Where must a Counselor Realty franchisee operate their real estate brokerage business?
Counselor_Realty Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
going and the undertakings herein, the parties agree:
1. FRANCHISE.
1.1 Grant.
- (a) We grant you a non-exclusive license to use the System and the Marks to operate one real estate brokerage business (the "Business") at a single site you select, and to which we consent (the "Office"), within the geographic territory designated in Exhibit A to this Franchise Agreement (the "Territory"). You must obtain Counselor's written consent prior to opening or operating any additional Office locations.
- (b) You may apply to open one or more additional offices within your designated Territory (an "Additional Office") by submitting a request to Counselor describing the location of such proposed Additional Office as well as any additional information Counselor may require or request, along with one-time fee of $750 for each Additional Office location (the "Additional Office Application Materials"). After Counselor's receipt of such Additional Office Application Materials (including the one-time fee), Counselor will have 30 days to review the Additional Office Application Materials and proposed Additional Office location and notify you whether or not Counselor consents to your opening of such Additional Office location. Any Additional Office we consent to must comply with all requirements of the Franchise Agreement and then-current System standards.
- (c) You may apply to open one or more additional offices outside of your designated Territory (an "Extension Office") by submitting a request to Counselor describing the location of such proposed Extension Office as well as any additional information Counselor may require or request, along with a one-time fee of $750 for each Extension Office location (the "Extension Office Application Materials"). After Counselor's receipt of such Extension Office Application Materials (including the one-time fee), Counselor will have 30 days to review the Extension Office Application Materials and proposed Extension Office location and notify you whether or not Counselor consents to your opening of such Extension Office location. Counselor's consent to any Extension Office location will be contingent on you and Counselor reaching a mutual agreement as to the minim
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD page 32)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Counselor Realty's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, a franchisee is granted a non-exclusive license to operate one real estate brokerage business at a single site that they select, subject to Counselor Realty's consent. This site is referred to as the "Office," and it must be within the geographic territory designated in Exhibit A of the Franchise Agreement.
The franchisee can also apply to open additional offices. They can open additional offices within their designated territory, called "Additional Offices," or outside their territory, called "Extension Offices." Opening either type of additional office requires submitting a request to Counselor Realty, along with a one-time fee of $750 for each location. Counselor Realty then has 30 days to review the application and notify the franchisee of their decision.
For Extension Offices, Counselor Realty's consent is contingent upon reaching a mutual agreement with the franchisee regarding the minimum number of sales agents that will operate from that location. The franchisee must maintain this agreed-upon minimum. Failing to maintain the minimum number of sales agents in an Extension Office can lead to Counselor Realty requiring the franchisee to close the Extension Office or even terminate the Franchise Agreement. If Counselor Realty consents to an Extension Office, the franchisee does not receive territorial protections for that location.