Should I start off as a real estate agent?

[Wilson Pe]

I was having coffee with a friend and we discussed about starting a business. To make a long story short, he wants to start a coffee shop but he has never had any experience in the food industry, therefore he is planning on franchising so he can learn the ropes of the foodbev industry and have a jump start. I'm somebody who eventually wants to get into real estate developing and want to use the same concept to get into real estate. Should I start off by becoming a real estate agent so I can get a jump start in the real estate market, or should I take another path? Any advice would be great.

Thanks