Whose Dream Are You Building?

EXIT Realty is rapidly opening new markets across Southern Ontario, including Burlington, Thornhill and Cambridge, coincidentally all with female franchise owners. Lynn Findlay, Regional Owner of EXIT Realty Southwestern Ontario, and Marie Kozak, Regional Director in the Greater Toronto Area are spearheading this growth.  We asked them why dynamic, professional women are eager to explore entrepreneurial opportunities with EXIT.

“I think women in particular are interested in what we’re doing because, as women, it’s our time,” says Lynn.  “We traditionally put ourselves second and now it’s time to make ourselves a priority. Women have given their time to our industry and they’re tired of doing the same thing over and over, like a hamster wheel. We’re realizing when we take on leadership roles, we can help others and still get everything we want. In leadership we can give back to the industry and help others grow so they can become the best version of themselves. When I’m talking to people interested in exploring opportunities with us, I ask them, whose dream are you building? Are you building your own dream or someone else’s?”

Marie agrees, and adds, “Many of our top brokerages are owned and led by women. We have always asked, and we continue to ask the next generation of young leaders if they see themselves owning their own brokerage, and many of them are saying yes. It’s an idea that is long overdue.”

EXIT’s unique business model is the differentiating factor in attracting entrepreneurial-minded people to leadership with EXIT because, says Marie, “I think they’re very open and excited by the possibility of earning multiple streams of income. Our EXIT Formula is a no brainer in terms of building, The residual earnings are motivating for agents and it assists the brokers in growing faster. It’s great for both the brokers and the agents.”

EXIT is a high-performance company.  In 2022 EXIT agents across the country averaged 18 closed ends. Company-wide, 57% of those with GCI over $1 Million were female. In addition to helping agents build a successful, sustainable, relationship-focused business, the company offers them the opportunity to earn single-level passive income for introducing like-minded real estate professionals to the company; a process known as sponsoring at EXIT.  When an EXIT Associate introduces someone to the company anywhere there is an EXIT office across the US and Canada and they are hired and close transactions, the corporate head office pays the sponsoring agent a thank you bonus equivalent to 10% of the introduced agent’s gross commission to a maximum of $10,000 per recruit per year.  This bonus doesn’t impact either agent’s commission, rather it is paid directly from the corporate office.  If the sponsoring agent decides to take a break from selling real estate or retire, the 10% sponsoring bonus converts to a 7% lifestyle/retirement bonus.  If something should happen to them, it converts to a 5% legacy/beneficiary residual for those they leave behind. 

“People with an entrepreneurial spirit understand very easily the potential of the EXIT Formula,” says Lynn.  “When you look at the wealth across the world, it isn’t accumulated by having just one stream of income.  EXIT provides multiple streams of income. And so, as an owner, you can still trade in real estate, earn income as a brokerage owner, and you can get paid from head office for growing your own brokerage.”

Leadership at EXIT’s corporate head office is 65% female including the CEO for Canada, Joyce Paron.  “EXIT Realty has an outstanding ability to develop leadership, and because so many of our leaders are women there’s a level of comfort there, and an expectation of excellence,” says Marie.

EXIT’s brokerage owners are in business for themselves but not by themselves.  Regardless of whether they are veteran owners or new to the role, “we have a full expectation that they will need a lot of support and we understand that their success is partially in our hands,” says Marie.  “They receive that support from the current, successful owners, the corporate and regional leadership and from our Franchise Support department.  Many of our leaders and staff have a long tenure with the company so their expertise is honed at helping our owners navigate the journey from new franchisee to successful franchisee.”

Marie and Lynn agree. “People are very hungry for a business model that works for both sides,” says Marie. “EXIT is an idea whose time has come.”

As seen in Buzz Magazine. Reproduced with permission.