Side

Side is a San Francisco-based real estate brokerage platform that enables high-performing real estate agents and teams to operate as independent boutique brokerages with their own brands, websites, and marketing while leveraging Side's enterprise-grade back-office services — compliance, transaction management, technology, and licensing infrastructure. Rather than the traditional model where top agents work under a brokerage brand and split a significant portion of commission, Side's agent-first model allows agents to present themselves under their own brands and retain more of their earnings. Side handles all the regulatory, operational, and technology overhead of running a licensed brokerage, allowing agents to focus entirely on client relationships and transaction volume. The company is particularly attractive to top producers who have built strong personal brands but lack the resources or desire to manage brokerage operations. Founded in 2017, Side raised over $300M and reached a unicorn valuation in 2021, backed by investors including Sapphire Ventures and Trinity Ventures. It competes with eXp Realty and Real in the agent empowerment brokerage model.