A RE/MAX franchise operates as a licensed real estate brokerage Office: the franchisee recruits and supervises licensed Sales Associates, those Sales Associates serve property clients, and the Office records transactions, bills associates, manages referrals, and reports system data through required platforms.
The franchisee runs the brokerage infrastructure and local organization; licensed Sales Associates originate and complete client work; RE/MAX sets the approved service menu, brand standards, referral rules, technology and reporting requirements; and vendors such as Inside Real Estate, Intuit, RESAAS, and local real estate database providers supply essential workflow components.
What does a RE/MAX Office sell, and who buys it?
The Office supplies Authorized Services to sellers, purchasers, lessors, and renters, while also supplying brokerage affiliation, supervision, systems, and office support to its Sales Associates.
The 2026 FDD defines Authorized Services as listing, marketing, selling, purchasing, exchanging, auctioning, leasing, or renting real property and representing transaction parties. Consumers enter through a Sales Associate, an Office website, the official RE/MAX property search, local advertising, or a network referral.
Inside the Office, a Sales Associate includes a registered salesperson, broker associate, broker, manager, licensed administrator, or broker of record. Sales Associates typically retain a high percentage of earned commissions and pay agreed fees and overhead contributions to the Office. The franchisee remains responsible for supervision, records, and system obligations even when it does not collect corresponding amounts from them.
| Official format | Operating population | Required structure | Material boundary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Office | Residential brokerage, with approved related services; may contain one or more Teams. | Licensed day-to-day supervisor plus Sales Associates and any employees selected by the franchisee. | Address-only franchise; no exclusive territory. |
| Team Office | One Team serving brokerage clients. | One Team Leader and at least one additional Team Member; one Team per Team Franchise. | No standard Minimum Agent Count beyond maintaining the required Team. |
| Commercial Office | Commercial real estate clients and properties. | Commercial Office Addendum and commercial Sales Associates. | Residential work is restricted, subject to narrow disclosed exceptions. |
A residential Office may receive approval for a commercial division. The designation requires minimum COM or COMRES practitioner counts by market density and at least $10 million in annual commercial sale or lease transaction volume. The official RE/MAX Commercial page supplies current format context.
Evidence: 2026 FDD, Items 1, 12, and 16; Franchise Agreement §2.
How does work move through a RE/MAX Office?
The cycle moves from lead or referral intake to licensed representation, transaction execution, closing records, commission administration, and monthly reporting; legal steps vary by state and property type.
- Actor:
- Office, Sales Associate, or RE/MAX channel.
- Action:
- Generate or receive a seller, buyer, lessor, or renter inquiry through local marketing, property search, direct contact, or referral.
- System or asset:
- Office and Sales Associate websites, advertising, real estate database feed, or MAXRefer.
- Output:
- A lead ready for assignment and service-capability review.
- Actor:
- Manager or licensed Sales Associate.
- Action:
- Accept and contact the lead within applicable standards, confirm licensing and local-service capability, or route it to another Office.
- System or asset:
- Lead-routing tools when used and mandatory MAXRefer for network referrals.
- Output:
- Assigned client relationship or documented referral.
- Actor:
- Sales Associate under the designated or managing broker.
- Action:
- Establish representation, gather property and client requirements, and agree commission terms independently of RE/MAX.
- System or asset:
- Brokerage forms, Independent Contractor Agreement, local licensing rules, and Office supervision.
- Output:
- Authorized engagement and a defined transaction path.
- Actor:
- Sales Associate, supported by Office personnel.
- Action:
- Market a listing or locate property, coordinate showings, offers, negotiations, leasing, and transaction tasks required for the engagement.
- System or asset:
- Approved listing data feed, permitted marketing materials, transaction tools, and Technology System.
- Output:
- Executed agreement progressing toward closing or lease completion.
- Actor:
- Office back office and supervising broker.
- Action:
- Record the closed transaction, track commissions and referral obligations, disburse amounts, bill Sales Associates, and maintain accounting records.
