Real Living vs Commission Express Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Real Living vs Commission Express including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Real Living Franchise
Commission Express Franchise
Investment $3,000 - $80,000$112,800 - $301,500
Franchise Fee $2,500 - $80,000$15,000 - $60,000
Royalty Fee 5%Varies
Advertising Fee --
Year Founded 19761992
Year Franchised 19811996
Term Of Agreement 10 years10 years
Term Of Agreement 10 years10 years
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements

 
Real Living Franchise
Commission Express Franchise
Experience -
  • General business experience

  • Financing Options

     
    Real Living Franchise
    Commission Express Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/NoNo/No
    Start-up Costs No/NoNo/No
    Equipment No/NoNo/No
    Inventory No/NoNo/No
    Receivables No/NoNo/No
    Payroll No/NoNo/No

    Training & Support

     
    Real Living Franchise
    Commission Express Franchise
    Training --
    Support Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluationsNewsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Internet, Field operations/evaluations
    Marketing Co-op advertisingCo-op advertising, Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertising
    Operations

    Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed.

    15% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 1

    Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)


    Expansion Plans

     
    Real Living Franchise
    Commission Express Franchise
    US Expansion Yes-
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion NoYes

    Company Overviews

    About Real Living

    With a makeshift desk of two sawhorses and a door, Harley E. Rouda started Harley E. Rouda Realty Co. in Upper Arlington, Ohio, in 1956. Now working with his son Harley E. Rouda Jr., Rouda is still involved in this family-owned and -operated franchise company, which specializes in residential real estate.
    Real Living Real Estate is a full-service real estate brokerage franchise company with a comprehensive and integrated suite of resources for franchisees and their sales professionals, as well as for consumers who work with them. Real Living Real Estate earned a record 98% customer satisfaction rating for 2017, according to independent ratings service Quality Service Certification, Inc. (QSC). This is the highest customer satisfaction score ever earned by Real Living, and it places the brokerage network atop the industry for customer satisfaction. Real Living Real Estate is a network brand of HSF Affiliates LLC, which is owned by HomeServices of America, Inc.™, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate. Visit www.RealLiving.com

    About Commission Express

    John L Stedman and Joseph M. Giovannelli founded Commission Express, based in Fairfax, Virginia, in 1992. With most real estate transactions, an agent waits between 30 and 90 days to receive his or her commission. In the meantime, the agent still has to cover the costs of running an office and paying employees.
    Commission Express franchisees essentially offer agents cash advances by purchasing an agent's outstanding commissions at a discount. When the home purchase is completed and the commission is received, Commission Express withholds between 8 and 14 percent in fees. Franchisees provide their own capital to purchase the commissions.

    The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Commission Express franchised business with a protected development territory ranges from $172,300 to $301,500. This includes $10,000 (for a small territory), $25,000 (for a medium territory) or $50,000 (for a large territory) that must be paid to the franchisor.
    The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Commission Express franchised business with an open market development territory ranges from $112,800 to $192,500. This includes $25,000 that must be paid to the franchisor.