Is Counselor Realty Franchising, Inc. the same entity as Counselor Realty, Inc.?
Counselor_Realty Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
The franchisor is COUNSELOR REALTY FRANCHISING, INC. ("Counselor"), a Minnesota corporation located at 3200 NW Main Street, Suite 110, Coon Rapids, Minnesota 55448; 612-405-8404; www.counselorrealty.com. Counselor Realty, Inc. ("Counselor Realty"), a Minnesota corporation incorporated on December 18, 1964, and located at the same address as Counselor, conducts a residential and commercial real estate brokerage business. Counselor's and Counselor Realty's parent, Counselor Holding, Inc. ("Counselor Holding") owns and provides administrative support to Counselor and Counselor Realty. Counselor was incorporated in May, 2001 to conduct franchising operations. Counselor actually commenced business operations and first offered franchises in 2002. Counselor has no predecessors. Counselor has no affiliates which offer franchises in any line of business, and, except for Counselor Holding, Counselor has no affiliates which offer products or services to Counselor franchisees. No officer or director of Counselor owns an interest in any entity that competes with Counselor. Counselor conducts business under its corporate name. Counselor's agent for service of process in Minnesota is the Minnesota Department of Commerce, 85 7th Place East, Suite 280, St. Paul, Minnesota 55101- 2198.
For ease of reference, we refer to the franchisee as "you." If the franchisee is a corporation, partnership or other organization, the references to "you" may include the organization's owners.
Counselor offers franchises for a full service residential and commercial real estate brokerage business located within a designated geographic area (the "Territory"). See Item 12. Counselor has offered franchises for real estate brokerage businesses since 2002.
Source: Item 1 — THE FRANCHISOR, AND ANY PARENT, PREDECESSORS AND AFFILIATES (FDD pages 7–8)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Counselor Realty's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Counselor Realty Franchising, Inc. and Counselor Realty, Inc. are separate entities. Counselor Realty Franchising, Inc. ('Counselor') is the franchisor, incorporated in Minnesota in May 2001 to conduct franchising operations, and it commenced business operations and first offered franchises in 2002. Counselor Realty, Inc. ('Counselor Realty'), also a Minnesota corporation, was incorporated much earlier on December 18, 1964, and conducts a residential and commercial real estate brokerage business. Both companies are located at the same address.
The document clarifies that Counselor Realty Franchising, Inc. was created to handle the franchising side of the business, while Counselor Realty, Inc. focuses on the real estate brokerage services. This distinction is important for prospective franchisees to understand, as their direct relationship will be with Counselor Realty Franchising, Inc. regarding the franchise agreement and related support. However, franchisees will likely interact with Counselor Realty, Inc. as well, particularly concerning website services and lead generation.
Both Counselor Realty Franchising, Inc. and Counselor Realty, Inc. are under the same parent company, Counselor Holding, Inc., which owns and provides administrative support to both entities. This shared ownership suggests a degree of coordination and alignment between the franchising and brokerage operations. However, the FDD specifies that Counselor Realty, Inc., along with other Counselor Realty franchisees, may conduct their real estate brokerage businesses and compete with new franchisees within their territories. This potential for competition from the original company is a key consideration for anyone looking to invest in a Counselor Realty franchise.