Sotheby's International Realty

Sotheby's International Realty, a Sotheby's Intl Realty Affiliates franchise, has been franchising since 2004 — 28 years after the concept was founded in 1976 , currently with 1,000 total locations in the real estate sector, headquartered in NJ. Investment figures are not uniformly disclosed in the summary-level data shown above; prospective franchisees should request the full FDD for a complete Item 7 cost breakdown.

Ongoing royalties run 6.0% of gross sales with an additional 3.0% national advertising fund contribution, bringing the combined ongoing cost to 9.0% of every dollar in sales. Notably, Sotheby's International Realty does not disclose financial performance (Item 19) in its FDD. That is common (Item 19 is optional under the FTC Franchise Rule) but it puts the burden on prospective buyers to survey existing franchisees (Item 20 contact list), model unit economics from public comparables, and demand validated profit-and-loss data before signing.

Network momentum is currently positive: Sotheby's International Realty added units at a 2.0% net rate year-over-year (50 openings, 30 closures). Sustained positive growth is a signal that the unit-economics are working well enough to attract new operators, though late-stage growth can also reflect aggressive sales push rather than operational health. Before committing capital, triangulate this summary against the full FDD, a franchise attorney's review, and direct conversations with five or more current and former franchisees from Item 20.