Are incidental expenses included in the training fees for Counselor Realty?
Counselor_Realty Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
. At your request, Counselor will provide you and up to two of your key personnel initial training (the amount of such initial training shall be as determined by Counselor) at a "Counselor" office or other location designated by Counselor, at any mutually convenient time. At your request, Counselor will provide supplemental initial and/or ongoing training for you and/or your key personnel at a "Counselor" office or other location designated by Counselor, at any mutually convenient time. You must pay Counselor a fee for training (including initial training) in the amount of $175 per trainer per hour. In addition, you must pay all travel, living and incidental expenses you and your employees, and our trainers, incur in connection with training, which Counselor estimates could range from $0 (if you and our trainers do not have to travel to attend training) to $750 per person per day. The exact amount of the fees and costs are unknown and may vary depending upon factors, such as third-party vendors selected. You and your employees will not be paid by Counselor during trainin
Source: Item 6 — OTHER FEES (FDD pages 9–13)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Counselor Realty's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, training fees do not include incidental expenses. In addition to the $175 per trainer per hour fee, franchisees must cover travel, living, and incidental costs for themselves, their employees, and Counselor Realty's trainers. These additional expenses could range from $0 to $750 per person per day, depending on travel distance and other factors.
This means a prospective Counselor Realty franchisee needs to budget not only for the hourly training fees but also for potentially significant out-of-pocket expenses related to travel, accommodation, and daily incidentals. The FDD notes that the exact amount of these fees and costs are unknown and may vary depending upon factors, such as third-party vendors selected. This lack of a fixed cost makes budgeting for training more challenging.
It is important to note that franchisees and their employees will not be paid by Counselor Realty during training, adding to the overall cost of the training program. This is a fairly standard practice in the franchise industry, where the franchisee is responsible for all training-related expenses. A prospective franchisee should inquire about the typical duration and location of training to better estimate these additional costs.