What is the Engel & Volkers Group's experience in operating real estate offices?
Engel_Volkers Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
The Engel & Völkers group of affiliated companies (the "Engel & Völkers Group"), are firms of real estate agents with extensive experience handling upscale properties under the Engel & Völkers name in Germany and other countries (e.g., Spain, Italy, U.K. and South Africa). The prior business experience of the Engel & Völkers Group includes more than 40 years operating Engel & Völkers real estate offices, more than 20 years operating and franchising Engel & Völkers real estate brokerages in the form of Property Shops. The Engel & Völkers Group channels the experience from the franchising of residential real estate brokerages into the yachting segment and its predecessor, Engel & Völkers Yachting GmbH, a German limited liability company, started the franchising of yachting brokerages in the form of Yachting Shops in June 2008.
The Engel & Völkers Group history goes back to 1977, when Engel & Cie was established to specialize in the sale and rental of top-quality residential premises in the suburbs of Hamburg, Germany. In 1988, Engel & Völkers GmbH established a division for the sale and rental of commercial property, and opened the first office for the sale of residential property/holiday homes outside Hamburg in the Tegernsee (Bavaria) and coastal areas of Germany. Many other offices followed and in 1989 Engel & Völkers GmbH opened its first office abroad in Majorca, Spain in an exclusive partnership with a third party.
In 1996, the offices of the Engel & Völkers Group were transformed into so-called "shops", allowing prospective clients to view the offerings in the shop windows. In 1998, Engel & Völkers GmbH began offering franchises to operate real estate brokerages in the form of Property Shops using the Engel & Völkers real estate brokerage franchise system (described below) in the residential real estate segment and, from 2002 on, in the commercial segment. Shortly afterwards, various franchised offices were opened in the greater Hamburg area, Hanover, Bremen and Berlin, Germany.
Source: Item 1 — THE FRANCHISOR AND ANY PARENTS, PREDECESSORS, AND AFFILIATES (FDD pages 8–15)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Engel & Volkers Franchise Disclosure Document, the Engel & Volkers Group has extensive experience in the real estate sector. Specifically, the Engel & Volkers Group has over 40 years of experience operating Engel & Volkers real estate offices. In addition to operating real estate offices, they also have more than 20 years of experience operating and franchising Engel & Volkers real estate brokerages in the form of Property Shops.
The Engel & Volkers Group's history dates back to 1977, when Engel & Cie was established, specializing in high-end residential property sales and rentals in the Hamburg, Germany area. By 1988, Engel & Volkers GmbH had expanded into commercial property and opened offices outside of Hamburg. In 1996, the Engel & Volkers Group transformed their offices into "shops" with window displays for property viewing.
Engel & Volkers GmbH began franchising real estate brokerages as Property Shops in 1998, initially focusing on residential real estate and later expanding into the commercial segment in 2002. Franchised offices were then established in areas such as Hamburg, Hanover, Bremen, and Berlin, Germany. This extensive operational and franchising background in real estate is a key element of the Engel & Volkers System offered to franchisees.