Can you be a broker without becoming a broker?

[Nick Hundertmark]

So the title may seem a little misleading and I'm sure your first answer will be "absolutely not". But hear me out. On the side, I've built a little wholesale business and have a handful of buyers that I work well with. It's a fun side hustle as I like to sift through off market deals and build rapport with sellers. I'll often come across a property that makes sense for the retail market, and I always refer that seller to an agent that I know and trust. If I were a broker or an agent then I could have a pretty solid stream of leads being fed from the wholesale business. I do not want to be an agent, though. This leads me to my question: can I "rent" a broker's license and employ an agent to sell under my rented broker license? There are a few brokers that I know well who primarily hold a license so they can manage properties (PA law requires you to be an agent under a broker to professionally manage real estate). If I worked a deal with one of these brokers so that I acted under their license (not as an agent) and employed an agent or two for listing properties, then they would of course benefit by getting a portion of revenues. It seems like a win-win. Do you think there is a way to make this happen?

[John Warren]

The short answer is yes. You can own a brokerage without being a broker. It may not be worth the hassle, but as long as you have a broker who has a managing brokers license (or whatever it is called in your state), you can own the brokerage and share in the profit however you structure it. You would probably need to consult an attorney in your state to figure out the right way to do it. You probably can't make "commission", but you can make a salary of some type that you pay yourself from your business.