Company Overview
Century 21 is one of the most recognized real estate brands in the world. Founded in 1971, C21 operates in 79+ countries with approximately 125,000 agents globally. Its tagline — "Join The Relentless" — targets competitive, brand-proud agents. C21's global referral network processes roughly 400 referrals per month, and its national advertising generates inbound leads for local agents. C21 is part of Compass International Holdings (formerly Anywhere Real Estate), after Compass completed its acquisition of Anywhere in January 2026. The brand's structured onboarding program, 21JumpStart, is a genuine draw for new agents entering the business.
LPT Realty launched in 2022 and became the fastest-growing brokerage in the country almost immediately, passing 10,000 agents in its first year. LPT is cloud-based, operates in all 50 states, and offers two plans with the lowest annual cap in the market. The model is built around agent choice: pick the plan that fits your business, keep more of what you earn, and run your business your way.
Key Context
LPT Realty is the brokerage. TPL Collective is a coaching, recruiting, and community layer built on top of LPT — not a brokerage itself. When you join through TPL, you get LPT's industry-leading economics plus TPL's accountability systems, AI tools, marketing support, and agent community.
Commission Splits & Caps
This is where the gap starts — and it's massive. Century 21 operates on a percentage-based split model with a royalty fee layered on top. LPT charges a flat fee per deal with a hard cap.
| Category | LPT Realty | Century 21 |
|---|---|---|
| Commission Split | 100% (Business Builder) or 80/20 (Brokerage Partner) Advantage | 70/30 (new) to 90/10+ (experienced) |
| Annual Cap | $5,000 (Business Builder) or $15,000 (Brokerage Partner) Lowest | No cap on most plans |
| Royalty / Franchise Fee | None | ~6% of agent's commission — no cap |
| Monthly Fees | $0 | $100–$350/mo (varies by office) |
| Transaction Fee | $195/deal | ~$295/deal |
| Annual Fee | $500 | Varies |
| Plan Options | 2 Plans — Business Builder or Brokerage Partner | Kickstart (70/30) or Relentless (90/10) |
| Post-Cap Commission | 100% | No cap — you split all year |
LPT's Business Builder plan charges a flat $500 per transaction with a $5,000 annual cap. Once you hit 10 deals, you pay nothing to the brokerage for the rest of your anniversary year — just the $195 transaction fee. At Century 21, you're paying a percentage of your commission on every deal, all year, every year, with no cap on most plans.
Full Fee Breakdown
The commission split is just the beginning at C21. The royalty fee, monthly fees, and transaction fees stack on top of each other. Here's the full picture.
| Fee | LPT Realty | Century 21 |
|---|---|---|
| Brokerage Split | $0 (100% to agent on Business Builder) | 30% (Kickstart) or 10% (Relentless) |
| Royalty Fee | $0 | ~6% of agent's commission side — no cap |
| Monthly Fee | $0 | $100–$350/mo |
| Flat Fee / Cap | $500/deal, capped at $5,000/year | N/A — no cap |
| Transaction Fee | $195/deal | ~$295/deal |
| Annual Fee | $500 | Varies by office |
| Revenue Share | HybridShare (Brokerage Partner) | None |
| Stock / Equity | LPTA (Nasdaq ticker reserved) | None |
The Royalty Fee Is the Hidden Cost
Most C21 agents know their split. Few have calculated how much the royalty fee costs them per year. It's deducted from every single deal — it never caps, and it scales with your production. The more you sell, the more you pay. We break this down in detail below.
The Real Math: Two Scenarios
C21 has two primary plans — Kickstart (for newer agents) and Relentless (for experienced producers). Let's run the numbers on both against LPT's Business Builder plan. Same agent profile: 12 deals/year, $450,000 average price, 2.5% commission ($135,000 total GCI).
Scenario A — C21 Kickstart (70/30)
Scenario A — LPT Realty
Scenario A Gap
You keep $43,070 more per year at LPT. A new C21 agent pays $50,910 in total brokerage costs. The same production at LPT costs $7,840. Over 5 years, that's $215,350.
