Kale Realty vs RE/MAX: A Chicago Agent's Real Cost Breakdown (2026)

RE/MAX has been pitching the same idea since Dave Liniger founded it in 1973: top agents keep 95% of every commission. The catch is the $1,000 to $2,500 monthly desk fee that comes with the 95/5 split, plus a 6% royalty and franchise fee that comes off the top of every transaction before any split is calculated. RE/MAX is the rare independent national franchise — not part of the Compass consolidation — and they recently made a Chicago move worth knowing about: in September 2025, RE/MAX purchased Compass's North Shore Chicago offices, expanding their suburban Chicago footprint.

This page lays out what RE/MAX actually costs a Chicago agent in 2026 across the desk-fee model, and why Kale Realty is the natural alternative for agents who don't want to write a check every month before they've even closed a deal.

RE/MAX's two pay structures

RE/MAX runs two compensation models, and the right one for an agent depends entirely on production volume.

Standard 95/5 with monthly desk fee. The classic RE/MAX model. Agents keep 95% of every commission and pay a monthly desk fee that ranges from $500 to $3,000 depending on the office, with $1,000–$2,000 typical for Chicago-area RE/MAX offices. On top of that, every transaction pays a 5% royalty fee and a 1% franchise fee — both off the top — that continue throughout the year, including after any cap is reached. Best for high-volume agents who close enough deals that the 95% retention more than offsets the fixed monthly cost.

RAPP (RE/MAX Alternative Payment Plan). No monthly desk fee, but a higher percentage of every commission goes to RE/MAX until a $23,000 cap is reached. Better for newer or lower-volume agents who can't yet absorb a $1,000+ monthly desk fee. After the $23,000 cap, the agent moves to a higher split.

Most established RE/MAX agents in Chicago are on the standard 95/5 desk-fee model. The math below uses that benchmark.

What does each brokerage charge?

How RE/MAX's structure actually works: On a $10,000 commission, the 6% royalty/franchise fee takes $600 first. Of the remaining $9,400, the 95/5 split gives the agent $8,930 and the office $470. So per deal, RE/MAX takes $1,070 ($600 + $470). Then add the $1,500/month desk fee — $18,000 a year — that you pay regardless of whether you close any deals.

RE/MAX operates on a franchise model. Specific desk fees, office charges, and details vary by individual RE/MAX office. The structural facts — 95/5 split with monthly desk fee, 6% royalty/franchise on every transaction with no cap on those fees — are consistent across the franchise.

What it costs on real Chicago volume

Three Chicago price points. Four production levels. All numbers assume the standard 95/5 model with $1,500/month desk fee ($18,000/year), 6% combined royalty/franchise fee on every transaction, and $500/year E&O. Lower-volume agents on RAPP would see different numbers — confirm with your specific RE/MAX office.

Scenario A: $200,000 average sale price

$5,000 gross commission per side — typical Chicago condo agent.

Scenario B: $400,000 average sale price

$10,000 gross commission per side — typical Chicago single-family or two-flat agent.

Scenario C: $800,000 average sale price

$20,000 gross commission per side — luxury Chicago agent.

What RE/MAX does well

Several things, and one of them matters more in 2026 than ever.

RE/MAX is independent. Not owned by Compass. Not owned by Anywhere. Not part of any national consolidation strategy. After the Compass-@properties acquisition (January 2025) and the Compass-Anywhere merger (January 2026), the number of large national brokerages that aren't Compass has shrunk dramatically. RE/MAX is one of them. For agents who specifically want to be at a national franchise that hasn't been absorbed, RE/MAX is now the obvious choice.

The 95% commission retention is real for high-producing agents. If you close enough volume to make the desk fee a small percentage of your total cost, the 95/5 split delivers genuinely high commission retention — better than almost any percentage-split brokerage on a per-deal basis.

The "Above the Crowd" brand has real recognition. The hot-air-balloon logo and the "Above the Crowd" tagline have been running since the 1970s. Consumer recognition of the RE/MAX brand is among the highest in the industry.

140,000+ agents globally and a strong international referral network. Cross-market and cross-border referrals through the RE/MAX network are real for agents who actively work that channel.

Aggressive Chicago expansion in 2025-2026. RE/MAX acquired Compass's North Shore Chicago offices in September 2025, signaling that RE/MAX sees opportunity in Chicagoland as Compass restructures. For agents who want to be at a brand that's investing in the local market, that's a positive signal.

If you're a high-volume producer, want to stay independent of the Compass empire, or value the global RE/MAX referral network, this is a legitimate brokerage choice.

RE/MAX is the only large national franchise that hasn't been absorbed by Compass. We give them real credit for that. But for most agents, the desk-fee model only works if you're producing at the very top of the market. If you're paying $18,000 a year before you've closed a single deal, the 95% commission isn't doing what the marketing says it's doing. — D.J. Paris, VP of Business Development, Kale Realty

What Kale does that RE/MAX can't

No desk fee. Kale charges $54 per month — basically a tech and support fee — versus RE/MAX's $1,000–$2,500 per month. That alone is $11,000 to $29,000 per year of fixed cost difference, before any production-based fees.

A real cap at $6,000. Kale's flat $400-per-sale fee caps at $6,000 annually. RE/MAX's standard model has no cap on the desk fee or the 6% royalty/franchise — both continue all year long.

No franchise or royalty fee. What you see is what you pay: $400 per sale, $54 per month, $249 per year for E&O. No 6% taken before the split is calculated.

Family-owned, locally accountable, not a national franchise. Kale Realty has been operating in Chicago since 2007. Decisions get made in Chicago by people who sell in Chicago. RE/MAX is publicly traded (NYSE: RMAX) with corporate based in Denver.

A Chicago office included. Kale operates a single physical office in Logan Square, Chicago, with 24/7 access to a meeting room — included in the $54 monthly fee. RE/MAX agents typically pay desk fees specifically for the right to use their local office.

Live training every day of the week, plus TRACK+. Kale runs in-house live training mornings, evenings, and weekends. Every Kale agent also gets full access to The Locker Room — including the flagship TRACK+ 12-week productivity program ($497 retail value), 190 on-demand programs, and weekly small-group coaching.

A mentor program that pays real money. Experienced Kale agents can opt in to mentor newer agents. On any transaction where the mentee chooses to work with a mentor, the mentee pays a 1% mentor fee out of their commission — and the mentor keeps 75% of it. On a $400,000 sale, that's $3,000 to you per mentored transaction.

One-on-one growth coaching and transaction coaches, included. Personal coaching focused on your business goals; experienced brokers who help you work difficult deals in real time. No additional cost.

Onboarding measured in hours. Kale gets you transferred and active in about an hour.

Committee work covered. Kale pays your $54 monthly fee for every month you serve on a CAR, IAR, or NAR committee.

A flat-fee referral program. When a Kale agent recruits another agent, the recruiter receives up to $1,000 upfront plus 20% of every fee Kale collects on that agent's deals, for the lifetime of that agent's tenure at Kale.

Who should stay vs. who should switch

Frequently asked questions

See it on your own numbers

Two ways to take the next step. Both low-pressure.

Schedule a 30-minute call with D.J. Bring your last twelve months of closed sides and your current RE/MAX desk fee. We'll model both your current annual cost and what the same production would look like at Kale.

Or text D.J. directly at 312.238.9796. Tell him you read the RE/MAX comparison and want a straight answer to a specific question.