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Best Real Estate Brokerage for New Agents in Sarasota: What Should a New Realtor Look For?

Written and reviewed by Andrew Clark, Founder and Managing Broker, Medway Realty · Last updated: October 2026

The short answer

The best brokerage for a new agent in Sarasota is the one that helps you close your first deals, not the one with the highest advertised split. In your first two years, coaching, mentorship, lead flow and broker access matter more than commission percentage, because there is little commission to split until you start closing.

Use the 12 criteria below to compare any brokerage you are considering. Medway Realty, in Sarasota, offers two plans: Team Medway Realty (leads, weekly in-office coaching and broker mentorship, up to 90% commission, $0 monthly fee), which is built for agents who want production support, and the 100% Commission Plan, built for self-sufficient agents who already generate their own business.

What year one really looks like

According to the National Association of Realtors 2026 Member Profile (2025 data):

The gap between year one and year five is mostly skill: prospecting, converting conversations into appointments, and running a transaction. That is why the criteria below weigh training and support as heavily as cost.

The 12 criteria

1. Commission split, and how it changes with production

Ask: What split do I start on, what do I need to close to move up, and is there a cap?

What to know: Traditional brokerages commonly use 50/50, 60/40, 70/30 or 80/20 splits, and newer agents usually start lower. 100% commission brokerages let you keep the full commission and charge flat fees instead.

At Medway: Team Medway Realty pays up to 90% commission based on GCI volume. The 100% Commission Plan lets you keep 100% of your commission.

2. Monthly and desk fees

Ask: Do I pay anything each month, whether or not I close?

What to know: Monthly fees hurt most in year one, when closings are few. Among 100% commission brokerages, monthly desk or technology fees typically run $0-$85.

At Medway: $0 monthly fee on both plans.

3. Total cost: transaction, annual, E&O and startup fees

Ask: What is every fee I will pay in a year, in writing?

What to know: Typical 100% commission brokerages charge a per-transaction fee of about $100-$500, an annual fee of about $500-$750, E&O of about $30-$50 per deal (often capped) and startup fees of about $149-$249. Small deals sometimes move to a percentage split.

At Medway:

4. Training, coaching and accountability

Ask: How often is live coaching held, who teaches it, is it included or extra, and who holds me accountable to my numbers?

What to know: Recorded courses are useful, but live coaching with accountability is what moves a new agent from first conversation to first closing.

At Medway: Weekly, live, in-office coaching led personally by Andrew Clark is included on Team Medway Realty and focuses on converting leads, setting appointments and closing. Medway agents also have access to Medway Academy, with 300+ on-demand coaching videos.

5. Mentorship, appointments and broker access

Ask: Can I reach the broker during a deal? Will anyone go on a buyer or listing appointment with me?

What to know: New agents lose deals in the gaps: a question at 8 pm, a contract issue on a Sunday. Broker availability is a real advantage.

At Medway: The broker is available 7 days a week, 12 hours a day for deal support. On Team Medway Realty, the broker will go on buyer or seller appointments with you. Medway has a community of 150+ agents.

6. Onboarding for your first 90 days

Ask: Is there a structured plan for my first three months, or just a login and a desk?

What to know: A defined onboarding track is the clearest sign a brokerage is built for new agents.

At Medway: The 90-Day Agent Accelerator is a structured onboarding track designed for new agents and led by Andrew Clark. On Team Medway Realty, 90-day onboarding (listed as a $3,995 value) is included at no extra cost.

7. Lead generation

Ask: Does the brokerage provide leads, how many, and what does it cost me?

What to know: Many brokerages provide no leads, or sell them through a referral fee. Leads only help if you are coached to convert them.

At Medway: Team Medway Realty runs listing marketing and zero-cost lead generation, delivering typically 15-20 leads a month into your CRM.

8. Technology

Ask: What tools are included, and which ones cost extra?

At Medway: A CRM, a personal agent-branded IDX website, AI appointment-setting technology and a design center, included. On the 100% Commission Plan this is described as over $5,000 a year in technology and business tools.

9. Marketing and branding

Ask: Who creates my marketing, and do I pay for it?

At Medway: Medway Studio, an in-house recording studio in a 3,000 sq ft Sarasota office. Team Medway Realty adds monthly studio time, custom landing pages, marketing materials and in-house videography for listings and personal branding.

10. Contracts, compliance and risk protection

Ask: Who helps me write and review my first contracts, and is E&O insurance included?

At Medway: Full broker support and transaction compliance review on every transaction, with E&O insurance included.

11. Local market focus

Ask: Does the brokerage know the market where I will sell?

