Commission Program vs. Dashboard Purchases

Quick Answer

Real estate agents can receive leads through two distinct paid methods: the commission program (no upfront cost, pay 30%/25%/20% only at closing) and dashboard purchases ($29-$395 paid immediately per lead). The commission program requires invitation and operates via email/SMS, while dashboard purchases are self-service through your Leads Dashboard.

Overview

Understanding the differences between these two lead acquisition methods helps agents choose the right approach for their business model, cash flow situation, and risk tolerance. Many successful agents use both methods strategically to maximize opportunities.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Financial Structure

Aspect	Commission Program	Dashboard Purchases
Upfront Cost	$0	$29-$395 per lead
Payment Timing	At closing only	Immediate charge
Payment Amount	30%/25%/20% of commission	Fixed price
Risk Level	No financial risk	Pay regardless of outcome
ROI Timeline	30-60 days typically	30-60 days typically
Cash Flow Impact	Positive	Negative initially

Access & Process

Aspect	Commission Program	Dashboard Purchases
Access Method	Invitation/application only	Self-service
Delivery	Email/SMS notifications	Dashboard or email
Agreement	E-signature required	Click to purchase
Contact Info	After signing agreement	Immediate
Lead Quality	Same manual vetting	Same manual vetting
Exclusivity	Exclusive to you	Exclusive to you

Program Features

Feature	Commission Program	Dashboard Purchases
Trial Period	Yes - first lead at 30%	No
Volume	Based on availability	Based on your budget
Response Requirement	2 hours mandatory	Best practice only
Relationship	Managed service	Self-service
Tracking	Manual records	Dashboard analytics
Refunds	N/A - no upfront cost	7-day policy

When to Use Each Program

Choose Commission Program When:

Building or scaling your business
Cash flow is tight
Want volume without upfront investment
Comfortable with relationship-based model
Can respond within 2 hours consistently
Looking for long-term partnership

Choose Dashboard Purchases When:

Highly selective about leads
Want immediate control
Have marketing budget available
Prefer self-service model
Need specific types of leads
Want to test specific markets

Use Both When:

Maximizing all opportunities
Have variable cash flow
Building diverse pipeline
Testing different approaches
Serving multiple markets
Growing established practice

Real-World Scenarios

Scenario 1: New Agent, Limited Budget

Best Choice: Commission Program

No upfront costs
Pay from earnings
Build track record
Establish cash flow

Example: Agent closes 2 deals monthly

Commission program: $0 upfront, pay from closings
Dashboard: $100-200 upfront investment needed

Scenario 2: Experienced Agent, Specific Niche

Best Choice: Dashboard Purchases

Cherry-pick best matches
Control lead flow
Immediate access
Higher close rate on selected leads

Example: Luxury specialist wanting high-end clients

Dashboard: Choose only $300K+ listings
Commission: Must take all matched leads

Scenario 3: Team Leader, Growing Office

Best Choice: Both Programs

Commission for volume
Dashboard for priority clients
Maximize coverage
Diversify lead sources

Example: Team of 5 agents

Commission: Steady flow to team
Dashboard: Hot leads for top performers

Financial Analysis

Commission Program ROI

$500,000 Sale Example (3% commission = $15,000):

Lead 1: Pay $4,500 (30%), Keep $10,500
Lead 5: Pay $3,750 (25%), Keep $11,250
Lead 10: Pay $3,000 (20%), Keep $12,000

Break-even: Immediate (no upfront cost)

Dashboard Purchase ROI

$500,000 Sale Example (3% commission = $15,000):

Lead cost: $195 upfront
Commission kept: $15,000
Net profit: $14,805

Break-even: Must close to recover cost

Comparative Analysis

Metric	Commission	Dashboard
Cost per lead	$0 upfront	$29-$395
Avg commission kept	75%	100%
Break-even point	Immediate	Must close
Monthly investment	$0	$200-2000 typical
Annual ROI	Lower margin, no risk	Higher margin, upfront risk

Switching Between Programs

Starting with Commission

Build business risk-free
Establish cash flow
Track conversion rates
Graduate to dashboard purchases
Maintain commission for volume

Starting with Dashboard

Test with select purchases
Measure ROI carefully
Apply for commission program
Use commission for volume
Reserve dashboard for premium leads

Important Notes

No Conflict: Both programs work simultaneously
Same Quality: Leads vetted identically
Different Systems: Commission via email, dashboard self-service
Track Separately: Monitor ROI independently
Strategic Usage: Combine for best results

FAQs

Q: Can I pause one program while using the other? A: Yes. You control dashboard purchases completely and can decline commission leads if needed.

Q: Do commission leads appear in my dashboard? A: No. Commission leads are delivered via email/SMS only. Dashboard shows only purchasable leads.

Q: Which program has better quality leads? A: Quality is identical. Both use the same intake forms, vetting process, and matching system.

Q: Can I negotiate commission rates for dashboard purchases? A: No. Dashboard purchases are fixed-price. Only the commission program has tiered rates.

Q: Should I use both programs from the start? A: Consider starting with one to learn the system, then add the other as you scale.