Does Counselor Realty provide ongoing assistance after the business opens, based on this section?
Counselor_Realty Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
2 | During the operation of your Business, Counselor will provide periodic advice on principal aspects of the Business, through various means. Franchise Agreement, Section 6.2.
You must participate in Counselor System advertising programs.
If your Office (including any Additional Officer or Extension Office) is located within 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, the "Twin Cities"), you must pay to Counselor an Advertising Fee equal to $60 per agent per month for each agent operating out of the Office, Additional Office or Extension Office located in such metropolitan area, as a contribution towards the general costs of marketing activities conducted by Counselor. "Counselor" offices owned and operated by Counselor contribute toward the general costs of marketing activities conducted by Counselor under a different formula, and are not required to pay the specific Advertising Fee described above. The amount of the monthly Advertising Fee may be increased during the term of the franchise by Counselor from time to time in its sole discretion.
We reserve the right to establish and organize a "Regional Advertising Group" if your Office (including any Additional Officer or Extension Office) is located outside the Twin Cities. If your Office (including any Additional Officer or Extension Office) is located outside the Twin Cities, you must be a member of the "Regional Advertising Group" (once established) and pay to the "Regional Advertising Fund" an Advertising Fee equal to $25 per agent per month for each agent operating out of the Office, Additional Office or Extension Office located in such geographical area. "Counselor" offices owned and operated by Counselor contribute toward the general costs of marketing activities conducted by Counselor under a different formula, and will not be required to pay the specific Advertising Fee described above to the Regional Advertising Fund. Activities of the Regional Advertising Group will be coordinated, and the Regional Advertising Fund will be administered by the Regional Advertising Committee, which will consist of one representative from each franchisee-owned "Counselor" office outside the Twin Cities, and three representatives of Counselor. The amount of monthly Advertising Fees for the Regional Advertising Group may be increased during the term of the franchise by a majority vote of that Regional Advertising Committee.
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 provide periodic advice on principal aspects of the business through various means during the operation of the business. Counselor Realty may also provide or require franchisees to utilize technology and non-technology related tools and services relating to the franchised business as Counselor Realty determines from time to time in its sole discretion. However, Counselor Realty is not obligated to provide these tools or services and reserves the right to discontinue them at any time. If Counselor Realty decides to provide these tools and services, the franchisee will be obligated to pay fees associated with them in amounts and at times determined by Counselor Realty.
Counselor Realty will create a separate webpage or subdomain for the franchisee's office and any extension office on Counselor Realty, Inc.'s website. Franchisees will be required to pay a Website Set Up Fee and a Website Fee for these webpages and subdomains, as described in Item 6. Leads created off Counselor Realty's website for listings in the region where the franchised office is located will be provided and directed to the franchisee's office, unless the lead is for a listing by one of Counselor Realty's or another franchisee's agents, in which case the lead will be directed to that agent. If there is more than one franchisee in the region, leads will be shared or split between the affected franchisees as determined by Counselor Realty.
Franchisees have the option to develop their own website as part of their overall promotion strategy, but it must conform to Counselor Realty's brand standard and image. Counselor Realty does not currently require advertising materials or media to be approved prior to use, but reserves the right to review and approve them and require franchisees to alter or cease using any portion that it does not approve. Franchisees must participate in Counselor Realty System advertising programs. If the office is located within the 11-county Twin Cities metropolitan area, the franchisee must pay an Advertising Fee of $60 per agent per month. If located outside the Twin Cities, the franchisee must be a member of the Regional Advertising Group and pay an Advertising Fee of $25 per agent per month to the Regional Advertising Fund.