Is attendance at Exit's initial training program required?
Exit Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
10 days EXIT charges you $1,000. At the option of EXIT, some or all of the training may be online.
You and any individual who will serve as the administrator of your Franchise office must attend and complete the initial training program to EXIT Realty Upper Midwest and EXIT's satisfaction. Attendance must be at the next scheduled training following your execution of the Franchise Agreement. In addition, within 60 days after completion of the initial training, you must complete and attend the 1-day training course conducted by EXIT Realty Upper Midwest (if offered) at a location within the State of Iowa. There are no charges for the Iowa [insert your state] course or the materials. However, you are responsible for your own lodging, meals and incidental expenses. At the option of EXIT, some or all of the training may be online.
EXIT currently offers an Advanced Broker Course known as the Master Broker Summit. The prerequisite to attending this course is that the Franchisee must have first attended the Franchise Management Training Course. It is recommended that this Advanced Broker Course be attended at least once during the five-year term of the Franchise Agreement.
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S AND SUBFRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND TRAINING (FDD pages 19–24)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Exit's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, attendance at the initial training program is mandatory for franchisees and their administrators. Specifically, both the franchisee and any individual who will serve as the administrator of the franchise office must attend and complete the initial training program to the satisfaction of Exit Realty Upper Midwest and Exit. This attendance must occur at the next scheduled training following the execution of the Franchise Agreement.
In addition to the initial training, franchisees must also attend a 1-day training course conducted by Exit Realty Upper Midwest within 60 days after completing the initial training, if offered in Iowa (or the franchisee's state). While there are no charges for this state-specific course or its materials, franchisees are responsible for their own lodging, meals, and incidental expenses. Exit does provide the option for some or all of the training to be completed online.
If a franchisee signs up for training but fails to attend or cancels with less than 30 days' notice, Exit charges a fee of $500. This fee increases to $1,000 if the cancellation occurs with less than 10 days' notice. Furthermore, if Exit's next scheduled training program is offered prior to the office opening, the franchisee must attend that program; otherwise, they must attend the next scheduled training program. These requirements ensure that franchisees and their administrators are adequately prepared to operate their Exit franchise according to the franchisor's standards.