Epique Realty v Keller Williams
In the dynamic realm of real estate, choosing the right brokerage is a critical career decision for agents. It extends beyond licensing, encompassing alignment with a partner that offers optimal support, resources, and opportunities for success. Amidst numerous choices, our objective is to provide a comprehensive overview to assist real estate professionals in making informed decisions about their future. Read on to learn more in a side by side comparison ofKeller Williams and Epique Realty in these 4 categories:
- Overall Agent Benefits
- Technology Comparison
- Fees & Splits
- Training & Mentorship
Overall Benefits Comparison
Lead acquisition is the cornerstone in a real estate career’s foundation. At Keller Williams, agents are offered lead generation methods, but the expectation typically outweighs the results. Direct leads provided by KW come with an additional cost to agents. KW also adds an additional fee for providing professional listing photos, and the cost for a transaction coordinator is $250/transaction. They do not offer headshots, billboards of any kind, or car washes. Through their online community, Keller Williams Connect, agents can find some free health and wellness resources. KW also offers insurance through select partner providers, resulting in higher prices through lack of competition.
“Benefits seem scarce in Real Estate, but Epique seems to have them in spades”
Epique Realty offers a robust suite of benefits tailored to empower its agents for success including valuable access to free leads. Agents at Epique Realty enjoy a myriad of other advantages for listings such as professional photography and property exposure through digital billboard advertisement. What’s more, Epique also offers free digital billboards for its agents along with free headshots and free car washes. Most importantly, Epique Realty cares about agents wellbeing, providing free healthcare and free generic prescriptions.
Technology Comparison
When it comes to technology benefits, the choice of a real estate brokerage can have a profound impact on an agent’s ability to thrive in the digital age. Keller Williams provides agents a CRM, website, and mobile app. What KW does not offer is advanced AI tools, AI certification, Canva Pro or any other graphic design program.
“Epique Realty’s technology is uniquely created specifically for industry professionals who want to advance their real estate career through AI and automation”
At Epique Realty, agents can take full advantage of an industry-first AI Certification course tailored to real estate, completely free. The course covers a myriad of topics including instructions on best practices for utilization to aid their understanding of the extensive Epique AI’s toolset. These include Broker AI, Coach AI, Support AI, Transaction AI, Realtor Bio, blog posts, newsletter campaigns, and more. Canva Pro and SocialBay are also offered to Epique agents, at no additional cost. Epique Realty recognizes the importance of a secure and collaborative digital workspace, offering agents a proprietary platform called Epique Cloud. This comprehensive app and desktop solution gives agents’ access to sales dashboards, one tap benefits requests, and company updates with a social media flair.
Commission Splits & Fees
It’s important to keep in mind that Keller Williams offices are franchised, therefore agents should expect to pay around 6% per transaction up to $3,000. The commission payout to KW starts at 30% with a $24,000 cap for new agents. With a $1,500 startup fee, agents pay anywhere from $99 to $250 in monthly fees, and KW new agent coaching costs an additional 10% of their commission. E&O/insurance ranges from $60 to $80 per transaction, not including a separate transaction fee of $250.
“Epique offers fair commission splits and low monthly fees, allowing agents to keep more of their money while still receiving cutting-edge tech and tons of support.”
Epique Realty offers a highly competitive fee structure designed to benefit agents, allowing them to keep 85% of their commission. With a declining cap, first year agents receive 100% commission after reaching $15,000 with a reduction of $1,000 every year for 5 years until their cap is $10,000 for every year thereafter. There is a $149 monthly tech fee with the option to pay annually for a reduced rate of $99/month. No coaching fees, no E&O/insurance or broker review costs to the agent, no annual fees, and a digital brokerage model allows for 0 office fees.
Training & Mentorship Comparison
Keller Williams’s training program is designed to enhance agent’s skills, while new agent coaching comes with an additional fee of 10% per transaction fee. With an emphasis on structured classroom learning, KW lacks the flexibility of online virtual training, will not ensure new agents receive support through mentorship, and does not pick up agent’s CE costs.
“Epique offers fair commission splits and low monthly fees, allowing agents to keep more of their money while still receiving cutting-edge tech and tons of support.”
Diversely, Epique Realty’s approach to new agent support begins during onboarding when they are provided a dedicated mentor and area leader who will be a source for guidance and assist them in cultivating a successful career. Epique’s commitment to training means that all agents are provided pre-recorded and advanced training, along with virtual or in-person continuing education courses.
TLDR
While well known for training, Keller Williams offers this at a cost while modern brokerages offer this for free. KW also offers very few agent benefits, and new agents pay a $1,500 startup fee while receiving a 60/40 commission split at $24k cap with an additional 6% franchise fee. At Epique Realty, agents receive free leads, free listing photos, digital billboards for agents and their listings, free headshots, free car washes, free healthcare, free TCs, the first and only industry AI certification for free, a robust AI toolset including Broker AI, Coach AI, Support AI, Transaction AI, and Realtor Bio; Canva Pro, SocialBay, Epique Cloud, Lofty CRM, IDX Agent Website, new agent training, new agent coaching, no cost advanced training, free CE courses, free ongoing mentorship, no broker review fees, no E&O fees, lower and declining commission caps, 85% of their commission, and all for the low, low price of $149/month ($99/mo paid annually).