Making the jump from small firm to National Firm-Advice Needed
Hello CRE-I've been a broker, tenant rep for 6 years now. I work at a boutique CRE Firm in a very large metropolitan area. I really like my office, colleagues, etc but I know my income potential is exponentially higher if I make the move to a National Firm. How do I even begin that process? if anyone has any experience on this matter please jump in.

Thanks! 
[{"id": "cvlwde2", "text": "Why do you think your income potential is higher at a national firm?", "replies": [{"id": "cvm0ypw", "text": "National firms have a significant advantage in terms of support, design and manpower and due to Large Tenants not directly paying for our services they tend to prefer the idea of a national firm, as opposed to our boutique approach.\n\nETA: Long story short a shot at repping 100,000 SF plus tenants", "replies": [{"id": "cvm20aj", "text": "The 100,000 SF tenants are typically corporate accounts that \n\n1) require you to split with the account point of contact (who could be across the nation) \n\nand 2) have a contract with the national firm for a fee reimbursement (upwards of 60%). \n\n\nThis means half of your fee goes BACK to the client (to retain them as a client), then half of that goes to whoever got the corporate relationship in the first place (typically a broker in the client HQ city), then half of that to the firm, then half of that to your team, then your share. A $1,000,000 fee can quickly turn into a $20,000 fee.\n\n\n....\n\nThere's a reason why a lot of our senior guys end up starting their own firm or moving to a boutique.\n\n___________________________________________\n\nEdit: As far as \"one-off\" whales, I've seen many HUGE regional firms go with a mom and pop shop. It's more relationships than brand. The only material benefit from a national firm you will get are referral fees for other services you pitch (which for tenant rep only seems to be project management.).", "replies": [{"id": "cvm2m13", "text": "I have heard of that, however our city is the client HQ city for alot of those Tenants. Either way I appreciate your insight.", "replies": [{"id": "cvysik6", "text": "I know in my market the national tenants pretty much all use local firms for space. The national firms have much less of a hold here than most markets of similar size.", "replies": [], "depth": 5}], "depth": 4}], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "cvm2818", "text": "I have worked at both. It's tough to say what will happen at a large firm. You may find an experienced broker or team who will help you out and put you on deals and in turn get you good connections. Or you may wind up working by yourself and it will be what you make it. All the big firms are different, some are more expensive than others. The one I worked for took care of everything, the only fee was $100/quarter for legal, but was taken from your commission, they wouldn't actually bill you for it so that made things easier as a young broke(er). \n\nI think it's worth it to make the change. There's more buzz in a large national office which motivates you more. Nobody will question you on larger deals, they assume that if you work for x company you know what you are doing. Also, the large companies are already branded, you don't have to explain who your company is or what you do. \n\nMy advice, talk to the brokers you have done deals with and ask them to put a word in for you. ", "replies": [{"id": "cvm2tu8", "text": "Exactly. The buzz/energy is what I'm looking for. As inherently social people I'm realizing more and more how valuable it is to have in order to execute on a daily basis.", "replies": [{"id": "cvm70ra", "text": "It's great. There are lulls though as in any office, but when a senior broker closes a deal and takes a $300k commission everyone in the office or at least that specialty feeds off that energy. \n\nTwo months into knocking on doors I happened to stumble on a $12mil deal. These guys didn't bat an eye that I was only 23, they only cared that I worked for that certain company. ", "replies": [{"id": "cvpbseh", "text": "would love to hear this story. ", "replies": [], "depth": 4}], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "cvpepyv", "text": "WHY? Why why why? \n\nYou are tenant rep. You call people. You need a phone, and if anything I see many tenant reps leave to go work for themselves after landing one big client, or going in house. \n\nHere is what you get by working at a national shop, if you are lucky you get to team up with a senior broker, do all his work, and get paid a referall fee if you dig anything up. \n\nIt is a pyramid scheme, and unless you are a dumb kid just starting out and need a big name on your resume, I would just continue at the mom and pop shop. \n\nBut that is me. Big shop is small splits. Small shop you eat what you kill, at least in my experience. \n\nIf you want the best of both worlds, try out Lee &amp; Associates. CBRE and JLL are only worth it if you have a very niche client base, but if you think for a SECOND you will be touching any of those national accounts you are sorely mistaken. ", "replies": [], "depth": 1}]