Anyone start a PM firm under an external QB/BIC in NC (Triangle)

[Christian Bensch]

Planning a lean, compliance-first PM firm in the Triangle (Raleigh–Durham–Chapel Hill) operating under my own firm license with a formally appointed Qualifying Broker (QB) (as principal) and Broker-in-Charge (BIC) oversight. Looking for first-hand experiences, pitfalls, comp models, and where you found trustworthy, helpful supervisors.

Context (quick):

• Target go-live: August 2026.
• I run ops/SOPs/owner comms; the QB/BIC supervises compliance, ad approvals, and trust accounting.
• Transparency: My primary focus is Texas, and I’m posting there as well to gather state-specific insights before finalizing the location.

What I’m asking for (please be specific):

1. Your experience launching under an external QB/BIC — what worked, what didn’t.
2. Red flags (e.g., weak trust-account processes, slow ad approvals, unclear authority/access).
3. Compensation models: monthly retainer, per-door supervision fee, rev-share, flat + performance, minimum terms/exit clauses.
4. Ballpark ranges and how they scale with door count.
5. Where you found them: NARPM Triangle chapter, local REALTOR associations, NCREC license/firm search, BP groups, LinkedIn, referrals.
6. Contract must-haves (IC setup): authority, E&O proof, ad-approval SLA, trust-account signatories, data access, transition/exit clauses.

What I’ll bring:

• Process-driven ops, conservative owner comms, clear KPIs (vacancy, turn time, WO cycle, reconciliations).
• Solid SOPs for leasing/screening/collections/inspections; consistent trust reconciliations; compliant advertising.

Location:

• Primary (overall plan): Texas.
• Triangle, NC is under serious consideration; posting here for localized feedback and referrals.

Call to action:

If allowed, I’m open to DMs or a 15-min Zoom. Otherwise, please share lessons learned, actionable tips, or referrals here. Thanks!