Starting a mortgage broking business requires a Diploma of Finance and Mortgage Broking, joining an aggregator for lender panel access and compliance support, and either your own Australian Credit Licence or operating as an authorised representative. This pathway typically takes several months of dedicated study and compliance preparation.

Acquiring an existing book of clients provides immediate income and referral relationships, though at significant upfront cost. Starting from scratch requires patience building a client base but offers lower initial investment and full control over business direction. Both pathways can lead to a genuinely successful, sustainable broking business.

Costs include aggregator fees, professional indemnity insurance, industry association membership, compliance and continuing education requirements, and marketing to build and maintain client referral pipelines. Genuine financial discipline managing variable commission income also matters greatly overall, quite a lot.

Aggregators provide access to lender panels, compliance and technology support, professional development, and often business coaching helping brokers grow their practice. Choosing the right aggregator significantly shapes a new business's early trajectory. Many aggregators also provide marketing templates and lead generation support tools.

Successful brokerages grow by hiring additional brokers and support staff, expanding into commercial or asset finance broking, or building strong referral partnerships with real estate agents and accountants over time. Strong referral partnerships often accelerate sustainable, long-term business growth.