Century 21 vs RE/MAX
Century 21 vs RE/MAX: Century 21 costs $25K–$451K to open; RE/MAX costs $75K–$1.2M. Century 21 has 185 units, RE/MAX has 347. SBA loan history: Century 21 = 203 loans (8.9% default); RE/MAX = 262 loans (9.2% default). The franchise with more SBA-funded units, lower default rate, and lower royalty load is the safer financing bet — see the comparison below.
Century 21 vs RE/MAX — Capital, Scale & Lending Analysis
Data-driven differentiation pulled from FDD filings and SBA 7(a) loan-level data. Each pairing reflects a unique combination of capital intensity, system scale, and financing path.
Capital Intensity
Century 21 requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($25K vs $75K for RE/MAX), a 67% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $25K for Century 21 versus $49K for RE/MAX — Century 21 has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 6% for Century 21 and 5% for RE/MAX, giving RE/MAX the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, RE/MAX operates 347 units to Century 21's 185. Century 21 has been operating 55 years (founded 1971) versus 53 for RE/MAX (founded 1973) — a 2-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
RE/MAX has the deeper SBA lending track record with 262 historical 7(a) approvals versus 203 for Century 21.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 8.9% for Century 21 and 9.2% for RE/MAX — Century 21 has the cleaner historical loss profile by 0.3 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 57 (Moderate) for Century 21 and 67 (Strong) for RE/MAX, giving RE/MAX the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 57/100 | 67/100 |
Health Tier | Moderate | Strong |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 203 | 262 |
SBA Volume | — | — |
Default Rate | 8.9% | 9.2% |
Peer Tier | major | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $25K – $451K | $75K – $1.2M |
Franchise Fee | $25K | $49K |
Royalty Rate | 6% | 5% |
Ad Fund | 2% | 1% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | $35K |
Net Worth Required | $150K | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 185 | 347 |
Franchised Units | 185 | 347 |
Company-Owned | — | — |
Term Length | N/A | 5 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1971 | 1973 |
Franchising Since | 1972 | N/A |
Years Franchising | 54 yrs | N/A |
Headquarters | N/A | SAN JOSE, CA |
Category | Offices of Real Estate Agents | Offices of Real Estate Agents |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2023 | 2026 |
Which Is Better — Century 21 or RE/MAX?
Lower upfront capital required
Century 21
Century 21: $25K starting · RE/MAX: $75K starting
More SBA lender confidence
RE/MAX
Century 21: 203 SBA loans · RE/MAX: 262 SBA loans
Lower historical default rate
Century 21
Century 21: 8.9% · RE/MAX: 9.2%
Larger system & brand presence
RE/MAX
Century 21: 185 units · RE/MAX: 347 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
RE/MAX
Century 21: 6% · RE/MAX: 5%
More lender financing options
RE/MAX
Century 21: 115 unique lenders · RE/MAX: 133 unique lenders
Decision matrix uses publicly disclosed FDD and SBA loan data. Not a recommendation — your best franchise depends on capital, market, operating capacity, and risk tolerance.
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About These Franchises
Century 21 vs RE/MAX: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Century 21 and RE/MAX is about more than brand preference — it's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $25K to $1.2M.
Both brands have active SBA lending histories — Century 21 with 203 SBA loans and RE/MAX with 262. This means proven lender acceptance and established underwriting paths for franchise buyers.
SBA 7(a) loans are the most common franchise funding vehicle, offering up to $5M with as little as 10% down. PeerSense connects franchise buyers with the specific lenders who have approved loans for these brands — not generic referrals, but lenders with actual franchise lending track records.
Data sourced from SBA loan records, Franchise Disclosure Documents, and public filings. Updated regularly. Not financial advice — consult with a lending professional before making investment decisions.