To whom is the initial fee for a Christies International Real Estate franchise paid?
Christies_International_Real_Estate Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
INVESTMENT
| Type of Expenditure (Note 1) | Estimated Amount | Method of Payment | When Due | To Whom Payment is to be Made |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Fee | $35,000 | Lump sum | When you sign the License | Us |
| (Note 2) | Agreement | |||
| Initial Training Expenses (Note 3) | $1,000 to $10,000 | As incurred | Before opening | Third-party vendors |
| Leasehold Improvements | $0 to $150,000 | As agreed upon | As agreed upon | Third-party vendors |
| (Note 4) | ||||
| Rent and Security Deposit | $3,000 to $10,000 | As agreed upon | As agreed upon | Landlord |
| (Note 5) | ||||
| "For Sale" Signage | $1,000 to $25,000 | As incurred | Before opening | Third-party vendors |
| (Note 6) | ||||
| Office Signage | $250 to $5,000 | As incurred | Before opening | Third-party vendors |
| (Note 7) | ||||
| Equipment and Furniture (Note 8) | $7,500 to $50,000 | As incurred | Before opening | Third-party vendors |
| Computers and Software (Note 9) | $2,500 to $10,000 | As incurred | Before opening | Third-party vendors |
| Start-up Supplies and | $5,000 to $10,000 | As incurred | As incurred | Third-party vendors and Us |
| Inventory | ||||
| (Note 10) | ||||
| Insurance (Note 11) | $1,500 to $25,000 | As incurred | Before opening | Third-party vendors |
| Professional Fees | $1,500 to $5,000 | As incurred | As incurred | Accountants, |
| (Note 12) | Attorneys | |||
| Type of Expenditure (Note 1) | Estimated Amount | Method of Payment | When Due | To Whom Payment is to be Made |
| --------------------------------------- | ----------------------- | ---------------------- | ------------- | ------------------------------------- |
| Utilities | $350 to $2,500 | As incurred | As incurred | Third-party vendors |
| (Note 13) | ||||
| Licensing Costs | $500 to $2,500 | As incurred | As incurred | State agencies |
| (Note 14) | ||||
| Data Feed Transmission | $250 to $3,000 | As incurred | As incurred | Third-party vendors |
| (Note 15) | ||||
| Additional Funds – 3 Months (Note 16) | $5,000 to $90,000 | As incurred | As incurred | Third-party vendors |
| MLS Fee (Note 17) | $0 to $10,000 | As incurred | As incurred | Us |
| DMS Fee (Note 18) | $125 | As incurred | Annually | Us |
| TOTAL (Note 19) | $64,475 to $443 |
Source: Item 7 — ESTIMATED INITIAL INVESTMENT (FDD pages 17–20)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Christies International Real Estate's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the initial franchise fee is paid to the franchisor, referred to as "Us" in the document. The initial fee is $35,000 and is due when the License Agreement is signed. This fee is non-refundable.
In addition to the initial franchise fee, Christies International Real Estate franchisees will encounter other fees payable to the franchisor. For example, MLS Fees ranging from $0 to $10,000 for additional MLS feeds are paid to Christies International Real Estate. Furthermore, if a franchisee uses Christies International Real Estate's proprietary software, a DMS fee of $125 per agent is charged annually and is also paid to the franchisor.
Prospective franchisees should note that while the initial franchise fee and certain other fees are paid directly to Christies International Real Estate, many other initial investment costs are paid to third-party vendors. These include expenses such as initial training, leasehold improvements, rent, signage, equipment, software, insurance, and professional fees. Understanding where your money is going is an important part of your due diligence.