As a small business owner in real estate, I’ve found myself up against a system designed to benefit powerful organizations at the expense of independent brokers like myself. The local Realtor board (WFAR) and its parent organization, NAR and TAR, threatened to shut down my brokerage over disputed dues—forcing me to pay for services agents didn’t want, need, or use.

I’ve taken the fight to federal court with an antitrust lawsuit, challenging their monopolistic practices and retaliatory threats. It’s a classic case of a “reverse pyramid scheme,” where small businesses fund the system while large organizations profit.

If you’re a small business owner facing similar challenges with industry monopolies or unfair practices, I’d love to hear your thoughts. This fight is about protecting all of us from being squeezed out by those with too much power.