Starting a real estate career offers unlimited income potential, the opportunity to run your own business, and a flexible schedule that many professionals seek. It’s an especially attractive path for self-starters who want to begin a part-time career while maintaining a full-time job. And the truth is—many agents succeed this way.
Before making the transition, it’s important to think through how you’ll manage your time and structure your business. Ultimately, this will help you decide whether working as a part-time or full-time agent is the right fit for your goals.
In this guide, we’ll discuss exactly what it means to be a part-time realtor—and whether you can still be successful. We’ll break down what to expect, the pros and cons, the earning potential, and the steps to start. We’ll also share which real estate brokerage in Florida is best suited to support part-time agents as they build a successful career.
Can You Be a Part-Time Realtor in Orlando and Be Successful?
Yes, you can work part-time in real estate as a Realtor—and many agents do. For most professionals, it’s a strategic way to transition into real estate while keeping the stability of another career. Over time, some choose to become full-time agents, while others remain working part-time based on what is best for them.
One of the biggest advantages of a real estate career is flexibility. There’s no set schedule, no required number of hours, and no quota on how many homes you must buy or sell. Working part-time allows you to build experience, learn the industry, and grow your client base on your terms, without pressure.
Are There Part-Time Real Estate Agents?
It’s very common for agents to start their real estate careers part-time, especially those transitioning from another profession or seeking to manage additional income. This approach reduces the pressure to close deals immediately. Additionally, it gives new agents the space to build their business thoughtfully and attract the right clients.
It’s also important to understand that “part-time agent” isn’t a formal classification. Working as a Realtor doesn’t come with a mandatory work hour requirement as traditional careers do. Moreover, the licensing requirements and legal responsibilities are identical to those for full-time agents.
The difference comes down to how much time you choose to dedicate to your business. With this flexibility, agents can easily shift between part-time and full-time as their schedules, goals, or opportunities change.
What Percentage of Realtors Are Part-Time?
An estimated 22% of real estate agents work part-time, and there are many valid reasons for choosing a reduced schedule. Real estate’s flexibility allows agents to tailor their workload to fit their personal and professional needs.
For some, such as parents caring for young children, full-time hours simply aren’t practical. Real estate allows you to build a career while maintaining a schedule that supports family responsibilities.
Others may choose to remain part-time due to concerns about health insurance. Since agents are independent contractors, they’re responsible for securing their own coverage. Keeping a job that provides insurance while starting a career can be a strategic, practical decision.
No matter the reason, working as a part-time Realtor is both realistic and common, especially for those just entering the industry.
Pros and Cons of Part-Time Real Estate Agent
Pros
Working as a part-time Realtor comes with several meaningful advantages, especially when you’re first entering the industry. Here are some of the key benefits:
- Lower financial pressure: You can maintain another job or income stream while learning the business. Doing this reduces the stress of needing immediate closings.
- Safer entry point: Many individuals are exploring whether real estate is the right long-term career before committing full-time.
- Time to build skills gradually: You can learn contracts, negotiations, and systems without the pressure of immediate performance.
- Time management flexibility: You control your schedule and decide how many hours you dedicate to your business.
- Ideal for niche strategies: Part-time work pairs well with referral-based business, investors, or niches that operate on longer timelines.
- Reduced risk of early burnout: Burnout is common regardless of career path. Part-time careers in real estate help avoid this, which is especially helpful for those balancing family responsibilities or other professional commitments.
For many agents, starting part-time provides the breathing room needed to build confidence, competence, and momentum the right way.
Cons
Before committing to part-time real estate, it’s important to set realistic expectations. While the flexibility is appealing, there are trade-offs every agent should understand before moving forward.
Here are some of the challenges that come with working part-time:
- Clients expect full-time availability: Buyers and sellers don’t operate on part-time schedules, and opportunities often arise outside traditional hours.
- Slower income growth: Fewer showings and conversations naturally lead to fewer closed transactions.
- Increased competition from full-time agents: Agents who respond faster often win business by default.
- Limited lead conversion: Deals can be lost simply because you weren’t available at the right moment.
- Longer ramp-up period: Building a consistent income may take longer when working part-time.
- Higher pressure per transaction: When working with fewer deals, each one carries more financial weight.
- Risk of being perceived as less committed: This can affect how clients, lenders, and other agents, and even brokers, view you.
- Poor fit for cold lead generation: Prospecting and follow-up require daily consistency, which is harder to maintain part-time.
Understanding these realities can help you decide whether part-time real estate aligns with your goals and lifestyle.
Is Being a Part-Time Realtor Worth It?
Choosing to pursue real estate as a part-time job can be a smart move when it aligns with particular needs. In many ways, the industry already operates outside traditional hours. Most buyers and sellers are available evenings and weekends, which means success in real estate depends more on flexibility than a standard 9-to-5 schedule.
