Can the amount of Advertising Fees for the Regional Advertising Group for Counselor Realty be increased?
Counselor_Realty Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
. If your Office (or any Additional Office or Extension Office) is located outside the Twin Cities, you must be a member of the "Regional Advertising Group" (once established) and pay to the "Regional Advertising Fund" an Advertising Fee equal to $25 per agent per month for each agent operating out
of the Office, Additional Office or Extension Office located in such geographical area. The amount of Advertising Fees for the Regional Advertising Group may be increased during the term of the franchise by a majority vote of the "Regional Advertising Committee" that manages your Regional Advertising Group. See Item 11 for additional information regarding Advertising Fees and Regional Advertising Groups. Advertising Fees are nonrefundable and are uniformly imposed among franchisee-owned "Counselor" offices. "Counselor" offices owned and operated by Counselor contribute toward the general costs of marketing activities conducted by Counselor under a different formula, and are not required to pay the specific Advertising Fees described abov
Source: Item 6 — OTHER FEES (FDD pages 9–13)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Counselor Realty's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the amount of Advertising Fees for the Regional Advertising Group can be increased. If a franchisee's office is located outside the Twin Cities, they must be a member of the Regional Advertising Group and pay $25 per agent per month. The document states that the amount of Advertising Fees for the Regional Advertising Group may be increased during the term of the franchise. This increase requires a majority vote by the Regional Advertising Committee that manages the Regional Advertising Group.
This means that while Counselor Realty sets the initial advertising fee, franchisees in the Regional Advertising Group have some control over future increases through their elected committee. This differs from the advertising fee for offices within the Twin Cities area, where Counselor Realty has sole discretion to increase the fee.
Prospective franchisees should consider the location of their office and the implications for advertising fees. If located outside the Twin Cities, they will be subject to the Regional Advertising Group's rules and potential fee increases voted on by the committee. It is important to understand how the Regional Advertising Committee operates and how much influence a franchisee can have on its decisions.