- System or asset:
- BoldTrail Back Office, QuickBooks Online, MAXRefer when applicable, and retained transaction files.
- Output:
- Reconciled transaction, commission record, and Office books.
- Actor:
- Franchisee or Manager.
- Action:
- Submit required monthly Sales Associate, revenue, and transaction-side information, maintain records, respond to audits, and support follow-up or repeat service.
- System or asset:
- Agent Office Portal, BoldTrail Back Office, accounting records, and REMAX network database.
- Output:
- System reporting, fee calculation inputs, auditable records, and the next relationship cycle.
If the Office cannot meet the service standard or declines a potential client transaction, it must refer the request to another REMAX Office. Every client referral given or received by the Office or its Sales Associates must use MAXRefer, administered with RESAAS. The official MAXRefer resource hub describes the current interface.
Evidence: 2026 FDD, Items 8, 11, 12, and 16; Franchise Agreement §§7–11.
Who performs each function inside the Office?
Personal owner operation is not required, but full-time licensed supervision is: an owner must manage, or the franchisee must appoint an approved Manager for on-premises operations.
The day-to-day supervisor must hold the state broker or managing-broker license required for the Office, train and supervise Sales Associates, enforce the Essential ICA Provisions, and complete required education. The franchisee selects employees and contractors, remains the sole employer of employees, and bears responsibility for staffing and training.
Franchisee or Manager
- Maintain the brokerage license and approved premises.
- Recruit, onboard, supervise, and report Sales Associates.
- Set local commission arrangements independently.
- Control employment, contractor, security, and recordkeeping decisions.
Sales Associates
- Originate and perform Authorized Services for clients.
- Use approved Marks, forms, systems, and referral procedures.
- Enter complete listing and transaction information.
- Comply with the Office ICA and broker supervision.
RE/MAX and vendors
- RE/MAX Regional administers the franchise relationship.
- RE/MAX, LLC sets System standards and network programs.
- Inside Real Estate supplies BoldTrail components.
- Intuit, RESAAS, and database providers support required processes.
The FDD permits a manager-run Office, not an unmanaged operation. When no owner supervises on premises, the Manager must be approved, licensed, full-time, bound to confidentiality, and responsible for daily management. The official brokerage support page describes current consulting resources; staffing responsibility remains with the franchisee.
Evidence: 2026 FDD, Items 11 and 15; Franchise Agreement §8.
Which systems and suppliers are required?
The required stack centers on brokerage back-office software, accounting, listing-data integration, reporting, current operating systems, and the network referral platform; supplier freedom exists only within RE/MAX specifications and approval rules.
Required core
BoldTrail Back Office from Inside Real Estate, or a designated replacement, handles onboarding, billing, transactions, commission records, accounting data, analytics, and reporting. QuickBooks Online, or a designated alternative, is required with it.
Required connections
The Office must provide an approved real estate database feed, report through the Agent Office Portal or direct integration, maintain current Windows or macOS software and dedicated email, and process network referrals through MAXRefer.
Currently optional tools
The Agent Tools Platform, Lead Concierge Program, REMAX Marketplace, and BOSSCAT are optional as of the FDD date. RE/MAX may discontinue them or require some later. BoldTrail Back Office remains mandatory.
Supplier classification
RE/MAX can specify equipment and services, issue approved-supply lists, designate a primary or single source—including an affiliate—and reject alternatives. A franchisee may propose another supplier in writing, but approval can be denied or revoked.
The official RE/MAX technology page describes MAXTech powered by BoldTrail, and Inside Real Estate’s BoldTrail overview shows its connected architecture. The FDD and BoldTrail agreements control whether each component is required, optional, or replaceable.
RE/MAX Regional and RE/MAX, LLC have independent access to Technology System data, including onboarding, billing, client and transaction information, commission tracking, accounting, and analytics. The Franchise Agreement sets no contractual limit on that access and permits required system and upgrade changes.
Evidence: 2026 FDD, Items 8 and 11; BoldTrail Back Office License Agreement; Franchise Agreement §7.F.
