Mortgage Squad vs. Dominion Lending Centres (2026): An Honest Comparison for Agents
Comparing Mortgage Squad and Dominion Lending Centres as a place to work? Here's an honest framework — splits, fees, training, mentorship — and the questions to ask before you sign.
Comparing Mortgage Squad and Dominion Lending Centres as a place to work? Here's an honest framework — splits, fees, training, mentorship — and the questions to ask before you sign.
If you're choosing where to hang your mortgage licence, Dominion Lending Centres (DLC) will be on your shortlist — it's one of the largest and best-known brokerage networks in Canada. This is an honest comparison to help you decide, written by a competitor, so weigh it accordingly and verify everything directly with each brokerage.
The short answer
Dominion Lending Centres is a large national network with a recognizable brand and a wide franchise footprint. Mortgage Squad is a boutique, FSRA-licensed brokerage (#13737) built around published commission tiers, low/refundable fees, and live training with one-on-one mentorship. The right choice depends on whether you value a big-brand network or a hands-on, transparent home brokerage. See careers at Mortgage Squad.
Who Dominion Lending Centres is
DLC is one of Canada's largest mortgage brokerage networks, with a national brand, a large number of agents, and a broad franchise model. That scale brings name recognition and a big lender roster. As with most network/franchise models, the specifics that matter to you — your commission split, monthly fees, and the training you actually receive — are typically set at the individual franchise or brokerage level, so they vary from office to office. That's exactly why you should ask each office directly.
How to compare them fairly
Whatever brokerage you're weighing, compare the same four things:
- Commission split — and whether the tiers are published or you have to ask.
- Monthly/desk fees — and whether they're refundable at a volume target.
- Training — live and ongoing, or a video library?
- Mentorship — structured one-on-one, or an open-door promise?
The deeper framework is in the best brokerage to work for and commission splits explained.
What Mortgage Squad offers
We try to make the four factors easy to verify because we publish them:
- Published commission tiers — 60% during training (with our Broker Manager on every deal), scaling to 80%, 85%, 90%, 95% and up to 100% at high funded volume. See the tier table.
- One flat $100/month platform fee, fully refunded at year-end to agents who fund $5M+ — effectively free for producers.
- Live training on weekdays and weekends, led by our Broker Manager (training).
- Structured one-on-one mentorship with a senior broker on your early deals (mentorship).
Who each suits
A large network like DLC can suit agents who want a big national brand and are comfortable that terms and support vary by office. A boutique like Mortgage Squad suits agents who want transparent, consistent terms and hands-on training and mentorship from our Broker Manager directly. Neither is "better" universally — it's about what helps you fund deals and stay in the business (most new agents who leave do so for lack of structure — see is it worth it).
Questions to ask DLC (or any brokerage)
- What exactly is my split, and is the tier schedule published?
- What are all the monthly fees, and are any refundable?
- Is training live and ongoing? Who leads it?
- Will a senior broker work my first deals with me?
- What's included vs. extra (tech, leads, compliance, E&O)?
Frequently asked questions
Is Mortgage Squad or Dominion Lending Centres better for new agents?
It depends on what you need. DLC offers a large national brand with office-by-office terms; Mortgage Squad offers published tiers and hands-on training/mentorship. New agents should weigh training and mentorship heavily, since that's what drives early success.
Do commission splits differ between the two?
Mortgage Squad publishes its tiers (60% up to 100%). In large network/franchise models, splits are typically set per office and vary, so confirm the specific number with each location.
How do I compare brokerages fairly?
Compare split (and whether it's published), monthly/refundable fees, live vs. recorded training, and structured vs. promised mentorship — side by side.
Is this comparison biased?
It's written by Mortgage Squad, so verify every detail with each brokerage directly. The comparison framework, though, applies no matter who you choose.
Considering a move? Apply confidentially or explore careers at Mortgage Squad — no pressure, and every conversation is private.
Mortgage content produced by Mortgage Squad Advisors' team of FSRA-licensed mortgage advisors and reviewed under the supervision of the brokerage's Principal Broker (FSRA Brokerage #13737) before publication.