Commercial property lease broker

Find shops, offices and units for businesses, negotiate the lease and earn a fee for the deal.

Startup costA$5k to A$25k
Monthly revenueA$2k to A$10k
Time needed20+ h/week
First incomeMonths
  • A$5k-25k
  • Part-time
  • Out and about
  • Licence or permit needed

Estimates for a small start in Australia, not guarantees.

What it is

You act for tenants looking for premises, or for owners looking for tenants. You shortlist properties, arrange inspections and negotiate rent and lease terms.

Your first three steps

  1. Check your state or territory regulator on the real estate licence or registration needed to arrange commercial leases
  2. Pick a suburb or type of property, such as small retail or industrial units, and map the local agents and landlords
  3. Offer a trial search to a few local business owners who are about to renew or move
Who pays

Business owners who need space, or landlords who want a tenant. Sometimes both pay.

How it makes money

A fee or commission on each lease, often a share of the first year's rent. Deals can take weeks or months, so income is lumpy.

Skills that help
  • Negotiation
  • Knowing your local commercial market
  • Reading leases and spotting risks
Watch out for
  • A real estate licence or registration is usually needed, and rules differ by state, so check before you take any fee
  • Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
  • Trust account rules if you ever handle deposits or rent
  • Long gaps between deals, so keep enough savings to cover them
  • Leases carry legal risk, so advise clients to get their own legal advice

Deep research report · Australia

Everything you need to start: commercial property lease broker

Researched with live web search for Australia: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.

  • Startup costs with real prices
  • Licences, registration and rules
  • Pricing: what others charge
  • Break-even example
  • Finding your first customers
  • 30-day launch plan
  • Risks and how to reduce them
Ready in about 2 minutes · one-off payment, tax included

See a full sample report

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to start a commercial lease broker business in Australia?

Startup costs are typically around $5,000 to $25,000, depending on your set-up and how you plan to work. These are estimates only, so build a budget around your own state, your needs and the way you intend to find clients.

Do I need a licence to work as a commercial lease broker in Australia?

A real estate licence or registration is usually needed, and rules differ by state, so check before you take any fee. Also check professional indemnity and public liability insurance, and trust account rules if you ever handle deposits or rent.

How much can a commercial lease broker earn?

Monthly revenue is typically around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on how many deals you complete and the fees you agree. Deals can be far apart, so it helps to keep enough savings to cover the gaps between them.

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