60 Best Business Ideas For Real Estate Agents [2024]
Interested in starting a business as a real estate agents in 2024?
If managed well, building a business as a real estate agents could be more lucrative than employment. So, which are the best business ideas for Real Estate Agents?
We put together 20 of some of the best real estate agents business ideas you can start in today.
For each business idea, we'll show you real-world examples of other real estate agents businesses to help you see what it takes.
Here's the full list:
1. Start a real estate business ($281K/month)
As a real estate agent with a wealth of industry knowledge, starting a real estate business could be a natural extension of your career. You could leverage your expertise in purchasing, selling, and managing properties to create a profitable venture that benefits from your visual awareness and understanding of building materials and structures.
This not only supplements your income but also positions you as a multifaceted professional in the real estate market. By starting your own real estate business, you could capitalize on existing client relationships and industry insights, giving you a competitive edge.
How much you can make: $1,500 — $1,500,000/month
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
This case study is about T. C. Lewis & Co, a real estate investment and management firm that successfully diversified their approach to include sales, development, remodeling, and construction, with property management being the key to investor doors and organic growth.
2. Start a real estate investment firm ($398K/month)
Starting a real estate investment firm offers a compelling opportunity for those keen on building wealth through property. As a real estate agent, you could leverage your extensive market knowledge and networks to scout lucrative properties, negotiate deals, handle renovations, and manage rentals or sales.
The real estate market's allure is undeniable, offering substantial profit potential through property appreciation and steady rental incomes. If you're passionate about real estate and have a knack for identifying valuable properties, this venture could capitalize on your skills. With diligent market research, strategic planning, and an aptitude for property management, your efforts could yield impressive financial returns, making it a lucrative and rewarding business endeavor.
How much you can make: $10,000 — $1,500,000/month
How long does it take to build: 210 days (?)
Equity Residences is a luxury real estate investment fund that has raised $40 million from over 200 investors, offering them access to a portfolio of luxury vacation homes for investment and personal use, with a minimum investment of $161,500 and plans to acquire a further twenty residences ranging from $1.5M to $4M.
3. Start a real estate marketing agency ($87.7K/month)
Starting a real estate marketing agency could be an excellent way for you to supplement your income and leverage your existing industry knowledge. As a real estate agent, you already possess an in-depth understanding of what attracts potential buyers and the nuances of property markets. By setting up your own marketing agency, you could help other real estate professionals create and execute effective marketing campaigns, including tasks like developing marketing materials, managing social media accounts, and conducting market research.
This venture allows you to capitalize on the current trend of online property searches, giving you an edge as more real estate agents seek specialized marketing services. With your strong marketing and people skills, you could build a robust client base, enhancing your networking opportunities and establishing a reputation in the field. Additionally, the financial prospects are promising, with average earnings ranging around ₹21lakhs, reaching up to 50 lakh rupees for those with higher qualifications and experience.
Ultimately, starting a real estate marketing agency could provide a lucrative and enriching side business or full-time endeavor, allowing you to stay connected with the real estate industry while expanding your entrepreneurial horizons.
How much you can make: $10,000 — $250,000/month
How long does it take to build: 75 days (?)
Coffee and Contracts is a digital marketing subscription service for real estate professionals that has helped over 7,000 members in just two years, with an average monthly revenue of around $165,000, and has grown at a rate of about 5% each month through organic traffic from Instagram and word of mouth.
4. Start a marketing agency ($245K/month)
As a real estate agent, starting a marketing agency could be a seamless extension of your existing skills and industry knowledge. You already understand the importance of effective marketing in generating leads and selling properties, so leveraging this expertise to help other businesses could open up lucrative opportunities. By offering marketing services, you could assist clients in various industries without them having to bear the costs of hiring full-time employees or purchasing specialized equipment.
Furthermore, real estate agents are accustomed to networking and building relationships, which are crucial skills for running a successful marketing agency. You could apply these talents to attract diverse clients and tailor marketing strategies to their needs, ensuring their success as well as your own. With many entrepreneurs aspiring to start their agencies but unsure where to begin, your unique background in real estate marketing gives you a competitive edge in the industry.
