How to Start A Property Management Company: Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners by Joy Gomez

How to Start A Property Management Company: Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

by Joy Gomez Founder at Field Promax

Want to succeed as an entrepreneur in the real estate industry? Here is what you need to know.

The real estate industry is fiercely competitive. When someone decides to start their own business in this sector, they must commit to long hours of hard work, commitment, and dedication. But more than those, one needs critical knowledge of strategic growth and business management. This is especially important if you want to learn how to start a property management company.

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So, if you are looking for a profitable business idea and contemplating property management, you have reached the right place. In this blog, you will find all the necessary information about starting a property management company in the most comprehensive, step-by-step guide. You will also find some of the best expert tips on how to increase efficiency in your workflow and grow your business. So, read on and find out all you need to know.

What is A Property Management Company?

One of the first things that you should learn before you start your career as a property management entrepreneur is: What does a property management business do?

In simple terms, a property management company helps landlords with various day-to-day tasks involved in real estate management. The sole purpose of a property manager is to relieve a property owner from the worries of maintaining their property by taking care of mundane responsibilities themselves.

Different property management businesses provide different types of services. But they mostly revolve around common tasks such as:

Tenant screening
Background verification
Renting out property units
Rent collection
Marketing and promotion
Accounting
Maintenance and repair of property

In general, landlords are responsible for taking care of these tasks. But property management companies take care of them on the landlords’ behalf and charge a fee for their services.

Evidently, property management is an arduous task. But with proper planning and strategy, you can successfully grow your business and earn profits.

How Profitable Is the Property Management Business?

Although managing a property and taking care of maintenance tasks may not sound like much, it is a huge market to dabble in if you are looking for a profitable business idea. Currently, it is a $100 billion industry expected to double in size within the next 5 years. The revenue potential is approximately $48,000 to $180,000 p.a., with a profit potential of $43,000 – $72,000 p.a.

As it is clear from the figures, you can make a huge profit with a property management business. But to do so, you have to play your cards right. And most importantly, you need to start your venture very meticulously.

How to Start A Property Management Company

Now that you know what the job entails and how profitable it can be as a business idea, it is time to learn the basics of starting a property management company. Before you proceed to find out the details, let us assure you that it is not rocket science. You just need to know the necessary steps and follow them meticulously.

Here is how you can start your own property management business:

1. Learn the Legal Requirements and Property Regulations

This is perhaps the most important step in starting your own property management company. Every state has some specific legal requirements and codes that landlords and property managers must comply with. Before you open your business and start offering services, make sure you thoroughly learn and understand the necessary laws and regulations. It is crucial to avoid any kind of legal conflict going forward.

While some laws are rather self-explanatory, some of them can be a bit confusing. You might take help from a professional in that regard or conduct thorough research, in any case, ensure that you understand the laws to their full extent, especially landlord-tenant laws and eviction laws.

2. Conduct Market Research

If you want to start a property management business, or any other business for that matter, you need to make sure that you understand the market trends and demands to keep up with the competition. To this end, conduct thorough market research.

Market research will tell you if your business idea has a chance of being successful. It is a way to find out about possible customers and other competitors in your area. Use that knowledge to find a way to give your business an edge over the competition.

3. Write a Property Management Business Plan

Start writing your business plan once you know your area or market. A business plan is an outline that describes the business’s structure, how it works, and other information about how it operates. The document can be the foundation of your strategic plan, and it can also help investors, financial institutions, and possible business partners understand what you want to do with your business. A well-organized property management business plan could help you get funding or investments to start. You can get help from a legal expert to draw the outlines and go from there.

In general, your business plan must include the following points: