Realty ONE Group vs Keller Williams: A Jacksonville Agent’s Comparison
Two well-known franchise brands with very different math. Here is how the fees, cap and culture compare for agents in Northeast Florida.
Comparing Realty ONE Group vs Keller Williams? Both are national franchise brands with local, independently owned offices, so the real comparison is between the office you would join and how its plan treats your production. Below is how a typical Keller Williams market center plan compares with Realty ONE Group Elevate in Jacksonville and St. Augustine. Talk to Tanya about Realty ONE Group vs Keller Williams.
Realty ONE Group vs Keller Williams: Quick Answer
Keller Williams agents generally work on a 70/30 split until they reach a cap set by their local market center, plus a 6% royalty to Keller Williams Realty International capped at $3,000 a year, plus office fees that vary. Realty ONE Group Elevate has no commission split: agents pay a $399 broker fee (charged to the buyer or seller) and a $0–$2,200 transaction fee per closing, both counting toward an $11,111 annual cap, with no desk or royalty fees. Keller Williams is known for its training systems and profit share; Elevate offers direct broker access, a referral-only broker who does not compete with agents, and a lower cap.
Fees and Cap Side by Side
| Typical Keller Williams market center | Realty ONE Group Elevate | |
|---|---|---|
| Commission split | 70/30 until the market center cap (some offices vary) | No split |
| Annual cap on company dollar | Set by each market center; commonly reported around $15,000 to $36,000 | $11,111 total, broker and transaction fees combined |
| Franchise royalty | 6% of gross commission to KWRI, capped at $3,000 per year | None |
| Monthly or desk fees | Vary by market center | None ($99/month ONE Toolchest is optional) |
| Per-transaction fees | Vary by market center | $399 broker fee (paid by the buyer or seller) plus $0–$2,200 by price, both count toward the cap |
| Income beyond commissions | Profit share | $75 revenue share per closing by referred agents until they cap |
What That Means for a $10 Million Agent
Take an agent with $250,000 in gross commission income. At a typical 70/30 Keller Williams plan, that agent reaches the market center cap and the $3,000 royalty cap, so the year’s brokerage cost is the local cap plus $3,000 plus office fees. Depending on the market center, that is commonly somewhere around $18,000 to $39,000 before monthly and transaction fees. At Realty ONE Group Elevate, the most that agent pays in broker and transaction fees for the year is $11,111.
Beyond the Money
- Training: Keller Williams is known for structured training and coaching programs. Elevate offers weekly live training, Thursday Masterminds and scheduled one-on-one business planning with the broker.
- Leadership access: At Elevate, Tanya Cosmini answers her phone. There is no ticket queue.
- Who your broker competes with: Tanya works on a referral-only basis, so inbound business can flow to agents instead of competing with them.
- Culture: Realty ONE Group’s “ONE” culture focuses on agent independence, branding freedom and a modern office feel.
Thinking about leaving? Read why agents leave Keller Williams and how to switch while you have deals under contract.
Competitor figures are general, publicly reported structures as of November 2026 and vary by office. Each Keller Williams market center and RE/MAX office is independently owned and sets its own split, cap and fees. Always ask any brokerage, including ours, for its current written fee schedule. Keller Williams, eXp Realty and RE/MAX are trademarks of their respective owners; this page is not affiliated with or endorsed by them.
Watch: Agents Who Made the Move
Realty ONE Group Elevate Fees at a Glance
| Commission split | None |
|---|---|
| Broker fee | $399 per closing, charged to the buyer or seller |
| Transaction fee | $0 to $2,200 per closing, based on sale price |
| Annual cap | $11,111; both fees count toward it, then you keep 100% for the rest of the year |
| Desk and royalty fees | None |
| Technology | Bring your own tech for $0, or the optional ONE Toolchest suite for $99/month |
| Revenue share | $75 per closing by each agent you refer, until that agent caps |
See the full transaction fee table and the Top Producer Cap Transfer Program for agents switching mid-year.
Why Realtors Choose Realty ONE Group Elevate
Realty ONE Group Elevate is a Realty ONE Group brokerage serving Northeast Florida from Fernandina Beach to Daytona Beach, with offices in Jacksonville and St. Augustine. Broker/Owner Tanya Cosmini has 20 years of real estate experience and nearly $200 million in career sales, and she works on a referral-only basis, so she does not compete with her own agents for listings and buyers. On Homes.com she shows 83 closed sales totaling $41.8 million over the prior five years and a 5.0-star rating from 22 reviews.
Behind the local office is Realty ONE Group International, named the No. 1 real estate franchise in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 for the fifth year in a row in January 2026, with more than 20,000 real estate professionals in over 450 offices across about 30 countries.
Talk to Tanya About Your Next Move
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Realty ONE Group better than Keller Williams?
It depends on your production and what you need. Agents who value structured corporate training programs often like Keller Williams. Agents who want a lower cap, no royalty and direct broker access often choose Realty ONE Group Elevate. Compare your last 12 months under both plans.
Does Realty ONE Group charge a royalty fee like Keller Williams?
Realty ONE Group Elevate does not charge agents a royalty fee. Keller Williams charges a 6% royalty to KWRI, capped at $3,000 per year.
Can I switch from Keller Williams mid-year without losing cap progress?
Elevate’s Top Producer Cap Transfer Program can credit verified production from your previous brokerage toward the $11,111 cap for agents who join after March 31.
What happens to my Keller Williams profit share if I leave?
Profit share rules are set by Keller Williams and your market center. Ask your current office for the written policy before you move.
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Realty ONE Group Elevate is a licensed real estate brokerage in Florida. Fees and programs described here are current as of November 2026 and may change; ask for the current independent contractor agreement before joining. This page is for informational and recruiting purposes only and is not legal, tax or investment advice. Equal Housing Opportunity.
Our Family of Companies
- Homes for sale in St. Augustine and Nocatee with Tanya Cosmini, Broker/Owner
- Title Company of Florida, title insurance, escrow, and closings statewide, including investor double closings
- Rental Property Partners, property management in Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Ponte Vedra
Affiliated business disclosure: Realty ONE Group Elevate is owned by Tanya Cosmini. Title Company of Florida is owned by her husband, Sam Gorniak, and Rental Property Partners is owned within the same family. Because of these family relationships, the owners may benefit when you use more than one of these companies. You are not required to use any of them and are free to choose other providers.