How to read these scores
This isn't a typical 5-star scale where anything under 4 feels disappointing. Some of these categories have a real ceiling based on how this industry actually works: lead quality, for example, realistically tops out well before a perfect score, so a solid-but-not-perfect number there is often close to the best genuinely available, not a weak spot. We calibrate our standard against what's actually achievable in this industry, not an abstract perfect score. A strong match won't always look like straight 5s across the board, and that's expected, not a red flag.
| Category | Passing Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | 4.7 | Holidays can shift pay timing, but most agencies pay before major holidays specifically to make sure people are paid, so a holiday-adjacent shift isn't automatically a red flag. |
| Contract Term | 4.7 | Nothing is perfect, and most agencies genuinely do abide by their contracts. Real red flags to watch for: an agency forcing 1099 contractors into fixed hours, or treating technically-optional 1099 activities as if they're mandatory. Both are ways agencies quietly push contractor status toward something closer to employee status without saying so. |
| Culture | 3.5 | Culture matters, but not every agent prioritizes it equally. Some value a collaborative, team-oriented environment, while others primarily care about compensation, lead quality, independence, and flexibility. We look for a reasonable baseline of professionalism, respect, and support. The goal is to give agents an honest picture of the environment so they can decide whether it's the right fit for them. |
| Training | 3.7 | New agents need solid training and onboarding to build the skills and confidence to get their careers off to a strong start. Experienced agents may need less guidance, but continued learning and development are always valuable. |
| Lead Quality | 3.5 | This is close to the realistic ceiling. In real experience, no agency consistently delivers what would honestly earn a 4+ on lead quality. A 3.5 here isn't mediocre, it's close to the actual best available in this industry. Treating it like a middling grade would be a misread. |
| Tech Stack | 3.5 | No platform is perfect. The bar is a platform that's seamless enough to save time, not perfection. |
| Micromanagement | ≤3.0 | Micromanagement is a matter of personal preference, not a quality grade. A lower score means less oversight, and a higher score means more. Different agents want different levels of management, and many accept more oversight when they value other aspects of the agency. That is why this is the one category where we set a ceiling instead of a minimum. |