Real estate agency
Where are you in your real estate journey?
Pre-launch and operating owners need different things. Pick the track that matches you. You can switch any time.
I want to start a real estate agency
Costs, licensing, the entity, the gear, the order to do it in. Honest guides for the part you have to do yourself. The one thing we'll do for you on day one is your website.
- What it really costs
- License, registration, and insurance
- Gear, branding, and the basics
- A starter website that books calls
I want to grow my real estate agency
More clients, better pricing, your first hire, Google and Facebook ads, and the systems that take you from solo to a real team.
- Local SEO and Google Business Profile
- Google Ads, Facebook, retargeting
- Pricing that protects margin
- Hiring, training, and scaling teams
What we do for owners, either track
Start here
The guides to read first: what it costs, what it pays and how to get going.
- Startup cost How much do you need to start a real estate agency: $4,000 to $15,000
- Profit How much profit can a real estate agency make
- How to start How to start a real estate agency step by step (your sales license is not enough)
- Get customers How to get clients and customers for a real estate agency
- Google Ads How to run Google Ads for real estate agency
- Website How to make a website for real estate agency that converts
Is a real estate agency right for you?
A real estate agency is a high-ceiling commission business. Each closing pays a meaningful share of the sale price, so a handful of transactions a month can outpace most salaried work, and an agency that recruits agents earns an override on everyone's deals.
It suits a licensed broker (or someone working toward a broker license) who can sell and recruit. The hard part is rarely showing houses. It's generating leads, getting found locally, and building a roster of productive agents. The start-here guides cover each step.
- Startup cost $4k–$15k Broker license, entity, E&O, MLS dues, software, website
- Earning potential $72k–$960k Solo broker-owner vs. an established 20+ agent brokerage
- Licensing Required State broker license + errors & omissions insurance
- Demand Cyclical Tied to housing activity and interest rates
The money figures come from our startup cost guide and profit guide, where each range is broken down line by line.
What you can realistically earn from a real estate agency
Your own closings and referral pipeline, plus overrides on a few agents.
Real splits, an admin hire, and agent retention. The house keeps a thinner share.
A managing broker, lead systems, and ancillary revenue like property management.
Ballpark monthly ranges for a typical US operation, worked through in the profit guide. Your market and pricing move these.
Real estate agency: common questions
What owners ask before they commit.
How much does it cost to start a real estate agency?
A lean solo brokerage opens for about $4k–$15k: the broker license, an entity, E&O insurance, MLS and association dues, software, and a website. An office with a small team runs $25k–$90k+. Either way, keep six to twelve months of living expenses in reserve, because commissions land 60 to 120 days after the work.
Read the full guide →How much can a real estate agency make?
A solo broker-owner with two or three agents nets roughly $6k–$14k a month once the pipeline is real, $72k–$168k a year, and should plan on the lower half. An 8 to 12 agent brokerage keeps about $12k–$30k a month and an established 20+ agent shop $35k–$80k. Company margins run 5%–20% of commission income; split design and agent retention set the number.
Read the full guide →Do I need a license to start a real estate agency?
Yes. You need a state broker license to run a brokerage, plus errors & omissions insurance and MLS membership. The setup guide walks through registration step by step.
Read the full guide →How do I get my first real estate clients?
Local visibility wins: a Google Business Profile, a sphere-of-influence database, reviews, and a site that ranks for "realtor + your city" generate listings and buyers without heavy ad spend.
Read the full guide →How should I structure commissions and splits?
Set agent splits, caps, and any desk or transaction fees so the agency keeps margin while agents stay motivated. The pricing guide covers split models and billing.
Read the full guide →How do I grow a real estate agency beyond myself?
Growth comes from recruiting and retaining productive agents, systemizing lead generation, and building a brand sellers trust. The growth guide breaks down the sequence.
Read the full guide →