As the 2025 Profit Symposium draws closer, one thing is becoming clear:real estate businesses are at a crossroads. While some are seeing signs of profit recovery, others are still struggling to turn revenue into sustainable financial success. The difference? The decisions being made at a business level. 

For too long, many agencies have been focused on growth for the sake of growth, assuming that increasing market share would inevitably lead to increased profit. But  the latest industry data tells a different story, one that challenges old assumptions  and highlights the importance of strategic financial management over pure transaction volume. 

On 4 April at The Collider in Sydney, the Profit Symposium 2025 will bring together industry leaders, business owners, and financial experts to take a hard look at the  numbers and explore what’s working, what’s not, and what comes next for real  estate profitability. 

Understanding the Market: What the Numbers Reveal 

The REAP20 Profit Index has tracked the financial performance of real estate businesses for five years, and the September 2024 results reflect both progress and  ongoing challenges: 

• Sales revenue is climbing, with gross commission income (GCI) up 13.2  percent on last year, driven by an 8.5 percent increase in deals settled. 
• Property management profitability is up 26.7 percent on last year, with better  cost controls leading to an 18.9 percent net profit for this division. 
• Overheads have fallen for six straight quarters, reflecting a concerted effort by  business owners to reduce unnecessary costs - a shift that has saved  businesses $1.6 million collectively. 

Despite these positive trends, the Sales Division remains in negative territory,  recording a net loss of 1.2 percent. The gap between revenue growth and actual profitability highlights a reality that many business owners are now confronting, profitability is not automatic, and without the right business model, revenue gains can  be quickly eroded. 

Making Profitability a Priority 

Chris Mercer, founder of REAP Dashboard, has been analysing these trends closely.  His message to business owners is simple: profit is a result of action, not just intention. 

“There’s a pattern in the data. The businesses that have made hard decisions, cutting unnecessary costs, enforcing better commission structures, and rethinking  their approach to recruitment, are now starting to see the benefits. Those that have  put off those conversations are still chasing volume without necessarily seeing the  return,” says Mercer.

At Profit Symposium 2025, these themes will be explored through real business case studies, including insights from Robert Biasetto (Bob) of Ray White Wetherill Park, who will  share how his agency managed the challenges of restructuring to improve efficiency and profitability. 

A New Approach to Measuring Success 

One of the key discussions at this year’s event will focus on redefining how  businesses measure their success. Too often, agencies use market share as the  primary indicator of performance, even when profitability is declining. 

Mercer will introduce a new profitability model that goes beyond traditional revenue metrics, giving business owners a clearer picture of where their financial  performance stands and what they can do to improve it.  

“This is about shifting the focus from just working harder to working smarter,” Mercer explains. “We’ve seen businesses get caught up in the idea that bigger is always  better. The reality is that real profit comes from better business structures, not just  higher sales volume.” 

Looking Beyond the Symposium 

Profit Symposium 2025 isn’t just about analysing the data. It’s about using it to make  better business decisions. The event will include insights from CoreLogic, NAB, Baybridge Lawyers, and other industry experts, providing a broader perspective on  where the real estate market is heading and what that means for business owners. 

The discussions won’t be easy. They will challenge long-standing industry beliefs  and push business owners to think critically about their financial strategies. But for those who are serious about long-term profitability, these are the conversations that matter. 

“This isn’t about theory. It’s about what’s actually happening in the market right now,”  says Mercer. “And more importantly, it’s about what comes next.”

Register here to attend The 2025 Profit Symposium:

Speakers include: 

Chris Mercer 

Founder REAP Dashboard: 

CY December 2024 REAP20 Profit Index results

Josh Symons 

Head of Real Estate Corelogic Australia

Market Data for Business Owners Insights

Suzy Grant

Professional Services Banking Executive Sydney

NAB

Strategies for Business Owners dealing with NAB

Marwan Kojok, Tanya Delkou and Melina Agostina

Baybridge Lawyers

Staff Matters Business Owners Need To Get Right 

Business Owners Case Studies with their Data

Robert Biasetto (Bob)

Ray White Wetherill Park Cecil Hills

Warren Campion

former CEO McGrath Surtherland Shire Group

How They Transformed Their Business Bottom Lines