Think Realty: Resources for savvy real estate investors

The business sideof whateveryou build.

Launch the company, find the right people to do the work, and set up the money side to run it. Built for owners in any industry, with deep roots in real estate and the trades.

Trades directoryRead the guides
  • Roofers
  • HVAC
  • Plumbers
  • Electricians
  • General contractors
  • Landscaping
  • Cleaning
  • Auto repair
  • Attorneys
  • Accountants
  • Property managers
  • Local shops
  • Entity setup
  • Bookkeeping
  • Tax planning
  • Business banking
  • Insurance
  • Websites and SEO
  • Software
  • Growth strategy

Everything around the work.

  • Launch

    Set up the entity, EIN, bank accounts and insurance the right way from day one.

  • Trades and professionals

    Qualified contractors, trades and service providers by location, for any kind of business.

  • Tax and banking

    Find CPAs and bankers who understand how your kind of business works.

  • Grow and sell

    Ways to grow from one-off jobs into a company that runs on systems, and your options when it is time to sell.

  • Real estate

    Where Think started: investors, flippers, landlords and property managers get education, a deal desk and professional management options.

  • Back office and operations

    Bookkeeping, admin, systems and the website, search and marketing that bring in business, so you stay on the work.

Owner guides.

Plain-language help on launching, hiring, money and running what you own.

Start here

How to Start a Service Business From Scratch

Roofing, cleaning, HVAC, detailing, bookkeeping, landscaping: the work changes, the first year does not. Here is the order that keeps new owners out of trouble.

Read the guide, 9 min

Start and set up

Launch the business and put the pieces in place.

  1. How to Start a Service Business From Scratch9 minHow to start a service business in any trade: pick the work, set up the entity and bank account, price the first jobs, get insured and get your first ten customers.
  2. How to Start a Real Estate Investing Business9 minA plain-spoken guide to starting a real estate investing business: entity, EIN, bank account, insurance, systems, and what to do in your first 90 days.
  3. LLCs for Real Estate Investors: What to Know7 minWhat an LLC does and does not do for real estate investors, how state rules vary, and the real debate over one entity per deal versus a holding company.

Price, sell and get paid

Quotes that protect your margin and invoices that get paid.

  1. Pricing and Quoting Your Work8 minHow to price services and write quotes that protect your margin: know your real cost, build the number, put scope in writing and handle change orders without a fight.
  2. Getting Paid on Time8 minHow owners in any industry get paid on time: deposits, milestone payments, clear invoices, payment terms, polite follow-up and when to stop work or send a final notice.

Get found

Show up when people nearby search for what you sell.

  1. Get Found on Google: Local Business Basics8 minThe local search basics for any business: a complete Google Business Profile, reviews, a clear website with a page for each service and area, and consistent listings.

Hire and build

Pick the people who do the work.

  1. Hiring Your First Employee or Subcontractor8 minEmployee or subcontractor? How to think about your first hire in any industry: what each costs, the risk of misclassifying workers, onboarding and keeping good people.
  2. How to Vet a Contractor for a Flip8 minHow to check a contractor before a flip: license, insurance, references, written scope, draw schedule, lien waivers, and the red flags worth walking from.

Money, tax and risk

Banking, numbers, tax and insurance for operators.

  1. Read Your Numbers: Profit, Cash and Seasonal Swings9 minHow owners in any industry can read a profit and loss statement, tell profit from cash, plan for seasonal swings and know which numbers to check every week.
  2. Business Insurance for Small Businesses and Trades8 minThe coverage owners in any industry should ask about: general liability, property, vehicles, workers’ compensation, professional liability and how to work with an agent.
  3. Business Banking for Real Estate Investors7 minHow investors should set up bank accounts: separate business and personal money, deal accounts, reserves, lender relationships, and clean bookkeeping habits.
  4. Tax Basics for Flippers and Landlords8 minEducational overview of taxes for flippers and landlords: dealer versus investor status, entity taxation, depreciation, and records. Confirm with a CPA.

By industry

Guides written for specific kinds of business.

  1. Maintenance Plans for Home Service Companies8 minHow home service companies build recurring revenue: design a maintenance plan, price it, sell it at the end of a job, schedule the visits and keep members for years.
  2. Running a Restaurant or Food Business by the Numbers8 minThe numbers a restaurant or food business owner should check each week: food cost, labor, prime cost, menu pricing, waste and how to keep cash safe through slow seasons.
  3. Client Intake and Referrals for Professional Practices8 minHow attorneys, accountants, agents, clinics and consultants can turn inquiries into clients: a clear first response, a simple intake, honest scoping and a referral habit.
  4. Quoting and Lead Times for Manufacturers and Suppliers8 minHow small manufacturers, fabricators and suppliers quote accurately, state lead times that hold, handle material price swings and keep buyers coming back.

Grow, buy and hold

Buy a business or run what you own.

  1. Buying a Small Business: What to Check First9 minWhat to examine before you buy an existing small business in any industry: the books, the customers, the owner’s role, the lease, the staff and the price you can justify.
  2. Choosing Property Management: Self-Manage or Hire8 minShould you manage your own rentals or hire a pro? Typical costs, what good managers actually do, questions to ask before signing, and when to make a switch.

Two more desks inside Think Business.

When the back office needs more than a bookkeeper: getting found, and software built for how you work.

Think SEO

Custom-coded websites and search rankings for any kind of business: lenders, contractors, property managers, local shops and service companies. Live in the first week. Nothing is due until you reach page one of Google.

How it works

Think Development

Custom software and apps for any kind of business: client portals, trackers, field apps, owner portals and back-office tools. Built by the team that built the platform on this site.

What we build

The library: courses, replays and more

Articles on running the company, video courses from our Resident Experts, conference recordings and the podcast. Free, and searchable.

Open the library Past events