Century 21 Franchise
Century 21 is the franchisor of the world's largest residential real estate sales organization, with more than 9,000 independently owned and operated franchised broker offices in over 30 countries and territories worldwide.
$50,000
$25,000
1,734
1972
Madison,NJ
Michael Miedler
About Century 21
Century 21 is one of the best-known and most beloved real estate brands in the United States and around the globe, with offices that span 80 countries, multiple continents and countless languages. One of the brand’s core values is innovation, leading to the implementation of unique franchising formats where brokers are allowed to highlight their own unique company personality – at times offering additional services not related to the Century 21 brand – while enjoying the backing, experience, training and tools of a global real estate giant.
This adaptability to local real estate markets and high client-satisfaction standards have earned Century 21 numerous awards over the years, such as J.D. Power’s “Highest Overall Satisfaction” award in the First-Time Home Sellers, First-Time Home Buyers, Repeat Home Sellers, and Repeat Home Buyers categories for four years in a row. In 2018, the company scored the top spot in the Home Seller Satisfaction Study, with five stars in every possible category. Six Century 21 brokerages placed in the top 100 of the Real Trends 500 By Volume, with even more firms making it into the coveted Billionaires’ Club.
Franchise Unit Trends
1,734
72
-
* in 2024
Franchise Fees
$25,000
6.0%
Gross Revenues
0.5%
Gross Revenues
Why Choose Century 21?
There are numerous positives to franchising with Century 21, perhaps the largest being its incredible brand recognition. Virtually anywhere across the country or around the world, carrying the Century 21 name instantly puts consumers at ease and generates credibility and trust.
While the brand provides significant freedom for franchisees to run their business independently, Century 21 offers access to in-depth training. This includes guidance for real estate operations and business areas such as accounting, IT and administrative departments. In fact, via Century 21 University, an online classroom with live and video-based instruction, franchisees can even secure professional certification for new real estate agents.
Century 21 enables franchisees to utilize branded websites, real estate aggregators such as Zillow and Homes.com, social media marketing campaigns and proprietary search technology called Zap to facilitate the process of finding homebuyers and reaching them at the perfect time. Zap provides firms with their own website and mobile app, concentrating all available local listings and revealing search intent of potential clients, neighborhood information, market values and other key data points.
Starting Costs & Investment Requirements
$22,700 - $456,350
$75,000
$50,000
Training & Support
Century 21 provides different training formats for first-time franchisees and existing real estate companies seeking to integrate into the Century 21 brand. In addition to pre-launch training and first-month oversight, the company offers numerous onsite training sessions during the first year, focusing on managers, sales personnel and brokers. Other realtor-related training programs are available — at times for a fee — via Century 21 University, an online portal that even provides certification services.
History
Century 21 wasn’t the first real estate firm to appear in the United States, but it was — and continues to be — one of the most innovative, developing a unique franchising strategy that some say was ahead of its time. In order to allow smaller independent brokers to compete with larger national chains, Art Bartlett, the founder of Century 21, decided to unify them under the Century 21 brand and provide training, marketing support and other advantages that gave independents the edge needed to succeed.
By the 1980s, real estate was synonymous with Century 21 and the company’s distinctive “for sale” signs, which even appeared in TV and film. Later, Century 21 became a subsidiary of Realogy Corporation, joining numerous other real estate powerhouses such as Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate, Sotheby’s International Realty and Coldwell Banker.
In 2018, the company undertook a complete rebranding “revolution” aimed at shaking things up in what is perceived to be a real-estate industry where consumers feel that finding an agent isn’t worth the hassle. Featuring extensive media coverage via an ESPN partnership, the new Century 21 places heavy emphasis on responding to the unique personality of each homeowner and playing to the strengths of individual Century 21 brokers. In short, the brand has refocused its attention on people over balance sheets, and incredible client experiences over fulfilling a quota.
Ideal Candidate
Potential Century 21 franchisees need to consider the responsibilities required to triumph in the competitive real estate market and the professional qualifications that the Century 21 brand looks for in prospective brokerages. Century 21 brokers may face competition from other Century 21 agents or subsidiaries of Realogy Corporation. This makes prior experience in the real estate business a significant advantage, though not a requirement.
The Century 21 brand gives priority to real estate brokers and entrepreneurs who are passionate about their profession and have a determined, proactive personality. New firms are also welcome but must meet specific financial criteria and professional qualifications. The brand is heavily focused on innovation and stepping outside of the box, so they expect potential franchisees to demonstrate the ability to push the envelope when it comes to real estate.
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