Real Estate Brokerage Business Plan Template 2026: Step-by-step guide to launch success

Why a business plan matters for your brokerage

Many new brokerages skip the business plan, thinking they can "figure it out as they go." This is a costly mistake. A well-written business plan serves multiple critical purposes:

• Roadmap for success: Clear direction and milestones to guide your decisions
• Financing tool: Essential for securing loans, investors, or partners
• Risk management: Identifies potential challenges and mitigation strategies
• Team alignment: Ensures everyone understands the vision and goals
• Performance tracking: Baseline to measure progress and make adjustments
• Strategic thinking: Forces you to think through every aspect of your business

This template is specifically designed for real estate brokerages and includes industry-specific sections, financial models, and growth strategies. Whether you're opening a virtual brokerage or traditional model, this plan will guide you.

Why you need a business plan

Beyond securing financing, a business plan helps you:

Clarify your vision

Writing forces you to articulate your vision clearly. What makes your brokerage different? Who is your target agent? What problem are you solving? These questions are easier to answer on paper than in your head.

Validate your assumptions

Market research and financial projections reveal whether your business model is viable. You might discover that your target market is too small, your pricing is off, or your growth timeline is unrealistic—better to learn this before investing capital.

Attract partners and investors

If you're seeking partners or investors, a professional business plan demonstrates seriousness and competence. It shows you've thought through the business, not just the idea.

Guide decision-making

When opportunities arise, your business plan helps you evaluate them against your strategy. Should you hire that expensive agent? Expand to a new market? Add a new service? Your plan provides the framework to make informed decisions.

Track progress

Your plan becomes a living document. Compare actual results to projections monthly and adjust your strategy accordingly. This keeps you accountable and helps identify issues early.

1. Executive Summary

The executive summary is the most important section—many readers won't go beyond it. Write this last, but place it first. It should be 1-2 pages and cover:

Template structure

• Company overview: Name, location, legal structure, mission statement
• Business model: Traditional, virtual, hybrid, or white-label
• Value proposition: What makes you different and why agents will join
• Market opportunity: Size of your target market and growth potential
• Financial highlights: Key numbers: startup costs, break-even point, 3-year revenue projections
• Management team: Key personnel and their qualifications
• Funding requirements: How much you need and how you'll use it
• Growth strategy: How you'll scale from launch to profitability

Example executive summary

Metro Real Estate Group is a virtual real estate brokerage launching in Q2 2026, targeting top-producing agents in the metropolitan area seeking better commission splits and modern technology. Our business model eliminates traditional office overhead while providing enterprise-grade tools through the Brokurz platform, allowing us to offer 85/15 commission splits compared to the industry standard 70/30.

The metropolitan real estate market generates $2.4 billion in annual sales volume with 1,200 active agents. Our target market of 150 top producers (closing $3M+ annually) represents $450M in potential volume. With a 2.5% average commission and 15% brokerage split, we project $1.7M in annual revenue at 50 agents.

We require $75,000 in startup capital for licensing, technology, marketing, and 6 months of operating reserves. Our break-even point is 12 agents, achievable within 8 months based on our recruitment pipeline. We project profitability in month 10 and $500K+ net profit by year 3.

2. Company Description

This section provides the detailed foundation of your brokerage.

Company information

• Legal name: Your registered business name
• DBA (if applicable): "Doing business as" name
• Legal structure: LLC, Corporation, etc.
• Location: Physical address or virtual office address
• State of incorporation: Where your entity is registered
• Tax ID (EIN): Your federal employer identification number
• Broker license number: Your state broker license

Mission statement

Your mission statement should be clear, concise, and memorable. It should answer: Why does your brokerage exist? What do you stand for?

Example: "To empower real estate professionals with the tools, support, and freedom to build thriving businesses while delivering exceptional service to clients."

Vision statement

Your vision is where you want to be in 5-10 years. Be ambitious but realistic.

Example: "To become the leading independent brokerage in our market, known for agent success, client satisfaction, and innovative technology."

Core values

Define 3-5 core values that guide your decisions and culture:

• Integrity: Honest, ethical, transparent in all dealings
• Excellence: Commitment to continuous improvement and high standards
• Innovation: Embracing technology and new approaches
• Agent success: Our success is measured by agent success
• Community: Giving back to the communities we serve

Business model

Describe your business model in detail:

• Traditional, virtual, hybrid, or white-label
• Commission structure (splits, caps, fees)
• Revenue streams (commissions, fees, services)
• Target agent profile
• Geographic focus
• Niche specialization (if any)

3. Market Analysis

A thorough market analysis demonstrates you understand your competitive landscape and opportunity.

Industry overview

Provide context on the real estate industry:

• Current market trends and conditions
• Industry growth projections
• Technology trends affecting the industry
• Regulatory environment
• Key industry statistics (average commission rates, agent counts, transaction volumes)

Target market

Define your ideal agent profile:

• Demographics: Years of experience, production volume, age, location
• Psychographics: Values, goals, pain points, motivations
• Behaviors: Current brokerage, technology usage, marketing approach
• Size: How many agents fit this profile in your market?

