Can a Counselor Realty franchisee develop their own website?
Counselor_Realty Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You have the option to develop your own website as part of your overall promotion strategy. Your website must conform at all times to Counselor's brand standard and image. If Counselor determines, in its sole discretion, that your website does not conform to Counselor's brand standard or image, you will alter or remove such website, as directed in writing by
Counselor. Your use of the our trademarks on your website must conform at all times to the requirements set forth in the Franchise Agreement. Counselor does not currently require your website to be approved by Counselor prior to you using it, but reserves the right to review and approve your website (and to require you to alter or cease using all or any portion of such website it does not approve).
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 have the option to develop their own website as part of their overall promotion strategy. However, any website developed by the franchisee must conform to Counselor Realty's brand standards and image at all times. Counselor Realty retains the right to review and approve any franchisee-developed website. If Counselor Realty determines, in its sole discretion, that a franchisee's website does not meet the brand standards, the franchisee will be required to alter or remove the website as directed by Counselor Realty in writing.
Counselor Realty also offers franchisees a separate webpage or subdomain on Counselor Realty, Inc.'s website. There is a Website Set Up Fee and a Website Fee associated with these webpages and subdomains. Leads generated from Counselor Realty's website for listings in the franchisee's region will be directed to the franchisee's office, with some exceptions for listings by Counselor Realty's agents or other franchisees' agents. If there are multiple franchisees in the same region, leads may be shared or split between them at Counselor Realty's discretion.
While Counselor Realty does not currently require websites to be approved before use, they reserve the right to review and approve them later, and can require changes or removal if the site does not meet their standards. Franchisees must also ensure that their use of Counselor Realty's trademarks on their website complies with the Franchise Agreement. This policy allows franchisees some flexibility in their online marketing while ensuring brand consistency across all online platforms.