05/26/2026
Let's talk about a number most brokerages don't want to write down.
The true, loaded annual cost of an in-house ops director: $200,000–$245,000 when you factor in salary, benefits, taxes, software, tools, vacation coverage, and turnover risk.
The cost of Empower's fractional ops model: $48,000–$72,000/year. Day-one ready. No ramp. Fully loaded. Scales with your volume.
Year-1 delta? $150,000 to $170,000+ back in the business.
That's new listing inventory. Or four agent signing bonuses. Or the tech stack you've been meaning to upgrade for 18 months.