When a home sale closes, the real estate commission is usually paid by the title or escrow company out of the seller’s proceeds. To release it, the closing agent needs a commission invoice, sometimes called a commission disbursement authorization, from the brokerage. It must show the property, the sale price, the agreed commission rate, the split with the other side’s brokerage, and exactly how much is owed. This Real Estate Commission Invoice Template sets that out cleanly, under a navy skyline where the windows are lit in gold.
Brokerages, Agents and Property Consultants
It suits residential and commercial real estate brokerages, independent brokers, team leaders who handle their own disbursement paperwork, referral agents claiming a referral fee, and property consultants billing a finder’s fee. The sample shows Harbor-view Realty Group in Tampa invoicing Summit Title & Escrow for the listing side of a $485,000 home sale, with a 5% total commission, half paid to the buyer’s brokerage and a transaction fee charged to the seller.
A City at Night
The header is a deep navy band. Along its bottom edge rises a skyline of twelve buildings of different widths and heights in a slightly lighter blue, their windows scattered with small gold lights as if the city were settling in for the evening. Above the skyline, Commission Invoice is set in white Prata, with the brokerage name and license number in gold, and a gold circle with a house icon sits in the top-right corner. A shorter row of rooftops rises from a navy band at the foot of the page.
The Bill To block names the title company, the closing department, and the file number, beside the invoice number, date, and At Closing as the due date. A property strip records the address, MLS number, buyer, seller, and closing date. The commission table works through the calculation line by line, and the totals give the total due at closing. A pale gold note gives disbursement instructions with a warning about wire fraud, and the bottom of the page carries a round agent headshot, the agent’s name and license, and a line for the broker of record’s signature.
The Commission Calculation, Step by Step
Commission arithmetic is simple, but every step must be visible so the closing agent can check it against the settlement statement:
| Step | Calculation | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Contract sale price | From the purchase agreement | $485,000.00 |
| Total commission | 5.0% × $485,000 | $24,250.00 |
| Co-op commission to the buyer’s brokerage | 2.5% × $485,000 | $12,125.00 |
| Listing brokerage commission | Total – co-op | $12,125.00 |
| Transaction fee | Flat, per listing agreement | $395.00 |
| Total due at closing | Commission + transaction fee | $12,520.00 |
The split between the brokerage and the individual agent is an internal matter and does not belong on this invoice.
Wire Fraud: Protect the Closing
Criminals target real estate closings by sending fake emails with changed wire instructions. That is why the disbursement note says wire details are given by phone only, and why title companies should never act on emailed changes. Keep this warning on every commission invoice; it costs nothing and could prevent the loss of an entire commission.
Filling In the Property Strip
The property strip ties the invoice to the file. Use the full address as it appears on the purchase contract, the MLS number, the buyers’ and sellers’ names as they appear on the settlement statement, and the scheduled closing date. If closing moves, update the date and resend, since title companies match invoices to files by these details.
Editing the Commission Table
The property strip, commission table, and totals are all editor tables. Double-click to change them or open Edit Table Data. Add lines with + Add Row, for example, for a referral fee paid to another brokerage, and remove them with – Remove Last. The figures are typed text rather than formulas, so recalculate each line and the total whenever the price or rate changes, and check the result against the settlement statement.
The Agent Headshot
The round frame at the bottom of the page is a photo placeholder. Click it and choose Replace Image to add the listing agent’s headshot; the circle keeps its size and gold ring. Beside it, change the agent’s name, license number, and phone. Title companies deal with many agents, and a face and name make follow-up calls easier.
Restyling the Skyline
The skyline and its windows are grouped, so the whole city can be recolored, moved, or resized in one step. For a suburban brokerage, you could swap it for a row of houses drawn from simple shapes or house icons from the library. Navy and gold feel established and trustworthy; charcoal and copper or deep green and gold are good alternatives.
Sending It to the Title Company
The page is US Letter. Email the PDF to the closing agent several days before closing, together with a W-9 form if they do not already have one. The note under the table records the brokerage EIN and the listing agreement date for reference.
Rentals, Referrals and Commercial Deals
The same layout works beyond home sales. For a leasing commission, replace the sale price with the total lease value or the first month’s rent, and the closing date with the lease start date. For a referral fee, bill the receiving brokerage for its agreed percentage of the commission. Commercial deals may pay commission in installments; list each installment with its due date.
When a Deal Falls Through
If a sale collapses before closing, no commission is usually payable, and any invoice sent to the title company should be withdrawn in writing. Where a listing agreement entitles the brokerage to a fee anyway, for example when a seller withdraws after accepting an offer, that fee is invoiced to the seller directly, not through escrow. Keep the original invoice number on file and issue a new one for the revised claim.
Commission Invoice FAQs
Is this the same as a commission disbursement authorization?
It serves the same purpose. Some title companies have their own form; if so, attach this invoice as backup.
Can I bill a buyer’s side commission?
Yes. Change the description lines to the buyer’s side and remove the co-op deduction.
Should the agent’s split appear?
No. The agent’s share of the brokerage commission is handled inside the brokerage.
