Own mortgage brokerage with a small team
Run a local brokerage from a small office, with your own licence and a few brokers or assistants.
- A$12k-60k
- Full-time
- Own premises
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in Australia, not guarantees.
What it is
A local brokerage that holds its own Australian Credit Licence, or operates as an established business within a broker group, with a shopfront or small office. You arrange loans yourself and may bring on other brokers and a loan processor to handle paperwork.
Your first three steps
- Get your broking qualifications and some experience, then read ASIC's guidance on applying for an Australian Credit Licence
- Get quotes from compliance consultants, insurers and an aggregator, and write a budget that covers at least six months with little income
- Scout small office space in a busy local area and meet agents, accountants and builders about referral partnerships
Who pays
Lenders pay commission on settled loans and ongoing commission on the loan book. Some clients pay a fee for complex or non-standard lending.
How it makes money
Commission from your own loans plus a share from brokers or credit representatives working under you, and ongoing commission from a growing loan book. Costs include rent, staff, insurance and compliance.
Skills that help
- Experience as a broker or in lending
- Managing people and compliance processes
- Local marketing and relationship building
Watch out for
- Applying for a credit licence takes time and money, and you must meet ASIC's requirements on competence, compliance and financial resources, check current rules
- You are responsible for the conduct of any credit representatives or staff under your licence
- Professional indemnity insurance, dispute resolution scheme membership and compliance systems are required, check what applies to you
- Commission income is uneven and can be clawed back, so keep cash reserves
- Check council zoning and lease terms for office premises, and workers compensation once you hire
Deep research report · Australia
Everything you need to start: own mortgage brokerage with a small team
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
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a mortgage brokerage in Australia?
Startup costs are typically around $12,000 to $60,000, depending on licensing, office premises, insurance, compliance systems and whether you hire brokers or a loan processor.
How much can a mortgage brokerage earn?
Monthly revenue is typically around $5,000 to $25,000, depending on settled loan volume, your loan book and team size. Commission income is uneven and can be clawed back, so keep cash reserves. Allow at least about 35 hours a week.
What licences and rules should I check before starting a brokerage?
Check ASIC's current requirements for an Australian Credit Licence, including competence, compliance and financial resources. You are responsible for the conduct of credit representatives or staff under your licence. Also check professional indemnity insurance and dispute resolution scheme membership.
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