Relocation Consultant

Start-up cost: $3,000–$6,000

Potential earnings: $20,000–$45,000

Typical fees: $25–$35 per hour

Advertising: Trade publications, networking, memberships in real estate and general business organizations, Web site, banner ads on Web sites for human resource professionals

Qualifications: Real estate experience; knowledge of your area’s neighborhoods, attractions, amenities, schools

Equipment needed: Office furniture, computer with Internet access, printer, fax, business cards, letterhead, and envelopes

Staff required: No

Hidden costs: Phone bills, membership dues, entertaining clients

What You Do

Your ideal market will be companies that do some relocations but are too small to provide much assistance in-house to the executives they are transferring to your community. Moving is a challenging experience for almost all families, and enlightened employers will see the value of your assistance in making the transition go as smoothly as possible. You will provide advice as the transferees begin to make decisions: What neighborhood will we like best? Where can we find elder-care or child-care? What sports are played at local high schools? Can we find a house with enough land for trail riding? You work with the employees before they are ready to choose a real estate agent.

What You Need

Equipping your office will be the main expense (about $3,000). You will do some work by e-mail and fax, but most of your time will probably be spent driving to the different areas of your city or having a restaurant meal with a transferee. Bring a cell phone everywhere you go. Annual wages of $20,000–$45,000 can be expected.

Keys to Success

You’re doing two kinds of marketing here. First for your own service and second for your community many organizations use relocation consultants to help persuade a prospective employee to take the job with that company. How the prospect and his family feel about moving to your area can be a major factor. Your services can offer an unprejudiced look at what the locality has to offer. Hospitals recruiting a certain physician and companies recruiting someone for an upper-management position will both value your service highly.