Scenario B — C21 Relentless (90/10)
Scenario B — LPT Realty
Scenario B Gap
Even on C21's best plan, you keep $18,290 more at LPT. An experienced C21 agent on the Relentless 90/10 split still pays $26,130/year. The same production at LPT costs $7,840. There is no scenario where C21 is cheaper.
Run Your Own Numbers
Use our commission calculator to enter your actual GCI and deal count and see a personalized LPT vs. your current brokerage breakdown. Open the Calculator →
The Royalty Fee: The Tax That Never Stops
The royalty fee is unique to franchise brokerages like Century 21. It's a percentage of your commission — on every deal — with no cap. It's the single most expensive hidden cost in the franchise model. Here's what it costs at different production levels:
| Your Annual GCI | 6% Royalty Fee | What That Means |
|---|---|---|
| $100,000 | $6,000 | More than LPT's entire annual cap |
| $150,000 | $9,000 | More than LPT's entire annual cost |
| $200,000 | $12,000 | You're paying LPT's annual cost every 8 months — in royalties alone |
The more you produce, the more the royalty costs. It never caps. It never stops. It's a franchise tax on your success.
At LPT Realty, franchise fees don't exist. You pay $500 per deal until you cap at $5,000 — then you keep 100% of every commission for the rest of your anniversary year.
The Compounding Problem
The royalty fee is calculated on your commission side — not the full GCI. That means as your split improves (from 70/30 to 90/10), the royalty actually takes a larger percentage of your remaining income. A Relentless agent keeping 90% pays a royalty of $7,290 on $135K GCI — that's 6% of their entire agent side. There is no tier where this stops.
See What You'd Save at LPT
Book a 20-minute call. We'll run your numbers, walk through both plans, and answer every question — no pressure, no pitch.
Wealth Building: HybridShare vs None
This is a short section — because Century 21 doesn't offer revenue share, stock awards, or any passive income mechanism. None.
Century 21 has no revenue share program. No equity. No stock purchase plan. No retirement income stream. Your only income at C21 is the commission you earn on each deal, minus the split, royalty, and fees.
LPT Realty offers two wealth-building tools beyond commissions:
- HybridShare — a 7-tier revenue share program available on the Brokerage Partner plan. You earn a percentage of the company dollar generated by agents in your downline. Real, calculable, production-tied income.
- LPTA — LPT's Nasdaq ticker (reserved), offering a future equity path for agents building the company.
The Business Builder plan doesn't unlock HybridShare income directly — but you can build a downline on Business Builder and switch to Brokerage Partner when you're ready. That flexibility doesn't exist at C21 because the wealth-building tools don't exist at all.
The Bigger Picture
At C21, your income stops when you stop selling. At LPT (Brokerage Partner), you can build a revenue share network that produces income alongside your sales production. That's not a marginal difference — it's a fundamentally different career trajectory.
The Compass Factor
In January 2026, Compass acquired Anywhere Real Estate — the parent company of both Century 21 and Coldwell Banker. C21 agents are now part of the Compass portfolio, which raises real questions:
- Will fee structures change under Compass ownership?
- Will the Century 21 brand be maintained or consolidated?
- Will technology platforms merge?
- Will local office leadership change?
Nobody has clear answers yet. At LPT, the model is simple: $500/deal, $5K cap. It doesn't change based on who acquires who. While C21 agents navigate corporate uncertainty, LPT agents have a stable, transparent fee structure with no surprises.
Acquisition Uncertainty
Corporate acquisitions create transition periods. Transition periods create fee changes, leadership changes, and brand confusion. If you're evaluating your next move, consider whether you want to bet on a model that's stable by design — or one that's subject to the decisions of a new parent company.