How much you can make: $1,300 — $8,500,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $1,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 45 days (?)
A successful podcast production company that grew from one client making $15/hour to a team of 10 contractors producing over 30 shows per week with revenue of over $10k/mo, primarily through referrals and with a focus on providing high personal touch and being picky about working only with clients who are a good fit.
5. Start a sales automation platform ($160K/month)
As a real estate agent, you could explore the lucrative venture of starting a sales automation platform to supplement your income and streamline your workflow. This platform would automate various tedious sales tasks such as lead generation, follow-ups, and client communications, allowing you to focus more on closing deals and nurturing client relationships.
By implementing a sales automation platform, not only could you boost your own real estate business efficiency, but you could also market this tool to other agents and brokers facing similar challenges. The growing demand for digital solutions in today’s fast-paced real estate market makes this idea particularly timely, offering you both a valuable tool for personal use and a compelling business opportunity.
How much you can make: $1,000 — $1,666,667/month
How much does it cost to start: $5,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 105 days (?)
GreenRope, a self-funded CRM and marketing automation platform with over 1,000 customers in 20 countries, was built organically and focused on creating a positive, customer-centric culture without outside investment, with an all-in-one interface solving challenges in managing sales, marketing, customer service, and operations.
6. Start a classic car valeter business
As a real estate agent, you could leverage your strong network and client base to start a classic car valeter business. Many of your existing clients are likely to have a taste for luxury and classic items, making them potential customers for revitalizing their prized vehicles. Plus, your eye for detail and presentation—key skills in real estate—would translate effectively into offering top-notch car valeting services.
Additionally, pairing the visual appeal of a pristine classic car with high-end properties could enhance your marketing materials and open house events, offering a unique edge over competitors. This side business not only supplements your income but also offers the flexibility to operate around your primary real estate commitments.
7. Start a B2B marketing consulting ($54.8K/month)
As a real estate agent, you could leverage your marketing acumen and deep understanding of local markets to start a B2B marketing consulting firm. This venture would allow you to assist other businesses in enhancing their marketing efforts, from content creation and SEO to social media management and lead generation. By analyzing client needs and developing tailored marketing plans, you could drive significant growth and build strong client relationships.
Your problem-solving skills and knack for communication would be invaluable in this role, helping businesses achieve their marketing goals and fostering long-term partnerships. By translating your expertise in property marketing to a broader business context, you could create a successful side business or entirely new career path, supplementing your real estate income. This opportunity not only adds value to other businesses but also offers a fulfilling and potentially lucrative entrepreneurial journey.
How much you can make: $1,500 — $250,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $4,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)
Koala Rank, an all-in-one content marketing service for B2B firms founded by Arrigo, has grown to $8K in MRR since its launch in Jan 2020 with retention being good and March 2021 seeing a boom in subscriptions.
8. Start a digital marketing agency ($77.2K/month)
Starting a digital marketing agency could be an excellent opportunity for you as a real estate agent to supplement your income or even pivot into a new career. Given your knowledge of the real estate market and consumer behavior, you could leverage these insights to help other businesses, including fellow real estate professionals, increase their online visibility and client engagement. This could involve managing social media accounts, developing content, optimizing websites for search engines, and overseeing online advertising campaigns.
As the demand for digital marketing skills continues to grow, your expertise in this area could be highly sought after, providing a robust stream of income. You could use tools like Google Analytics and social media platforms to help businesses navigate the complexities of the digital landscape. If you’re passionate about digital trends and marketing strategies, starting a digital marketing agency might not just be an extra source of income, but a fulfilling and lucrative career path as well.
How much you can make: $100 — $275,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 105 days (?)
Gilberto, founder of Maverick Media Lab, shares his success story of generating $10k/month through his productized Referral Connector System, which helps businesses enter the online marketing space without large advertising costs.
