Keller Williams

Real estate
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2024 Franchise 500 Rank
#114 Ranked #110 last year
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Initial investment
$182K - $336K
Units as of 2024
1,125 Increase 3.7% over 3 years

Keller Williams is a real estate agency established in both the U.S. and internationally. When Gary Keller and Joe Williams started the company in 1983, their main aim was to create a company that individuals will want to join, and no one will want to leave. Most of their business is owed to their unique business model that focuses on turning brokers into shareholders.

Four years after starting the company, the brand opened to the public for franchising. They have about 800 franchise offices in the United States and more than 250 additional locations internationally.

Why You May Want to Start a Keller Williams Franchise?

Real estate is one of the more well-known industries, and what better way to embark on the journey than owning a Keller Williams franchise? Every time an agent recruits another agent, they might be able to receive a share of the revenue their recruit makes. It gets better—when the recruit finds another agent, they may receive a percentage of the profits, and the cycle continues till about the seventh agent.

Many times in the past few decades, Keller Williams has been ranked in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500. This ranking is based on an evaluation of more than 150 data points consisting of areas in costs and fees, size and growth, franchisee support, brand strength, and financial strength and stability.

Thanks to their profit-sharing business model, your real estate franchise may not only attract but also retain agents in your territory. You should be prepared to provide capital, a joining fee, and certain assets at hand to qualify to be the next Keller Williams franchisee.

What Might Make a Keller Williams Franchise a Good Choice?

Before making any financial commitment or signing an agreement, you must perform your due diligence and establish if this is the right opportunity for you. You may need to speak to a financial planner and a franchise attorney, as well.

To start a Keller Williams franchise, you should make sure you’re financially ready for an initial investment made up of a franchise fee and other startup costs. In addition, you should prepare yourself for ongoing fees that include advertising, royalty, and potential renewal fees. This investment typically goes towards construction, training fees, permits, licenses, software, and marketing for your location.

Franchisees will also need to meet the company's set liquid capital requirements. 

How Do You Open a Keller Williams Franchise?

To join the Keller Williams community, you may start by submitting a franchise request form. After that, you may hear from a Keller Williams franchise brand representative. As conversations continue, you may be approved to learn more about the franchise opportunity. 

If cleared, you may proceed and come up with a fee structure, submit a formal application, and provide your credit and finances. If they check out, you generally sign a master license agreement and letter of intent. The whole process takes about at least a few months to complete. You might then attend a training camp for multiple weeks. Finally, you will be ready to launch as the newest Keller Williams franchisee.

Find Your Perfect Franchise

Company Overview

About Keller Williams

Industry Services (Other)
Related Categories Real Estate
Founded 1983
Parent Company Keller Williams
Leadership Gary Keller, Executive Chairman
Corporate Address 1221 S. MoPac Expwy., #110
Austin, TX 78746
Social Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok

Business Overview

Franchising Since 1987 (37 years)
# of employees at HQ 400
Where seeking

This company is offering new franchises throughout the US.

This company is offering new franchises worldwide.

# of Units 1,125 (as of 2024)

Information for Franchisees

Here's what you need to know if you're interested in opening a Keller Williams franchise.

Financial Requirements & Ongoing Fees

Here's what you can expect to spend to start the business and what ongoing fees the franchisor charges throughout the life of the business.

Initial Franchise Fee Information Circle
$35,000
Initial Investment Information Circle
$182,430 - $335,697
Cash Requirement Information Circle
$150,000
Royalty Fee Information Circle
6%
Ad Royalty Fee Information Circle
$1K/yr.
Term of Agreement Information Circle
5 years
Is franchise term renewable? Yes
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Training & Support Offered

Franchisors offer initial training programs and a variety of ongoing support options to help franchisees run their businesses.

On-The-Job Training 40 hours
Classroom Training 40+ hours
Ongoing Support
Newsletter
Meetings & Conventions
Toll-Free Line
Grand Opening
Online Support
Security & Safety Procedures
Lease Negotiation
Field Operations
Site Selection
Proprietary Software
Franchisee Intranet Platform
Marketing Support
Ad Templates
Social Media
SEO
Website Development
Email Marketing

Operations

Additional details about running this franchise.

Is absentee ownership allowed? No
Can this franchise be run from home/mobile unit? Information Circle
No
Can this franchise be run part time? Information Circle
No
# of employees required to run 3-4
Are exclusive territories available? Information Circle
No
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Franchise 500 Ranking History

Compare where Keller Williams landed on this year's Franchise 500 Ranking versus previous years.

Additional Rankings

Curious to know where Keller Williams ranked on other franchise lists? Find out below.

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Disclaimer
The information on this page is not intended as an endorsement or recommendation of any particular franchise or business opportunity by Entrepreneur Media. Our listings and rankings are solely research tools you can use to compare opportunities. Entrepreneur stresses that you should always conduct your own independent investigation before investing in a franchise or business opportunity. That should include reviewing the company's legal documents, consulting with an attorney and an accountant, and talking to former and current franchisees/licensees/dealers.
Updated: December 12th, 2022