Working as a real estate agent is like starting your own business.

This is a phrase frequently used by real estate recruiters and hiring managers to describe the reality of starting a real estate career.

Part of your job is to make that reality sound interesting, completely doable, and fun.

To build your case, you may want to reference the research Forbes magazine compiled on why individuals choose to start businesses. 

There are 16 “amazing facts” in this article. Here are my four favorites:

Lots of People Own Small Businesses. There are almost 28 million small businesses in the US and over 22 million are self-employed with no additional payroll or employees (most real estate agents would fit this category).

Many People Work in Small Businesses. Over 50% of the working population (120 million individuals) works in a small business.

Over 500,000 new businesses get started each month. By contrast, the “new jobs” added to the economy by traditional employers are typically half this number. It may be a crazy thing to do, but a lot of people are starting businesses!

Most businesses don’t have employees. Approximately 75% of all U.S. businesses (small or otherwise) are non-employer businesses. This is how most real estate agents function. Non-employer businesses generate just under $1 trillion in revenue each year.

Your recruiting success depends on how you frame the discussions with your prospects. 

Be ready to make the case that smart, capable individuals start businesses.