For many professionals, being a part-time Realtor serves as a practical entry point into the industry. Jumping in full-time can feel overwhelming, but working part-time lets you learn the real estate market, understand transactions, and build confidence before scaling.
Real estate can also be a reliable source of supplemental income. With no set hours, you choose when to prospect, meet clients, and manage deals. While part-time agents typically earn less than full-time agents, this isn’t always a deterrent. The model works well when agents align income expectations with the time invested.
And if you find that you enjoy the work and want to grow, the option to transition into real estate full-time is always available.
How to Become a Part-Time Realtor
Becoming a part-time Realtor follows the same process as becoming a full-time agent. The licensing requirements are identical, regardless of how many hours you plan to work. Below are the steps to legally obtain your Florida real estate salesperson license.
For more information about getting your license, we recommend reading our guide, “How Long Does It Take to Become a Realtor?”
Attend a 63-hour pre-licensing course.
The first step to becoming a Realtor in Florida is completing the required 63-hour pre-licensing course through a FREC-approved real estate school. The course is available online or in person and covers the core concepts needed to pass the state licensing exam.
Once completed, the course remains valid for two years. This is just another example of how adaptable the real estate industry can be for professionals transitioning into the field.
Submit your real estate license application.
After completing the pre-licensing course, you’ll submit your real estate license application through the Florida DBPR website or by mail. As part of the application process, you will need to complete fingerprinting through a Livescan provider for the background check.
Once the state reviews and approves your application, you’ll receive instructions on how to schedule your Florida real estate licensing exam.
It’s important to note that fees apply at each step of the licensing process. For a detailed breakdown of costs, refer to our guide, “How Much Does It Cost to Get a Realtor License?”
Pass the real estate licensing exam.
You will schedule your Florida real estate licensing exam through the testing administrator, Pearson VUE. To pass, you must score at least 75% on the 100-question multiple-choice exam. Since the test is computer-based, you will receive your results immediately after completion.
Activate your real estate license.
To activate your real estate license and legally begin practicing, you must affiliate with a licensed real estate broker. After you sign your brokerage agreement, your broker will submit your license activation to the DBPR.
If you’re unsure which brokerage is the right fit, our guide “Real Estate Recruiting” offers helpful insight to guide your decision.
Join the National Association of Realtors (NAR).
To earn the title of Realtor, you must join your local association of the National Association of Realtors (NAR). This membership allows you to legally use the Realtor designation—something that sets you apart from licensed real estate agents.
Beyond the title, NAR membership provides access to valuable professional resources, industry tools, and technology that support your business growth. These are all extremely helpful, even when working part-time.
How Many Hours Does a Part-Time Real Estate Agent Work?
Most part-time Realtors work between 15 and 25 hours per week. This is often enough time to meet clients, manage transactions, and balance other commitments. Depending on workload and scheduling, however, some agents may work closer to 30 hours in busier weeks.
Much of real estate work naturally happens outside traditional business hours. More specifically, many agents reserve evenings and weekends for showings, open houses, and client meetings. This is why real estate fits well alongside non-traditional schedules.
How Much Can a Part-Time Realtor Make?
A part-time Realtor can earn anywhere from $25,000 to $50,000 per year, depending on the time commitment and market activity. When agents worked fewer than 20 hours per week, they earned closer to $25,000 annually. Those who increased their workload to 20-39 hours per week see significantly higher earning potential. A third of them reported incomes of $149,000 to $200,000.
Ultimately, income depends on several factors, including commission splits, local market conditions, and property values. In Florida, commissions generally range between 5% and 6% per transaction. For part-time agents, closing just one transaction per month can create a consistent and meaningful income stream.
Best Real Estate Brokerage for Part-Time Agents
Before you can begin facilitating real estate transactions in Florida, you must affiliate with a licensed broker. That said, not all brokerages are created equal. If you plan to work part-time, it’s important to choose a brokerage that offers flexibility without sacrificing support and structure.
For more than 20 years, Charles Rutenberg Realty Orlando has set a standard of excellence throughout the local market. During this time, we’ve helped new and part-time agents launch their careers. We provide the tools, resources, and administrative support agents need to operate efficiently and stay compliant.
What truly sets Charles Rutenberg Realty apart is our 100% commission model. Our agents keep what they earn—there are no brokerage commission splits. For part-time agents, this makes a meaningful difference. Instead of giving up 30% or even 50% of each commission, you keep more of your income, making every hour of your work far more rewarding.
Start your part-time real estate career while keeping more of what you earn with Charles Rutenberg Realty.
Join more than 1,400 agents across the Orlando area and build your real estate career on your own terms. Whether you plan to work part-time or grow into a full-time business owner, Charles Rutenberg Realty is here to support you at every stage.
Working part-time doesn’t mean limiting your income potential. With our 100% commission model, you keep more of what you earn. That means every hour you invest in your business counts.
Schedule a call with our broker to see if Charles Rutenberg Realty is the right fit for you.