What does RE/MAX control, and what remains local?
RE/MAX controls the approved offering, location, brand, technology, data, reporting, referrals, and quality standards; the franchisee controls local people, client pricing, compensation arrangements, and compliant execution.
Franchisor requirements
Approved location and relocation; Marks and advertising form; all and only authorized services; Business Manual standards; approved supplies; Technology System; MAXRefer; reporting and audit access; Minimum Agent Count; and required education.
Franchisee decisions
Which qualified people to hire or engage; independent-contractor agreement terms beyond Essential ICA Provisions; client commission rates; Sales Associate commission plans; local operating methods that comply with standards; and local advertising content subject to brand rules.
Conditional or shared
A proposed alternative supplier needs approval; a non-owner Manager needs approval; Local Marketing Group spending is member-directed within RE/MAX controls; cross-market service is permitted only where the Office is licensed, knowledgeable, and able to serve directly.
The franchise grants no exclusive territory, only an approved address. The Office may serve outside its immediate market when licensing, local knowledge, and direct-service capacity permit, but nearby REMAX Offices, other brands, and internet channels may compete without compensation.
Agent recruitment is an operating requirement. Standard Offices generally face a Minimum Agent Count after 12 months, with thresholds increasing by market density and tenure. Commercial Offices use a 2/3/4 progression; Team Offices maintain a Team Leader and member. RE/MAX can impose a performance improvement plan for a shortfall. The official recruiting and retention page describes current resources.
Evidence: 2026 FDD, Items 8, 11, 12, 15, and 16; Franchise Agreement §§7–11.
What does Item 20 show about the operating network?
At December 31, 2025, the FDD reports 2,994 U.S. franchised Offices and no company-owned Offices; the disclosed year-end Office count declined in each of the three reported years.
Item 20 reporting years 2023–2025; exact counts shown above each column.
Interpretation: the disclosed U.S. network remained entirely franchised, while year-end Office count fell by 364 from 2023 to 2025. Item 20 reports the change but does not establish its causes.
Source: 2026 RE/MAX Integrated Regions FDD, Item 20, U.S. Systemwide Outlet Summary, p. 78. Team Offices are included; about 8.9% of franchised Offices were Team Offices at December 31, 2025. The official investor overview confirms the franchised network structure.
The nine-state RE/MAX Regional population ended 2025 with 450 franchised Offices and no company-owned Offices, versus 494 at year-end 2023. This population is distinct from the broader 2,994-Office U.S. population. Source: 2026 FDD, Item 20, p. 75.
Which operating questions remain unit-specific?
Material inputs still depend on the market, format, agent roster, licensing rules, Business Manual, and current vendor agreements.
- Which format and addenda apply? Confirm whether the transaction is a standard Office, Team Office, commercial Office, approved commercial division, conversion, or transfer.
- What is the applicable Minimum Agent Count? Verify market-density classification, measurement date, which recruits count, current Sales Associate population, and any performance improvement plan exposure.
- Who will hold operational authority? Identify the licensed supervising owner or approved full-time Manager, then confirm state broker-of-record and managing-broker requirements.
- Which technology terms are current? Obtain the current BoldTrail, QuickBooks, listing-feed, Agent Office Portal, MAXRefer, cybersecurity, data-access, and required-upgrade specifications.
- What is not disclosed? Item 19 makes no financial performance representation, and the FDD does not provide a universal staffing count, transaction mix, lead volume, or Office-level operating result.
Operating-model synthesis: Sales Associates represent property clients, retain most commissions, and pay Office fees and overhead; the franchisee supplies licensed supervision and infrastructure. Its primary responsibility is local management of people, client service, records, security, and compliance. RE/MAX controls the Business Manual, approved offering, technology, data access, reporting, referrals, and agent-count requirements. Standard, Team, and commercial formats operate under an address-only, non-exclusive grant. The largest unresolved question is the proposed Office’s performance and staffing because Item 19 provides no financial performance representation.