9. Start an AI SaaS business ($39.3K/month)
As a real estate agent, an AI SaaS business could offer a unique avenue to supplement your income by leveraging technology to address industry-specific challenges. For example, you could develop predictive analytics tools to help real estate professionals forecast market trends or natural language processing software that automates client communication, saving agents significant time and effort.
Additionally, this venture would allow you to tap into the burgeoning demand for innovative tech solutions in the real estate sector, filling in gaps that traditional tools may not cover. With your industry knowledge, you could tailor AI-driven applications precisely to the needs of other real estate agents, brokers, and property managers, making your product indispensable in their daily operations.
Starting an AI SaaS business may require some investment in software development skills and cloud infrastructure, but the long-term benefits are substantial. This scalable business model could not only provide a steady stream of subscription revenue but also position you at the forefront of technological innovation within the real estate market.
How much you can make: $150 — $200,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,750 (?)
How long does it take to build: 20 days (?)
NotionForms, a SaaS company offering a form builder integration to Notion, boasts an impressive total of 26k users, 850 paid subscribers, and an ARR of $182k, with steady growth since its launch and being used internally by many huge tech companies.
10. Become an ecommerce consultant ($680K/month)
As a real estate agent, your skills in marketing, client negotiation, and understanding market trends can be seamlessly transferred into an eCommerce consultancy. By leveraging your existing knowledge and networks, you could help businesses improve their conversion rates, develop effective advertising campaigns, and identify profitable products. This not only supplements your income but also diversifies your professional portfolio.
Moreover, your experience in negotiating with clients and suppliers can be invaluable in the eCommerce space. You could assist businesses in navigating complex supplier agreements and eCommerce development opportunities, offering them strategic insight that drives growth. If you already understand how eCommerce works and have a knack for designing marketing strategies, this side business can provide a rewarding extension to your real estate career.
How much you can make: $2,300 — $8,300,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $3,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
Boundless Labs is an email marketing agency for eCommerce brands that has generated over $25 million in email attributable revenue for their clients since launching 18 months ago and currently makes around $90K per month, with plans to reach $100K per month by the end of January 2020 through client referrals, strong relationships, and hard work.
11. Start a SEO & lead generation service ($60K/month)
As a real estate agent, starting an SEO and lead generation service could be a strategic way to supplement your income while leveraging your industry knowledge. By developing expertise in digital marketing and lead generation fundamentals, you could help other businesses attract and convert potential clients. This not only diversifies your income but also keeps you intricately connected with the real estate market, allowing you to stay ahead of trends and opportunities.
Additionally, providing SEO and lead generation services would position you as a valuable resource in the business community. Because you already understand the importance of nurturing leads and converting them into clients, this venture could be a natural extension of your skills. With an entrepreneurial mindset, you could grow this into a thriving side business or even a full-time endeavor that complements and enhances your real estate career.
How much you can make: $8,000 — $200,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $3,750 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
A link building company co-founded by Justas Markus has grown to make an average of $35k per month in recurring revenue with a focus on delivering high-quality services through manual processes and focusing on fewer markets.
12. Start a marketing consulting business ($122K/month)
As a real estate agent, you could leverage your deep understanding of the local market and customer behavior to start a marketing consulting business. Your expertise in market research, data analysis, and targeted marketing campaigns can help other businesses and organizations reach their ideal audience more effectively. This side venture allows you to apply your existing skills in a new context, providing an additional income stream while broadening your professional horizons.
You could assist various businesses in developing marketing strategies that resonate with their target market, drawing from your real estate experience to offer unique insights and tactics. This business idea not only supplements your income but also keeps you engaged with the ever-evolving marketing landscape, enhancing your own skills and knowledge that can be re-applied to your real estate career. With strong communication and problem-solving skills, you could build a successful marketing consulting business that offers real value to your clients.
How much you can make: $100 — $1,250,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)
A successful podcast production company that grew from one client making $15/hour to a team of 10 contractors producing over 30 shows per week with revenue of over $10k/mo, primarily through referrals and with a focus on providing high personal touch and being picky about working only with clients who are a good fit.
