Realty ONE Group vs Century 21: Which Is the Better Investment?

Side-by-side comparison of investment costs, fees, unit economics, and franchisee satisfaction. Data from FDD disclosures and franchise database — updated 2026.

Real Estate Real Data Not Investment Advice
RO

Realty ONE Group

Real Estate
$22K – $243K
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VS
C2

Century 21

Real Estate
$25K – $525K
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At a Glance: Key Differences

Data-driven observations based on disclosed figures. Not investment advice — verify current numbers in each franchise's FDD.

Investment Cost
Realty ONE Group wins on investment range ($282K less) vs Century 21.
Fee Burden
Realty ONE Group wins on royalty rate (1.0% lower) vs Century 21.
Unit Count
Realty ONE Group wins on total units (6,000 more) vs Century 21.
Satisfaction
Realty ONE Group wins on franchisee satisfaction vs Century 21.

Investment & Fees

Metric Realty ONE Group Century 21
Min Investment $22K $25K
Max Investment $243K $525K
Franchise Fee $13K $25K
Royalty Rate 5.0% 6.0%
Ad Fund Rate N/A N/A

Unit Economics

Metric Realty ONE Group Century 21
Avg Unit Revenue N/A N/A
Avg Profit Margin N/A N/A

Scale & Growth

Metric Realty ONE Group Century 21
Total Units 20,000 14,000
Annual Growth N/A 200.0%
Failure Rate N/A N/A

Franchisee Performance

Metric Realty ONE Group Century 21
Franchisee Satisfaction 78/100 73/100

Track Record

Metric Realty ONE Group Century 21
Years in Business N/A N/A
Years Franchising N/A N/A

Financial Requirements

Metric Realty ONE Group Century 21
Min Net Worth Required N/A N/A
Liquid Capital Required N/A N/A

Operations

Metric Realty ONE Group Century 21
Avg Employees N/A N/A
Training Weeks N/A N/A

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Realty ONE Group or Century 21 a better franchise investment?

The answer depends on your goals, budget, and market. Realty ONE Group has 20,000 total units and a 78/100 franchisee satisfaction score. Century 21 has 14,000 total units and a 73/100 franchisee satisfaction score. Use our ROI Calculator to model both scenarios.

How much does it cost to open a Realty ONE Group franchise?

Based on data in our database, opening a Realty ONE Group franchise requires an initial investment of $22K – $243K. The franchise fee is $13K, with ongoing royalties of 5.0%. Always request the current FDD for exact figures.

How much does it cost to open a Century 21 franchise?

Based on data in our database, opening a Century 21 franchise requires an initial investment of $25K – $525K. The franchise fee is $25K, with ongoing royalties of 6.0%. Always request the current FDD for exact figures.

What is the royalty rate for Realty ONE Group vs Century 21?

Realty ONE Group's royalty rate is 5.0%. Century 21's royalty rate is 6.0%. That means Realty ONE Group has the lower ongoing royalty burden.

Which has more locations — Realty ONE Group or Century 21?

Realty ONE Group has 20,000 total units. Century 21 has 14,000 total units. A larger system can mean more brand recognition, but also more territorial competition.

Is Realty ONE Group or Century 21 semi-absentee friendly?

Realty ONE Group is typically run as a owner-operator model. Century 21 is typically run as a owner-operator model. If passive income is your goal, semi-absentee models let you hire a manager to run day-to-day operations.

Data sourced from franchise disclosure documents and public records. Investment ranges, royalty rates, and unit counts change — always request current FDD before making investment decisions. Last updated March 2026.

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