Real talk: how much do you actually need to start wholesaling?

I see "$0 to start" constantly and think it's misleading. My actual first-year costs:

Necessary:

• LLC formation: $50–$500 depending on state
• Skip tracing initial list: $100–$300
• VOIP phone: ~$30/month
• CRM: $0–$200/month (free options have limits)
• Attorney contract review (one-time): $200–$500

Optional but impactful:

• Direct mail: $500–$2,000/month for meaningful volume
• DFD software: $30–$100/month

Realistic minimum to have a real shot: $500–$1,000 plus 20 hours/week of consistent work. Anyone saying it's truly free is selling a course.