ITEMS 5–7 · FDD 2026
How much is a RE/MAX franchise?
Per RE/MAX's 2026 FDD, the initial franchise fee is $35K (Item 5) and the total initial investment runs $37K–$337K (Item 7); once open, you pay an ongoing royalty of 1.0% of gross sales (Item 6).
$35K
one-time, to buy in
1.0%
of gross sales, ongoing
$37K–$337K
franchisor's own estimate
| Cost line | RE/MAX | Sector median |
|---|---|---|
| Initial franchise fee ITEM 5 | $35K | $35K |
| Ongoing royalty ITEM 6 | 1.0% | 6.5% |
| Total initial investment ITEM 7 | $37K–$337K | $64K–$244K |
MEDIANS: LATEST REAL FDD FILINGS OF 16 REAL ESTATE SYSTEMS · FULL REAL ESTATE BENCHMARK →
The buy-in is the smaller number. The larger one is the drag: 1.0% of every sale leaves before rent, labor, or your salary — so breakeven depends on volume you cannot know from the FDD, and this brand publishes no Item 19 earnings data to anchor it.
To open (Item 7)
$37K–$337K
all-in investment range
Franchise fee (Item 5)
$35K
upfront, one-time
Royalty (Item 6)
1%
of sales, ongoing
Your figure — this brand discloses no Item 19 earnings; validate with current & former owners.
Royalty you'd pay / yr
$10K
1% of sales, before profit
Over a 10-yr term
$100K
royalties alone, excl. ad fund
This is not profit. It's the only money the FDD actually pins down — what you put in, and the royalty you owe on every dollar of sales. Your real take-home depends on labor, rent, food cost, and ramp-to-breakeven, none of which any FDD discloses.
Build a real pro-forma for RE/MAX with an independent CPARE/MAX cost questions, answered from the filing
How much is a RE/MAX franchise?
Per RE/MAX's 2026 FDD, opening a franchise requires an initial franchise fee of $35K (Item 5) and a total initial investment of $37K–$337K (Item 7). Item 7 is the franchisor's own estimate — treat the low end as a floor, not a budget.
What royalty does RE/MAX charge?
RE/MAX charges an ongoing royalty of 1.0% of gross sales, per Item 6 of its 2026 FDD. The median across 16 real estate systems tracked here is 6.5%.
Does RE/MAX tell you what franchisees earn?
No — RE/MAX's 2026 FDD makes no Item 19 earnings claim, so any revenue figure you hear comes from sales conversations, not disclosure documents. Validate with current and former franchisees.
A broker is paid by the franchisor to place you. An independent CPA is paid by you — and the job is pressure-testing RE/MAX's numbers, including talking you out of a bad deal.
Talk to an independent CPA before you buy →