Sotheby’s International Realty
Franchise research report · reviewed 2026 disclosure data
Researching Sotheby’s International Realty franchise opportunities? Every figure below is cited to the FDD.
- Headquarters
- Madison, NJ United States Source: franchise.org
Sotheby's International Realty is a real estate brokerage network focused on residential and luxury property. It connects independent real estate firms with clients through an international franchise model.
Headline figures
Quick facts
- How much does it cost to open a Sotheby’s International Realty franchise?
- The Sotheby’s International Realty Franchise Disclosure Document reports separate estimated initial investments by format: $47,250–$331,950 for conversion only (conversion office total estimated initial investment) (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 40); $81,500–$187,300 for start-up office total additional cost (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 43); $128,750–$519,250 for start-up office total initial investment (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 43). These formats are not combined. Each is the franchisor's disclosed estimate, not a quote. Details
- What is the Sotheby’s International Realty initial franchise fee?
- The disclosed initial franchise fee for a standard single unit is $25,000 (2026 FDD, Item 5, PDF p. 31). Other fee options (for example multi-unit or conversion) are listed separately in the report. Details
- What ongoing fees does Sotheby’s International Realty charge?
- The disclosed ongoing royalty is $6 (2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 31). The brand or advertising fund contribution is $2 (2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 31). Other recurring fees are listed in Item 6. Details
- Does Sotheby’s International Realty disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- No. The reviewed Sotheby’s International Realty FDD states that it does not make a financial performance representation in Item 19. Details
- How many Sotheby’s International Realty locations are there?
- The FDD reports 709 outlets at the end of 2025 (2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 78). Existing locations do not indicate territory availability. Details
From reviewed FDD figures only. Not a recommendation or projection.
What the disclosures show
- 1The 2026 FDD (Item 7) estimates opening costs separately by format: $47,250 – $331,950 (Conversion Office total estimated initial investment); $81,500 – $187,300 (Start-up office total additional cost); $128,750 – $519,250 (Start-up office total initial investment); several initial fee options apply.
- 2The franchisor makes no financial performance representation in Item 19.
- 3Outlets declined by 1 in 2025, to 709 (Systemwide, as labeled in the FDD, Item 20).
From reviewed FDD figures only. Not a recommendation or projection.
Costs · Items 5–7
What does it cost to open?
Estimated opening costs and the fees payable to the franchisor.
Startup Investment — Item 7
Range across 3 single-unit formats
2026 FDD · Item 7
Formats disclosed in Item 7 (3)
Each format has its own total. The total depends on the format you choose.
- Conversion Office total estimated initial investmentPDF p. 40$47,250 – $331,950
- Start-up office total additional costPDF p. 43$81,500 – $187,300
- Start-up office total initial investmentPDF p. 43$128,750 – $519,250
Standard single-unit franchise fee
2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 31
Discounted and multi-unit options are separate; see all fees.
Ongoing Fees — Item 6
Selected recurring charges; payment bases and conditions remain attached to each fee.
- Royalty fee rateMain ongoing fee
25 reported fees, each with its payment basis, are listed below; they haven't been sorted into recurring, initial and occasional groups yet.
Financial Performance — Item 19
What results are disclosed—and for which locations?
No financial performance representation in Item 19
The reviewed 2026 FDD for Sotheby’s International Realty has no Item 19 figures on record. Franopolis does not estimate revenue or earnings in their place; ask the franchisor and current owners what unit-level information they can share.
Outlet Changes — Item 20
How has the outlet count changed?
Systemwide, as labeled in the FDD · counts as of December 31, 2025 of each year.
2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 78
Net −9 outlets, 2023–2025
Year-end counts reported in Item 20. The scale starts at zero, so the line looks nearly flat; the labels between the dots show each year's change. Openings and closures for 2025 haven't been pulled from the Item 20 tables yet, so no turnover or churn is shown.
Questions to investigate
Prompts based on what this brand's reviewed disclosures do and don't show — not conclusions. Join free as a member to save questions to your research.
For the franchisor
Which line items in the 2026 Item 7 estimate ($47,250 – $519,250) vary most by market, and why?
Which initial fee option would apply to my situation, and what conditions or discounts affect it?
Sotheby’s International Realty reports no financial performance figures in Item 19. What information can you share about unit-level results?
Reported units decreased from 710 to 709 in 2025. What drove the change?
Is a territory available in my area, and how is it defined in my agreement?
For current and former owners
How did your actual startup costs and timeline compare with the Item 7 estimate?
How many hours a week do you work in the business, and in what role?
What support from the franchisor has been most and least useful?
For your advisors
Ask a franchise attorney to review the territory, renewal, transfer and termination terms.
Ask an accountant to build a cash-flow plan using your own assumptions, not the franchisor's.
Sources & vintage history
Every displayed fact is retained with its disclosure vintage, item, page, and reviewed status. Prior vintages remain on file rather than being overwritten.
Citations (2026 FDD)
- [1]Standard initial franchise fee — Item 5 · PDF p. 31
- [2]Outlet counts — Item 20, Table 1 · PDF p. 78
"PDF p." is the page in the PDF file; "printed p." is the number printed on the FDD page. Source document: FDD
Territory & operations
No territory or operating requirements have been reviewed yet.
691 addresses in Franopolis's imported location list. Coverage may differ from Item 20 outlet counts.
These are contract disclosures, not confirmation that any territory is currently available.
Legal & agreement
Franchisor financial statements
No verified franchisor financial statement figures have been reviewed yet.
SBA-backed loans to franchisees
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Source: U.S. Small Business Administration 7(a) & 504 FOIA data. Loan volume is not a measure of franchisee success.
Related research
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At a glance
Business history
Not reviewed
Owner participation
Not reviewed
Territory language
Not reviewed
Litigation disclosure
Not reviewed
Bankruptcy disclosure
Not reviewed
Agreement term
Not reviewed
Independent analysis of franchisor-provided data. Not investment advice. Franopolis does not distribute FDDs.