--- title: "Accounts receivable management for real estate agents & brokerages" description: "Accounts receivable management for real estate agents & brokerages: outsourced accounts receivable: aging reviews, statements, dunning sequences, phone." url: https://ledgerbpo.com/industries/real-estate-agents/accounts-receivable/ updated: 2026-09-11 publisher: LedgerBPO (SS Support Network LLC) language: en-US --- # Accounts receivable management for real estate agents & brokerages Accounts receivable for real estate agents & brokerages covers commissions owed by title companies and attorneys after closing, referral fees owed by other brokerages, agent balances for fees and charges, and rental placement fees from landlords. Most commissions arrive within days, but the exceptions are what hurt: a wire sent to the wrong account, a referral fee ignored for months or an agent who leaves owing desk fees. - Since 2020 - US · UK · CA · AU - Named accountant plus backup - Your software, no lock-in [Get a custom quote](https://ledgerbpo.com/get-a-quote/) [Book a 20-minute call](https://ledgerbpo.com/book-a-call/) Updated September 2026 ## How it runs for real estate agents and brokerages Your accountant ages each type separately, follows up under your brand through our DunningDesk cadence and confirms every expected closing payment against the settlement statement. Balances by agent and by counterparty are reported weekly. ## What is accounts receivable outsourcing? Accounts receivable outsourcing means a remote team manages the money your customers owe you: tracking invoices from issue to payment, sending statements and reminders, logging disputes, and reporting aging and days sales outstanding. The provider works inside your accounting software under your brand. You keep the customer relationship and decide on credits, holds and escalations. ## What we handle for real estate agents and brokerages - Expected commission receipts confirmed against settlement statements - Referral fees receivable followed up with the other brokerage on a set cadence - Agent fee balances aged and reminders sent under your brand - Departing agent balances settled against final commissions - Rental placement fees tracked from lease signing to payment ## The KPI that matters here Referral fees and agent balances older than 60 days kept below 5% of total receivables. ## Real estate compliance notes ### 1099-NEC for agents and referral partners Brokerages report commissions paid to licensed agents on Form 1099-NEC because agents who meet the IRC section 3508 tests are statutory nonemployees. Referral fees paid to other brokerages and payments to unincorporated vendors are reported the same way once they reach the annual threshold. We keep W-9s and cumulative totals current so the forms are prepared for your review and filing by the January deadline. ### Commission splits and disbursement records Each closing is documented from the settlement statement through the commission disbursement authorization to the agent payment, so the split, cap progress, franchise royalty and any referral fee are traceable. Many state commissions require these records to be retained for several years. We file the documents with the entry in LedgerDesk. ### Earnest money and trust accounts Most state real estate commissions require earnest money to be held in a separate trust account, never commingled with operating funds, with a transaction-level ledger and a monthly reconciliation. Some states require interest-bearing accounts or set deadlines for deposit and disbursement. We maintain the ledger and reconciliation; the broker signs and remains responsible under the license. ### Client money in the UK, Canada and Australia UK letting and estate agents must belong to a Client Money Protection scheme and keep client money in a separate account. Canadian and Australian agencies operate under provincial or state trust-account rules with regular reconciliation and audit requirements. We prepare the ledgers and reconciliations in the format the regulator or auditor expects. ## Real estate software we work in - [QuickBooks Online](https://ledgerbpo.com/software/quickbooks-online/) - [Xero](https://ledgerbpo.com/software/xero/) - [Gusto](https://ledgerbpo.com/software/gusto/) - [Bill.com](https://ledgerbpo.com/software/bill-com/) - [Stripe](https://ledgerbpo.com/software/stripe/) - Brokermint - SkySlope - dotloop - Lone Wolf Back Office - [All 50 platforms](https://ledgerbpo.com/software/) ## More for real estate agents and brokerages Other services for real estate - [Bookkeeping](https://ledgerbpo.com/industries/real-estate-agents/bookkeeping/) - [Invoicing and billing](https://ledgerbpo.com/industries/real-estate-agents/invoicing-and-billing/) - [Accounts payable](https://ledgerbpo.com/industries/real-estate-agents/accounts-payable/) - [Bank reconciliation](https://ledgerbpo.com/industries/real-estate-agents/bank-reconciliation/) - [Month-end close](https://ledgerbpo.com/industries/real-estate-agents/month-end-close/) - [Financial reporting](https://ledgerbpo.com/industries/real-estate-agents/financial-reporting/) - [All real estate services](https://ledgerbpo.com/industries/real-estate-agents/) Accounts receivable in other industries - [Marketing agencies & consultancies](https://ledgerbpo.com/industries/agencies/accounts-receivable/) - [Auto repair shops & dealerships](https://ledgerbpo.com/industries/auto/accounts-receivable/) - [Behavioral health practices](https://ledgerbpo.com/industries/behavioral-health/accounts-receivable/) - [Daycares, schools & education](https://ledgerbpo.com/industries/childcare-education/accounts-receivable/) - [The full accounts receivable page](https://ledgerbpo.com/services/accounts-receivable/) ## Frequently asked questions ### How do you make sure a closing commission actually arrived? Every closing posted from the settlement statement creates an expected receipt with the title company or attorney named. When the wire or check lands, the accountant matches it to the closing. Anything not received within a few business days is followed up by phone or email under your brand, and the broker is told the same day. ### What happens with agents who leave owing money? The agent's fee balance is compared with any commissions still due to them on pending transactions, and the offset is prepared for the broker's approval under the contractor agreement. Any remaining balance is invoiced with a polite reminder cadence. We never use collection agency language; all contact is first-party under your brand. ### Do you chase referral fees from other brokerages? Yes, referral fees receivable are invoiced with the referral agreement and settlement statement attached and followed up on a regular cadence by email and phone. The other brokerage's accounting contact is recorded so future requests go to the right person. Disputed fees are documented for the broker to decide how to proceed. Next step ## Books closed. Invoices paid. Every month. Tell us what is going on with your books or billing. You will hear from a named person within 1 business day, with a custom quote and a plan for the first close. - Reply from a named person within 1 business day - No setup fee, month-to-month - Your software, your data, no lock-in Start with a custom quote [Get a custom quote](https://ledgerbpo.com/get-a-quote/) [Book a 20-minute call](https://ledgerbpo.com/book-a-call/) Or call [+1-657-777-0006](tel:+16577770006) during US, UK or Australian business hours. --- Source: https://ledgerbpo.com/industries/real-estate-agents/accounts-receivable/ · Contact: https://ledgerbpo.com/contact/ · Full site map for agents: https://ledgerbpo.com/llms.txt