Since opening FourSquare Realty in 2004, "it" has never been about me, but rather a genuine effort to provide the very best to the associate under the firm belief, "that by serving the associate first, the associate will be able to serve their clients better, and only then will the firm be served best." 

Tom - It sounds to me like you should be opening a RE/MAX franchise?

Now why would you say that? 

What economic advantage would it provide my associates?  I struggle giving most franchises a lot of time simply using "return on investment" calculations.   Unless an associate can come into my firm and receive a return on their investment which is greater than at any other firm, then I have not held up my end of the bargain. 

I want to know all about your culture.  I want to know what you would do to invest into me.  Finally, how will you help me grow as a person as well as my busines.

Tom, we opened our own company because I couldn't find the "ideal".  The ideal would permit me to advertise without scrutiny; approach the consumer from whatever standpoint works for me, regardless of the company's agenda (some companies don't like door knocking); charge what I feel is appropriate for the situation; and keep a MINIMUM of 80% of my money.

Laurie, as a discussion point only, 80% of your money?   When an advisory committee sat down with me to review our commission structure, we found that there is an optimum but hard to define point on the commission split scale where the agent made more by the firm keeping more.   We tried to offer a rediculously high split to our associates, theorizing that they would reinvest in themselves through advertising, promotion, and training.  Yet what we discovered is that associates won't routinely do this, and therefore, they struggled.  What we did was to set aside a broker's fee per deal, then pay the agent a still favorable split, and then share the profits of the firm with the associates based on the total company dollars they produce.