What is the exception to Counselor Realty providing website leads to a franchisee?
Counselor_Realty Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Leads created off Counselor Realty's website for listings in the region where your franchised office is located will be provided and directed to your Office; provided, however, that if the lead is for a listing that is listed by one of our franchisee's agents or one of Counselor Realty's agents, such lead will be directed to such agent if that agent has elected to create a Counselor Realty web page/subdomain. If there is more than one franchisee in the region (distinct areas served by the same MLS system, or its equivalent), those leads will be shared and/or split between the affected franchisees, as determined by Counselor in its sole discretion. We may take into account office locations, number of agents, types of leads or any other rational means to distribute leads.
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, leads generated from Counselor Realty's website for listings within a franchisee's region are generally directed to that franchisee's office. However, there is an exception to this rule. If a lead pertains to a listing represented by an agent of another franchisee or an agent directly affiliated with Counselor Realty, the lead will be directed to that specific agent. This is contingent on the agent having established a Counselor Realty webpage or subdomain.
This exception means that a Counselor Realty franchisee may not receive all leads generated in their territory. If another agent within the Counselor Realty system has a listing that matches the lead's criteria and that agent has their own webpage, the lead will go to that agent instead. This could impact the number of potential clients a new franchisee receives directly from the franchisor's website.
In regions with multiple Counselor Realty franchisees, the distribution of leads is at Counselor Realty's discretion. Factors such as office locations, agent numbers, and lead types may influence how leads are shared or split among franchisees. This discretionary approach highlights the importance of understanding the competitive landscape and lead-sharing policies within a specific region before investing in a Counselor Realty franchise.