Is there any exception to the nonrefundable nature of the initial fee for Counselor Realty?
Counselor_Realty Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
When you sign the Franchise Agreement, you must pay Counselor an Initial Fee in an amount of: $7,500 if the population in your Territory is less than 10,000, or $15,000 if the population in your Territory is 10,000 or more. See Item 12.
You are responsible to select a site for your Office. After you notify Counselor of a proposed site, Counselor has 30 days to review the site and to notify you whether or not it consents to your operation of the Business at that site. If Counselor rejects the site you propose, you will have an additional 60 days to locate a site that is acceptable to Counselor. If you fail to do so, the Franchise Agreement will terminate and Counselor will refund your Initial Fee, less Counselor's expenses associated with reviewing the proposed site(s). See Item 12. Except as described in this paragraph, Initial Fees are nonrefundable.
Source: Item 5 — INITIAL FEES (FDD page 9)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Counselor Realty's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the initial franchise fee, ranging from $7,500 to $15,000 depending on the territory's population, is generally nonrefundable. However, there is one specific exception.
Should Counselor Realty reject a proposed site for the franchisee's office, the franchisee has a limited time to find an alternative location acceptable to Counselor Realty. Specifically, after the initial site is rejected, the franchisee has 60 days to propose a new, acceptable site.
If the franchisee fails to secure an approved site within this timeframe, the Franchise Agreement will be terminated. In this specific instance, Counselor Realty will refund the initial fee, but will deduct any expenses Counselor Realty incurred while reviewing the proposed sites. This is the only exception to the nonrefundable nature of the initial franchise fee.