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Century 21 Real Estate
Century 21 Real Estate LLC franchises real estate sales offices that offer residential real estate brokerage services, commercial real estate services, and limited property management services under the CENTURY 21® brand and system. Franchisees, typically owners of existing brokerages or new startups, pay initial franchise fees (e.g., $25,000 standard) and ongoing fees to access branding, marketing, training, referrals, and operational support. The target market includes real estate brokers serving residential and commercial buyers, sellers, and property owners in the U.S.
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Franchise Costs
6% royalty + 0.5% BMF + $500/mo minimum royalty + $1,000-$3,000/yr software maintenance
Financial Performance
Item 19 Financial Performance
This franchise did not provide Item 19 financial performance data.
Be careful if you are interested in investing. The lack of financial performance representations may indicate limited data or varying results across franchises.
Extracted Item 19 Section
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Unlock financial performance dataCentury 21 Real Estate Franchise Analysis
Veteran real estate brokers know Century 21's iconic red-white-blue branding carries weight in competitive markets. Yet the latest FDD hints at uneven system dynamics through turnover stats, high transfer activity, and a cluster of SBA loans that raise eyebrows. Without Item 19 earnings disclosure, do litigation echoes and expansion projections signal steady growth or hidden risks?
Item 7 lays out the financial entry: initial franchise fee of $25,000, with total investment ranging $35,770-$286,100 depending on office size and location—lower than many brokerages but scaling with existing operations. Ongoing fees bite at 6% royalty (with $500 monthly minimum), 0.5% brand marketing fund, plus $1,000-$3,000 annual software costs, pressuring cash flow in slow markets. No Item 19 means no validated revenue or profit figures, a red flag for due diligence since real estate hinges on commissions; buyers must dig into FDD Item 20 for context or seek third-party comps. SBA data shows 29 loans averaging $535,497—substantial for brokerage setups, suggesting franchisees leverage big for scaling but watch default risks.
System health mixes stability with churn: 1,685 U.S. locations since 1972, yet 11 terminations, 11 non-renewals, and 59 transfers signal moderate dissatisfaction or market shifts. Projected 57 new units points to optimism under Anywhere Real Estate Inc., but litigation notes flag breaches, royalty disputes, and contract fights with franchisees—common in fee-heavy brands. For investors with brokerage experience, this offers referral networks and training, but high transfers and fee minimums demand strong local volume to thrive; contraction vibes make it riskier for newcomers versus proven operators.
Analysis based on the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document. All figures should be independently verified before making investment decisions.
How Century 21 Real Estate Compares
Key Insights
- #2 largest franchise system in Real Estate Brokerage
- One of the lowest SBA loan default rates in Real Estate Brokerage
| Franchise | Investment | Fee | Royalty | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Century 21 Real Estate Current | $36K – $286K | $25K | 6.0% | 1,685 |
| Century 21 Real Estate LLC | $35K – $279K | $25K | 6.0% | 1,734 |
| SOTHEBY'S INTERNATIONAL REALTY | $47K – $332K | $25K | 6.0% | 672 |
| ERA | $33K – $260K | $25K | 6.0% | 444 |
| ERA | $34K – $267K | $25K | N/A | 434 |
| REALTY ONE GROUP | $47K – $228K | $25K | 0.0% | 408 |
Real Estate Brokerage Average 21 franchises | $49K – $295K | $25K | 5.4% | – |
* Comparison based on latest FDD filings. Investment ranges from Item 7, fees from Item 5. Showing top 5 of 21 Real Estate Brokerage franchises by location count.
SBA Loan History
Historical SBA 7(a) loan data for Century 21 Real Estate franchisees (2010 – 2025)
Loans by Year
SBA 7(a) loan activity over time
* Data sourced from SBA 7(a) FOIA loan records. Default rate calculated from charged-off loans.
29 SBA loans on record
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Unlock SBA loan historyFranchisee Contacts
1,638 franchisee contacts on file from official FDD filings.
1,638 Contacts Available
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Unlock contactsDue Diligence
Litigation (Item 3)
Breach of franchise agreement, royalty/fee disputes, and related contract matters with current and former franchisees.
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
System Health (Item 20)
Franchise system changes reported in the most recent fiscal year
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Unlock due diligence reportsFrequently Asked Questions
The total initial investment to open a Century 21 Real Estate franchise ranges from $35,770 to $286,100. This includes a franchise fee of $25,000. Ongoing royalty fees are 6.0% of gross sales.