13. Become a computer manufacturer
While it might seem unrelated at first, delving into a computer manufacturer business could be a lucrative side venture for a real estate agent. You could leverage your marketing skills and local connections to carve out a niche in your community, offering custom-built computers tailored to personal or business needs. Your existing client base, especially those investing in new homes or office spaces, might find value in purchasing high-performance, tailored tech solutions as part of their move or upgrade.
Moreover, your experience in managing budgets and creating strategic business plans in real estate could seamlessly translate into creating a well-defined roadmap for your new venture. By focusing on customer service and clear communication, key components of real estate success, you could effectively engage with both retail and wholesale clients, building strong relationships and ensuring customer satisfaction.
With the computer manufacturing industry projected to reach $485 billion globally by 2024, and given your capability to stay ahead of trends, you could position yourself in a growing market. By adding this tech-centric endeavor to your portfolio, you might cultivate a diverse income stream that complements your real estate career.
How much you can make: $13,500,000/month
How long does it take to build: 45 days (?)
OWC Larry, founder and CEO of Other World Computing, shares how he started his business at a young age with just a credit card, now experiencing a solid year-over-year growth with a CAGR of 43.78% over the past 33 years.
14. Start a content marketing business ($91.3K/month)
As a real estate agent, starting a content marketing business could be a strategic way to leverage your industry knowledge and generate additional income. By creating and distributing relevant and helpful content, you could attract and engage potential clients for both your real estate services and your content marketing business. Given that businesses with a content marketing strategy get 67% more leads, the demand for high-quality content marketing services is higher than ever before.
You could tap into this growing market by offering specialized content that addresses common questions, tips, and trends relevant to home buyers and sellers. With a good understanding of SEO and social media, you could ensure that your content reaches the right audience effectively. Additionally, you could hire content creators to help develop valuable material that drives conversions, making this a scalable and lucrative side business or even a full-time venture.
How much you can make: $100 — $650,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $1,500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
How David Tile turned a freelance writing gig into an $80k/month business, discussing lessons learned through managing growing demands and maintaining a remote team operation.
15. Start a public relations business ($1.62M/month)
Starting a public relations (PR) business could be a savvy move for real estate agents looking to diversify their income streams. Your existing skills in communication, negotiation, and market understanding make you well-suited to craft compelling narratives and maintain positive public images for various organizations.
In a PR role, you could leverage your connections with local media, bloggers, and influencers to secure valuable media placements for your clients, effectively enhancing their brand visibility. Featuring in respected publications and influential social media channels not only benefits your clients but also positions you as a trusted expert in managing public perceptions.
With your strategic mindset, you could assist businesses in building and maintaining trust with their audiences, which is increasingly critical in today’s fast-paced digital world. This could lead to a rewarding side business or even a full-fledged career pivot, given the timeless demand for adept PR professionals.
How much you can make: $30,000 — $4,166,667/month
How much does it cost to start: $750 (?)
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
Impression - a digital marketing agency started by two friends who were able to grow the business from scratch by profit-funding and recently reached the milestone of employing 100 staff, serving as a strategic agency partner to clients, and set to hit its next revenue target of £10m.
16. Start an online gift shop business ($122K/month)
As a real estate agent, starting an online gift shop could be an excellent way to supplement your income and tap into your existing client base. You could offer curated, unique gifts that appeal to homebuyers and sellers, such as personalized keepsakes, artisanal candles, or home décor items. This allows you to capitalize on the emotional and celebratory moments associated with buying or selling a home.
The flexibility of an online gift shop is a perfect match for your busy schedule, allowing you to manage it from the comfort of your home. You could source products from local makers for a personal touch or from global suppliers for variety, creating a diverse inventory. Additionally, utilizing your network and marketing skills through social media and email campaigns can help drive traffic to your store and generate sales.
This business model not only allows you to bring smiles to your clients but also offers a way to diversify your income streams. If you enjoy curating thoughtful products and making special moments even more memorable, an online gift shop could be the ideal side venture for you.
