Does Counselor Realty provide any assistance in developing a franchisee's website?
Counselor_Realty Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
e).
We will create a separate webpage or subdomain for your Office and any Extension Office on Counselor Realty, Inc.'s website. If we have consented to any Additional Office locations, you may request to have us set up a separate webpage or subdomain for any such Additional Office on Counselor Realty, Inc.'s website. We will create a separate webpage or subdomain on Counselor Realty's website for those licensed agents you request in writing. All webpages and subdomains we create for the licensed agents operating through your Office (including any Additional Officer or Extension Office ) will include an IDX home search option for each market that the agent directly serves with listing reciprocity among Counselor Realty and our franchisees (local MLS fees are the agent's responsibility). You will be required to pay us a Website Set Up Fee for any such webpages or subdomains, as more particularly described in Item 6. You will also be required to pay us a Website Fee associated with the webpages and subdomains we create for your Office, any Additional Offices or Extension Offices, and for the licensed agents operating through your offices, in such amounts, and at such times, as more particularly described in Item 6.
Leads created off Counselor Realty's website for listings in the region where your franchised office is located will be provided and directed to your Office; provided, however, that if the lead is for a listing that is listed by one of our franchisee's agents or one of Counselor Realty's agents, such lead will be directed to such agent if that agent has elected to create a Counselor Realty web page/subdomain. If there is more than one franchisee in the region (distinct areas served by the same MLS system, or its equivalent), those leads will be shared and/or split between the affected franchisees, as determined by Counselor in its sole discretion. We may take into account office locations, number of agents, types of leads or any other rational means to distribute leads.
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).
You are not required to buy or use any particular electronic computer system. Counselor is not obligated to assist you in obtaining your personal computer, related hardware or telephone service. You may be required to modify your hardware periodically if Counselor makes changes to the System.
Counselor may provide you with or require you to utilize such technology related tools (including, but not limited to, mobile applications and other internet or software-based applications) and services relating to the franchised business as Counselor determines from time to time in its sole discretion. Counselor will not be obligated to provide you with any such technology related tools or services, and reserves the right to discontinue providing any such technology related tools and services that Counselor may decide to provide at any time. Counselor also reserves the right to modify the terms and conditions regarding any such technology related tools and services that Counselor may decide to provide at any time. You will be obligated to pay Counselor fees (including the Mobile App Fee described in Item 6) associated with any such technology related tools and services that Counselor may decide to provide in such amounts, and at such times, as Counselor shall determine from time to time in its sole discretion.
Counselor may also provide you with or require you to utilize such non-technology related tools and services relating to the franchised business as Counselor determines from time to time in its sole discretion. Counselor will not be obligated to provide you with any such non-technology related tools or services, and reserves the right to discontinue providing any such non-technology related tools and services that Counselor may decide to provide at any time. Counselor also reserves the right to modify the terms and conditions regarding any such non-technology related tools and services that Counselor may decide to provide at any time. You will be obligated to pay Counselor fees associated with such non-technology related tools and services that Counselor decides to provide in such amounts, and at such times, as Counselor shall determine from time to time in its sole discretion.
The typical length of time between the signing of the Franchise Agreement and the opening of a franchisee's Business is approximately three to six months.
12.
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, Counselor Realty will create a separate webpage or subdomain for a franchisee's office, extension office, and licensed agents on Counselor Realty's website. These webpages and subdomains will include an IDX home search option for each market the agent serves, with listing reciprocity among Counselor Realty and its franchisees. The franchisee is required to pay a Website Set Up Fee and a Website Fee for these webpages and subdomains, as detailed in Item 6. Leads generated from Counselor Realty's website for listings in the franchisee's region will be directed to the franchisee's office, unless the lead is for a listing by one of Counselor Realty's or its franchisee's agents who have a Counselor Realty webpage/subdomain, in which case the lead goes to that agent. If there are multiple franchisees in the same region, leads will be shared or split at Counselor's discretion.
A franchisee has the option to develop their own website as part of their promotion strategy. However, the franchisee's website must conform to Counselor Realty's brand standards and image. If Counselor Realty determines that the website does not meet these standards, the franchisee will be required to alter or remove the website. While Counselor Realty does not currently require approval of the franchisee's website before use, it reserves the right to review and approve the website and require alterations or cessation of use if it is not approved.
Counselor Realty may also provide or require franchisees to use technology-related tools, such as mobile applications and software, and non-technology related tools and services. The franchisor is not obligated to provide these tools or services and reserves the right to discontinue or modify them at any time. Franchisees will be required to pay fees associated with these tools and services as determined by Counselor Realty. The FDD also indicates that Counselor Realty conducts various marketing activities, and franchisees may purchase promotional materials prepared by or for Counselor Realty.