Sample Real Estate Agent's Chart of Accounts

Sold sign in front yard of house — ••• Martin Barraud/OJO Images/Getty Images

By Glenn Tyndall

Updated May 14, 2018

As a real estate agent, you are an independent contractor and are responsible for maintaining your books and records because your broker will not usually do that for you. Below you will find a sample chart of accounts for your profit and loss (or income) statement. The profit and loss accounts are summarized by revenues and expense types. This sample real estate agent chart of accounts is an example of how you can set up your accounts to track your revenues and expenses for the year in whatever accounting software you prefer.

Ultimately, you will likely customize your chart of accounts to suit your needs as a real estate agent.

Chart of Accounts

The first key to your chart of accounts is to separate your revenues from your expenses. You will also want to keep similarly related items within a grouping or numerical sequence. For example, you will notice that accounts 41000-41999 are all reserved for residential revenue sources. By grouping similar accounts together, it will make it easier to remember where to code certain items and to do certain types of business analysis.

As Realtor or Real Estate Agent, you can use this chart of accounts as a template to help you set up a way to track the revenues and expenses of your real estate activities. This sample real estate agent chart of accounts is meant only as a guide; you should customize the accounts to meet your individual needs.

Revenues

41000 – 41999	Residential Revenue
41100	Sales Revenue – Residential
41200	Listing Revenue – Residential
41300	Leasing Revenue – Residential
41400	Property Management Revenue - Residential
42000 – 42999	Commercial Revenue
42100	Sales Revenue – Commercial
42200	Listing Revenue – Commercial
42300	Leasing Revenue – Commercial
42400	Property Management Revenue – Commercial
43000 – 43999	Other Real Estate Revenue
44000	Interest Revenue
45000	Other Revenue

Cost of Sales Expenses

51000-52999	Cost of Sales Expense
51100	Commissions Expense
51200	Royalty Expense
51300	Listing Cost of Sales Expense
51400	Buyer Cost of Sales Expense
51500	Other Commissions Expense
52000	Other Cost of Sales Expense

Salaries and Wages Expenses

61000 – 63999	Salaries and Wages Expense
61100	Salaries and Wages – Officers Expense
61200	Payroll Taxes – Officers Expense
61300	Insurance – Officers Expense
61400	Other Employee Benefits – Officers Expense
62100	Salaries and Wages – Management Expense
62200	Payroll Taxes – Management Expense
62300	Insurance – Management Expense
62400	Other Employee Benefits – Management Expense
63100	Salaries – Staff Expense
63200	Payroll Taxes – Staff Expense
63300	Insurance – Staff Expense
63400	Other Employee Benefits – Staff Expense

Advertising Expenses

64000 – 64999	Lead Generation Expense
64100	Advertising Expense
64200	Print and Direct Mail Expense
64300	Internet Lead Generation Expense

Occupancy Expenses

65000 - 65999	Occupancy Expense
65100	Rent/Desk Fees Expense
65200	Utilities Expense
65300	Repairs and Maintenance Expense
65400	Depreciation Expense
65500	Insurance Expense
65600	Other Occupancy Expenses

Communication and Technology Expense

66000 - 66999	Communication and Technology Expense
66100	Telephone Expense
66200	Internet Expense
66300	Website Expense
66400	Other Communications and Technology Expenses

Education and Dues Expenses

67000 – 67999	Education and Dues Expense
67100	Education and Training Expense
67200	Dues and Subscriptions
67300	Other Education and Dues Expense

Insurance Expenses

68000 – 68999	Insurance Expense
68100	Automobile Insurance
68200	Errors and Omissions Expense
68300	Property and Liability Insurance Expense

Professional Services Expenses

69000 – 69999	Professional Services Expenses
69100	Accounting and Tax Preparation Fees
69200	Legal Fees
69300	Other Professional Fees

Other Expenses

70000 – 79999	Other Expenses
71000	Meals and Entertainment Expense
72000	Travel Expense
73000	Lodging Expense
74000	Charitable Donations
75000	Other Expenses