An agent’s income arrives as a gross commission that is immediately reduced by the brokerage split, desk fees, franchise fees, and transaction fees — and the 1099 the brokerage issues rarely matches what actually landed in the account. Add mileage, marketing, and licensing costs paid personally, and most agents genuinely do not know what a closing earned them.
We are a bookkeeping firm and do not calculate or file estimated taxes — we keep the records your CPA or enrolled agent works from.
Gross, then the split
Commission recorded at gross with the brokerage split as its own line, so you see both halves.
The 1099 reconciles
What the brokerage reports matched to what actually hit your account, with the difference explained.
Cost per closing
Marketing, staging, and mileage tied to transactions so you know what a deal really paid.
Ready for estimates
Clean quarterly figures for whoever calculates your estimated payments.
What we handle
- Recording gross commission and the brokerage split separately, so both are visible
- Desk fees, franchise fees, E&O insurance, and transaction fees tracked as their own costs
- Reconciling the brokerage 1099 to what was actually deposited
- Mileage, marketing, staging, and client-gift spend captured as incurred
- Income by closing, so you can see what each transaction really paid
- Records organised for the quarterly estimated payments your tax professional calculates
Common problems we fix
- Net commission deposits recorded as revenue, hiding the split entirely
- A 1099 that does not tie to the bank, with nobody able to explain the gap
- Personal and business spending on one card, so deductible costs are guesswork
- No idea which price band or referral source is actually profitable
Why your state matters here
Bookkeeping for real estate agents & brokers is not the same in every state. Sales tax rates and what is taxable, registration and licensing, payroll rules, and filing cadence all vary — and for this industry those differences change real work, not just a number on a form. Pick your state below for specifics.
We keep the books. You run the business.
Categorization, reconciliation, month-end close, and clean financial statements — with nothing left for you to chase.
View pricingHow It Works
Free review
We look at how your real estate agents & brokers books are set up today.
Fix the structure
Chart of accounts rebuilt around how your industry actually earns and spends.
Catch up
Anything behind gets cleaned up at a fixed quoted price.
Close monthly
Current, reconciled books every month — ready for your CPA.
Real Estate Agents & Brokers Bookkeeping by State
Sales tax nexus and taxability, licensing, payroll rules, and filing cadence differ by state. Pick yours for a state-specific guide.
Real Estate Agents & Brokers — Frequently Asked Questions
Do you understand real estate agents & brokers specifically?
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Do you work in my existing accounting file?
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Can you help if I am months behind?
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Bookkeeping built for real estate agents & brokers
Book a free consultation and we will tell you what your books need — and what it costs.
- Done-for-you
- Solo or group
- Nationwide
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