It sounds like a great idea. We don't have this, though.

Our office doesn't have it. I think the broker feels that sucking 20 - 50% out of agent's commission checks covers that sort of stuff. He likes to say we get those things for "free".

It sounds like a good idea for offices that offer "100%" commission to their agents but for offices with regular splits, I believe it should be included in the broker split ... not charged extra.

Our office provides most of that from the split... except for 'gifts, flowers, etc'  - for those things we all chip in with donations.  Susan and I have a fully equipped home office so we use very little of our brokers resources anyway.

Not in our office.  Many in town have fees like that.  Some break the costs down for individual agents in regards to printing and faxing.

We don't have such a fund.  If we want coffee in the office those of us who drink it will bring in a can of coffee when the one that's there is empty.  I do not assist in new agents who can't afford their own tools and supplies start their own business.  If they can't afford it, then they shouldn't be in it...or start out very slowly and poor like the rest of us did.  What we will do is split transactions with them in order to assist them.   I've never heard of competitors chipping in money to help start each others businesses....in ANY industry.

I'm grateful when the agents  remember to tell me the copiers are out of paper or there are no more bottles of water or soft drinks in the frig, all of which I supply.   :)

It's always interesting to see how other offices in other areas do this sort of thing, though.

Right now, my agents have a generous, very generous split with me but I expect them to cover their own expenses and I charge a small E/O fee for each transaction.  I provide a place for them to meet their clients and do floor time but I'm not going to warehouse a bunch of desks for them.  I provide a copier, training if anyone needs or wants it, coffee, name badge, a small fridge where they can keep stuff, a microwave oven, a secure wireless internet accessible network, a computer for floor time if they need it, bottled water, and even a few snacks in case they get the munchies.  Usually, I'm the one who gets the munchies though.  I'll even provide 2 or 3 yard signs to get them started if they get a listing or two right away and their order isn't in.  If I move the office, as I did recently, I'll provide a box of 250 business cards and return addy labels.  I keep a small supply of copy paper, manila folders, card stock, envelopes and 2-pocket folders but they can't "raid" the supply cabinet for a big mailing or anything like that.  I provide them with a MS Word template for the letterhead so I don't stock letterhead.    Now, this is the way it is because we are small and I can keep an eye on everything easily.  If we grow I know I'll have to change some of this but not looking forward to that day.