Franopolis
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    Franchise opportunities compared

    Real Estate Brokerage Business vs Sotheby’s International Realty

    Reviewed figures from each brand's Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), side by side. Each figure carries its FDD year and page. This is not a ranking or recommendation, and the two FDDs may cover different years and location groups.

    REReal Estate Brokerage Business2025 FDDSISotheby’s International Realty2026 FDD

    Initial investment · Item 7

    Real Estate Brokerage Business

    $65,500 – $205,000

    2025 FDD · Item 7

    Sotheby’s International Realty

    $47,250 – $519,250

    2026 FDD · Item 7

    Initial franchise fee · Item 5

    Real Estate Brokerage Business

    Not available

    Sotheby’s International Realty

    $25,000

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 31

    Royalty · Item 6

    Real Estate Brokerage Business

    $12

    2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 10

    Sotheby’s International Realty

    6%

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 31

    Before you compare

    • Real Estate Brokerage Business figures come from its 2025 FDD and Sotheby’s International Realty figures from its 2026 FDD, so the years differ.
    • Real Estate Brokerage Business and Sotheby’s International Realty disclose more than one business format, so the investment range spans formats; the full report breaks them out.
    • Only neither brand has reviewed Item 19 figures here.

    Financial commitment

    Estimated initial investment (Item 7)

    Real Estate Brokerage Business

    $65,500 – $205,000
    2025 FDD · Item 7

    Sotheby’s International Realty

    $47,250 – $519,250
    2026 FDD · Item 7
    Standard initial franchise fee (Item 5)

    Real Estate Brokerage Business

    Not available
    No single standard fee identified

    Sotheby’s International Realty

    $25,000
    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 31
    Royalty (Item 6)

    Real Estate Brokerage Business

    $12
    Royalty per agent per month
    2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 10

    Sotheby’s International Realty

    6%
    Royalty fee rate
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 31
    Brand / advertising fund (Item 6)

    Real Estate Brokerage Business

    4%
    Franchise Marketing Accrual Fund contribution — 4%
    2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 10

    Sotheby’s International Realty

    2%
    Brand Marketing Fund contribution rate — 2%
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 31

    System scale & health

    Total outlets (Item 20)

    Real Estate Brokerage Business

    262
    Outlets at end of 2024
    2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 35

    Sotheby’s International Realty

    709
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 71
    Net outlet change (Item 20)

    Real Estate Brokerage Business

    +24
    Calculated: 238 at end of 2022 → 262 at end of 2024

    Sotheby’s International Realty

    +2
    Calculated: 707 at end of 2022 → 709 at end of 2025
    Outlet exits (Item 20)

    Real Estate Brokerage Business

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year

    Sotheby’s International Realty

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year
    Franchising since (Item 1)

    Real Estate Brokerage Business

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Sotheby’s International Realty

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records
    Franchisor founded (Item 1)

    Real Estate Brokerage Business

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Sotheby’s International Realty

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Financial performance (Item 19), by location group

    REReal Estate Brokerage Business

    Not disclosed — no Item 19 financial performance representation

    SISotheby’s International Realty

    Not disclosed — no Item 19 financial performance representation

    Item 19 groups are shown separately and never combined. Revenue or sales figures are not profit. Net outlet change and turnover are Franopolis calculations from the disclosed counts; turnover is a count-based rate, not a measure of owner earnings.

    Real Estate Brokerage Business vs Sotheby’s International Realty: common questions

    Which costs less to open, Real Estate Brokerage Business or Sotheby’s International Realty?
    Real Estate Brokerage Business: $65,500 – $205,000 (2025 FDD · Item 7); Sotheby’s International Realty: $47,250 – $519,250 (2026 FDD · Item 7). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for Sotheby’s International Realty. At least one range spans several business formats. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
    How do Real Estate Brokerage Business and Sotheby’s International Realty royalties compare?
    Real Estate Brokerage Business: $12 (2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 10); Sotheby’s International Realty: 6% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 31). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
    Which has more locations, Real Estate Brokerage Business or Sotheby’s International Realty?
    Real Estate Brokerage Business: 262 (2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 35); Sotheby’s International Realty: 709 (2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 71). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
    Do Real Estate Brokerage Business and Sotheby’s International Realty disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    Real Estate Brokerage Business makes no Item 19 financial performance representation; Sotheby’s International Realty makes no Item 19 financial performance representation. Different location groups are not directly comparable, and revenue is not profit.

    Answers restate the reviewed figures above. Not a ranking or recommendation.

    How Franopolis reviews FDD figures

    Keep researching

    RE

    Full Real Estate Brokerage Business report

    Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure

    SI

    Full Sotheby’s International Realty report

    Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure

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    FDD glossary

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