How much you can make: $550 — $800,000/month
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
Meet Tyler Macke, the 21-year-old founder of SendAFriend, an e-commerce brand that sells stuffed animal care packages, which began with $50k in revenue in 2019 and is now on track to make $5M in revenue this year, while donating 10% of revenue to children's hospitals throughout the United States.
17. Start a flip and sell classic cars business
As a real estate agent, your keen eye for quality and understanding of market value could be invaluable in a flip and sell classic cars business. You could leverage your negotiation skills and local network to source undervalued classic cars and restore them to their former glory. This business aligns well with your schedule, allowing you to balance property showings and car auctions seamlessly.
Moreover, your ability to market properties would translate well to marketing classic cars, reaching the right buyers who appreciate their timeless appeal. By extending your expertise beyond real estate, you could create an additional income stream and diversify your investments, making the most of your entrepreneurial spirit.
18. Start an online language services ($134K/month)
If you're fluent in another language, starting an online language services business could be a perfect side venture to supplement your income as a real estate agent. With your existing communication skills and ability to build strong client relationships, you could offer translation, interpretation, or even language tutoring from the comfort of your home.
Given the increasing globalization of businesses, the demand for language experts is high. You could connect with clients on platforms like Upwork to translate documents or offer real-time interpretation during conferences. Effective marketing, including leveraging social media and creating a professional website, would help you build a robust client base. This business is not only flexible and manageable on your schedule but also allows you to gradually expand by hiring additional language specialists.
How much you can make: $240 — $550,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $1,850 (?)
How long does it take to build: 227 days (?)
TRANSLIT is an ISO-certified translation and interpreting service, which has grown organically to now include an online platform and marketplace that allows users to find, book and manage interpreters across the world with over 2,500 users and recently launched a Remote Simultaneous Interpreting technology available through a mobile app and web interface.
19. Start a two sided marketplace ($20.3K/month)
Starting a two-sided marketplace could be a lucrative addition to your activities as a real estate agent. By creating a platform that connects buyers looking for unique property opportunities with sellers who might not be accessing traditional real estate markets, you could tap into an underserved niche. For instance, you might develop a marketplace for vacation rental properties similar to Airbnb, but specifically tailored to your local area's real estate nuances.
As the owner of this marketplace, your responsibilities would include ensuring a seamless user experience, verifying users, and facilitating secure transactions, much like you manage client relations in real estate. The advantage of this model is its scalability; the more users—both buyers and sellers—you attract, the more valuable your platform becomes. By solving key pain points for these groups and leveraging your real estate expertise, you could create a highly profitable side business or even a primary venture that complements your real estate career.
How much you can make: $100 — $100,000/month
How long does it take to build: 150 days (?)
Muver is a mobile app for gig workers allowing them to multi-app seamlessly between Uber, Uber Eats, Doordash, Grubhub, Lyft, Instacart, and more within a single app with over $270k revenue in the past 12 months.
20. Start an ecommerce management services ($597K/month)
As a real estate agent, you're no stranger to juggling multiple tasks and streamlining operations for smooth transactions. By starting an ecommerce management service, you could supplement your income by offering comprehensive support to online stores, handling inventory management, customer service, marketing, and order fulfillment. This business allows you to utilize your organizational strengths and understanding of digital tools in a new and rewarding way.
Imagine taking the load off overwhelmed entrepreneurs and online retailers, allowing them to focus on innovating and expanding their businesses. By ensuring smooth and efficient ecommerce processes, you not only help businesses grow but also diversify your own professional portfolio. If you're passionate about operational management and keen on ecommerce trends, this could be a highly profitable and fulfilling side business or even a new career path.
How much you can make: $2,300 — $2,400,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
ShipHero co-founders built their successful e-commerce fulfillment business, offering warehouse management software and outsourced eCommerce fulfillment, growing revenues from zero to $30 million annually, processing over $5 billion of e-commerce gross merchandise volume (GMV) annually while only having received $435,000 in outside capital investment.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
