Choosing a brokerage is one of the first important decisions you’ll make as a new real estate agent. While it may seem like you’re simply deciding where to hang your license, there’s a lot more to consider. When you’re looking for the best brokerage for new agents in Orlando, it’s crucial to compare everything from training and mentorship to commission structures, technology, and company culture.
These differences can have a real impact on how supported you feel as you learn the business and start working toward your first closing. What works well for experienced agents may not make sense for someone just starting out. Fortunately, Orlando and the surrounding Central Florida area have plenty of brokerage options to choose from.
There isn’t one company that will be the right fit for everyone, so it helps to know what you’re comparing before you begin. Below, we’ll break down 10 brokerages new agents in Orlando may want to consider, along with the factors that can help you narrow down your options.
10 Best Brokerage for New Agents in Orlando: A Practical Guide
Your priorities as a brand-new agent look different from agents who’ve been selling for years. An experienced agent with a steady stream of clients, for example, may not give much attention to keeping costs low and having the freedom to run their business independently. When you’re new, having training, guidance, and mentorship matters.
This is why it’s important to look beyond the brokerage name. Some companies offer structured training, scripts, lead generation tools, and other resources designed specifically for new agents. Others give agents more independence and expect them to already know how to prospect, market themselves, and manage a transaction. Neither model is universally better; it comes down to how much support you want while you’re getting established.
You’ll always want to think about commission structure. Some brokerages take a percentage of every commission, while others use a 100% commission model with set fees instead. Don’t just compare the number you see advertised; look at transaction fees, monthly expenses, and technology costs.
Finally, think about the environment you want to work in. Technology can make it much easier to manage your business on your own, while a collaborative office can give you opportunities to learn from agents who have already been through the situations you’re encountering for the first time.
The right balance will look different for everyone.
How to Pick the Best Real Estate Brokerage for New Agents in Orlando
There are national franchises, independent brokerages, virtual companies, and Florida-based firms serving agents throughout the greater Orlando area. Each comes with a different approach to training, fees, and day-to-day support.
Below, we’ll offer generate tips on how to choose a real estate brokerage to work for, highlighting what can matter to new agents the most:
Compare the Full Cost of the Commission Model
A commission split doesn’t tell you everything you need to know about what it costs to work at a brokerage. Instead, ask about transaction fees, monthly fees, desk fees, technology charges, franchise fees, and any other recurring expenses. Then look at how these costs would affect your earnings based on a realistic number of transactions during your first year.
If possible, ask the brokerage to walk you through an example closing. Seeing the numbers laid out can make it much easier to understand what you would actually take home from a commission. Additionally, in a competitive real estate market like Orlando, whether working full-time or part-time, realistic expectations can create a solid foundation for success.
Evaluate the Training and Mentorship on Offer
Training can be especially important when you’re working through your first few transactions. Ask what happens after you join. Is there a formal onboarding program? Are classes live or self-paced? Do you get paired with a mentor? If a contract question comes up during a transaction, who can you call?
Try to get specific rather than settling for “we offer training.” You want to understand what that support actually looks like in practice. If you’re entering real estate from another field, our guide on how to become a real estate agent with no experience also covers what to expect as you get started.
Assess the Technology and Marketing Tools
Technology probably isn’t the most exciting thing to compare when you’re choosing a brokerage, but you’ll appreciate good systems once you’re juggling leads, showings, contracts, and closings. Find out whether the brokerage provides a CRM, transaction management software, marketing templates, websites, or other tools.
More importantly, ask what’s included in your regular fees and what you’ll need to pay for separately. The goal isn’t necessarily to find the brokerage with the longest list of software; it’s to find the tools you;ll actually use to make running your business easier.
Understand the Lead Situation
It’s worth understanding where clients are supposed to come from before you join a brokerage. Some brokerages provide leads or have programs agents can participate in. Others may offer leads at an additional cost, while many expect agents to generate their own business from day one.
If you’ll be responsible for finding your own clients, pay extra attention to the brokerage’s prospecting, marketing, and business-development training. Knowing what to expect upfront makes it much easier to build a realistic plan.
Confirm the Culture Fits How You Work
Company culture can be difficult to judge from a website or recruiting presentation, so talk to people who are actually working there. If you can, visit the office, attend a meeting, and speak with a few agents who joined within the last year.
Ask what support looks like when they need help and how much interaction there is between agents. You’re going to spend a lot of time building this business. It helps to do it somewhere that fits the way you like to work.
For those interested in learning more about this process, our guide, “How to Become a Real Estate Agent in Orlando, FL,” can give you a realistic step-by-step approach to the Orlando market.
10 Best Real Estate Brokerages for New Agents in Orlando
Charles Rutenberg Realty
Charles Rutenberg Realty offers a different model for agents who want the independence of keeping 100% of their commission while still having the support of an established Florida brokerage. Rather than taking a traditional commission split on every transaction, CRR uses a low-fee structure that allows agents to keep more of what they earn.
For new agents, that can make it easier to understand what each closing will cost and plan around those expenses as the business grows. CRR also gives agents access to technology, training, and a large community of real estate professionals throughout Florida. If you want support and resources without giving up a percentage of every commission, it’s a model worth comparing with the more traditional brokerages you’ll find.
