Who is responsible for website hosting and related fees for a Christies International Real Estate business?
Christies_International_Real_Estate Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Website. We shall mutually determine the URL extension and location-specific office name for your Business, if any. You must utilize an approved, professional photographer and/or videographer to capture imagery for your Business's website. Your Business's photography needs will be determined in conjunction with us as we develop content for the website, you will license to us access to the photos and a license to use them. You will be responsible for all website hosting and related fees that we or you incur on behalf of your Business. (License Agreement, Section 7.4).
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND TRAINING (FDD pages 26–33)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Christies International Real Estate's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the franchisee is responsible for all website hosting and related fees that either Christies International Real Estate or the franchisee incurs on behalf of the franchisee's business. Christies International Real Estate and the franchisee will mutually determine the URL extension and location-specific office name for the business, if any.
Christies International Real Estate requires the franchisee to utilize an approved, professional photographer and/or videographer to capture imagery for the business's website. The specific photography needs will be determined in conjunction with Christies International Real Estate as they develop content for the website. The franchisee will then license access to these photos and grant Christies International Real Estate a license to use them.
This arrangement means that while Christies International Real Estate provides guidance and input on the website's content and appearance, the franchisee bears the full financial responsibility for maintaining the website's online presence. This is a fairly standard practice in franchising, where franchisees often control local marketing execution but must adhere to brand standards, and also cover the associated costs.