Is the Mobile App setup fee a one-time fee for Counselor Realty franchisees?
Counselor_Realty Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Mobile App setup is optional, except for franchisees with Office locations in the 11-county metropolitan area of the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota (including the Counties of Scott, Wright, Isanti, Dakota, Anoka, Hennepin, Washington, Carver, Ramsey, Sherburne and Chisago).
If your Office (or any Additional Office or Extension Office) is located in one of the aforementioned counties, or if you elect to utilize the Mobile App, you must pay us a Mobile App Fee equal to the costs incurred by Counselor to initiate and continue your Mobile App service, including one-time setup fees and monthly data/phone fees.
The amount of the Mobile App Fee may be increased during the term of the franchise by Counselor from time to time in its sole discretion.
At the beginning of each month, we will send you an invoice for the amount of the Mobile App Fee you owe us for the prior month, and you must pay us the amount of such Mobile App Fee on or before the 20th day of such month.
Source: Item 6 — OTHER FEES (FDD pages 9–13)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Counselor Realty's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the Mobile App Fee includes a one-time setup fee. The document states that if a franchisee's office is located in the 11-county metropolitan area of the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, or if they elect to utilize the Mobile App, they must pay a Mobile App Fee. This fee covers the costs incurred by Counselor Realty to initiate and continue the franchisee's Mobile App service, including one-time setup fees and monthly data/phone fees.
For franchisees required to or choosing to use the Mobile App, this means they will incur an initial setup cost in addition to ongoing monthly charges. The initial setup fee is a one-time cost, but the overall Mobile App Fee is subject to change at Counselor Realty's discretion during the franchise term. Franchisees will receive a monthly invoice for the Mobile App Fee, which must be paid by the 20th of the following month.
It is important to note that the Mobile App setup is optional for most Counselor Realty franchisees, except for those with office locations in the specified 11-county metropolitan area of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. For franchisees in this area, using the Mobile App is mandatory. All franchisees should be aware that the Mobile App Fee, including both the one-time setup fees and the recurring monthly charges, can be increased by Counselor Realty at any time during the franchise term.
Prospective franchisees should inquire about the current amount of the one-time setup fee and the monthly data/phone fees to fully understand the costs associated with the Mobile App. Understanding these costs is crucial for budgeting and financial planning as a Counselor Realty franchisee.