Are there any specific Franchise Policy Guidelines that Counselor Realty can change?
Counselor_Realty Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
mounts from you or enforcing this agreement.
6. COUNSELOR SERVICES.
- 6.1 Training. At your request, Counselor will provide you and up to two of your key personnel initial training at a "Counselor" office or other location designated by Counselor, at any mutually convenient time. At your request, Counselor will provide supplemental initial and/or ongoing training for you and/or your key personnel at a "Counselor" office or other location designated by Counselor, at any mutually convenient time. You must pay Counselor a fee for training (including initial training) in the amount of $175 per trainer per hour. In addition, you must pay all travel, living and incidental expenses you and your employees, and our trainers, incur in connection with training. A copy of our Franchise Policy Guidelines will be available at our corporate office in Coon Rapids, Minnesota. We may change the Franchise Policy Guidelines periodically.
- 6.2 Advisory Services. We will advise you about proper display of the Marks, procuring fixtures and initial inventories, Counselor's business procedures, and other general guidance and advice regarding the franchised business. We may request that you attend certain meetings.
- 6.3 Website. 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, Inc.'s website for those licensed agents you request in writing. All webpages and subd
Source: Item 17 — RENEWAL, TERMINATION, TRANSFER AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION (FDD pages 25–29)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Counselor Realty's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the company retains the right to modify the Franchise Policy Guidelines. Specifically, Item 6.1 notes that "We may change the Franchise Policy Guidelines periodically."
This means that as a Counselor Realty franchisee, you must comply with any changes the company makes to these guidelines, even if those changes require additional investment or expenditures. This is further reinforced in Item 7.2(f), which states that franchisees must "comply with changes we may make to the Franchise Policy Guidelines, System and standards even if additional investment or expenditures are required."
This ability to unilaterally change guidelines is a fairly standard practice in franchising, allowing franchisors to adapt to changing market conditions, new regulations, or evolving brand standards. However, it also introduces an element of uncertainty for franchisees, who need to be prepared to adjust their business practices and potentially invest additional capital to remain compliant with the updated guidelines. Prospective franchisees should carefully consider this aspect and discuss with existing franchisees how Counselor Realty has historically managed changes to its policies and standards.