Is an Engel & Volkers franchisee permitted to allow public traffic or onsite client interactions at the Administrative Location?
Engel_Volkers Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
4. Use of Premises/Operations.
4.1 Franchisee shall use its premises solely for the limited purpose of housing Franchisee's administrative and support personnel and performing administrative tasks for Franchisee franchised Business. Franchisee shall not use the premises for any other purpose or activity at any time. Franchisee will not permit public traffic, onsite client interactions or any real estate transactions at the Administrative Location and shall keep its residential real estate brokerage services permitted under the FA separate.
4.2 Franchisee may not use or permit its Sales Advisors to use the Administrative Location's address on Franchisee's or its Sales Advisor's business cards, websites or other on-line presence, social media, marketing, or other promotional materials, whether printed or online, used by Franchisee or its Sales Advisor's when conducting its real estate business services under the FA.
4.3 Franchisee will operate the Administrative Location in accordance with the standards as set forth in the System Documentation, as may be amended from time to time in Franchisor's sole discretion, and as part of its franchise Business and in compliance with the terms and conditions of the FA, as applicable and so far as not amended by this Administrative Location Addendum.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD page 88)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Engel & Volkers' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are explicitly prohibited from allowing public traffic or onsite client interactions at the Administrative Location. The Administrative Location is intended solely for housing administrative and support personnel and performing administrative tasks related to the franchised Engel & Volkers business. Franchisees must keep their residential real estate brokerage services separate from the Administrative Location.
This restriction ensures that the Administrative Location remains focused on its intended purpose of supporting the franchise's back-end operations, rather than serving as a customer-facing location. This separation helps maintain the brand's image and operational efficiency.
Additionally, Engel & Volkers franchisees are not allowed to use the Administrative Location's address on business cards, websites, social media, or any marketing materials for their real estate business. This further reinforces the distinction between the administrative functions and the client-facing brokerage services. Franchisees must operate the Administrative Location according to the standards outlined in the Engel & Volkers System Documentation and the Franchise Agreement.