Following are some suggested questions you should ask your prospective broker:

Ø       How long have you been in business?

Ø       Are you affiliated with any national enterprises?

Ø       How much business do you do a year?

Ø       How many agents do you have?

Ø       Where are your sales offices located?

Ø       What sales statistics can you share about your business?

Ø       What is the commission split?

Ø       What are the requirements for a new agent?

Ø       Do you have teams within your organization?  How are they sat up?

Ø       What kind of incentives do you offer agents?

Ø       Where are you advertising?  How much do you spend on advertising?

Ø       Do you share leads with new agents?  How?

Ø       Do you have experienced brokers in every sales office?

Ø       What kind of marketing support do you offer new agents? (Signs, business cards, sales pamphlets, statistical information)

Ø       What are an agent’s monthly costs? (office space, communications, insurance, franchise fee)

Ø       What kind of in-house training do you offer?

Ø       Do you offer mentoring?

Ø       What is your website address?  Is every agent assigned their own web page?

Ø       Do you offer relocation services?  How do you assign relocation leads to your agents?

Ø       Do you have volunteer answering service opportunities?  How do you share those leads with your agents?

Ø       What kind of software is installed on your office computers?  How many computers and workspaces are found in every sales office?

Ø       What kind of copying equipment do you have?  Do you have color printers?  What is the cost for copying in your office?

Ø       What kind of internet training do you offer? 

Ø       What does your orientation for new agents include?