Brokerage comparisonVerified 2026-05-20

EXIT Realty vs Keller Williams Realty

Sponsoring residual income — earn from agents you recruit vs Largest US brokerage by agent count with profit-share culture.

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Reviewed by SofaBrain Editorial Team

Editorial Team · Last reviewed 2026-05-20

Net-income side by side

Computed at the realtor median: $120,000 annual GCI ÷ 12 transactions per year. Adjust the inputs on the live commission calculator.

EXIT Realty

$84,000

estimated net take-home

GCI: $120,000
Brokerage share: −$36,000

Keller Williams Realty

$96,000

estimated net take-home

GCI: $120,000
Brokerage share: −$21,000
Royalty: −$3,000

Feature matrix

FeatureEXITKW
Commission modelsplitcap
Default split70/3070/30
Annual cap$21,000
Monthly fee
Per-transaction fee
Royalty fee6%
Training programstandardextensive
Lead programoptionalagent-sourced
Stock awards
Profit share
Sponsorship residual
Publicly tradedPrivatePrivate
Approx agent count17,000175,000
HeadquartersToronto, ONAustin, TX
Founded$1,996$1,983

Best/worst fit for EXIT

Best for: Agents wanting passive residual income from recruiting + a structured franchise

Worst for: Solo producers uninterested in recruiting — residual model is the moat

Tech stack: EXIT Connect CRM, Skyslope

Best/worst fit for KW

Best for: Agents who value strong in-person training + long-term profit-share residuals

Worst for: Agents wanting stock equity or pure 100% commission models

Tech stack: Command CRM, KW App, Designs, Smart Plans, KSCORE

FAQ

What's the biggest difference between EXIT Realty and Keller Williams Realty?+

EXIT Realty runs on a split model (70/30 split) while Keller Williams Realty runs on a cap model (70/30 split, $21,000 cap). One offers profit share; the other does not.

Which is better for new agents?+

Newer agents typically benefit more from extensive training + lead programs. EXIT Realty: standard training, optional leads. Keller Williams Realty: extensive training, agent-sourced leads. The brokerage with more brokerage-provided leads + extensive training is usually the safer first move.

Which is better at high volume?+

At high volume (30+ transactions/year), cap-based and 100%-commission brokerages outperform split-based ones because the brokerage's share is capped while your output keeps growing. Keller Williams Realty is the cap/100%-commission option in this pair.

Does this comparison include lender/title splits?+

No. We model the brokerage's cut of your gross commission income (GCI) after the buyer-broker / seller-broker split between firms. Lender, title, and ancillary splits vary deal-to-deal and aren't modeled here.

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Sources