Which sections of the Counselor Realty Franchise Agreement detail the advertising obligations of Counselor Realty franchisees?
Counselor_Realty Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
| Obligation | Section in Franchise Agreement | Disclosure Document Item |
|---|---|---|
| j. Warranty and customer | Section 7.1 | Item 11 |
| services requirements | ||
| k. Territorial development | Sections 1.1 and 1.3 | Item 12 |
| and sales quotas | ||
| l. Ongoing product/service | Sections 6.3, 6.4, 6.5 and 7.1 | Item 8 |
| purchases | ||
| m. Maintenance, | Sections 3.2, 7.1, 9.2 | Items 11, 17 |
| appearance and | ||
| remodeling requirements | ||
| n. Insurance | Section 8.2 | Item 7 |
| o. Advertising | Sections 5.4 and 7.1 | Item 11 |
| p. Indemnification | Section 8.3 | Item 16 |
| q. Owner's participation/ | Section 7.2 | Item 15 |
| management/staffing | ||
| r. Records and reports | Section 8.1 | None |
| s. Inspections and audits | Sections 7.3, 8.1 | Item 11 |
| t. Transfer | Article 9 | Item 17 |
| u. Renewal | Section 3.2 | Item 17 |
| v. Post-termination | Section 7.2 and Article 12 | Item 17 |
| obligations | ||
| w. Non-competition and | Section 7.2 | Item 17 |
| non-solicitation | ||
| covenants | ||
| x. Dispute resolution | Article 10 | Item 17 |
| y. Other | None |
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, the franchisee's advertising obligations are detailed in Sections 5.4 and 7.1 of the Franchise Agreement. This information is also referenced in Item 11 of the FDD. Item 11 generally covers the franchisor's assistance, advertising, computer systems, and training provided to franchisees.
Specifically, Item 11 states that franchisees must participate in Counselor Realty's advertising programs. If a franchisee's office is located within the 11-county metropolitan area of the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, they must pay an Advertising Fee of $60 per agent per month. This fee contributes towards the general marketing activities conducted by Counselor Realty. For offices located outside the Twin Cities, Counselor Realty reserves the right to establish a Regional Advertising Group, in which case franchisees must pay an Advertising Fee of $25 per agent per month to the Regional Advertising Fund.
Furthermore, franchisees have the option to develop their own websites as part of their promotion strategy, but these websites must conform to Counselor Realty's brand standards and image. Counselor Realty also reserves the right to review and approve any advertising materials or media developed by franchisees, and can require franchisees to alter or remove materials that do not meet their standards. The Regional Advertising Group, if established, will conduct its own marketing activities and make decisions regarding creative work, media purchases, and the scope of advertising.