What are 'Corcoran Office' or 'Office' referring to in the context of a Corcoran franchise?
Corcoran Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
We offer franchises for real estate sales offices in the United States to owners of existing real estate brokerage businesses and in certain situations we may offer a franchise to newly formed real estate brokerages as described below in this Item 1 (the "Franchise" or the "Business") The Franchise permits you to offer residential and commercial real estate brokerage services from a specified office location (the "Main Office") and other authorized office locations (the Main Office and other authorized office locations collectively referred to as a "Corcoran Office" or "Office"), using the Corcoran® service mark and other trademarks, service marks, designs, logos and other commercial symbols we periodically designate (collectively, the "Marks"), and using a system that we have developed which includes access to brand specific systems, productivity resources, basic business development support, education, real estate referral and broker communications procedures, marketing and advertising services, products and other support funding by our brand marketing fund ("Brand Marketing Fund" or "BMF") and various other items (the "System"), all in accordance with the terms of our Real Estate Franchise Agreement ("Franchise Agreement") and the mandatory provisions of our Policies and Procedures Manual and the Brand Standards (collectively referred to as the "P&P Manual"). The franchises offered under the Corcoran® System are not in any way associated with Corcoran Sunshine (described below) and Corcoran Sunshine is not part of the System. Nothing limits Corcoran Sunshine's ability to operate or open an office anywhere in the U.S. or internationally.
You may also conduct new development services using the Marks, subject to the requirements set forth in the P&P Manual, which includes our prior written approval for conducting new development services from Development Offices (defined in the P&P Manual). We have the right to condition our approval of new development services depending on the size, scope, and type of the property or the architect (or architectural firm) utilized for the property, as more fully described in the P&P Manual.
Source: Item 1 — THE FRANCHISOR, AND ANY PARENTS, PREDECESSORS, AND AFFILIATES (FDD pages 9–17)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Corcoran Franchise Disclosure Document, a "Corcoran Office" or "Office" refers to the physical location from which a franchisee operates their real estate brokerage business. This includes the designated "Main Office" and any other authorized office locations approved by Corcoran. These offices operate under the Corcoran brand, utilizing its trademarks, service marks, and the System developed by the franchisor.
Specifically, the Corcoran franchise grants the right to offer residential and commercial real estate brokerage services. These services are delivered from the specified office locations, adhering to the terms outlined in the Real Estate Franchise Agreement. The agreement also mandates compliance with the Policies and Procedures Manual and the Brand Standards, which collectively govern the operation of the franchised business.
It's important to note that the Corcoran franchises are distinct from Corcoran Sunshine, and the latter's operations are not restricted by the franchise agreements. Franchisees may also offer new development services from "Development Offices" with prior written approval, as detailed in the P&P Manual. This approval may be conditional, depending on factors such as the property's size, scope, type, or the architect involved.