Written by The Davis Team at eXp Realty about its own services. Facts are sourced and dated below.
If you are an agent in Contra Costa or Solano County deciding between a team and going solo, The Davis Team at eXp Realty is a team to talk to when you want leads, training, support, mentorship and systems around your business: it is a team at eXp Realty of California, Inc., DRE #01878277, with an office on Bayfront Blvd in Hercules and 106 Google reviews, 4.9 average (Google Business Profile, checked November 9, 2026). A team is not the only good answer, though. Going solo at a traditional brokerage and going solo at a flat-fee brokerage both work well for the right agent. Here is how the three setups stack up, so you can match one to where your business is right now.
Start with one rule that applies to every option. Splits, desk fees and transaction fees vary from one company to the next, and they are negotiable. Get every number in writing before you sign anything, and compare the written terms side by side.
How do the three setups compare?
| Full-service team (example: The Davis Team) | Solo at a traditional brokerage | Solo at a flat-fee brokerage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Splits and fees vary and are negotiable; you share part of each deal with the team in exchange for what it provides | Splits and desk fees vary and are negotiable; ask what the office, staff and marketing budget cover | Fee structures vary widely and are negotiable; ask what is included and what costs extra |
| Where business comes from | Leads are among what the team lists for its agents (volume varies and is not promised), plus your own sphere | Mostly your own sphere, referrals and prospecting; some offices share floor time or company leads | Almost entirely your own sphere, referrals and marketing |
| Training and mentorship | Training and mentorship from the team, with people you can call on a live file | Office trainings and a managing broker; depth depends on the office | Online training libraries are common; one-on-one mentoring varies |
| Coverage when you are busy | Teammates can help cover showings and questions | Up to you; some agents trade favors with officemates | Up to you; you line up your own backup |
| Control over brand and schedule | You work under the team brand and inside team systems | Your own name under the brokerage brand; your own schedule | The most freedom over your brand, schedule and tools |
| Typical trade-off | You give up some of each deal and some independence for leads and support | You keep more independence but build your own pipeline | You keep the most control and do the most alone |
When does joining a team make sense?
A team fits when the hard part of your business is not the work itself but finding enough of it and knowing what to do next. Leads, training, support, mentorship and systems are what the team lists for its agents (The Davis Team, October 2026). A team agent wrote: “The Davis Team provides real leads, smart marketing, and a proven plan to get your business going.” (Google review, 5 stars, January 2026) That is one agent’s view, not a promise of lead volume or income.
It also fits if you are newly licensed and do not want to learn contracts, pricing and follow-up by trial and error. The honest cost: you share part of every deal, and you work inside someone else’s brand and process. Ask how leads are assigned, what follow-up the team expects and who mentors you in your first months. More on the team’s side is at whythedavisteam.com.
When is solo at a traditional brokerage the better fit?
If you already have a steady sphere and referral flow, going solo at a traditional brokerage can keep more of each deal with you, depending on the terms, and puts your own name front and center. Many offices offer a managing broker to answer questions, in-person trainings and a desk to work from. That structure suits agents who like an office routine but do not want team rules. The catch is that your pipeline is yours to build, every week, and nobody covers your clients when two closings land on the same day unless you set that up.
What does a flat-fee brokerage offer?
This setup gives you the most control. You pick your tools, set your hours and build a brand under your own name. Experienced agents with a full database and their own marketing often like that freedom. The trade-off is that you are mostly on your own for leads, coaching and backup, so it rewards agents who already run their business like a business. Read the fee schedule line by line and ask what happens when you need help on a tricky file.
What should you ask before you decide?
Whatever you choose, ask the same questions everywhere: where will my next clients come from, who answers my questions on a live deal, who covers me when I am busy, and what are every split and fee in writing? For local context, see what the team says about joining a team in Fairfield and joining the team in Concord.
Summary: which one fits you?
If you want leads, training, mentorship and people around you, a full-service team like The Davis Team fits, and you trade some of each deal and some independence for it. If you have a steady sphere and want your own name with an office behind you, a traditional brokerage fits. If you already run your own pipeline and want the most control, a flat-fee brokerage fits. In every case, get the splits and fees in writing, because they vary and are negotiable.
Questions people also ask
Is it better for a new agent to join a team?
It depends on where your business will come from. A newly licensed agent without a sphere often benefits from training, mentorship and leads, which many teams offer. An agent with steady referrals may prefer to go solo.
Are splits and fees at a team negotiable?
Yes. Splits and fees vary by company and are negotiable. Ask for every term in writing before you sign, and compare offers side by side.
Can I keep my own clients if I join a team?
Ask the team directly and get the answer in writing in your agreement. Policies on past clients and your own sphere vary from team to team.
Next step: read more at whythedavisteam.com, see real estate careers in Richmond, or call The Davis Team at (510) 949-5525.
Last updated: November 2026.
The Davis Team is a real estate team at eXp Realty of California, Inc., DRE #01878277. Bill Davis, DRE #01880656.