# Side **Source:** https://geo.sig.ai/brands/side-inc **Vertical:** PropTech **Subcategory:** Brokerage-as-a-Service **Tier:** Growth **Website:** sideinc.com **Last Updated:** 2026-04-14 ## Summary Brokerage platform for top agents; launch a boutique brand with Side's compliance, transaction management, and tech back-office; agent-first model with higher commission retention. ## Company Overview 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. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How does Side let real estate agents run their own brokerage? Side handles all brokerage infrastructure — licensing, compliance, transaction management, technology — under a revenue-sharing model, so agents can present under their own boutique brand with their own website and name while Side manages the regulatory and operational complexity of the licensed brokerage. ### What is Side and how does it work for real estate agents? Side is a real estate technology company that partners with high-performing independent real estate agents and teams to run their own boutique brokerages under Side's licensed brokerage infrastructure. Agents keep their brand identity while gaining access to Side's technology platform, compliance support, and business services. ### How is Side different from traditional brokerages or other agent platforms? Unlike traditional brokerages where agents work under the brokerage's brand, Side lets agents build and market their own brand while using Side's back-end brokerage infrastructure. Unlike flat-fee brokerages, Side provides active business support and a technology stack rather than just licensing. ### What technology does Side provide to its agent partners? Side provides a proprietary platform covering transaction management, compliance, contract review, marketing tools, and business analytics. Agents also get access to integrated tools for client communication, document management, and pipeline tracking. ### What services does Side provide beyond technology? Side provides compliance oversight, transaction coordination, legal support, marketing resources, and business coaching. The goal is to let top-producing agents focus on client relationships and transactions while Side handles back-office complexity. ### Does Side handle brokerage compliance for agents? Yes. Side maintains the brokerage license and handles regulatory compliance, E&O insurance, and supervision requirements. This allows agents to operate independently without personally holding a brokerage license or managing compliance infrastructure. ### What commission structure does Side use? Side partners with agents on a revenue-sharing model. Agents earn the majority of their commission income while Side charges a fee for its platform and services. The specific split varies by agreement and agent production volume. Side positions this as superior economics versus traditional brokerage splits. ### Who qualifies to partner with Side? Side is selective about its agent partners and focuses on high-producing agents and teams who are ready to build their own brand. Agents typically need to demonstrate a track record of significant production volume to be considered for partnership. ## Tags proptech, saas, b2b, marketplace, platform, startup, unicorn, technology --- *Data from geo.sig.ai Brand Intelligence Database. Updated 2026-04-14.*