What standards must the signage purchased or leased by a Counselor Realty franchisee meet?
Counselor_Realty Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
The Franchise Agreement requires you to purchase or lease signage and other supplies, fixtures, equipment and certain inventory used in the Business that meet standards and specifications established by Counselor. You may obtain authorized goods and services from any available source of supply. Your Business may be identified only by Marks Counselor authorizes.
Standards and specifications for establishing and operating the Business also are described in the Franchise Policy Guidelines issued by Counselor, and you are bound by the terms of the Franchise Agreement to operate the Business in accordance with the requirements of the Franchise Policy Guidelines as revised periodically by Counselor.
Source: Item 8 — RESTRICTIONS ON SOURCES OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES (FDD pages 15–16)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Counselor Realty's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are required to purchase or lease signage that meets the standards and specifications established by Counselor Realty. These standards and specifications are further detailed in the Franchise Policy Guidelines issued by Counselor Realty, which franchisees are bound to follow as part of their Franchise Agreement.
This means a prospective franchisee must ensure that any signage they plan to use for their Counselor Realty business adheres to the specific guidelines set forth by the franchisor. These guidelines could cover aspects such as size, color, materials, and the use of approved Counselor Realty trademarks. The franchisee is restricted to using only the marks that Counselor Realty authorizes to identify their business.
While Counselor Realty establishes these standards, they do not currently approve or disapprove specific suppliers. However, Counselor Realty may direct franchisees to vendors who can supply the required items. It is important to note that Counselor Realty reserves the right to change the Franchise Policy Guidelines and standards, which may require additional investment or expenditures from the franchisee to remain compliant. Therefore, a franchisee should stay updated on any changes to these guidelines to ensure their signage and overall business operations continue to meet Counselor Realty's requirements.
Prospective franchisees should carefully review the Franchise Policy Guidelines and communicate with Counselor Realty to fully understand the current signage standards and specifications. This will help avoid any potential issues or costs associated with non-compliant signage. Additionally, franchisees should inquire about any upcoming changes to the guidelines to proactively plan for future compliance.