Illinois license holding · statewide

Step back.Stay licensed.Still get paid.

We hold your Illinois broker license for $109 a year so it stays active. Refer a client to any agent and keep 80% of the referral fee.

✓ Example: refer one $350,000 sale, keep about $1,750*
Hold my license Will I lose my license? →
The problem

An inactive license can’t get paid.

Stepping back from real estate shouldn’t mean starting over. But in Illinois, it’s easy to lose what you worked for.

01

Your license needs a sponsor

A broker license only stays active while a brokerage sponsors it. Leave your brokerage, and it goes inactive.

02

Inactive means no referral checks

An inactive license can’t collect a referral fee. When your cousin buys a house, you can’t get paid for sending her to a great agent.

03

Lapsed means starting over

Let it lapse, and getting it back means coursework and reinstatement fees. That’s a hassle you can avoid.

60-second check

Is your license safe?

Three quick taps. No email needed.

Question 1 of 3

Is a brokerage sponsoring your license right now?

Question 2 of 3

Are you still working with clients?

Question 3 of 3

Do you know anyone buying or selling in the next year?

Your result

Free for Illinois brokers

Get the free guide: Will I Lose My License?

  • What active, inactive and expired really mean
  • Your 2028 renewal calendar and CE checklist
  • How referral fees work, with real numbers
  • Reminders before your April 30, 2028 deadline

Rather talk? Call 312.238.9796 for a free 2-minute license check-up.

    We'll email the guide and remind you before your April 30, 2028 renewal.

    How it works

    Three steps. No desk required.

    We sponsor licenses for brokers anywhere in Illinois, so you stay active without paying to practice.

    1

    Request your application

    Tell us where to reach you and we’ll email a digital application. Nothing to print or mail.

    2

    We hold your license

    We become your sponsoring brokerage, so your license stays active with IDFPR. You keep up with CE and renewal, same as any broker.

    3

    Refer and get paid

    Send a client to any agent you trust, or let us connect you with a great one. When it closes, you keep 80%.

    $109 / year

    Your license, minus the MLS bill.

    The cheapest insurance policy your license will ever have.

    80%of every referral fee is yours
    $0MLS dues, association dues or desk fees. We don’t even have desks for you.
    16years of membership from one example referral*
    The money

    See what one referral pays.

    Referral calculator

    You keep
    $1,750

    That’s a long weekend away.

    Or about 16 years of membership.

    Assumes the agent’s side pays a 2.5% commission. You and the other agent agree on the referral fee. *Examples on this page use a $350,000 sale, a 2.5% commission and a 25% referral fee. Estimates only, not a guarantee.

    What it costs

    $109 / year

    $109 a year, plus a one-time $24 setup fee. The state also charges a $35 transfer fee (plus a small convenience fee if you pay online), which you pay directly to IDFPR. That’s it from us. First year all in: $168 plus that convenience fee. After that, $109 a year.

    • No MLS fees
    • No association dues
    • No desk fees
    • Leave anytime to practice again
    Hold my license
    Who it’s for

    Built for brokers who stepped back.

    Started a new career Raising a family Nearing retirement Working part-time Newly licensed, no brokerage yet Taking a break

    Still working with clients every week? Then this isn’t the right fit. You need a full brokerage.

    Quick answers

    Questions brokers ask us

    Will I lose my license if I stop practicing?

    Not if a brokerage keeps sponsoring it. Without a sponsor, your license goes inactive, and an inactive license can’t collect referral fees. We’re your sponsor, so it stays active. Our license guide explains the rules.

    What does it cost?

    $109 a year, plus a one-time $24 setup fee. The state also charges a $35 transfer fee (plus a small convenience fee if you pay online), which you pay directly to IDFPR. That’s it from us. First year all in: $168 plus that convenience fee. After that, $109 a year.

    No MLS fees, no association dues, no desk fees. Like every Illinois broker, you still renew your license with the state every two years and complete your CE.

    Why not just go inactive for free?

    You can, and if you don’t expect any referrals, it may be the right call. But an inactive license can’t earn referral fees. If a friend asks you for an agent next month, you’d first need to find a sponsor, pay the $35 transfer fee and wait for IDFPR to process it. Holding with us keeps your license ready, so you never miss that check.

    Can I go back to practicing?

    Yes, anytime. Ask us and we’ll release your license so your new brokerage can sponsor it. You’ll pay the state’s transfer fee, and your new brokerage may ask you to rejoin the MLS and a REALTOR® association. If you’re in the Chicago area, we’d love to introduce you to Kale Realty.

    See all questions →

    Step back. Stay licensed. Still get paid.

    Requesting your application takes a few minutes. A real person answers the phone.

    Hold my license Or call 312.238.9796