Your expert opinion please...

[Gjtrafl]

At the end of the day, how much of your business is based on your own abilities v/s the company you are affiliated with?

My opinion...

75% on my own abilities 25% based on my company name/brand

We all know that our own abilities will always be key. Beyond that, do you think your company name secures more business for you?

Your thoughts?

[Bigtoe]

I think you are going to find the answers vary between agents and their experience, internet presence, etc.

[avonreal]

to begin with, its your personal skills/abilities; you need to get people to trust you and gain a reputation. in the long run that reputation becomes associated with the brand.

[Gjtrafl]

All true statements... But I want to go on the assumption that your strong efforts are already in place. My question is at that point, will the brand develop more opportunities that you would not have had otherwise.

[Mack Perry]

The brand will just ad validity to your reputation.

[Jason Painter]

100% me, 0% company...as I just started this company. I'm interested what it's worth for people who have worked for the big boys and for people who work for the independents if there is any difference in production.

For instance I know that a c21 franchise charges a certain amount of start up fees and then something like an 8% cut on commissions forever. I wonder with everything else being the same...is it worth the name recognition to get 8% of every dollar your company will ever earn?

[Bigtoe]

I left Rmx last summer after ten years and am working out of my house under my own brand and I am having one of my best years ever. It seems all MY leads now come to me and the company stuff wasn't enough to make up the difference.

100% me.

[Steve Didier]

99% you - 1% company. The only reason that I am giving the company 1% credit is I have had listing prospects tell me on the phone that the reason they were going to meet with me was because they had told themselves that they were going to interview one from each of the big names in town - since I was the first one from Pru to call, I got the appointment.

Believe me, that is a rare occurance. I have talked to thousands of FSBO's and Expireds and that has happened twice.

Working for an established company can give you one less obstacle to overcome, but in the end it is all you.

[RESteve]

I was just joking about this with my fiance today. I started to answer the phone for some reason with,

"This is Steve with Keller Williams. How can I help you?"

And they go, "Umm...yea...I'm looking for the MyHomeHouston team..."

That greeting changed really quick. I say 100% me in my particular business. I've never had someone list with me/buy with me because of my affiliation with Keller Williams.

I don't care what broker you're with. If you suck as an agent people won't do business with you.

[Sam Dodd]

It has been my experance that my company (Prudential) is worth about 1% of my business. This comes in the form of my brokers advertising of my listings. Other then that I would say its much more cost effective to not pay a franchise fee. Others probally have had different experances.