What is a Dual/Variable Commission?

What does Variable Rate Commission Mean in the in the MLS?

You may have seen this question asked when filling out your listing on the MLS.

In simple terms, a Dual/Variable Commission means that the commission charged in the listing agreement changes under special circumstances, ie, dual agency.
For example, if the listing broker charges a reduced commission if they act as the buyer’s agent too (dual agent), that is a variable commission.

CRMLS, the nation’s biggest MLS defines Dual/Variable Commission as follows:

A commission arrangement in which the seller agrees to pay a specified commission to the listing broker if the property is sold through the efforts of a cooperating broker, but the seller pays the Listing broker a different commission amount if the sale occurs if:1) there is no cooperating broker involved or 2) due to the efforts of the seller directly.