As a broker who is very involved I would say I work about 60 hours a week.  And new agents need to figure it out on their own what it takes for them to work for their level of success, but in the end they are independent contractors and I don't set hours.

Peter Mohylsky, 

Did you tell her 24/7? LOL

I had a similar conversation with a couple of offices in a brainstorming session yesterday.  New agents don't necessarily know what the job is like and what is required of them to be successful.  Schools don't tell them.  Many don't understand the difference between working in and working on the business and that not all work is the same.

     As others said, that sounds more like an employee mindset, than an independent contractor.   Hopefully the difference has been explained to her.

   Your question,  "How successful do you want to be?" is spot-on.   

   She should be setting her time off hours (9PM to 7AM weeknights, take off Sunday mornings, etc. whatever her personal preference is), and not try to minimize how many actual working hours she should put in.

Sounds like someone doesn't understand what she's getting into...

     168 hours in a week, 56 hours for sleep, so (ciphering pencil sound) 110 hours per week. New agent licensed but has no logged hours, no results, no experience. How many hours? All of them. Eat, breathe, learn and maybe slowly she will get the hang of list and twist. 

     Tell her real estate is a jealous master, does not just want her intense dedication time investment now and then. Does she, her partner, family all understand the commitment? 

     You have to like to produce, want to get to work, can't wait to tackle your to do list. Did she have the kind of Little Red Hen grit dedication at her last job(s)?

     Not just the number of hours but how to use those long hours best, To gain experience, better time management you need fire in your belly competitive desire to make 60 to 70 hours week after week count. 

I would have answered about the same as you did.

Aren’t your agents 1099??! I was under the assumption there isn’t a “required” or expected amount of time. It could take that agent 4 times longer to do something it take another agent to do something; or half the time. It is her business and she can run it the way she wants to run it. 

Peter Mohylsky, you said a new agent... does that mean she is not yet signed to a broker? If she is did she say why she is looking? If she was under another broker was the time she put in there a problem to that broker? Enquiring minds what to know.

She might be expecting you to guide/train her but if she fails to treat real estate as her business and instead, behave as an employee, will be back dooring it fairly quick.

I work as much as I want to and sometimes need to in order to get things done. This person sounds like someone with an employee mentality and not an independent contractor mentality.

What is her goal? Is it sufficient to cover the costs associated with her affiliation based on the split arrangement? If it is, bring her on. If it is not let her look elsewhere. As for hours, whatever it takes to meet her goal and cover your cost. Remember, you need to make a profit if you invest time. 

No doubt that was an interesting and engaging discussion, Peter Mohylsky, 

I love flying solo.  

As many as it takes (and then some) to reach the level of success you want

I would have answered "we offer a career and not a job"

I understand thought outcomes as humans just want to know what is required so they may meet the criteria. Sales doesn't play by those rules & your comeback lines of questioning cause one to ponder & sober up. Still, there may be those that just want to do minimum & hope for the best?

I think you gave an appropriate answer, as long as the "hours" are well filled with productive endeavors. 

I'm licensed, but it's not my career, nor will it ever be.  I help out when weekends are really busy in my wife's office.  That being said I know a lot about how to be successful because my wife is a great broker.

Work smart and you will get by not working to many hours but at the beginning you need to spend time writing cards to everyone you know and let them you are into the business.  Get the word out!