Market size and opportunity

Quantify your opportunity:

• Total number of agents in your market
• Number of agents in your target segment
• Total annual sales volume in your market
• Your addressable market (agents you can realistically recruit)
• Market growth rate

Competitive analysis

Analyze your top 5-7 competitors:

• Competitor name and type: Franchise, independent, virtual
• Market share: Number of agents, market presence
• Commission structure: Splits, caps, fees
• Strengths: What they do well
• Weaknesses: Where they fall short
• Technology: What tools they use
• Brand positioning: How they market themselves

Competitive advantages

What makes you different and better:

• Better commission splits
• Superior technology (like Brokurz white-label platform)
• Lower fees and overhead
• More personalized support
• Faster decision-making
• Niche specialization
• Modern culture and values

4. Organization & Management

Investors and partners want to know who's running the business and why they're qualified.

Organizational structure

Create an organizational chart showing:

• Broker/Owner
• Key staff positions (transaction coordinator, office administrator, etc.)
• Reporting relationships
• Planned hires in first 12 months

Management team

For each key person, provide:

• Name and title
• Background: Education, certifications, licenses
• Experience: Years in real estate, previous roles, achievements
• Responsibilities: What they'll handle
• Compensation: Salary, equity, or other

Advisory board

If you have advisors (attorney, CPA, industry veterans), list them and their value.

Staffing plan

Outline your hiring timeline:

• Month 1-3: Essential staff (transaction coordinator, office admin)
• Month 4-6: Additional support as agent count grows
• Month 7-12: Specialized roles (marketing, recruiting, training)

5. Services & Products

Detail what your brokerage offers to agents and clients.

Core services

• Brokerage services: License sponsorship, transaction oversight, compliance
• Technology platform: CRM, transaction management, commission tracking, training
• Marketing support: Brand assets, marketing materials, website, social media
• Transaction coordination: Deal management, document handling, closing support
• Training and development: Onboarding, ongoing training, coaching
• Lead generation: Company leads, referral network, marketing campaigns

Revenue streams

• Commission splits: Percentage of agent commissions (primary revenue)
• Transaction fees: Per-transaction charges (if applicable)
• Monthly fees: Desk fees, technology fees (if applicable)
• Additional services: Marketing services, transaction coordination fees

Pricing strategy

Detail your commission structure:

• Base commission split (e.g., 85/15)
• Commission caps (if any)
• Transaction fees
• Monthly fees
• How this compares to competitors

6. Marketing & Sales Strategy

How will you attract agents and build your brand?

Brand positioning

How you want to be perceived:

• Modern and tech-forward
• Agent-focused and supportive
• Transparent and fair
• Local market experts

Agent recruitment strategy

• Target agents: Who you're recruiting and why
• Recruitment channels: Personal network, social media, industry events, referrals, direct outreach
• Value proposition: Why agents should join you
• Onboarding process: How you'll get new agents productive quickly

See our agent recruitment guide for detailed strategies.

Marketing channels

• Website and SEO: Professional website optimized for search
• Social media: LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram for brand building
• Content marketing: Blog posts, guides, videos establishing expertise
• Networking: Industry events, REALTOR® meetings, community involvement
• Referral program: Incentivize current agents to refer new agents
• Paid advertising: Google Ads, Facebook Ads, industry publications

Marketing budget

Allocate your marketing spend:

• Website development and maintenance
• SEO and content marketing
• Social media management
• Paid advertising
• Events and networking
• Marketing materials and collateral

7. Financial Projections

This is where many business plans fall short. Be realistic and detailed. Include:

Startup costs

One-time expenses to launch:

• Legal and entity formation: $2,000-$5,000
• Broker license and education: $1,000-$3,000
• Office space (if applicable): $10,000-$30,000
• Technology setup: $2,000-$15,000
• Website and branding: $3,000-$10,000
• MLS and association fees: $2,000-$5,000
• Insurance: $3,000-$8,000
• Marketing and launch: $3,000-$15,000
• Operating reserves: $5,000-$50,000

See our complete startup guide for detailed cost breakdowns.

Monthly operating expenses

Recurring monthly costs:

• Office rent: $0 (virtual) to $5,000-$20,000 (traditional)
• Technology platform: $500-$2,000/month
• Staff salaries: $3,000-$8,000/month
• MLS and association dues: $200-$500/month
• Insurance: $300-$800/month
• Marketing: $1,000-$5,000/month
• Utilities and miscellaneous: $200-$1,000/month

Revenue projections

Project revenue for months 1-36:

• Agent count: How many agents each month
• Average sales volume per agent: Realistic production expectations
• Average commission rate: Typically 2.5-3%
• Brokerage split: Your percentage (e.g., 15%)
• Monthly revenue: Agent count × volume × commission × split

Break-even analysis

Calculate when you'll become profitable:

• Monthly fixed costs
• Variable costs per agent
• Revenue per agent
• Break-even agent count = Fixed costs ÷ (Revenue per agent - Variable cost per agent)

Most brokerages break even at 8-15 agents with traditional models, or 5-8 agents with virtual models using consolidated technology.

