The short answer
To start a real estate agency in India, pick an area and a segment you can know deeply (rentals, resale flats, new projects, plots or commercial), register as an agent with your state's RERA authority if you'll sell registered projects, set up your business and GST, and start building a reliable set of listings and owner relationships.
Buyers and renters trust agents who know every building in a few sectors and tell the truth about them. Your edge is local knowledge, honest listings and quick follow-up. Technology helps you look professional and answer faster, but the relationships are what bring repeat business.
Is a real estate agency right for you?
Every city has a steady flow of people renting, buying, selling and moving offices. Developers need channel partners to sell new projects, owners need tenants, and families moving cities need someone who knows the neighbourhood.
People who do well are patient, local and organised. You'll show the same flat many times, follow up for weeks, and coordinate owners, buyers, lawyers and banks. Knowing which sector floods in the monsoon is worth more than a glossy brochure.
The hard parts are irregular income and trust. Commissions arrive only when deals close, and deals can fall through late. The industry has a trust problem, so honest listings and clear fees set you apart. Expect a slow first year while you build listings.
Business models to choose from
| Model | How it works | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Rentals | Find tenants for owners and homes for tenants, for a brokerage fee. | New agents who want faster, smaller deals |
| Resale | Help owners sell homes and buyers find them, for a commission. | Agents with deep knowledge of a few neighbourhoods |
| New projects (channel partner) | Sell developers' RERA-registered projects for a commission. | Agents with buyer networks and RERA agent registration |
| Commercial and office leasing | Lease shops, offices and warehouses to businesses. | Agents with corporate contacts |
| Plots and land | Help buy and sell land, with careful title checks. | Agents in growing city outskirts and smaller towns |
Most agencies start with rentals or resale in a small area, then add new projects once they have buyers and RERA registration.
Licences and registrations
| Registration | Why you need it | Where you get it |
|---|---|---|
| RERA agent registration | Under RERA, agents who help sell RERA-registered projects must register with the state authority and quote their registration number. | Your state's RERA authority portal |
| Business registration | Proprietorship, LLP or company for contracts, a current account and invoicing developers. | Bank and CA; the MCA portal for an LLP or company |
| GST registration | Brokerage is a taxable service, and developers expect GST invoices. | The GST portal |
| Shop & Establishment registration | For your office and staff. | The state labour department |
| Trade licence | Required for commercial premises in many cities. | The municipal corporation |
| Professional tax | Applies to businesses and employees in some states. | The state commercial tax department |
When you advertise a RERA-registered project, show the project's RERA registration number and your agent number. Check your state's RERA rules on what ads must show.
RERA rules and agent requirements are set by each state and change over time. Confirm the current rules with your state's RERA authority and a lawyer or CA. This is general information, not legal advice.
What it costs to start
The small start assumes one or two people working from home or a small shared office in one area. The larger setup assumes a street-facing office, a few salaried agents and paid marketing.
| Item | Small start | Larger setup |
|---|---|---|
| Registrations (including RERA), legal and CA fees | ₹0.3–1 lakh | ₹1–3 lakh |
| Office rent and deposit | ₹0–2 lakh | ₹5–15 lakh |
| Office setup and furniture | ₹0.5–1.5 lakh | ₹3–8 lakh |
| Phones, laptops and photo equipment | ₹1–2 lakh | ₹3–6 lakh |
| Website, listings and branding | ₹0.5–3 lakh | ₹5–15 lakh |
| Paid listings and ads for the first months | ₹0.5–2 lakh | ₹5–15 lakh |
| Personal runway for 6–12 months | Plan for it | Plan for it |
These are estimates, not quotes. Keep enough personal savings to last until deals start closing; that can take several months.
Step by step: from idea to first customer
- Choose a small area, a few sectors or neighbourhoods, and one segment such as rentals or resale.
- Walk every society and street in it. Note buildings, ages, amenities, prices and problems.
- Register the business, GST and, if you'll sell new projects, RERA agent registration.
- Write a simple agreement for owners and a clear fee policy for clients.
- Collect your first listings from owners you meet, with honest photos, measurements and documents seen.
- Set up a website and profiles with your listings, area guides and contact details.
- Answer every enquiry within minutes, and show properties quickly.
- Build relationships with lawyers, home-loan advisors, packers and interior designers.
- Close your first deals carefully and get every agreement in writing.
- Ask satisfied clients for reviews and referrals, and stay in touch for their next move.
Running it day to day
Your listings are your stock. Keep them fresh: remove let-out flats the same day, re-check prices monthly, and mark when you last confirmed availability. Stale listings cost trust fast.
Leads need a system. Record every enquiry with what they want, their budget, which properties you showed and their feedback. Follow up on a schedule; many deals close on the third or fourth conversation.
Paperwork protects everyone. Check ownership documents before listing, use written agreements, and coordinate with a lawyer for sale deeds and rent agreements.
Cash flow is lumpy. Commissions arrive after deals close, so manage expenses carefully, and invoice promptly with GST.
Getting your first customers
- Owners first. Listings bring buyers. Visit societies, meet watchmen and resident associations, and leave a card.
- Google Business Profile. People search "property dealer near me". Add your area, services and reviews. See our local SEO guide.
- Your own website. Area guides and honest listings rank for local searches and look more credible than listing-portal profiles alone.
- Listing portals. Use them for reach, but bring serious leads to your own pages and WhatsApp.
- WhatsApp. Share listings with photos and a map pin; keep lists by budget and area.
- Referrals. Lawyers, loan advisors and past clients send repeat business.
The tech you need
On day one: a website with your listings, filters and enquiry buttons, a lead list or simple CRM, and WhatsApp Business for quick replies and listing shares.
As you grow: a property search site that works the way people search in your city, with map and list views, filters, shortlists and enquiries routed to agents. Our Nestvia concept build does this for Gurugram: search by sector, pan the map to search the area, open a listing with an EMI calculator and enquire in one tap.
See our real estate website page, and our WhatsApp business inbox for handling leads as a team. For a fixed quote, brief us.
See the app a real estate agency runs on
We designed and built this concept end to end, every side of it, so you can open it and try it before you plan your own. Our real estate website page covers the features, timeline and what moves the cost.
Questions people ask
Do I need a licence to become a real estate agent in India?
If you help sell projects registered under RERA, you must register as an agent with your state's RERA authority and show your registration number. You'll also register the business and GST. Rules differ by state, so check your state RERA authority's current requirements.
How much money do I need to start a real estate agency?
You can start small with a few lakh rupees for registrations, a phone and laptop, a website and some listing ads, working from home or a shared office. A street-facing office with staff costs more. Plan personal savings for several months before commissions arrive.
How do real estate agents earn in India?
Mainly through brokerage on rentals and resale, and commissions from developers on new project sales. Fees are agreed with clients and vary by city and deal type. Be clear and consistent about your fee from the first conversation to build trust.
How do I get property listings as a new agent?
Focus on a small area. Visit societies, meet owners, resident associations and building staff, and offer clear terms. Honest photos and quick tenant or buyer visits encourage owners to give you more listings. Past clients often become your next owners.
Should a real estate agency have its own website?
Yes. Listing portals give reach, but your own website builds trust, ranks for local searches like your neighbourhood's name, and keeps leads with you. Show honest listings, area guides and quick enquiry options, and keep it updated.
