UNITED COUNTRY REAL ESTATE

The standout data point: despite 378 franchise locations (down from 394 in 2023 per Item 20), the system contracted 4% year-over-year, with 6 terminations, 17 non-renewals, and 17 transfers signaling moderate churn. Franchise fee from Item 5 sits at a modest $20,000, appealing for real estate entry, but Item 6 fees stack up—royalties tier from 12% of gross commissions (dropping to 6% at high volumes), plus a flat $400 monthly technology services fee and $45 per broker/agent/auctioneer affiliation ($20 if opting for group E&O insurance). No total initial investment range is detailed here, but expect brokerage setup costs like office, licensing, and marketing to push beyond the fee.

No Item 19 disclosure means no peek at representative revenues or profits, a gap that hits hard in commission-driven real estate where rural focus might limit deal flow versus urban giants. Projected 42 new units (Item 20) suggest franchisor optimism, yet recent shrinkage and non-renewals imply some owners bail amid thin margins or market softness. For investor scrutiny, this paints a low-barrier entry with ongoing fee drag and unproven earnings—rural specialists might thrive via leads and training (Item 11), but contraction flags validate demand before committing.