If you're a REALTOR® in Canada weighing a move to a new brokerage, you've probably seen "85/15" and "the cap" thrown around and wondered what the numbers actually mean in Canadian dollars. Here is the honest, plain-language version, based on REAL Brokerage's own published Canadian structure. The company keeps 15% of each commission until you reach the annual company cap, otherwise you keep 85%, and once you reach the cap you keep 100% for the rest of the year. This explainer covers the split, the cap, the fees, and how everything resets.
The 85/15 Commission Split
The headline number is the commission split, and it is simple. On each transaction, 15% is paid to the company until you reach the annual company cap; otherwise, the agent keeps 85% of each commission, per REAL Brokerage's help centre.
To make it concrete: on a $10,000 commission (gross income), the agent keeps $8,500 and $1,500 goes to REAL. The same 85/15 math applies on every commission, right up until you reach your cap.
The Canadian Cap: $15,000 CAD
The annual company cap in Canada is $15,000 CAD per agent, per REAL Brokerage's Canadian help centre. Team leaders also cap at $15,000 CAD, and team members cap at $7,500 CAD. Once you reach the cap, you keep 100% of your commission for the rest of the year.
In practical terms, after you have paid $15,000 in company splits for the year, every further dollar of commission is yours. The cap resets every year on your anniversary date, so the clock starts fresh on the same date each year.
The Fees, in Canadian Dollars
There are two fees in the Canadian structure to know about:
- Sign-up fee: a one-time $249 CAD per agent.
- Per-transaction fee: a $40 CBR (Compliance and Broker Review) fee, charged on every transaction the company processes.
The sign-up fee is a one-time cost when you join, and the CBR fee applies per transaction as REAL processes each deal.
How the Canadian Structure Compares to the US
REAL states the US structure separately: a $12,000 USD cap for solo agents and team leaders, $6,000 USD for team members, a $50 USD CBR fee per transaction, and a $249 USD sign-up fee, per REAL Brokerage's US help centre.
This post is the Canadian version, so the CAD numbers above are the ones that apply to agents licensed and working in Canada. If you are comparing the two markets side by side, the caps and the per-transaction fee are the figures that differ.
Quick-Reference: The Numbers Agents Actually Search For
- What is the commission split at REAL? 15% goes to the company until you reach the annual company cap; otherwise you keep 85% of each commission. On a $10,000 commission, the agent keeps $8,500.
- What is the cap? $15,000 CAD per agent, $15,000 CAD for team leaders, and $7,500 CAD for team members. Once you reach it, you keep 100% of your commission for the rest of the year.
- Are there monthly fees? Not in the standard structure. The fees listed are the one-time $249 CAD sign-up fee and the $40 CAD CBR fee charged on every transaction the company processes.
- When does the cap reset? Every year on your anniversary date.
- What happens after I cap? You keep 100% of your commission for the rest of the year, and the CBR fee still applies on every transaction the company processes.
What to Consider When You Compare Brokerages
A clear fee structure is one of the reasons agents start looking at switching brokerages in the first place. When you compare the real brokerage commission split, the real brokerage cap, and the real brokerage fees in Canadian dollars against what you pay today, the difference is worth running through your own deal volume. Your numbers are the ones that matter, so work through the math with the size and pace of business you actually run.
The honest takeaway: the structure is transparent, and there are no surprises buried in the fine print. The 85/15 commission split, the $15,000 CAD cap, the $249 CAD sign-up fee, and the $40 CAD CBR fee are the complete published picture in Canada, and that clarity is itself part of the appeal for a best-brokerage-for-agents conversation.
Considering REAL? I'm happy to walk you through it.
Book a chat with me to talk through the numbers for your own business, or call or text me directly. No pressure, just straight answers.
Book a Chat with ToryIf you're considering REAL, Tory is happy to walk you through it. You can book a chat at her booking link, or call or text her at 289-814-TORY (289-814-8679). And when you're ready, you can start your application through Tory's REAL join link. No sales pitch, just a straight conversation about the numbers.