My goal is to establish mutually beneficial relationships that enhance both their careers and mine.I look forward to connecting with like-minded individuals and teams passionate about success in real estate.

Quote from @Brandon Blackmon: These prices will come when you get GCs (licensed, subs, and unlicensed) into the property and start to get quotes.

I would fist run the numbers to see if it is a good deal at the price and everything else, and then I would drive down the streets to see if you see any licensed contractor signs/trucks.

Any licensing? 

Eliminate debt, establish a budget, and save.

A lender is required to establish the ATR of a borrower when it will be their primary residence.

For all methods you would want to find a market that has strong employment rates, strong income rates for the market, and is a growing or an established market. 

Access to these,  I do not believe requires a license, but it is in the thousands of dollars for access at the level you need.

I would stop work until an itemized scope of work and cost to completion is established.

It would for sure have to be a higher hourly rate than a typical W2 job however as agents are 1099 contractors and there are expenses associated with maintaining our licenses and operating our businesses that usually come out of our commissions.