Are fees paid to Counselor Realty refundable?

According to Counselor Realty's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, most fees paid to Counselor Realty are non-refundable. The FDD states that "Except as described above, all fees paid to Counselor are non-refundable." This means that once a franchisee pays a fee to Counselor Realty, they generally cannot get that money back.

However, there is an exception: fees paid to third parties may be refundable, but this is at the discretion of the third party, not Counselor Realty. For example, if a prospective franchisee pays a vendor for internet development services, the refundability of those fees depends on the vendor's policies.

This non-refundable policy is typical in franchising. Franchisees should carefully consider their decision before paying any fees to Counselor Realty, as they will likely not be able to recover those funds if they change their mind or the franchise agreement is terminated. It is important to understand the terms and conditions of any agreements with third-party vendors as well, as their refund policies may vary.