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Commercial Real Estate (CRE) Services Pricing Guide 2024

Updated September 13, 2024

Whether you’re a property owner, lender, or CRE tenant, commercial real estate transactions play into your business’s bottom line.

Office buildings, apartments, and event spaces bring people together to connect. Real estate property is key to facilitating collaboration and human connection. While this may be your goal with a future rental property or investment opportunity, commercial real estate isn’t necessarily easy to grasp, and you can’t go through the process alone — many different players are involved in every CRE transaction.

Use the following to serve as your guide through the complexities of commercial real estate pricing so you can navigate the space with confidence and involve the right people in your journey.

Commercial Development projects reviewed on Clutch typically cost

$200,000 >
< $10,000 $10,000 - $49,999 $50,000 - $199,999 $200,000 >

On Clutch, commercial real estate projects can vary by many thousands of dollars. 

The wide range is rooted in the plethora of services commercial real estate professionals can provide. For instance, there are vastly different approaches to pricing from a commercial property management company vs. a brokerage firm vs. a buyer’s agent.

Commercial Real Estate Services Costs by Service Type

As stated above, there is a wide array of different services that commercial real estate companies can specialize in — all with ranging different project scopes and the number of team members required to complete the job.

The chart below should give you a better idea of what you may spend on a project depending on your company’s specific needs. This way, you’ll better understand what you may spend upfront when starting conversations with companies.

Service Type
Description
Average Hourly Cost
Conduct facilities operations and maintenance tasks required to keep a commercial property up and running (ex., Janitorial services)
Less than $25
Assist clients in buying, selling, or leasing a commercial real estate property.
$25–$49
Construct commercial real estate buildings from the ground up, or rehab existing structures. (ex., general contracting services)
$25–$49
Provide financing, funding, and investment services for commercial clients.
$25–$49

Note: Price ranges above are in U.S. dollars

What is the Cost of Hiring Commercial Real Estate Development Companies in 2024?

The average cost of hiring a commercial development company on Clutch is between $25–$49 per hour.

Remember, this hourly rate is only reflective of developers. Those looking for information on property management costs, renewal fees, and closing costs should refer to the table considering service types.

The section below will also discuss fee structures across the CRE industry, which should also help when anticipating hidden costs that pop up late into projects.

Commercial Real Estate Fee Structures Vary 

The number of different players and fees in the commercial real estate world can be enough to make your head spin. But, if you educate yourself on what to expect from an upcoming CRE transaction, you’ll avoid sticker shock once the fees set in.

  • Commercial Real Estate Commission: companies charge commission fees, or a percentage of a property's sale price or lease value, as their fee. The commission rates are determined by the type of property, location, and market conditions.
  • Flat fees: property management fees or leasing costs are often charged as flat fees. These are fixed amounts charged regardless of the property value. Dependent on the service, these may be annual or monthly fees or concurrent with the lease's end.
  • Hourly rates: Specialized providers such as developers or CRE consultants may charge an hourly rate for their services, with additional fees possible for certain services. Hourly rates are another pricing structure used by CRE companies.

What Services Can Commercial Real Estate Companies Deliver?

  • Property management: new commercial leases and lease renewals, rent collection, maintenance, repairs, and tenant relations. They can also provide financial reporting and analysis to help clients optimize their real estate investments.
  • Brokerage services: help clients buy, sell, or lease commercial properties. In that process, commercial real estate brokers provide market analysis, property valuation, and negotiation support.
  • Investment services: identify and evaluate investment properties in commercial real estate. Namely, this involves due diligence to ensure clients are informed.
  • Development services: build or renovate commercial properties. This can involve general contracting, architectural design, and construction oversight.

Commercial real estate agents and experts may also opt to offer consulting services for those looking to reevaluate CRE strategy or make a substantial upcoming decision. Additionally, commercial lenders operate in the field to give borrowers financing and capitalization options.

Why Do Real Estate Investors Value CRE Services?

While fees and pricing structures in commercial real estate and development can come off as daunting, the process is certainly worth it for companies worldwide. Investors, borrowers, and renters all benefit from real estate — it’s just a difficult industry to approach without a partner.

This is where hiring a commercial real estate company comes into play. Whether it’s a property management company, development firm, brokerage service, or investment company, CRE experts bring characteristics to the table that are necessary for success.

