NWA Realty Inc. Staffs Veterans

d.b.a. EXIT Realty Northwest
Owner: Mike and Janie Robinson
Address: 1401 S. Walton Blvd., Bentonville 72712
Phone/Fax: (479) 845-4040 / (479) 845-4085
Hours: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday, and 1-4 p.m. Sunday
Startup date: Jan. 1
Web site: www.exitnorthwest.com

Mike Robinson was one of the top producing real estate agents for a Bentonville real estate company last year and decided to take those skills into his own agency, launching a franchise of EXIT Realty in January in partnership with his wife Janie.

“EXIT is primarily a residential real estate company,” Robinson said, adding that the company will also handle commercial and land sales.

Robinson said he had a twofold attraction to EXIT — the company’s unique approach to its agent relationships and the fact that it’s a fast-growing company in North America.

EXIT’s approach is “very lucrative for agents,” he said, explaining the company offers its agents a good commission base, doesn’t charge desk and other fees some agencies charge its agents, and it offers sponsoring residuals. As the agents sponsor new agents, he said, they earn residual commissions on the sales of the agents they sponsor. Robinson said the concept encourages its agents to look for quality people who will stick with the agency.

“The agents become partners with the broker,” he said.

EXIT Realty Northwest has 15 agents right now and has the rights to franchise in Rogers, where it will likely expand within the next year.

Robinson said he spent about $200,000 to launch the new agency. He obtained a Small Business Administration loan for part of that, and the remainder was a personal investment. He expects the agency to begin making a profit in April.