There is a conversation I have had hundreds of times over the years. An agent with five, ten, fifteen years of experience calls me. They work well. They know how to do their job. But something does not add up.
“I work hard, I close good deals, but at the end of the year I wonder where the margins went.”
The problem is almost never a lack of skill. It is the structure they work within.
In this article I want to think honestly about the alternatives to franchising for those who already work in the sector — or are entering it — and want to understand what lies beyond the traditional model.
How Real Estate Franchising Really Works (And Why Margins Never Grow)
I have already written an in-depth analysis of real estate franchising in Italy. Here I pick up the key points for those who have not read it.
In a standard real estate franchise, the agent retains between 10% and 20% of the brokerage fee. The rest goes to the structure: the network, the brand, the office. In return you receive visibility, an operating system and — in theory — clients.
In practice, things work like this: you have rent to pay every month, a fixed desk fee regardless of how much you produce, royalties calculated on turnover, and an implicit ceiling on your commissions that does not depend on how good you are, but on how much the model is willing to recognise you.
In Italy there are approximately 6,500 franchise agencies, representing 12-15% of the total (source: Scenari Immobiliari). It is not the majority. But it is the most visible model — and this often makes it the first choice for those entering the sector, without any real comparison of the alternatives.
Concrete Alternatives in 2026
When an agent wants to break out of the franchising logic, they usually consider three options.
The first is the independent agency. Maximum autonomy, no fees. But also zero recognisable brand, no lead generation system, technology to build from scratch. Start-up costs are high — often exceeding 30,000-40,000 euros between office, marketing and digital infrastructure — and the first years are almost always loss-making. I have written a specific article on how to open a real estate agency for those who want to evaluate this path realistically.
The second is staying in franchising but changing networks. An understandable solution, but one that often leads to the same result with a different logo. The cost structure remains the same. Margins remain compressed.
The third — the one I discuss in this article — is a hybrid model: technology and brand of a consolidated platform, autonomy and margins of an independent professional, with the possibility of building your own territorial structure.
The Hybrid Model: How It Works in Practice
Hasamia is a digital real estate platform with agents on the ground and an international network — Italy, London, Berlin, Bali, Dubai. It is not a franchise. It is not a traditional agency.
The model offers three entry paths for professional agents: Starter, Pro and Ambassador.
The Starter is designed for those entering the sector or wanting to restart with a different structure. Commissions from 30% to 60%, complete training, mentoring in the first 90 days, zero fixed costs.
The Pro is for experienced agents who want to operate with higher margins and greater operational autonomy. Commissions from 40% to 70%.
The Ambassador is the most structured path: an exclusive provincial territory, commissions up to 75%, coordination of a team of Starters and Pros, development of a network of local Hasamia Points. It is not an agent role. It is a territorial entrepreneur role.
In all three paths: no mandatory office rent, no monthly royalties, no desk fees.
Commissions at 75%: Is It Real?
I am almost always asked this question. It is understandable — we are used to structures that compress margins.
Yes, it is real. And it is worth explaining how.
Hasamia has a shared revenue model between the platform and the agent. The platform earns on the portion it retains — which in advanced paths is significantly lower than in a traditional franchise. This is possible because the fixed structural costs are lower: no mandatory physical offices, centralised technology, digital marketing shared across the entire network.
The result is that the agent retains a higher share of the brokerage fee — up to 75% for the Ambassador path — because the platform is designed to be lean, not to extract margin from the base.
What It Means to Work With a Platform Rather Than For a Network
The most important difference is not in the commissions. It is in the type of relationship.
In a franchise, you work for the network. The brand has value for the franchisee, not for the affiliate. You can build relationships, a client portfolio, local reputation — but you are working on an asset that is not yours.
In Hasamia, the logic is different. You contribute to building the project. You have real operational autonomy. You have tools — CRM, portals, marketing, digital signature, AI valuation — integrated into a single platform, without having to manage seven different subscriptions.
And if you choose the Ambassador path, you build something that has value beyond your direct production: a network, a territory, a system.
The Hasamia Points: The Lever That Changes the Pipeline
One of the most innovative elements of the model — and the least known — is the Hasamia Point network.
Hasamia Points are local professionals who generate real estate opportunities without carrying out brokerage. Building administrators, technical studios, tax assistance centres, financial advisors, travel agencies, insurance brokers, local social media managers. Anyone who has a local network and can intercept situations where someone is considering buying or selling a property.
They do not require a licence. They do not require initial investment. They work on a performance basis.
For a Hasamia agent — and especially for an Ambassador — this means having a local antenna network that continuously generates qualified leads. Not anonymous clients from portals. Referrals from trusted professionals.
It is one of the most concrete levers for building pipeline without depending exclusively on digital channels or direct word of mouth.
How Much You Earn: The Comparison Between Models
I will use a concrete numerical example.
An agent closes 12 transactions per year on properties with an average value of 200,000 euros. The total brokerage fee generated — assuming an average commission of 2% charged to the seller — is approximately 48,000 euros.
In a franchise with 20% commissions, the agent retains 9,600 euros gross. With a Hasamia Pro path at 60%, they retain 28,800 euros gross. With an Ambassador path at 75%, they retain 36,000 euros gross — from personal production alone, without counting the share derived from the team and the Point network.
The difference is not marginal. It is structural.
These numbers obviously vary depending on property values, territory and volume. You can calculate your specific scenario using the earnings simulator at hasamia.it/partner-hasamia.
For Whom This Model Makes Sense
It is not for everyone. I say this clearly.
It makes sense to evaluate this path if you are an agent with real sector experience — at least 2-3 years — who has already demonstrated the ability to close deals and wants to understand why margins do not reflect the effort invested.
It makes sense if you are considering leaving a franchise but do not want to bear the costs and risks of opening an independent agency from scratch.
It makes sense, particularly for the Ambassador path, if you already have a local network, are known in your territory, and want to build something that has structural value over time — not just year by year.
It does not make sense if you are looking for a shortcut. It does not make sense if you do not have or do not wish to obtain a real estate agent licence. It does not make sense if the idea of managing people and building a system frightens you more than it motivates you.
How to Get Started: The Process Is Simple
The first step is an online application at hasamia.it/partner-hasamia. Five minutes. No cost.
You indicate your profile, the province of interest and the path you want to evaluate. This is followed by a thirty-minute call with the team to understand together whether there is a real fit on both sides. No commitment.
If the Ambassador path is the one that interests you most, I recommend also reading the dedicated article on the Hasamia Ambassador role, where I have expanded on the provincial development plan and the real numbers of the five-year journey.
FAQ
Can I work with Hasamia while staying in my area? Yes. The model is territorial by definition. The Ambassador has an exclusive province. Starters and Pros operate primarily in the territory where their network is based.
Is a licence required for all paths? For Starters, Pros and Ambassadors yes — it is a legal requirement to carry out real estate brokerage in Italy. For activating a Hasamia Point, no.
Can I enter as a Pro if I come from another franchise? Yes. The Pro path is designed precisely for experienced agents who want to change models without starting from scratch.
Are there minimum targets imposed? No. There are no forced minimum targets or penalties for low production. The model is performance-based: the more you produce, the more you earn. There are no fixed costs to cover every month.
Is Hasamia present throughout Italy? The network is expanding. Some provinces are already covered, others are in the process of opening. Territorial availability is verified during the application process.
What is the difference between Pro and Ambassador? The Pro operates individually with autonomy and high margins. The Ambassador builds a provincial network, coordinates Starters and Pros, develops local Points and has a multiple revenue model — not only from personal production.