Expertise

Commercial real estate is a tough, complex, and relatively litigious industry. For most, navigating these waters themselves won’t be the best choice. Hiring an expert company with the relevant specializations, however, can bring valuable insights on property values and investment opportunities to the table.

Inviting people with years of knowledge in a niche CRE subject area is bound to lessen stress and boost decision-making confidence.

Time Savings

Managing commercial real estate can be a time-consuming and complex process. CRE companies can handle many day-to-day tasks associated with property management, such as leasing, maintenance, and tenant relations. This frees up time for companies to focus on their core business activities.

Increased ROI

Due to their experience in the field, real estate companies are best suited to maximize return on investment (ROI) for their clients. They’ve built seasoned expertise in finding sensible ways to increase rental income, reduce expenses, and improve property values. Further, CRE experts can aid in negotiations and deal structure.

Risk Management

Managing risk is a huge factor in hesitation in commercial transactions. Decision-making around high-cost scenarios isn’t comfortable to most unless they thoroughly understand the value.

Commercial real estate companies take due diligence seriously. Plus, they can also give guidance on regulatory compliance, property maintenance, and tenant relations to mitigate risk. This includes assistance with potential legal issues and disputes, which is a huge weight off a business’s shoulders.

How CRE Services Impact Corporate Real Estate Value

Commercial real estate development companies introduce professional expertise and innovative strategies to elevate a property's market position. These firms specialize in transforming spaces into highly desirable locations for tenants and investors alike. With their deep understanding of market dynamics, they undertake comprehensive analyses to identify the most lucrative opportunities for development or repositioning.

This process may include refurbishing existing structures with modern amenities, repurposing spaces for better utility, or entirely redeveloping properties to meet current market demands. Such strategic enhancements increase the property's aesthetic appeal and functionality and boost its competitive edge, leading to higher occupancy rates, increased rental income, and, ultimately, a substantial augmentation in property values.

This paradigm shift towards maximizing usability and appeal ensures that commercial real estate assets deliver superior returns on investment, solidifying their status as premier choices in a rapidly evolving marketplace.

Factors That Influence CRE Costs

  • Type and Scope of Services: The type and scope of services required by the client will significantly impact the cost. For example, property management services may be charged as a percentage of the property's rental income. In contrast, brokerage services may be charged as a percentage of the sale price or lease value. Additional services, such as legal and financial advisory services, affect the overall cost of working with them.
  • Condition of the Property: The size and complexity of the property will also affect the cost of CRE services. Larger and more complex properties may require more resources and expertise, resulting in higher fees.
  • Location: The property's location can also impact the cost of CRE services. Properties in high-demand or high-cost areas may require higher fees due to increased competition and market demand. Reputation and experience of the CRE company: The reputation and experience of the CRE company can also affect the cost. Companies with a strong reputation and extensive experience may charge higher fees due to their expertise and track record.
  • Length of Contract: The length of the contract can also affect the cost. Longer contracts may result in lower fees due to the increased stability and predictability of the relationship.
  • Market Conditions: Market conditions can also impact the cost of CRE services. In a competitive market, companies may be more willing to negotiate fees or offer discounts to attract and retain clients.

CRE Services Pricing By Location in 2024

Browse hourly rates for commercial development companies by popular locations.

CountryAverage Cost per Hour
United States of America$25 - $49
India<$25
United Kingdom$100 - $149
Canada$100 - $149
Australia<$25
PhillippinesUnknown
Ukraine<$25
Poland$25 - $49
Spain$25 - $49
Mexico$25 - $49

* Countries ranked by Clutch traffic

Real estate development costs, in particular, are highly dependent on the company and client’s locations. The cost of materials and living in an area will be a big driver of overall pricing.

Regardless, it’s likely that companies will need to hire real estate companies on a local level because of the importance of local regulations and in-person interaction when it comes to real estate dealings.

This is unique because so much collaboration can occur remotely in the modern world. If you’re feeling limited by the providers you know about in your location, you should know that there are more options out there than you think.

Create a Budget for Real Estate Investing Projects

As we’ve identified, there’s no way to determine the exact cost of a real estate transaction until you get quotes for projects and fully understand how you will be charged. 

Still, by building an understanding of CRE pricing structures, fees, and different services, you’re ability to forecast expenses in budget planning should improve.

Looking for the perfect commercial real estate development company for your needs and location? Filter by cost, company location, and services on Clutch. Once filtered, shortlist companies based on reviews from real past clients and find your ideal business partner.