Can an Engel & Volkers franchisee use the Engel & Volkers name for managing real estate?
Engel_Volkers Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
The Franchise Agreement strictly defines the real estate brokerage services you may provide under the Engel & Völkers name. These defined services are more limited than the scope of activities permitted under most state real estate licensing laws.
Under the residential franchise we are granting to you, you may use the Engel & Völkers name for the listing, offering, selling, exchanging, purchasing, managing, leasing or renting solely of the following types of compatible real estate for which a real estate broker's license is required under local law:
You may provide real estate brokerage services only for residential properties consisting of a house or building (including an apartment within a multi-family building) or undeveloped land, including leaseholds, vacation and resort residential units, cooperatives, condominiums, and any other form of real estate for which a residential real estate brokerage license is required under applicable law.
Although the Franchise Agreement grants a franchise for a Residential Real Estate Brokerage, you may also provide real estate brokerage services for commercial properties under residential Trademarks, provided: (i) the commercial real estate brokerage services are offered as a service ancillary to the provision of real estate brokerage services for residential properties, (ii) you do not hold yourself out as providing commercial real estate brokerage services as your principal business or as being a stand-alone provider solely of commercial services, and (iii) your aggregate listings on a unit basis of commercial properties does not exceed 5% of all its listings in any calendar year during the term of your Franchise Agreement ("Permitted Commercial Services"). For purposes of clarity, the definition of Permitted Commercial Services does not provide you with a right to conduct business under any other Trademarks, other than the residential Trademarks.
Source: Item 16 — RESTRICTIONS ON WHAT THE FRANCHISEE MAY SELL (FDD pages 62–63)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Engel & Volkers's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees can use the Engel & Volkers name for managing real estate under specific conditions. The Franchise Agreement defines the scope of real estate brokerage services a franchisee can offer under the Engel & Volkers name, which may be more limited than what state real estate licensing laws permit.
Under a residential franchise, franchisees can use the Engel & Volkers name for listing, offering, selling, exchanging, purchasing, managing, leasing, or renting compatible real estate. This includes residential properties like houses, buildings (including apartments), undeveloped land, leaseholds, vacation and resort residential units, cooperatives, condominiums, and any other form of real estate requiring a residential real estate brokerage license under applicable law.
While the franchise is primarily for residential real estate brokerage, franchisees may also provide commercial real estate brokerage services under residential trademarks, provided these services are ancillary to residential services. The franchisee cannot present commercial real estate as their primary business and commercial property listings cannot exceed 5% of all listings in any calendar year. This allowance for commercial services does not grant the franchisee the right to operate under any trademarks other than the residential trademarks.