Plan the path from production to ownership.
Independence is appealing. Launching well takes sequencing — entity, licensing, policies, and the systems the company will run on. Filum performs the work you engage us for, and guides the rest.
Built for people seriously evaluating ownership.
This page is a starting point, not a guarantee. Not everyone who reads it will be ready to launch — and that is the point of evaluating carefully first.
More than an NMLS application.
Standing up an examination-ready company usually involves the infrastructure underneath production — not a single filing.
Plan for reduced or zero production income.
Most launches include a period of reduced or zero production income while the company is formed, licensed, and made operational. Review timing depends on regulators and third parties — Filum does not control it, guarantee a launch date, or guarantee production during the wait. A realistic plan treats that outage as a planning input, not a surprise.
Licensing timelines are not guaranteed. New York company licensing is excluded by design.
What Filum performs. What remains yours.
Depth changes by engagement level. You remain the licensee and contact of record.
Filum performs
- Licensing applications and filings in scope
- Conditioned policy and compliance artifacts
- Renewals, notices, and monthly reporting where engaged
- A clear launch sequence grounded in your company facts
You still own
- Final business and ownership decisions
- Signatures as the contact of record
- Capital, vendors, and technology choices
- Responses to regulator requests
Choose how deeply Filum engages.
Launch Kit, Managed Launch, and Operate differ in who carries the work. Published Filum fees live on Pricing — separate from government, bond, legal, and vendor costs.
Tangible Blueprint deliverables.
Common questions about starting a company.
How much does it cost to start a mortgage company?
Third-party costs vary widely based on your state footprint, entity structure, staffing, and technology choices. Filum service fees are published on the Pricing page and do not include government, licensing, bond, legal, technology, insurance, or vendor costs. See the Startup Cost Guide in the Library for third-party ranges, and start with a free Blueprint for a company-specific picture.
How long does mortgage-company licensing take?
Timelines vary by state, license type, and how complete your application package is when submitted. Some states move in weeks; others take months. Your Blueprint includes a licensing roadmap sequenced to your specific state footprint. Filum does not guarantee licensing timing or approval.
Do I need a physical office?
It depends on the state and license type — some states require a licensed location, others allow remote or virtual arrangements. This is one of the state-specific details a Blueprint helps you sort out before you commit to a lease.
Should I become a broker or correspondent lender?
It depends on your capital, operational capacity, appetite for warehouse-line and investor relationships, and how much control you want over funding. Most new companies start as a broker and evaluate correspondent readiness later — see the Broker vs. Correspondent guide in the Library.
Which states should I pursue first?
Usually the states where you're already producing, licensed, or have the strongest referral relationships — but requirements and timelines differ enough by state that it's worth mapping before you file anywhere. The Licensing Map is a good starting point.
Can I continue originating during the launch process?
Often, yes, depending on your current company's policies and your state's licensing rules during a transition. This is worth planning carefully so your pipeline and your current employer relationship aren't disrupted.
Does Filum provide legal advice?
No. Filum helps you organize and prepare licensing and compliance materials for your own review and submission, and helps you understand what to bring to legal, tax, or accounting counsel — it does not replace their advice.
What happens after the company launches?
Managed Launch is the beginning of the operating relationship, not the end of it. Most companies continue into Operate — licensing maintenance, reporting, infrastructure, and examination preparation on the same continuous thread.
Ready to see what starting your own company would actually require?
A confidential operating snapshot for your state footprint, timeline, and goals.