Technology Essentials
Computer (Laptop or Desktop)
RequiredNothing special. If it runs a browser and email, it works. Most of your tools are web-based.
Professional Email
Requiredyourname@yourdomain.com. Google Workspace or Microsoft 365. Not Gmail. Not Yahoo. Ever.
Website
RequiredYour credibility anchor. Services, contact info, and an application form. Clean and professional. That is the bar.
CRM or Pipeline Tracker
RequiredTrack every lead, every follow-up, every deal status. Spreadsheet is fine to start. CRM when volume demands it.
Cloud Storage
RequiredGoogle Drive, Dropbox, or similar. Secure, organized storage for financial documents and deal files.
PDF Editor
HelpfulMerge, annotate, and package credit files. Adobe Acrobat or free tools like Smallpdf.
Communication Tools
Business Phone Number
RequiredDedicated line. VoIP -- Google Voice, OpenPhone, or Grasshopper. $25-$50/month. Sounds professional, keeps personal separate.
Video Conferencing
HelpfulZoom, Google Meet, or Teams. Free tier is fine. You will use it for lender intros and client walkthroughs.
Email Templates
RequiredPre-written intros, doc requests, status updates, follow-ups. Saves time. Ensures consistency. Build the library early.
Deal Documents
These are what you use daily. The forms that move deals from conversation to funded.
- Equipment finance application -- the form every borrower fills out
- Personal financial statement (PFS) template -- lenders expect this format
- Document checklist -- what you need from the borrower, no guesswork
- Intake questionnaire -- first-call script to qualify the deal fast
- Deal submission cover sheet -- the summary lenders actually read first
- Broker agreement / fee disclosure -- required in some states, smart in all
Building these from scratch takes time. Structured programs like Broker-in-a-Box include all of them, ready to use on day one.
Business Operations
Accounting / Bookkeeping
QuickBooks, Wave (free), or a clean spreadsheet. Track income and expenses from day one. You will need this for taxes.
Business Bank Account
Separate from personal. Commission payments go here. This is non-negotiable.
Business Insurance
General liability and E&O coverage. Not always legally required. Always smart practice.
Total Cost Estimate
One-Time Costs
- LLC formation: $100-$500
- Website: $0-$2,500
- Domain + email setup: $50-$100/year
Monthly Costs
- Phone line: $25-$50
- Email / cloud storage: $6-$20
- CRM (optional at start): $0-$50
- Insurance: $50-$150
Total monthly: under $300. One of the lowest-overhead businesses in financial services.
You Have the List. Now Get the System.
Broker-in-a-Box includes the documents, lender network, and launch structure so you skip the setup guesswork and start working deals.