Guide · 7 min read · Updated October 2026
Your 2027 Real Estate Business Plan: A One-Page Template, Starting With What to Take Off Your Plate
A good 2027 real estate business plan fits on one page. Work backward from your income goal to the number of closings, then to the conversations you need each week. Pick two or three lead sources you'll actually work, and decide which busywork you'll hand off first so you have the hours to do it.
Step 1: Work backward from your income goal
Turn the income you want into the number of deals, then into the weekly activity that gets you there.
Fill in your own numbers. The example below uses round figures to show the math, not a goal for you.
| Step | How to work it out | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Income goal | What you want to take home in 2027, before taxes | $120,000 |
| Average commission per deal | Your 2026 average after your split | $6,000 |
| Closings needed | Income goal divided by commission per deal | 20 |
| Appointments needed | Closings divided by your appointment-to-close rate (say 1 in 3) | 60 |
| Conversations needed | Appointments divided by your conversation-to-appointment rate (say 1 in 10) | 600 |
| Conversations per week | Conversations divided by 48 working weeks | About 13 |
Step 2: Pick two or three lead sources
Most agents get the most from the people who already know them, so start there.
- 01Your sphere and past clients: the cheapest source and usually the best.
- 02Referrals from other agents and partners like lenders.
- 03Open houses, if you hold them every week.
- 04Paid leads, only if you can follow up within minutes.
- 05Social media, if you'll post every week for the whole year.
Step 3: Run a time audit before you add anything
Before you plan more activity, find out where your hours go now.
NOWBAM published a simple version in September: log everything you do outside client work for two weeks, then mark each task Delete, Delegate or Defend. The Delete and Delegate piles are the hours you can move to the conversations in Step 1.
Step 4: Decide what to take off your plate
The plan only works if you free up the hours to do it, so pick your first handoff now.
| Busywork | Who or what can take it |
|---|---|
| Contract-to-close paperwork | A transaction coordinator |
| Listing marketing and social posts | A virtual assistant or a marketing tool |
| Follow-ups with leads and past clients | An assistant like Sifta |
| Notes from calls and texts | An assistant like Sifta |
| Scheduling showings | Your MLS's showing tool or an assistant |
Step 5: Put it on one page
If your plan doesn't fit on one page, you won't look at it in March.
- My 2027 income goal is ___, which means ___ closings.
- I need ___ conversations a week to get there.
- My two or three lead sources are ___.
- The first thing I'm taking off my plate is ___, starting in January.
- I'll check these numbers on the first Monday of every month.
Where Sifta fits
Sifta takes the follow-ups and the note-taking off your plate, so the hours in your plan are real.
Sifta is a personal AI assistant for realtors. It runs the busywork of your business, so you can spend your time with clients.
It takes notes on the deals you do over text, keeps the follow-ups going with leads and past clients, and drafts messages for you to approve. It works at any brokerage, with the tools you already use.
Sources
1 source
Every source on this page was checked on October 22, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I write a real estate business plan for 2027?
Start with your income goal, work backward to closings, appointments and weekly conversations, pick two or three lead sources, and decide what busywork to hand off so you have the hours. Keep it to one page.
How many conversations does a realtor need per week?
It depends on your income goal and your own conversion rates. Divide the closings you need by your appointment-to-close rate, then by your conversation-to-appointment rate, then by about 48 working weeks.
What should be in a real estate agent business plan?
An income goal, the closings it takes, the weekly activity behind it, your lead sources, your budget, and what you'll hand off to free up time.
When should agents do their business plan?
October through December, so it's ready on January 1. Many brokerages and coaches run planning sessions in November.
How can I free up time for my business plan?
Run a two-week time audit, then hand off the busywork first, like paperwork to a transaction coordinator, and follow-ups and notes to an assistant like Sifta.
Related reading
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