Keller Williams Realty
Keller Williams is one name new agents are likely to encounter early in their search, largely because of its emphasis on agent education and training. Its offices typically provide access to training programs, technology, and a large network of other real estate professionals.
For someone who learns well in a structured environment and wants opportunities to connect with other agents, that can be appealing. Keller Williams also operates on a commission split model, so it’s important to understand both the support available and the total cost of working there in your specific Orlando office.
RE/MAX
RE/MAX is another established national franchise with offices throughout the Orlando area, including locally operated offices such as RE/MAX Town Centre. Because individual offices can differ, the experience you have may depend heavily on the location you join.
One office may have a particularly active training or mentorship program, while another may be better suited to agents who prefer working more independently. If you’re considering RE/MAX as a new agent, ask the individual office what its first-year support looks like rather than relying on the national brand alone.
Coldwell Banker
Coldwell Banker has a long-established presence in real estate and offices throughout Central Florida. Its recognizable name, training resources, marketing systems, and broader network can make it one of the companies new agents consider when entering the industry.
As with other franchise-based brokerages, though, your experience can vary from one office to another. Before joining, look at the Orlando office’s onboarding process, commission structure, mentorship opportunities, and the resources you’ll have access to during your first few transactions.
Century 21
Century 21 is another national franchise with strong name recognition among both agents and buyers and sellers. New agents may be drawn to its onboarding resources, marketing support, and established systems. Having those resources already in place can be useful when you’re learning how to build a real estate business from the ground up.
Still, compare the fees and commission structure with the training and support offered by the particular office you would be joining.
eXp Realty
eXp Realty takes a different approach from the traditional brokerage model. Its cloud-based system allows agents to work remotely while accessing virtual training, technology, and a large network of agents. That flexibility can work well if you’re comfortable managing your schedule and learning in a virtual environment.
Agents who prefer to walk into an office and ask someone a question face-to-face may find the setup takes more adjustment. If eXp is on your list, think about how you learn and how much in-person interaction you realistically want during your first year.
Compass
Compass is known for putting a strong emphasis on technology, marketing, and agent branding. Its platform can be attractive to agents who want polished marketing resources and technology built into their broke
However, new agents should look beyond the tools themselves and find out what kind of training and hands-on support is available when they’re still learning the basics of the business. Ask what the onboarding process looks like specifically for an agent who doesn’t already have an established client base.
LPT Realty
Florida-based LPT Realty has grown quickly and has a presence throughout Central Florida. The brokerage offers different plan options, giving agents some flexibility in how they structure their business and expenses. For a new agent, that makes it especially important to understand exactly what’s included with each option.
Compare the costs, training, technology, and support available under the plan you’re considering rather than assuming every LPT agent has the same setup.
The Keyes Company
The Keyes Company is Florida-based independent brokerage with a long-standing presence in the state and offices serving multiple markets. For new agents who like the idea of joining an established Florida company rather than a national franchise, Keyes may be worth considering.
It offers brokerage resources and an existing local network while maintaining a strong focus on the Florida market. As always, ask what the new-agent experience looks like in the office you’d actually be joining, including training, mentorship, fees, and day-to-day support.
Mainframe Real Estate
Mainframe Real Estate is an independent brokerage based in the Orlando area with a strong focus on technology. Its local roots may appeal to agents who would rather join an Orlando-based company than a national franchise.
A smaller or independent brokerage can also offer a different working environment from what you’ll find at some of the larger brands on the list. If you’re considering Main Frame, ask about its onboarding process and how much direct training and mentorship new agents receive.
Is Charles Rutenberg Realty a Good Brokerage for New Agents in Orlando?
For a new agent, choosing a brokerage usually comes down to finding the right balance between support and independence. You want access to resources when you need them, but you also want room to build a business that’s actually yours.
Charles Rutenberg Realty was founded in Florida in 2000 and has grown into one of the state’s largest real estate brokerages. Our 100% commission model is one of the biggest differences between CRR and traditional brokerages. Instead of giving up a percentage of every commission through an ongoing split, agents pay low fees while keeping 100% of what they earn. That difference becomes important as an agent earns a high volume of clients.
However, commission is only part of the decision. New agents also need resources to help them grow and learn how to run their business. CRR combines its commission model with training, technology, marketing resources, and access to an established community of real estate professionals.
Ultimately, you should never choose any brokerage without looking into what matters. Compare the full fee structure, ask what training is available, learn how broker support works, and make sure the environment matches what you want. If you’re looking for a model that combines 100% commission, technology, training, and the backing of an established Central Florida brokerage, Charles Rutenberg Realty is one of the options to consider as you begin your career in Orlando real estate.
If you’re thinking of switching brokerages, see my guide, “How to Switch Real Estate Brokerages in Orlando.”
Choosing Where to Grow Your Career as a Real Estate Agent in Orlando
The best brokerage for new agents in Orlando is the one whose model, training, and culture match the business you want to build. Use the comparison steps above, talk to current agents, and look closely at how each company supports someone in their first year. The differences are real, and they compound over time.
If keeping 100% Commission with low fees, strong technology, and a collaborative community of real estate agents sounds like the foundation you want, we encourage you to start your application at joincrrflorida.com or learn more on our Work With Us page. Take the next step and build your career where the model works for you, not against you. Additionally, whether you’re buying a home or selling a home, Charles Rutenberg Realty can help walk you through the process.
Charles Rutenberg Realty