30. Calibre Real Estate

Revenue: $3.1 million
Growth: 169.69%
Founders: Alice Hagen, 33, Justin Hagen, 33
Head office: Brisbane
Year founded: 2009
Employees: 25
Industry: Property and business services
Website: www.calibrerealestate.com.au

Calibre Real Estate has achieved impressive year-on-year growthsince first entering the Brisbane real estate industry just four years ago; it is the third year the real estate agency has been named a Smart50 finalist.

Calibre has grown into a $3.1 million business after doubling its revenue in the past financial year, despite having one less staff member than last year.

Alice Hagen, who founded the agency with her husband, Justin, says Calibre began after the pair had been underwhelmed with their own experience of buying a house and the idea of owning a real estate agency that “would exceed client expectations with a level of service and innovation unmatched in the industry” appealed.

Hagen, 33, says the duo’s experience of founding a business in a competitive industry with limited prior business or real estate experience behind either of them was a big ask with a young family in tow.

“It was a risk but we were passionate enough to make it happen,” she says.

However, Hagen says Calibre’s rapid growth means managing a larger team with “different opinions” is also a challenge.

“To overcome this, we schedule weekly meetings with each team member with the goal to keep clear lines of communication, solidifying a strong team culture,” she says.

The pair has also employed an external HR company to assist with hiring and staff retention, which also gives staff an external source to “confide in” if they have concerns.

Being strategic about marketing is also important to growing the business, Hagen says.

“Without a big budget we had to be very dollar productive. No advertising opportunity is taken for granted,” she says.

Hagen says Calibre is focused on expanding in both local and international markets, using a growth strategy that takes advantage of the recent surge of Chinese investment in the Australian property market.

“We now have an office located in a third-tier city in China, selling Australian properties,” she says.