Technology & Tools
Century 21 provides agent tools through the MoxiWorks suite (shared with Coldwell Banker) and its own proprietary platforms. LPT takes a different approach — a core tech stack included for all agents, plus AI-powered tools available through TPL Collective.
| Technology | LPT Realty | Century 21 |
|---|---|---|
| CRM | Included (upgrades available) | MoxiEngage |
| Marketing Tools | Included | MoxiPromote (digital ads) |
| AI Tools | Dezzy.ai, RecruitAssist, Media Stack Exclusive | None specific |
| Agent Portal | Online portal | C21 Productivity Hub |
| Lead Generation | AI-powered (Dezzy.ai) | National advertising leads |
| Client Services | N/A | Home Concierge (insurance, moving, utilities) |
| Referral Network | National (50 states) | Global (79+ countries, ~400/mo) C21 Advantage |
| Monthly Cost for Tech | $0 | Included in monthly fees ($100–$350/mo) |
C21's company-generated leads from national advertising are a real value-add — especially for newer agents who don't have their own pipeline yet. But those leads are funded by the royalty fees and monthly fees C21 agents pay. At LPT, you build your own lead engine with AI tools that work your pipeline 24/7 — without subsidizing a TV commercial.
Training & Community
Century 21 Training
C21 offers structured onboarding and ongoing development through several branded programs:
- 21JumpStart — new agent coaching and mentorship program designed to get agents productive quickly
- XCELLERATE — lead generation and productivity training
- GO LIST! — listing-focused training across four modules
- The Forge — all-in-one hub for on-demand courses, coaching, market updates, and podcasts
- Former Military Program — veteran-specific pathway into real estate
For brand-new agents, C21's 21JumpStart onboarding is genuinely strong. It provides the hand-holding and structure that new agents need in their first year. This is an area where C21's decades of experience show.
TPL Collective + LPT Realty
LPT's training infrastructure is growing. What TPL Collective specifically adds is a layer of coaching, accountability, and AI-powered tools that most solo agents don't have access to:
- Coaching and accountability systems
- Curated agent community
- AI-powered marketing and recruiting tools (Dezzy.ai, RecruitAssist, Media Stack)
- Content creation support
The TPL Collective Difference
Joining LPT through TPL gives you coaching, an agent community, and AI tools on top of LPT's brokerage infrastructure. C21's training is strong for new agents — but TPL's model is built for agents who want to build a business, not just learn the basics.
Category-by-Category Scorecard
Winner
LPT Realty
- ✓ Lowest annual cap ($5K)
- ✓ No royalty/franchise fee
- ✓ No monthly fees
- ✓ Two plan options (agent choice)
- ✓ HybridShare revenue share
- ✓ LPTA stock/equity path
- ✓ AI tools (Dezzy.ai, RecruitAssist, Media Stack)
- ✓ Growing brokerage
Runner Up
Century 21
- ✓ Global referral network (79+ countries)
- ✓ Company-generated leads
- ✓ Brand recognition (50+ years)
- ✓ Structured onboarding (21JumpStart)
- ✗ 6% royalty fee — no cap
- ✗ No commission cap on most plans
- ✗ No revenue share or equity
- ✗ Compass acquisition uncertainty
Final Verdict: Which Is Right for You?
Choose LPT Realty if:
- You want to eliminate the 6% royalty fee and keep more of every commission
- You're tired of splitting commissions all year with no cap in sight
- You want a wealth-building path (HybridShare, LPTA) that C21 doesn't offer
- You want AI tools that help you generate and convert leads — not subsidize TV ads
- You value plan flexibility and the ability to run your business your way
- You want stability while the Compass acquisition plays out
Century 21 may still make sense if:
- You rely heavily on C21's global referral network for your business (tourist, military, or relocation markets)
- You depend on company-generated leads from national advertising and don't have your own lead pipeline
- You're a brand-new agent who needs the structured onboarding and hand-holding that 21JumpStart provides
- The Century 21 brand name specifically helps you win listings in your market
For the vast majority of producing agents, the math is straightforward. A new C21 agent overpays by $43,070 per year. An experienced agent on C21's best plan overpays by $18,290. The royalty fee alone costs more than LPT's entire annual cap at every production level. The question isn't really "LPT or C21" — it's "how much longer do I want to pay a franchise tax on my success?"
Ready to Run Your Numbers?
We'll show you exactly what you'd save at LPT — and what joining TPL Collective adds on top of that. No obligation, no hard sell.
Century 21 is a franchise system — fees, splits, and structures vary significantly by independently owned office. Figures shown reflect common/typical ranges based on publicly reported data. Some offices may offer different compensation plans. LPT Realty figures reflect the current published Business Builder fee structure. TPL Collective is a community platform. LPT Realty is the brokerage.