Century 21 vs EXIT Realty franchise USA 2026: which one wins on real numbers?
Century 21 is 1.7× cheaper to get into — $36K vs $61K (about $25K less). Century 21 runs the bigger network at 1685 vs 518 outlets.
01 What actually matters
Numbers that separate them on a 5-year horizon — not the franchise-development pitch.
The operational model splits the room: Century 21 expects medium involvement; EXIT Realty expects high involvement. If you're an absentee investor this matters as much as the capex — the wrong match burns you via under-managed operations.
Century 21 charges 6% royalty on revenue — recurring, uncapped, and deducted before your own margin is calculated. Factor it into every pro-forma.
On pure entry capital, Century 21 is 1.7× cheaper than EXIT Realty — $36K vs $61K. That gap compounds over a 5-year horizon because build-out, equipment, opening inventory and the additional funds in FDD Item 7 all scale with format size.
02 The numbers, visualised
Primary format per brand, from FDD Item 7. A brand's smaller express or non-traditional formats can cost materially less.
Initial investment (FDD Item 7)
Total initial investment, low end of each brand's FDD Item 7 range for its primary format. Several US brands also run smaller express, non-traditional or conversion formats at materially lower investment — check the brand page for the full Item 7 table.
Network scale — total outlets
Total US outlets from FDD Item 20. Bigger networks mean more brand recognition and supplier scale; smaller ones mean less intra-brand competition in your trade area.
Customer ratings
Which brand's outlets are rated higher by customers, aggregated across locations. Exact star rating and review volume are in Brand Health.
Direction only — the underlying rating & review count are Pro data.
03 Side-by-side
Straight from each brand’s FDD. Green badge marks the more favourable value for a typical first-time operator.
| Metric | Century 21 | EXIT Realty |
|---|---|---|
| Initial investment (Item 7) | $36K ↓ Lower | $61K |
| Royalty (Item 6) | 6% | — |
| Gross margin | — | — |
| Min space (sq ft) | 3500 | 750 ↓ Smaller |
| Total US outlets (Item 20) | 1685 ↑ Bigger | 518 |
| Franchise fee (Item 5) | $25K | $8K ↓ Lower |
| Additional funds | — | — |
Not sure if Century 21 or EXIT Realty actually fits *you*?
BrandFit asks 6 visual questions about your operator profile, capital, and location — then ranks all 182 brands by predicted success-fit for your situation. See where these brands really stand for someone like you.
Ready to talk to Century 21 or EXIT Realty?
FRANticc is independent — not the franchisor, and paid nothing by either brand. We send you straight to the brand's own franchise-development team, and we never collect or forward your contact details.
04 Explore these brands in depth
Same data plus the full FDD breakdown, fee load, contract fairness and SBA lending picture — free on every brand page.
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05 Frequently asked
Wrapped in FAQPage JSON-LD for SERP rich-result eligibility.
What is the cheapest Real Estate Brokerage franchise in the US?
The lowest-investment option here is Century 21 starting from $36K. Remember this is the LOW end of the brand's FDD Item 7 initial-investment range — Item 7's high end is the number to plan against, and it sits before the working capital you burn until the unit turns over.
How many Real Estate Brokerage franchise brands are available in the US?
FRANticc's database lists 2 brands matching this comparison with verified investment data, store counts, and format details. Several more are covered across our full directory. Every figure is traced to the brand's Franchise Disclosure Document.
What is the typical contract term for these Real Estate Brokerage franchises?
Contract terms among these brands range from Century 21 (10-yr term · no renewal rights; franchisor may grant an additional term.); EXIT Realty (5-yr initial · renewable for subsequent 5- or 10-yr periods · 6-month notice required · renewal fee 10-15% of then-current initial fee). Shorter terms offer renewal leverage but can mean the brand exits a weak market; longer terms lock you in but often include renewal fees. Always clarify renewal terms in writing before signing the initial contract.
What are the hidden costs in Real Estate Brokerage franchises?
FDD Item 7 is the honest list, and it runs well past the headline number: initial franchise fee (Item 5), leasehold improvements and build-out, equipment and signage, opening inventory, insurance, training travel, grand-opening advertising, and three months of additional funds. On top of that sit the recurring Item 6 fees — royalty, national ad fund, technology, and often a local-marketing minimum. FRANticc separates the one-time spend from the recurring load on every brand page so you see the real exposure.