3-year financial projections

Create month-by-month projections for:

• Agent count growth
• Revenue growth
• Expense growth
• Net profit/loss
• Cash flow

Funding requirements

If seeking financing:

• Total funding needed
• Use of funds (breakdown by category)
• Timeline for fund deployment
• Repayment terms (if loan)
• Return on investment (if equity)

8. Operations Plan

How will you run the day-to-day operations?

Technology infrastructure

• Platform: All-in-one like Brokurz or best-of-breed approach
• CRM and lead management: How agents manage leads and clients
• Transaction management: Deal tracking and document management
• Commission tracking: Automated calculations and payouts
• Communication: How agents and staff communicate
• Training platform: Agent onboarding and ongoing education

See our tech stack guide for detailed recommendations.

Operational processes

• Agent onboarding: Step-by-step process for new agents
• Transaction workflow: From contract to close
• Commission processing: How commissions are calculated and paid
• Compliance monitoring: How you ensure regulatory compliance
• Support structure: How agents get help when needed

Quality assurance

• Transaction review processes
• Agent performance monitoring
• Client satisfaction tracking
• Compliance audits

9. Growth Strategy

How will you scale from launch to market leader?

Short-term goals (Months 1-12)

• Recruit 10-20 agents
• Reach break-even point
• Establish brand presence
• Build operational systems
• Achieve profitability

Medium-term goals (Year 2-3)

• Scale to 30-50 agents
• Expand service offerings
• Build market reputation
• Optimize operations for efficiency
• Generate consistent profitability

Long-term goals (Year 3-5)

• Become top 5 brokerage in market
• Expand to additional markets (if applicable)
• Develop additional revenue streams
• Build sustainable competitive advantages
• Consider exit strategy (sale, partnership, etc.)

Growth tactics

• Agent recruitment: Aggressive but selective recruitment of top talent
• Agent retention: Keep agents happy with tools, support, and culture
• Market expansion: Add new geographic markets or property types
• Service expansion: Add property management, commercial, or other services
• Technology innovation: Stay ahead with cutting-edge tools

How Brokurz fits into your business plan

Brokurz is an all-in-one brokerage operating system that can dramatically simplify your operations and reduce costs. Here's how it fits into your business plan:

Technology section

Instead of budgeting for 7+ separate tools, Brokurz provides:

• CRM and lead management
• Transaction management
• Commission tracking and payouts
• Agent management and onboarding
• Compliance and document management
• Reporting and analytics
• Training platform

Cost savings: $1,000-$3,000/month compared to best-of-breed approach

Operations section

Brokurz handles:

• System setup and configuration
• Agent onboarding workflows
• Compliance automation
• Commission calculations
• Ongoing support and updates

This reduces your staffing needs and operational complexity.

Financial projections

Using Brokurz impacts your financials:

• Lower startup costs: $5,000-$10,000 less in technology setup
• Lower monthly costs: $1,000-$3,000/month savings
• Faster break-even: Lower overhead means fewer agents needed
• Higher margins: More profit per agent

Competitive advantage

Brokurz gives you:

• Enterprise technology at startup prices
• Faster time to market
• Better agent experience
• Scalability without rebuilding
• White-label branding option

Contact us to see how Brokurz can strengthen your business plan and reduce your startup costs.

FAQ: Business planning for brokerages

How long should my business plan be?

A comprehensive business plan is typically 20-40 pages. The executive summary should be 1-2 pages. Focus on substance over length—better to have a concise, well-researched 25-page plan than a padded 50-page plan.

Do I need a business plan if I'm self-funding?

Yes. Even if you're not seeking financing, a business plan helps you think through every aspect of your business, identify risks, and create a roadmap. It's also useful for attracting partners, key hires, or future investors.

How detailed should financial projections be?

Very detailed. Include month-by-month projections for at least the first year, then quarterly for years 2-3. Break down revenue by agent, expenses by category, and show cash flow. Be conservative—it's better to exceed projections than miss them.

Should I hire someone to write my business plan?

You can, but you should be heavily involved. No one knows your business better than you. A consultant can help with structure, financial modeling, and polish, but the vision, strategy, and details should come from you.

How often should I update my business plan?

Review and update quarterly. Compare actual results to projections, adjust assumptions, and refine strategies. Your plan should be a living document, not something you write once and file away.

What's the most common mistake in business plans?

Unrealistic financial projections. Many plans assume rapid agent growth, high production volumes, and low expenses. Be conservative. It's better to plan for slower growth and be pleasantly surprised than to plan for rapid growth and run out of cash.