Entry Education recently caught up with Andy Reid, an agent turned business owner turned coach and trainer.
Andy started in engineering and hospitality before building a high-performing sales career in real estate. He later founded his own auctioneering firm before stepping into coaching, training, and authorship.
He was the perfect person to tackle a big, often misunderstood element of an ambitious, growth-driven real estate career: moving from being a good agent to a truly exceptional business owner.
Andy did not hold back:
“The statistic is 70% of agents that come into the game are gone within year one. And it’s not through lack of effort.”
Seven in ten. That’s significant, and it tells us something important. All the motivation in the world can only get you so far. To succeed as an owner, you need strategy and direction. You need purpose-made training that teaches you the how.
“If the industry were getting coached well enough, then there wouldn’t be as high a turnover,” said Andy.
Could he be right? Let’s dive deeper into Andy’s insights and how Entry Education’s Real Estate Business Masterclass could be the missing link in your career trajectory.
What role does education play in this major transition?
We asked Andy what’s really missing for new agents trying to build a successful business.
“The Cert IV does not set anybody up to run a business,” he said. “From a compliance point of view, that does not mean that you are ready to run a business in any way, shape, or form.”
Of course, the qualification covers all the important basics like the legal must-knows. It helps you get licensed. What it doesn’t do, however, is prepare you for the day-to-day reality of running your own agency.
“There’s nothing in there about forecasting. Nothing about budgeting. Nothing about conflict resolution,” noted Andy.
The basics of business aren’t built into the current education system. So agents finish the course thinking they’re set, but the hard part hasn’t even started yet.
That missing layer leaves agents exposed.
“Education is not a need. It’s a must.”
The trick is shaping courses that align with the lived day-to-day of a business owner. And that’s exactly what our Masterclass does—more information below.
The struggle of moving from agent to business owner
The leap from agent to owner looks straightforward from the outside. You’re great at what you do, and you love doing it. Working as an agent has lit a fire in you, and you crave more control, more freedom.
So, you go out on your own. It’s a big decision, one you don’t want to make too quickly.
“Lots of salespeople, they get to a certain level of commission, do their Cert IV, and think that’s a divine right,” suggested Andy.
They assume that because they can sell, they can lead.
“It is a completely different skillset…and it is not even a debate.”
Think about it. Selling teaches you how to close a deal. Running a business is multifaceted. Yes, you need to be a great agent. But you’ll need to budget and hire, market your agency, and manage the many risks that face business owners.
Without the right approach, quitting your 9-to-5 can lead you to work 24/7. Suddenly, every problem is your problem, and the potential for burnout is significant.
Thinking like a business owner before you become one
Andy says most agents skip the most important step. They wait until they’ve left their agency to start thinking like an owner. By then, it might be too late.
“We encourage people first to think and act like business owners and run a business within your current agency environment.”
Inside a good agency, you can test what works without risking everything. You can practice building systems, managing time, leading teams, and learning to delegate. Think of it as on-the-job training. You’ve got the safety net to experiment too.
This model also speaks to how younger agents want to work.
“A lot of Gen Zs…aren’t interested in being the head honcho. They want to be part of something bigger.”
They want a team that functions collaboratively. They look for cultural alignment and prioritise their purpose over their position title.
The Real Estate Business Masterclass
Andy’s insights are something the team behind Entry Education have been aware of. So, we decided to fill the gap and develop a first-of-its-kind solution: the Real Estate Business Masterclass.
“There has to be a program that takes people from salesperson to business owner. And for me, it should be legislated,” said Andy.
This Masterclass does precisely that. It’s the missing piece between the Cert IV and actually knowing how to run your very own business.
It covers:
- Forecasting
- Budgeting
- Marketing
- Team leadership
- Compliance
- Brand building
It’s for agents planning to launch their own agencies, but it’s also for team leaders who want to level up their knowledge and skills.
The goal? To help agents build strong businesses and protect the quality of the industry while they do it. The earlier someone learns to think like an owner, the less likely they are to burn out, fail, or cut corners later.
Enrol today and build a successful business
Investing in your education today can repay dividends in your future.
Fill in the gap in your knowledge and set yourself up for long-term success. Enrol today in the Real Estate Business Masterclass and learn the skills that sit between qualification and ownership—budgeting, forecasting, hiring, operations, culture, and so much more.
If you’re planning to open your own agency, this lays the groundwork. If you’re already leading a team, it builds the structure around what you’ve been learning on the job.
Enrolment is open now. Secure your spot.
