A Stronger Voice for Independent Brokerages
Independent firms shouldn’t have to sacrifice their identity or independence to gain influence, resources, or market strength.
The Independent Brokerage Alliance (IBA) brings independent brokerages together to create a stronger collective voice, greater industry leverage, and practical support for building stronger, more competitive firms.
“The big [firms] are going to get bigger. The smaller ones are probably going to have to decide what’s next. That might mean mergers and folding into a large organization.”
– Inman
The Independent Brokerage Alliance was built by independent firms for independent firms, right here in North Carolina. We recognize the industry is changing quickly, and we realize that no one is going to stand for us unless we stand together.
The IBA gives independent firms a way to do exactly that — without giving up the independence that makes our companies different. By working together, we can share resources, exchange ideas, advocate for our interests, and create opportunities that would be difficult for any one firm to build alone.
We remain competitors, we remain independent, but on the issues that affect all of us, we are stronger when we speak with one voice.
Independent firms are losing leverage
Large organizations such as Compass, Howard Hanna, Real, RE/MAX, and eXp are reshaping the industry through scale, recruiting power, marketing reach, and influence.
Independent brokerages still represent a meaningful part of the market, but when they operate separately, that strength is fragmented.
Independents need a voice
Important decisions are being made within MLSs, associations, and other industry organizations that directly affect how brokerages operate and compete.
Independent firms are often underrepresented in those conversations despite heavily outnumbering the large brokerages.
The impact reaches our businesses
Less influence and less market leverage can lead to:
Independence shouldn’t mean standing alone.
The IBA brings independent brokerage owners together to create a more organized voice within the industry.
The IBA can:
The goal is not simply awareness. It is greater participation and influence.
Independent firms may operate separately, but they do not have to face every industry challenge alone.
The IBA creates a way for firms to combine their:
Each brokerage keeps its own brand, culture, leadership, commissions, office policies, and their unique way of doing business.
The IBA provides practical education and workshops designed specifically around the challenges of building an independent firm.
Topics can include:
The focus is on helping owners build a more intentional, competitive, and sustainable company so they can compete better in a changing industry.
The IBA can also provide development opportunities directly to agents within member firms.
Workshops can help agents:
This gives independent firms another way to provide meaningful development without having to build every training program internally.
Member firms gain access to resources that may be difficult or expensive to create independently.
The value is not simply having more tools. It is having greater capability without having to build an entire large-company infrastructure.
Brokerage ownership can involve decisions that few people inside the firm are equipped to help make.
The IBA creates access to other independent owners who can: