Guide
Going solo as a real estate agent
Who can run their own agency in New Zealand and Australia, what it costs to be licensed, and the obligations you take on.
The short answer
In New Zealand you need an agent's licence to run your own agency. A salesperson must work for, and be supervised by, a licensed agent or branch manager. In Australia, a fully licensed individual can run a sole-trader agency in NSW, Victoria and Queensland.
Going solo means you hold the trust account, the AML obligations and the marketing rules yourself.
- The New Zealand agent's licence
- Requires three years of licensed agency experience and the New Zealand Certificate in Real Estate Level 6. At 30 June 2025 there were 1,930 individual agent licences and 12,300 salesperson licences.
- Licence cost in New Zealand
- NZ$939.55 including GST to apply. Renewal is about NZ$724.50 a year.
- Advertising
- In New Zealand, your advertising must show the agent's name and that the agent is licensed under the REAA 2008.
- Trust account
- Every New Zealand agency trust account is audited, and REA allows a third-party trust account. In NSW, Victoria and Queensland, audits are yearly.
- AML
- In New Zealand, DIA expects a self-employed owner to be the compliance officer. In Australia, AUSTRAC says one person often holds all three governance roles and stays responsible for each.
- NSW licensing
- A Class 1 licence lets an individual carry on business and be licensee-in-charge.
Questions agents ask
Can a salesperson run their own agency in New Zealand?
No. A salesperson must work for a licensed agent and be supervised by an agent or branch manager. Running your own agency needs an agent's licence.
What do I need for a New Zealand agent's licence?
Three years of licensed agency experience and the New Zealand Certificate in Real Estate Level 6, and you must be 18 or over and fit and proper.
How much is a New Zealand real estate licence?
NZ$939.55 including GST to apply, and about NZ$724.50 a year to renew.
Can I go solo without giving a network a share of my commission?
If you hold your own licence, yes. You need systems for compliance, trust accounting and marketing, which Indium Solo provides at a flat monthly price.
Work out what you would keep
Compare a network's share of your commission with a flat Indium Solo price.
Sources
- Real Estate Authority, apply for your licence
- Real Estate Authority, required criteria and qualifications
- Real Estate Authority, 2024/25 licence numbers and complaints
- Real Estate Authority, how much your licence costs
- Real Estate Authority, marketing as an individual or company
- Real Estate Authority, trust accounts
- NSW Fair Trading, licensee-in-charge
- NSW Government, real estate trust accounts and audit requirements
- Department of Internal Affairs, AML/CFT real estate sector regulatory findings
- AUSTRAC, governance and oversight for sole traders and micro businesses
General information, not legal advice. Checked against the sources above in October 2026. Rules change, so confirm with your regulator. More guides.
See it with your own numbers
A 30-minute walkthrough with Sam Hill, on your office or your solo setup.