Most agents have no idea how much they are being overcharged by their broker. Especially when it comes to E&O insurance, transaction fees, and hidden costs disguised as “standard practice.” Merge is introducing a better way. One simple price. One hundred dollars per month. No transaction fees. No E&O fees. No junk fees. You pay for fanatical broker support, and that’s it. This is the new model for agents who want transparency and control.

Executive Summary

Most brokerages use E&O insurance as a profit center.
Agents are told these fees are normal.
They are not.

Merge is bringing a new model to real estate.
Instead of charging per‑transaction fees, E&O fees, broker fees, junk fees, or hidden fees, Merge charges one simple monthly price.
One hundred dollars.
That’s it.

You get fanatical broker support.
You get fanatical compliance support.
You get a real broker who actually answers the phone.
You get the future of real estate brokerage.

E&O is included.
No markup.
No pass‑through.
No games.

Key Takeaways

• If your broker charges you E&O, you are almost definitely being overcharged
• E&O policies are inexpensive at the brokerage level
• Most brokers turn E&O into a profit center
• Merge includes E&O with no markup
• Merge charges no transaction fees
• Merge charges no broker fees
• Merge charges no hidden fees
• Merge charges a simple $100 per month
• Merge is the new brokerage model
• You pay for support, not for padding your broker’s pockets

The Industry Problem With E&O Fees

Most agents don’t understand E&O.
And most brokers prefer it that way.

E&O is cheap for the brokerage.
Very cheap.

Yet countless brokerages charge their agents:

• $20 to $100 per transaction
• $300 per year
• “Risk management fees”
• “E&O admin fees”
• “E&O compliance fees”

These fees rarely reflect the true cost.
They reflect what the broker thinks they can get away with.

E&O Should Not Be a Profit Center

Here’s the truth the industry tries to hide.

A brokerage’s E&O premium usually covers the entire company.
It is often a small monthly cost.
It is not billed per agent.
It is not billed per transaction.

When a broker charges you per transaction, that’s profit.
When a broker charges you annually, that’s profit.
When a broker charges you any E&O fee, that’s profit.

It is not a pass‑through.
It is a revenue line.

Merge Is Built on the Opposite Philosophy

Merge does not believe in squeezing agents.
Merge believes in supporting them.

So the model is radically simple:

You pay $100 per month.
You close unlimited transactions.
You keep your money.

No transaction fees.
No E&O fees.
No broker fees.
No desk fees.
No royalty fees.
No franchise fees.
No junk fees.

You pay for real broker support.
You pay for accountability.
You pay for a brokerage that actually helps you grow.

That’s the Merge model.

Why Merge Includes E&O

Because it’s the right thing to do.

E&O should be a cost of doing business for the brokerage.
Not a revenue stream.

When Merge covers E&O, it means:

• Agents keep more of their commission
• Agents aren’t surprised at closing
• Agents aren’t nickel‑and‑dimed
• Agents know exactly what their cost is each month
• Agents can scale their business without being penalized for success

Imagine closing 10 transactions in a month.
At most brokerages, you would pay hundreds in E&O and other fees.
At Merge, you pay $100.
Total.

The Old Model Is Dying

Traditional brokerages survive by charging agents:

• Splits
• Caps
• Franchise fees
• Monthly fees
• “Office fees”
• Technology fees
• Broker review fees
• And, of course, E&O fees

The more an agent produces, the more the brokerage profits.
Not from value.
From extraction.

The Merge model is different.
You don’t pay more when you succeed.
You don’t get penalized for closing more deals.
You don’t get charged transaction after transaction.

Your broker shouldn’t make more money off your back.
Your broker should help you make more money.

You Pay Merge to Support You. Not to Tax You.

That is the point of the $100 monthly fee.
You are paying for:

• Compliance
• Broker availability
• File review
• Guidance
• Structure
• Real leadership
• Real answers

You are not paying for made‑up brokerage fees.
You are not paying for inflated E&O.
You are not paying for the broker’s profit centers.

You pay for support.
Merge handles the rest.

The New Real Estate Brokerage Model

Real estate is shifting.
Agents are smarter.
Margins are tighter.
Transparency matters.

Merge represents the model everyone will be using in the future:

• One simple monthly cost
• No hidden fees
• No transactional fees
• No inflated E&O
• Fanatical broker support
• Unlimited earning potential
• Complete transparency

This is where the industry is going.
Most brokerages will resist it.
Merge is building it.

Final Thoughts

If your broker charges you E&O, question it.
If your broker charges you transaction fees, question it.
If your broker charges you junk fees, question it.

You deserve transparency.
You deserve a brokerage that doesn’t profit from unnecessary fees.
You deserve support, not extra charges.

Merge is the model agents have been waiting for.
One price.
One broker.
Unlimited deals.
No E&O fees ever.

You should not pay for your broker’s profit centers.
You should pay for support.
Merge gets it.

About the Author

I am Stu Hill.
I help brokerages grow, recruit, position, and scale.
I write about the future of real estate brokerage models and the systems that help agents and brokers thrive.
I build marketing, recruiting, and branding systems for real estate companies across the United States.

If you want to explore the Merge model or compare it to your current brokerage, let’s get growing.

About Merge

Merge is the first brokerage built for agents who are tired of confusing fee structures and outdated models. At Merge, you pay one hundred dollars per month. That’s the entire cost. You get unlimited transactions. You get full broker support. You get compliance oversight, contract help, and real human availability. Merge includes E&O coverage with no markup and zero pass‑through fees. No hidden fees. No surprises. Just a simple, honest brokerage designed for agents who want to keep their money and grow their business.