Is a Counselor Realty franchisee responsible for locating the space for their office?
Counselor_Realty Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
ve:
- A. Counselor estimates that you will need at least 800, but not more than 6,000, square feet of commercial space to operate your Business, depending on the number of agents you wish to employ. If you do not already own or lease the required space, you are responsible for locating and acquiring the space for your Office (subject to Counselor's consent to the site). The cost to purchase or lease real estate varies widely between locations. If you purchase your Office space, your cost will depend on the size and location of the space and the type of improvements you choose to make. If you lease Office space, we estimate that your cost (including improvements) could range from $10 per square foot per year to $35 per square foot per year or more. You are responsible at your cost for all zoning and land use permitting requirements.
- B. Your Office will need desks, chairs, scanners, copy machine(s), computers, etc. If you already operate a real estate office, you should not need to purchase new furniture and equipment.
Source: Item 7 — INITIAL INVESTMENT (FDD pages 13–15)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Counselor Realty's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are indeed responsible for finding a location for their office. The FDD states that if a franchisee does not already own or lease the required space, they are responsible for locating and acquiring it, subject to Counselor Realty's approval of the site.
The document estimates that a franchisee will need between 800 and 6,000 square feet of commercial space, depending on the number of agents they plan to employ. The cost to purchase or lease this space can vary significantly based on location. If leasing, the estimated cost, including improvements, ranges from $10 to $35 or more per square foot per year.
In addition to the cost of the space itself, the franchisee is also responsible for all zoning and land use permitting requirements. This means that prospective Counselor Realty franchisees need to factor in the time and expense of finding a suitable location and ensuring it meets all local regulations before opening their business. The initial investment table shows 'Real Estate Lease and Improvements' ranging from $600 to $12,500, with a note to see Note A, which contains the information about the franchisee's responsibility to locate and acquire the space.