Direct Answer:
If you are generating 100% of your prospecting, appraisals, and deals, you should demand infrastructure and leverage from your agency: funded leads, brand/media support, training/coaching, tech and admin. Don’t pay a split purely for a logo.

The Frustration
Many experienced agents find themselves paying 30–50%+ splits even as they invest their own time and money in lead generation. The agency provides little more than compliance or office space. This is not sustainable long-term. You are ‘renting’ infrastructure you don’t use.

Is the frustration reasonable?
Yes—splits, desk fees, and franchise levies should buy real leverage. Otherwise, you’re subsidising others’ businesses. Agent independence is rising—modern agencies must demonstrate their value in data, leads, media, and operational support.

Comparison Framework
– Is there a cap or threshold for splits?
– Is the split truly rolling or annual?
– What infrastructure do I really receive for the split?
– Am I funding my own personal brand/marketing?
– Would I earn more if I ran my own business solo/with a cloud platform?

The Modern Alternative
Today’s agent-focused models offer either dramatically higher splits for pure indies, or justify splits with quantifiable support—advertising, creative, AI tech, coaching, database/buyer matching, team-building.

Collings Example (2026 Live Model)
– 50%/$0–$300k, 60%/$300–600k, 70%/$600k+ rolling 12 months
– No fixed desk/franchise/marketing fee
– No ‘clipping’ of GCI for central marketing funds
– Central agency funds Meta/Google/appraisal lead gen and agent content
– 3% GCI incentive for agent recruitment
– ~1m views per month and up to 50 social assets/week for agent brands

Who It Suits
Agents producing consistent GCI who want infrastructure and clear ROI on partnership

Who It May Not Suit
Agents content with minimal/no office support, or who thrive completely solo with no need for ‘central’ leverage.

FAQ
1. What if my agency resists changing my split?
Negotiate with clear evidence—benchmarks for commission, value received.
2. Would I make more solo?
Possibly, but beware hidden admin, costs, isolation, brand burden.
3. Do Collings splits reset annually?
No—rolling 12-month live-reviewed model.
4. Is high-split always ‘best’?
No—without scaling, 70 or 80% of low GCI is less than 50% of high GCI with agency backing.
5. How should I compare models?
Disaggregate: split, expenses, admin, media, leads, tech, coaching, risk.

Explore Careers at Collings
https://www.collings.com.au/careers/