There's no single "best" brokerage for every new agent — the right fit depends on how much training, mentorship, and lead support you need versus how much commission split you're willing to give up for it. The best approach is comparing a short list of brokerages against the same set of questions, rather than picking based on brand name alone.
Quick Facts
- In Illinois, every licensed broker must "hang their license" with a sponsoring managing broker — you cannot legally practice independently right out of the gate
- Commission splits, training, and lead support vary enormously between brokerages, even within the same city
Questions to Ask Every Brokerage You're Considering
Training and mentorship
- Is there a formal new-agent training program, or will you be learning by trial and error?
- Will you be paired with a specific mentor, or is support more general?
- How hands-on is the managing broker with new agents day to day?
Leads and support
- Does the brokerage provide any leads, or are you expected to generate 100% of your own business?
- What marketing tools, templates, or CRM access are included?
- Is there an admin or transaction-coordination team, or are you handling paperwork solo?
Culture and fit
- Does the office feel collaborative or purely competitive between agents?
- Are current agents willing to talk to you openly about their experience there?
- Does the brokerage's specialty (luxury, first-time buyers, investment, commercial) match where you want to build your business?
Commission and fees
- What's the commission split, and does it change as you sell more?
- Are there desk fees, technology fees, or transaction fees on top of the split?
- Is there a cap — a point where you keep 100% for the rest of the year?
Red Flags Worth Taking Seriously
- Vague answers about the actual commission split or fee structure
- No real onboarding or training plan beyond "figure it out"
- Pressure to sign before you've had a chance to compare other options
- Current agents who avoid answering direct questions about their own experience
This Decision Matters as Much as Your Education
Two agents with the same license can have very different first years depending on where they hang it. Treat choosing a brokerage with the same seriousness as choosing your pre-license school — ask questions, compare more than one, and don't rush it just because you're excited to get started.
Get Licensed First
Before any of this applies, you need your Illinois broker license. ILRES's live-instructor 75-hour pre-license course gets you there, and on the last day of class, our instructor helps graduating students think through which brokerages might be a fit. Our students pass the state exam at almost two times the state average. See upcoming class dates →