What is a Real Estate License Holding Company?

Are you a licensed real estate agent in Illinois who isn’t currently practicing full-time, or simply wants to earn passive income through referrals? You may be asking: What is a real estate license holding company, and how can it benefit me?, How to hold a real estate license?, or How can I earn passive income in real estate?

At Chicago Real Estate License Holding Company, we specialize in helping agents like you keep your license active and compliant, earn referral income, and avoid unnecessary fees, all without being tied to a traditional brokerage. Thinking about making a switch? Let’s break it down.

What is a Real Estate License Holding Company?

A real estate license holding company is a brokerage that holds your real estate license without requiring you to actively sell, lease, or list properties. Instead, agents refer business to active Realtors and earn a referral commission, providing passive income opportunities when not actively practicing.

This setup is ideal for:

• Part-time or retired agents

• Agents taking a temporary career break

• New parents, full-time students, or career changers

• Industry professionals who want to earn passive income through referrals

By placing your license with a license holding company, you remain compliant with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) without the cost or pressure of full-time production.

Key Benefits of Putting Your License on Hold

• Keep Your License Active

  • Avoid letting your hard-earned license expire due to inactivity. With Chicago Real Estate License Holding Company, you stay in good standing with IDFPR while staying out of the MLS. This preserves your license until you are ready to return.

• Earn Referral Commissions

  • Connect your family, friends, or past clients with an active agent and receive a portion of the commission when the deal closes.

• No MLS or Association Fees

  • Since you’re not listing properties or representing buyers, there’s no need to pay for any regular brokerage dues, including MLS access, No E&O insurance dues, REALTOR® dues, lockbox subscriptions, or high brokerage splits.

How Do I Earn Passive Income With A Holding Company?

When you’re ready to submit a referral, we make the process as simple and pain-free as possible. We handle the paperwork, the tracking, and the payouts—so you can focus on your life while still benefiting from your real estate expertise.

1. Transfer your license to our holding company.

2. Submit referrals to our trusted network of active agents in Chicago or nationwide.

3. Earn commission when your referrals result in closed deals.

Who Should Use a Real Estate License Holding Company?

If you're a licensed agent in Chicago or anywhere in Illinois who’s not currently practicing real estate full time—but still values the license and network you’ve built—then placing your license with Chicago Real Estate License Holding Company is the smart move. You can still generate passive income through referrals with our 80% split and support through an extensive referral network. Here are some common situations realtors find themselves in when placing their license on hold:

• Retired Realtors who still want to monetize their contacts

• Busy parents who don’t have time to show homes

• Career professionals in mortgage, law, or construction who want to refer business

• Out-of-state agents who keep their Illinois license active

CRELHC: Chicago’s Trusted License Holding Solution

We’re proud to serve Chicagoland agents who want to stay connected to the industry without the overhead. Unlike national companies with no local presence, as a Chicago, Illinois referral real estate company, we benefit our agents with local knowledge and expertise. Chicago License Holding Company offers:

• Local support from practicing real estate professionals

• A trusted network of top-producing agents ready to work your referrals

• A simple, transparent fee structure with 80% referral splits

• Quick payouts and responsive service

• The most affordable solution for only $90/year

Start Earning Passive Income with Your License

If you’re not actively selling, don’t let your license go to waste. Refer your contacts, help people you trust find great agents, and earn commissions—without ever hosting an open house or writing a contract. Ready to place your license on hold? Chicago Real Estate License Holding Company offers an extensive referral network, aggressive 80% referral splits, and limited transaction support at only $90/year. Sign up today or contact us with any questions.