details directly with any brokerage you’re considering. Educational only, not financial or legal advice.

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