Does Counselor Realty currently require advertising materials to be approved before use?
Counselor_Realty Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
pe.
You may develop advertising materials for your own use, at your own expense. Advertising materials and media (including print, audio, video, website and computer-transmitted media) must conform at all times to Counselor's brand standard and image. If Counselor determines, in its sole discretion, that any advertising materials or media do not conform to Counselor's brand standard or image, you will alter or remove any such advertising materials or media, as directed in writing by Counselor. You have the option to develop your own website as part of your overall promotion strategy. Your use of Counselor's trademarks in any advertising materials and media must conform at all times to the requirements set forth in the Franchise Agreement. Counselor does not currently require any advertising materials or media to be approved by Counselor prior to you using them, but reserves the right to review and approve any advertising materials or media (and to require you to alter or cease using all or any portion of such advertising materials or media it does not approve).
We will create a separate webpage or subdomain for your Office and any Extension Office on Counselor Realty, Inc.'s website. If we have consented to any Additional Office locations, you may request to have us set up a separate webpage or subdomain for any such Additional Office on Counselor Realty, Inc.'s website. We will create a separate webpage or subdomain on Counselor Realty's website for those licensed agents you request in writing. All webpages and subdomains we create for the licensed agents operating through your Office (including any Additional Officer or Extension Office ) will include an IDX home search option for each market that the agent directly serves with listing reciprocity among Counselor Realty and our franchisees (local MLS fees are the agent's responsibility). You will be required to pay us a Website Set Up Fee for any such webpages or subdomains, as more particularly described in Item 6.
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND TRAINING (FDD pages 17–21)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Counselor Realty's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are not currently required to have their advertising materials approved before use. However, all advertising materials and media must conform to Counselor Realty's brand standards and image. This includes print, audio, video, website, and computer-transmitted media.
Counselor Realty retains the right to review and approve any advertising materials or media at its discretion. If Counselor Realty determines that any advertising does not meet its brand standards, the franchisee will be required to alter or remove the non-compliant advertising as directed in writing by Counselor Realty. This applies to websites as well, giving Counselor Realty the authority to ensure brand consistency across all advertising platforms.
While franchisees have the option to develop their own websites as part of their promotion strategy, these websites must also adhere to Counselor Realty's brand standards. The company does not currently require website approval before use but reserves the right to review and demand alterations or removal if the website does not conform to their standards. This policy allows franchisees some creative freedom while ensuring the brand maintains a consistent image.
In practice, this means a Counselor Realty franchisee can initially launch advertising campaigns and websites without prior approval, but they must be prepared to make changes if Counselor Realty deems them necessary. It is crucial for franchisees to thoroughly understand and adhere to Counselor Realty's brand standards to minimize the risk of needing to revise or remove advertising materials.