Most investors want to make a million dollars, but few know how actually to keep it. In this episode, Marcus Crigler talks with Benmont Locker, founder of Ramp REI, about what it really takes to build a lean, profitable real estate business that nets seven figures.

Benmont walks through the real numbers behind a million-dollar business, from how much to spend on marketing and people, to how to build profit into your operations from day one. If you’ve ever wondered what a healthy, scalable real estate business should look like, this episode breaks it down step by step.

You’ll Learn How To:

• Build profit into your business from the start
• Shift from low-quality leads to high-intent marketing
• Create a data-driven, predictable sales process
• Understand the real costs behind a million-dollar net

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

(01:03) Meet Benmont Locker and how he scaled from retail to real estate coaching

(06:50) How do I make a million dollars?

(08:35) Three keys to building a profitable operation: High-intent marketing

(09:16) Three keys to building a profitable operation: Being great at sales

(09:41) Three keys to building a profitable operation: Building from a net margin perspective

(10:48) Why inbound leads outperform cold calls every time

(13:43) How poor marketing culture kills your margins

(16:07) Avoidance 101

(16:53) “Required results” vs. KPIs

(18:16) The “three-legged stool” model

(22:42) Understanding your market’s receptiveness to cash offers

(24:25) The truth about scaling marketing budgets and diminishing returns

(25:47) Building a good sales culture in every single role

(26:03) “Total store awareness”

(28:46) How many people do you really need to run a million-dollar business

(31:48) The “decade rule”

(34:35) The 30-30-10 formula: 30% marketing, 30% people, 10% G&A = 30% net

(37:12) Why it’s nearly impossible to fix bad margins after scaling too big

Who This Episode Is For:

• Real estate entrepreneurs ready to move beyond deal-to-deal income
• Operators doing 10–50 deals a year who want to scale the right way
• Leaders who want real clarity around their numbers and margins
• Investors building a lean, profitable seven-figure business

Why You Should Listen:

If you’re tired of working hard without seeing real profit, this episode is for you. Marcus and Benmont show exactly how to build a business that’s simple, scalable, and actually pays you, not just one that looks good on paper.

Connect with Benmont Locker:

• Website: https://ramprei.com/ 

Connect with Marcus Crigler:

• Website: https://beccfo.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-crigler-cpa-977a45b7 
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/marcus.crigler