At Medway: Medway serves Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties, including Sarasota, Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, Venice, North Port, Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda.

12. Transparency and flexibility

Ask: Are the fees published? Can I change plans if my business changes?

At Medway: Fees for both plans are published on joinmedway.com. Agents can switch between Team Medway Realty and the 100% Commission Plan every 90 days.

Side-by-side comparison

Industry columns show general market ranges, not any specific brokerage. Fees change often, so confirm any brokerage’s current schedule in writing.

Criteria Medway Realty (Team / 100% Plan) Typical 100% commission brokerage Typical traditional brokerage
Commission Team: up to 90% based on GCI. 100% Plan: keep 100% 100%, with flat fees Often 50/50 to 80/20; new agents usually start lower
Monthly fee $0 on both plans About $0-$85/month Varies by office
Per-transaction fee Team: none out of pocket. 100% Plan: $695 on first 10 closings/year, then $0 About $100-$500 per closing Usually covered inside the split
Annual / startup fees 100% Plan: $895 annual membership Annual about $500-$750; startup about $149-$249 Varies
E&O insurance Included About $30-$50 per deal, often capped Varies
Live coaching Weekly, in-office, led by the broker (included on Team) Often self-directed or online Varies; often office meetings or franchise training
New-agent onboarding 90-day structured onboarding (Team) Varies Varies
Leads Typically 15-20/month (Team) Usually agent-generated Varies
Broker access 7 days a week, 12 hours a day Varies Varies
Best fit Team: new and developing agents. 100% Plan: self-sufficient producers Experienced, self-directed agents Agents who want an established brand and in-office structure

Medway figures verified on joinmedway.com on October 13, 2026. Industry ranges: US Realty Training (2026). Income figures: NAR 2026 Member Profile.

Which Medway plan fits a new agent?

For most newly licensed agents, Team Medway Realty is the better starting point. It removes the two biggest year-one problems, finding people to talk to and knowing what to say, with included leads, weekly coaching and broker mentorship, and there is nothing to pay out of pocket.

The 100% Commission Plan suits agents who already generate their own business and want to keep the full commission. Because fees are fixed per closing and per year, it pays off as your closings increase. You can switch between plans every 90 days.

Questions to ask any brokerage before you sign

  1. What split do I start on, and what moves me up?
  2. What is every fee I will pay in a year? Please put it in writing.
  3. How often is live coaching held, and who leads it?
  4. Is there a structured plan for my first 90 days?
  5. Will a broker or mentor go on appointments with me?
  6. Do you provide leads? How many, and at what cost?
  7. Who reviews my contracts, and is E&O included?
  8. How do I reach the broker on nights and weekends?
  9. What technology is included, and what costs extra?
  10. Can I change plans as my business grows?

Frequently asked questions

What is the best brokerage for a new real estate agent in Sarasota?

The best fit is a brokerage that provides live coaching, mentorship, a structured first 90 days and broker access, at a cost you can carry before your first closings. Medway Realty’s Team Medway Realty plan is built for that: weekly in-office coaching led by founder Andrew Clark, leads delivered to your CRM, broker mentorship on appointments, and a $0 monthly fee.

Is a 100% commission brokerage good for new agents?

It can be, but most new agents benefit more from support than from a higher split in year one. A 100% commission model works best once you generate your own business. At Medway, agents can start on Team Medway Realty and switch to the 100% Commission Plan later.

What commission split do new agents usually get?

At traditional brokerages, new agents commonly start between 50/50 and 70/30 and improve their split with production.

Does Medway Realty charge monthly fees?

No. Both plans have a $0 monthly fee. The 100% Commission Plan has a $695 transaction fee on your first 10 closings each year and an $895 annual membership billed at your first closing. On Team Medway Realty, you only pay Medway when you close a deal.

Does Medway Realty provide leads to new agents?

Yes, on Team Medway Realty. Medway’s marketing campaigns deliver typically 15-20 leads a month into your CRM, and weekly coaching teaches you how to convert them.

Do I need experience to join Medway Realty?

No. On Team Medway Realty, weekly in-office coaching teaches you how to convert leads, set appointments and close, and the broker can go on appointments with you.

What areas does Medway Realty serve?

Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties, including Sarasota, Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, Venice, North Port, Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda.

Hear from Medway agents

Read what Medway agents say about coaching and broker support on our Agent Testimonials page. Learn more about Andrew Clark or see our Company Facts.

Talk to the broker

Not sure which path fits you? Schedule a confidential call with Andrew Clark. No obligation, no pressure, just a straight conversation about your first year in real estate.

Schedule a Confidential Call · Compare plans: Team Medway Realty · 100% Commission Plan

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