In the ever-evolving world of real estate, finding the right brokerage model can make a significant difference in the success and growth of an agent’s career. Two of the leading models in today’s market are LPT Realty and Epique Realty. Both companies offer unique benefits and structures, making them attractive options for real estate professionals. In this blog, we’ll explore key features and distinctions between these two brokerage models, focusing on their cost-saving benefits, revenue sharing structures, and growth opportunities. we will comparing against LPT Realty’s “Rev Share Partner” plan and not the “Business Builder”. It has a closer resemblance to what Epique offers. The Business Builder Plan can be a great opportunity if you decide on that route. Let’s get started.
Commission Structures:
A key factor for any agent is how much money you keep after the commission split. Here’s how LPT Realty and Epique Realty stack up.
Epique Realty Commission Split:
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85/15 Commission Split
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Annual Cap: $15,000, with a twist. Epique offers a declining cap—this means that the cap reduces each year you stick with them, down to $10,000.
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Transaction Fees: They have a 0.1% transaction fee that caps at $500. Once you hit a $5,000 total transaction fee cap, it drops to just $250 per transaction.
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Monthly Cost: You’ll be looking at either $99/month if paid annually or $149/month if paid monthly. There’s also a $99 join fee.
LPT Realty Commission Split:
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80/20 Commission Split
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Annual Cap: $15,000, like Epique, but without the declining cap feature.
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Transaction Fees: LPT charges a flat $195 transaction fee.
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Additional Costs: LPT stands out because they have no monthly fee and no join fee. However, there is a $500 annual fee that covers technology and Errors & Omissions (E&O) insurance.
If you’re a newer agent looking for a more budget-friendly option, LPT might seem more appealing with its absence of monthly fees. However, Epique’s declining cap gives long-term agents more incentives to stick around.
Teams: How Are They Different?
Both brokerages offer support for team structures, but the options differ significantly.
Epique Realty Teams:
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Traditional Teams: A team leader and members. Team leaders have the regular $15,000 cap while team members have a lower $10,000 cap.
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Power Teams: For larger teams (40 million in annual sales volume or 140 transactions), team members benefit from lowered caps (just $5,000) and transaction fees are sliced to $250.
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Family Teams: For family duos, the cap is an even more attractive $7,500 per member, though it does not decline.
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Unofficial Teams: Want to team up just for branding purposes or other utilities? Epique allows you to form unofficial teams where everyone maintains their individual caps but shares marketing resources.
LPT Realty Teams:
From what’s available, LPT does not have as defined a team structure as Epique. Their two plans (Business Builder and Rev-Share Builder) allow for flexible roles, but specific team benefits and splits aren’t as clear. Team options may vary depending on whether agents choose the business model focused on sales splits or the rev-share plan.
If comprehensive team setups are high on your priority list, Epique comes out ahead with more flexibility and structured support for teams.
Stock and Equity Ownership:
Ownership in the company you work for is a huge deal, especially if the company plans to go public. Both Epique and LPT have exciting offers on this front.Epique Realty Stock Options:
- Stock Purchase Program: Epique allows agents to buy stock at a 20% discount. Agents can contribute either 5% or 10% of their commission towards stock purchase.
- Free Stock Awards: You can earn free stock in six different ways, including your first sale, capping, recruiting agents, etc. The vesting period for free stock is 3 years.
- Current Stock Price: Right now, Epique’s stock is valued at $0.53/share, which gives you the opportunity to buy in at a low price before the company potentially goes public.
LPT Realty Stock Options:
- Equity Rewards: LPT also offers shares for agents, but they do not have a stock purchase plan like Epique. Stocks are awarded based on performance, primarily through their badge system that rewards agents as they hit certain sales milestones.
Training and Mentorship:
Every agent knows continuous education and mentorship can make all the difference. Let’s see what both companies bring to the table.Epique Realty:
Epique assigns agents a dedicated Area Leader. This person is meant to be your go-to for questions, guidance, and overall support. Whether you’re new or experienced, this service is at no cost to the agent.LPT Realty:
LPT has a program called Agent PowerUp, which is aimed primarily at agents with three or fewer sales under their belt. It’s a 12-week program designed to get you up and running. There isn’t much information about dedicated mentorship. Both provide valuable training, but if you’re looking for personalized, one-on-one mentorship, Epique’s Area Leader program might be the difference-maker.Benefits and Perks
The perks you get with a brokerage can cut down on your recurring business expenses and make your life a lot easier.Epique Realty Benefits:
Epique comes loaded with free services that most agents would otherwise pay out of pocket for. Here’s a quick breakdown:- Free Transaction Coordination
- Free Professional Listing Photography
- Free Yard Signs (installed and removed)
- Free Car Washes
- Free Mental Health Services
- Free Dental and Vision (for $25/month)
LPT Realty Benefits:
LPT Realty offers solid benefits with their LPT Plus plan. For $89 or $119 a month (depending on your plan), you get:- Healthcare with 24/7 telemedicine
- Listing photography
- Transaction management
- Marketing packs
Revenue Share: How the Passive Income Stacks Up
Passive income is a dream for many agents. Both of these cloud-based brokerages offer revenue share, but the structures differ significantly.Epique Realty Revenue Share:
- 5 levels deep, 10% on each level
- No Frontline Qualifiers. This means no matter how many agents you recruit, you can earn revenue from all 5 levels, without restrictions.
LPT Realty Revenue Share:
- 7 levels deep revenue sharing, but with Frontline Qualifiers. You need a certain number of direct recruits to unlock the next level (e.g., 1 direct recruit unlocks tier 1, 3 directs unlock tier 2, and so on).
- The highest earning rate is on tier 1 with 25% of the 50% commission share, but only for agents in the Rev-Share Builder program.
