Century 21 vs RE/MAX
Century 21 vs RE/MAX: Century 21 costs $25K to $451K to open; RE/MAX costs $75K to $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, a lower SBA default rate, and a lower royalty load is the safer financing bet; see the comparison below.
Century 21 vs RE/MAX: Capital, Scale & Lending Analysis
Analysis based on 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 7(a) approvals compared with 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 SBA loss record 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 to $451K | $75K to $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 | 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 | 2005 |
Years Franchising | 54 yrs | 21 yrs |
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 SBA 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.
Century 21 has 203 SBA loans on record and RE/MAX has 262. Those totals are cumulative history rather than a measure of current appetite. Recent lending activity is trending down for at least one of these brands, so current lender appetite has to be checked deal by deal rather than assumed from the totals.
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.
Century 21 vs RE/MAX, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Century 21 or RE/MAX?
How much does a Century 21 franchise cost compared to RE/MAX?
Can I finance Century 21 or RE/MAX with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Century 21 or RE/MAX?
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Page Review
Reviewed by Edward L. Freeman, Founder and Managing Director, PeerSense
- PeerSense is a capital advisory firm that places commercial financing with direct capital sources; it does not lend, fund, or approve loans, and the capital source sets final terms.
- Edward L. Freeman founded PeerSense in January 2020.
- He is a Registered Franchise Consultant with Business Alliance, Inc., a credential issued in March 2022, and worked as a franchise consultant there from March 2022 to May 2023.
- His recorded experience includes a $22 million SBA construction loan, with about $16 million funded on the deal.
- In the 12 months through September 30, 2026, PeerSense tracked 912 publicly announced financings with a disclosed size of $361.32 billion. PeerSense Capital Data Report · Methodology page
Last reviewed LinkedIn profileAbout Edward Freeman