If a Counselor Realty franchisee develops their own website, is it optional to promote it?
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. If Counselor Realty determines, in its sole discretion, that the website does not meet these standards, the franchisee will be required to alter or remove the website as directed in writing by Counselor Realty.
While franchisees have the option to create their own websites, Counselor Realty also provides a webpage or subdomain on its own website for the franchisee's office and licensed agents. Franchisees are required to pay a Website Set Up Fee and a Website Fee for these webpages or subdomains, as detailed in Item 6 of the FDD. Leads generated from Counselor Realty's website for listings in the franchisee's region will be directed to the franchisee's office, with some leads being directed to agents who have created a Counselor Realty webpage or subdomain.
Although Counselor Realty does not currently require websites to be approved before use, it reserves the right to review and approve any franchisee-developed website and can require alterations or removal if it does not meet brand standards. Franchisees must also ensure that their use of Counselor Realty's trademarks on their websites complies with the Franchise Agreement. This policy ensures brand consistency while allowing franchisees some flexibility in their promotional efforts.