Franchise opportunities compared
Sotheby’s International Realty vs Upper Midwest 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.
Initial investment · Item 7
Sotheby’s International Realty
$47,250 – $519,250
2026 FDD · Item 7Upper Midwest Realty
$60,800 – $209,000
2026 FDD · Item 7Initial franchise fee · Item 5
Sotheby’s International Realty
$25,000
2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 31Upper Midwest Realty
Not available
Royalty · Item 6
Sotheby’s International Realty
6%
2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 31Upper Midwest Realty
Not available
Before you compare
- Both sets of figures come from 2026 FDDs.
- Sotheby’s International Realty and Upper Midwest 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
Sotheby’s International Realty
Upper Midwest Realty
Sotheby’s International Realty
Upper Midwest Realty
Sotheby’s International Realty
Upper Midwest Realty
Sotheby’s International Realty
Upper Midwest Realty
System scale & health
Sotheby’s International Realty
Upper Midwest Realty
Sotheby’s International Realty
Upper Midwest Realty
Sotheby’s International Realty
Upper Midwest Realty
Sotheby’s International Realty
Upper Midwest Realty
Sotheby’s International Realty
Upper Midwest Realty
Financial performance (Item 19), by location group
Not disclosed — no Item 19 financial performance representation
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.
Sotheby’s International Realty vs Upper Midwest Realty: common questions
- Which costs less to open, Sotheby’s International Realty or Upper Midwest Realty?
- Sotheby’s International Realty: $47,250 – $519,250 (2026 FDD · Item 7); Upper Midwest Realty: $60,800 – $209,000 (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.
- Which has more locations, Sotheby’s International Realty or Upper Midwest Realty?
- Sotheby’s International Realty: 709 (2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 71); Upper Midwest Realty: 518 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 33). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
- Do Sotheby’s International Realty and Upper Midwest Realty disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- Sotheby’s International Realty makes no Item 19 financial performance representation; Upper Midwest 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.
Keep researching
Full Sotheby’s International Realty report
Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure
Full Upper Midwest Realty report
Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure
