Under what circumstances related to assignee interviews will an Engel & Volkers franchisee be required to reimburse the Franchisor's expenses?

According to Engel & Volkers's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, a franchisee may be required to reimburse Engel & Volkers for expenses related to assignee interviews. Specifically, if Engel & Volkers chooses to meet with the proposed assignee at their principal place of business or residence, the franchisee is responsible for reimbursing Engel & Volkers for all travel, lodging, meal, and personal expenses incurred during such a meeting.

This condition applies when a franchisee seeks to assign or transfer their franchise to a third party. As part of the approval process, Engel & Volkers may decide to conduct an in-person meeting with the proposed assignee at the assignee's location. This contrasts with the standard requirement that the assignee presents themselves for an interview at Engel & Volkers's corporate office at no expense to Engel & Volkers.

For a prospective Engel & Volkers franchisee, this means that if they decide to sell their franchise, they should be prepared to cover Engel & Volkers's expenses if Engel & Volkers opts to travel to the assignee for an interview. The costs could include airfare, hotel stays, meals, and other incidentals, which could potentially be a significant expense depending on the location of the proposed assignee. This is a condition to consider when planning for a future sale of the franchise.