Last updated: November 10, 2026 · By Leo Robles, founder of Let's Grow Movement, brokered by eXp Realty
Short answer: Start a real estate team when you have more business than you can handle alone, and write the team agreement (split, fees, lead ownership and exit terms) before you hire anyone. Your first hire is usually an assistant or a buyer's agent, and every team must follow its brokerage's team rules and its state's team-name and advertising laws.
Below is a step-by-step plan, what to put in your team agreement, California's team-name rules and how teams are set up at eXp Realty. For every guide, start at the Let's Grow Hub.
You are probably ready if most of these are true:
If only one or two are true, you may do better staying solo for now or joining an existing team. See real estate team vs solo agent.
Write these terms down and have every team member sign before they start. Your broker may need to approve the agreement or have its own forms.
| Term | What to decide |
|---|---|
| Team split | What share of each commission goes to the team, and whether it changes based on who brought in the lead. |
| Who pays brokerage fees | Whether each agent pays their own brokerage split and per-deal fees, or the team covers some of them. |
| Team cap | Whether a team member's payments to the team stop at a yearly amount. Team caps vary by team; ask your sponsor. |
| Lead ownership | Who owns leads the team pays for, leads an agent brings in and past clients. |
| How leads are handed out | Who gets which leads, how fast they must respond and what happens if they don't. |
| Expectations | What each person does every week: follow-up, showings, open houses, meetings and training. |
| Leaving the team | What happens to listings, pending deals, leads and past clients when someone leaves, and how much notice is required. |
| Disputes | Who decides when there is a disagreement, and how it gets resolved. |
Thinking about it from the other side? Our questions to ask before joining a real estate team show what good agents will ask you.
States set their own rules for how teams advertise. In California, the Department of Real Estate (DRE) says:
Outside California, check your state regulator's rules. For more on marketing when you move, see can you switch brokerages without losing your brand?
If you are starting a team at eXp, or bringing one over, here is what eXp publishes. Confirm current details with your sponsor before you decide.
| Item | What eXp says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Who can join | Individual agents, teams and independent brokerages of all sizes are joining eXp. | exprealty.com/join-exp |
| Team paperwork | An eXp Team Addendum is sent to the team leader and the agent. The agent isn't recognized as part of the team, and their pay plan and cap aren't updated, until both sign. | eXp knowledge base |
| Team splits | Team splits are listed on the Commission tab in SkySlope for every transaction. | eXp knowledge base |
| Brokerage fees | eXp's company dollar and fees are deducted from each agent individually. Broker review, risk management and capped transaction fees are charged per file, not per agent. | eXp knowledge base |
| Leader covering fees | A team leader can pay a team member's company dollar or transaction fees if it is noted on the transaction, and company dollar the leader covers counts toward the team member's cap. | eXp knowledge base |
| Timing | Team members can onboard before the team leader, but team agreements and pay plans wait until the leader is active, unless an interim team leader is named. | eXp knowledge base |
| Team caps | Team caps vary by team; ask your sponsor. | — |
| Moving an existing team | eXp's Thrive program supports team operations and eases the move for culturally aligned teams. | exprealty.com/join-exp |
Each agent's own eXp split is 80/20 until a $16,000 annual cap, then 100% for the rest of their anniversary year, subject to per-deal fees (exprealty.com/income). For every fee, see eXp Realty fees and cap. Moving a team you already lead? Read can a team or brokerage move to eXp Realty?
AI can help a small team keep up with follow-up and content. See how to use AI in real estate.
Leo Robles is the founder of Let's Grow Movement, brokered by eXp Realty, and is known to many agents as Mr. AI. He has about 20 years in sales and real estate leadership and has helped hundreds of families avoid foreclosure. Today he leads a large, active agent community, runs the free Monday Power Up and coaches agents on using AI in their business. Learn more at leorobles.ai.
LGM is a large, active agent community, and there is no fee to join Let's Grow Movement.
Leo's Google Business Profile shows a 5.0 rating from 187 reviews (checked Oct 24, 2026). A few, quoted as written:
“Leo is an exceptional leader and true innovator in real estate. He’s always finding creative ways to help agents grow.”
— Jaqueline P., Google review
“He explains everything in a clear, practical way and genuinely wants to see you succeed.”
— Veronica H., Google review
“Thank you, Leo, for all the valuable information and support you’ve brought to this community!”
— Alvaro L., Google review
“I’ve learned so much valuable information from him — not just about real estate and business, but also about how to think bigger and operate at a higher level.”
— Kinana A., Google review
Start when you have more business than you can handle alone. Know your numbers, choose a simple team model, write a team agreement that covers the split, fees, lead ownership and exit terms, check your brokerage's team rules and your state's team-name rules, then make your first hire and build systems before you add more people.
When you are consistently turning away business or dropping follow-up because you are at full capacity, and your leads come in steadily enough to keep another person busy. If your own pipeline is not steady yet, build that first.
Hire for the job that frees the most of your time. If paperwork and scheduling take over your day, start with an assistant. If you have more buyer leads than you can serve, start with a buyer's agent.
The team usually takes a share of each team member's commission on top of the brokerage's split, in return for leads, training or support. There is no single standard split, so set it based on who provides the lead and what support comes with it, and put it in writing. Team caps vary by team; ask your sponsor.
The team split, who pays which brokerage fees, who owns leads and past clients, how leads are handed out, what each person is expected to do, how disputes are handled and what happens to listings, pending deals and leads when someone leaves.
Under California law, a team name must include the last name of at least one team member plus the word "team," "group" or "associates." It cannot use words like "broker" or "brokerage" or suggest a company separate from your broker. Ads must show the team name and at least one member's name and license number, and your broker's name must be as prominent as the team name. No paperwork needs to be filed with the DRE to use a team name.
Yes. eXp says individual agents, teams and independent brokerages of all sizes are joining. According to eXp's knowledge base, the team leader and each team member sign an eXp Team Addendum, and team splits are entered on each transaction in SkySlope. Team caps vary by team; ask your sponsor for the current options.
No. There is no fee to join Let's Grow Movement. You can book a free discovery call with Leo Robles to talk through your team plan.
Sources (checked November 10, 2026): California DRE team name FAQs and form RE 559 (B&P 10159.6 and 10159.7); eXp Realty's Team Transaction FAQ in its knowledge base; eXp Realty's join page (teams and brokerages, Thrive) and income page (80/20 split, $16,000 cap). Let's Grow Movement details are from Leo Robles. Google reviews collected Oct 24, 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice or a promise of income. Rules and policies change, so confirm with your broker and your state regulator before you start a team.