OK:
Reliable, clean comfortable vehicle. . . . $?
MLS/Association membership, first year. . . . $1200-2500
Business cards, Basic Marketing materials $500 - 1000
Website setup/ domains /IDX $2000
Annual basic life expenses $50,000 (2nd job?)
Advertising $10,000
Continuing education $500
Events, mixers, business lunches $2500
There's more.

12 months of budgeted personal expenses in the bank + everything on Candice A. Donofrio's list!

Plan for about $5k plus 6 months living expenses.

Calista Goff Your potential broker should have given you an itemized list of start up costs. Costs vary.

You have many answers here

And the startup costs don't go away.  There are fixed costs to being in this business.  It costs me a minimum of $4K a year just to stay in business, whether I have transactions or not.    You are the first new agent from the Beehive State (and recently we've had many--or perhaps one, using multiple identities) who has been proactive enough to talk to brokers and ask a thoughtful question.  Welcome aboard, Calista.

Candice A. Donofrio nailed this one!

Welcome to Active Rain Calista Goff It looks like you have received all the answers you need.

Depends on your hood expenses. In CA they recommend to have at least 10k on your account since even if you are lucky and get a listing or sale right away, you are not going to pay on average next 30 days and you do need to pay for insurance, training, marketing, stationary, fees, etc.  

Since that was 1989 my memory banks are a bit foggy.

Calista Goff - little over $1,200 I remember. Though I had saved for at least 6-8 months - as I did not expect to make money immediately.

It depends on the state, on the broker and broker requirements with joining a board and what your aspirations are.

Better functional vehicle that does not have obvious dents and scratches from OPEN HOUSE SIGNS.

What Candice A. Donofrio said AND Debe Maxwell, CRS - real estate is NOT the easy money many perceive it to be. 

Nice to see an original question out of Utah.

So after the classes there was fingerprinting that cost around $80 and an exam prep crash course that cost around $300 and taught you how to take and pass the exam and everything the exam asks but is never taught in school.

Once you have that license in hand, you have the following expenses:

• Association fees (state, local and national): Varies by time of year and assoication.  Mine was close to $1500
• MLS fees: Varies again, mine was around $800
• Supra lock box key: $700
• Signs & Business cards: Variable, depending on where you go.  My broker bought them for me

Those are the absolute bare minimum items.  Add in marketing, any electronics and your costs can rise considerably.  For me it was close to $3,000 for the basics.

Are you kidding me? I can't believe you would ask for someone's time in posting 'all' the start up costs.

That broker you met with - if he doesn't have a good idea, go work for someone else.

After the schooling, I spent about $4000 the first 3 months

I want to say it cost me between $3-5,000 and then it was 3 months before I had my first closing.  Cannot remember how it broke down, it was 21 years ago.

I'm with Candice A. Donofrio  and Debe Maxwell, CRS !

The long an short of it: Review your monthly expenses to live, multiply by 6 or 12 depending on your personal situation, i.e., single, sole breadwinner, etc. Do not spend what you don't have and don't purchase leads. Be very conservative with where your pennies go.

  Board dues, signs, business cards = $1000+

  Website  $1000 to $2500 plus hosting

  E&O insurance, business automobile insurance, umbrella liability policy... talk to your insurance agent.

  Clean running automobile in excellent mechanical condition (whether you intend to put buyers in it or not).

 6 to 9 months Cash reserves to live on until that first closing (enough to cover your rent/mortgage, auto expenses, food, other costs of living).

Good luck.

my initial costs in 1978 were to join NAR, MAR and GBREB/ MLS....  now you have online marketing costs to setup a website...most important....

Every state, as well as brokerage, is going to be different.  Though you will need MLS membership and NAR and State and local association membership at the very minimum.

As a general rule about 6 months worth of living epenses. But a cushion might be wise, as Bob Crane suggested!

I would estimate $2000-$2500

$1,500 +

I started up 25 years ago... (a) don't remember that far back and (b) totally different times. But I would guess you'd better have at least $5,000 behind you and be prepated to have living expenses until you start earning commissions.

be ready for the ride

It is expensive to start in real estate to say the least. As many have stated, the costs vary from state to state and brokerage to brokerage.

This is a fair question however the newbie to newbie hotline is what U need