What is the best age to become a franchisee?

You’re never too young or too old to start your career as a self-employed real estate agent

Once you reach full legal capacity—meaning that, according to the law, individuals aged 18 and over can legally make and accept business agreements—the basic requirement to join our real estate franchise is fulfilled. From that point on, there are essentially no legal limits to shaping your professional path.

While success stories like Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook/19), Bill Gates (Microsoft/20), and Steve Jobs (Apple/21) highlight the potential of starting young, entrepreneurs such as Larry Ellison (Ampex Corporation/33), Gordon Moore (NM Electronics/39), and Harland Sanders (KFC/65) prove that the path to self-employment can also be highly successful later in life.

This leads to a simple conclusion for your self-employed career in real estate: there is no “perfect” age to start a business. What truly matters is having a strong personality, a solid business idea, and the right timing. As a franchisee of an Engel & Völkers license in Germany or Austria, you gain access to a proven business model with global success and receive exclusive marketing rights for an up-and-coming real estate territory—perfectly aligning with that formula for success, no matter your age.

Engel & Völkers Immobilienfranchise: insights into the typical franchisee

While there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to the “ideal” age for starting a business, statistics offer useful insight into typical trends. In addition, real-life examples and the experience of our expansion experts show that every life stage brings its own unique advantages when it comes to launching a business.

International studies reveal the following: specific qualifications or professional experience are not necessarily decisive factors for founding success. Many long-time employees make the move into self-employment, while startups are more often launched by younger generations—frequently without prior professional experience. Career changers are also increasingly common, with former consultants being overrepresented among new entrepreneurs.

When it comes to industry knowledge, our expansion experts emphasize: success as an independent real estate agent is not reserved for former executives—it’s personal drive and character that make the real difference. That said, certain personality traits often vary by age and can bring their own advantages.

Advantages for younger founders:

• Tech-savviness: Younger generations often have a natural advantage when it comes to digital tools and trends. Growing up in a digital world means they usually bring stronger tech skills to the table.

• Access to funding: Most financial support programs are geared toward young founders. And if the business concept is sound, obtaining credit is generally more straightforward.

• Energy & flexibility: Youth is often associated with vitality, drive, and a fresh outlook—all of which are valuable assets when building a business from the ground up.

Advantages for older founders:

• Life experience: Age often brings sound judgment and greater confidence in decision-making—valuable traits when navigating the complexities of self-employment.

• Social skills: More life experience typically comes with stronger interpersonal skills and a well-established professional network. Older founders often excel in leadership and communication.

• Capital reserves: Older entrepreneurs tend to have more personal savings or capital to invest, which can be a significant asset when launching a business.

As you can see, each age group offers distinct strengths that can support a successful business launch. While there may be no “perfect” age, our expansion experts can assure you: it’s never too late to become a self-employed real estate agent with Engel & Völkers.

Want to be part of our success story? As a franchise partner, you can. Get in touch now for a personal consultation and all the information you need.

Engel & Völkers Real Estate Franchise – We look forward to meeting you!