there are no advantages.... an office is as good as the agents who work there.... and that could be boutique or franchised...

Most of our 'behemoths' shut their doors during the bust, and their brokers went to work for other brokers (mostly indie).

Now, do you mean indie or boutique? They are different.

Indie = non-franchised, not a big name.

Boutique = not open to public, select clientele, referral or appointment only.

You probably can't walk in and plop your butt down in a chair at a boutique, and be served by the floor agent who is probably either required to sit there or needs to drum up business, who may or may not have the skillset you need for your goals.

Chances are, a boutique broker will come by referral and high recommendation, as someone well-versed in helping with your particular needs.

It is all about the agent ... not the broker/age.  

Many claim that they do, but I doubt that it has as much to do with the size of the office as it does with the folks who work there.

I am affiliated with the largest franchise in the world and provide the most personalized service imaginable. Have never found that boutiques do anything better and often they can't afford to be on the cutting edge of technology for their agents.

It depends on your positioning in your marketplace, what you stand for, and the agents in the company.  A.  

None.

Boutique offices can be more nimble than the behemoths.  There are less politics to worry about.  For example, I removed my office's listings from IDX feeds and the major portals except Realtor.com  to do this, I sent in a request and my broker signed it, then the board did the work.  Good luck getting a re/max office to do this, let alone see the value in it.

A C21/remax/prudential/etc. can be slow to move into a new arena or new way of doing business, but when they do they have lots of money to throw at it.

On the other hand, a boutique can be on snapchat/etc. tomorrow and be an early adopter... they just won't have the millions that a big box can throw into it.

Specialization.

In local markets they can become almost better branded than the behemoths because they are unique to the area.  No franchise fees so those fees can be used to market their own brand and farm areas more.  This is an age old argument - some who swear by their franchise name, and others who see no benefit to it - both with extremely successful agents, so really why does it matter?  It's another of those, whatever works best for you things.  I've been with an independent brokerage for 13 years and have no interest in being with a behemoth. -Kasey

   No particular advantage.  

Flexibility to tailor programs and give more agent-focused training

In my case, it allows me the freedom to work the way I want without a corporate nanny.

Small Brokerages can offer much  more pesonalized service.  At least that is what people who hire me tell me.

Lower overhead (although that may be relative).

Office Culture is potentially easier to create and manage.

Competitive in the fees, splits and expenses.

My buddy Jamie who I interviewed on my Podcast last week runs a great one.

I am over working for franchises, with technology and information at our finger tips I am done giving my commission away to big franchise. The Internet has made information available to the world so access is easy to access.  With social media and blogging you can get the word out. Maybe if your lazy and want to cruise franchise  might be worth it. 

I'm with a small broker and i like it. I believe the most important benefit of large companies is: more money for marketing. 

I have never known personal service to fail

Have not seen a advantage to it.

It's always the agent; not the brokerage.  

No advantages at all. 

The name recognition of major firms is more important.

they can move quicker

This will be controversial I am sure, but they don't. I don't see how they can compete. We have behemoth websites, name brand recognition, people flock to where they know that's why they spend millions on commercials.

I think their appeal lies primarily in the name and the focus of their businesses if they are true to them

Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041 I agree with Barbara Todaro . It makes no difference. It's the agent who chooses their best fit.