Century 21 vs Realty Executives
Century 21 vs Realty Executives: Century 21 costs $25K to $451K to open; Realty Executives costs $100K to $343K. Century 21 has 185 units, Realty Executives has 25. SBA loan history: Century 21 = 203 loans (8.9% default); Realty Executives = 26 loans (7.7% 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 Realty Executives: 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 $100K for Realty Executives), a 75% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $25K for Century 21 versus $30K for Realty Executives, Century 21 has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 6% for Century 21 and 7% for Realty Executives, giving Century 21 the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Century 21 operates 185 units to Realty Executives's 25, roughly 7× the system size. Realty Executives has been operating 61 years (founded 1965) versus 55 for Century 21 (founded 1971), a 6-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Century 21 has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 203 7(a) approvals compared with 26 for Realty Executives.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 8.9% for Century 21 and 7.7% for Realty Executives, Realty Executives has the cleaner SBA loss record by 1.2 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 57 (Moderate) for Century 21 and 47 (Fair) for Realty Executives, giving Century 21 the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 57/100 | 47/100 |
Health Tier | Moderate | Fair |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 203 | 26 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 8.9% | 7.7% |
Peer Tier | major | established |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $25K to $451K | $100K to $343K |
Franchise Fee | $25K | $30K |
Royalty Rate | 6% | 7% |
Ad Fund | 2% | 4% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | N/A |
Net Worth Required | $150K | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 185 | 25 |
Franchised Units | 185 | 25 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | N/A | 5 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1971 | 1965 |
Franchising Since | 1972 | 1980 |
Years Franchising | 54 yrs | 46 yrs |
Headquarters | N/A | Brookfield, WI |
Category | Offices of Real Estate Agents | Offices of Real Estate Agents |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2023 | 2026 |
Which Is Better, Century 21 or Realty Executives?
Lower upfront capital required
Century 21
Century 21: $25K starting · Realty Executives: $100K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Century 21
Century 21: 203 SBA loans · Realty Executives: 26 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Realty Executives
Century 21: 8.9% · Realty Executives: 7.7%
Larger system & brand presence
Century 21
Century 21: 185 units · Realty Executives: 25 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Century 21
Century 21: 6% · Realty Executives: 7%
More lender financing options
Century 21
Century 21: 115 unique lenders · Realty Executives: 24 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 Realty Executives: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Century 21 and Realty Executives is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $25K to $451K.
Century 21 has 203 SBA loans on record and Realty Executives has 26. 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 Realty Executives, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Century 21 or Realty Executives?
How much does a Century 21 franchise cost compared to Realty Executives?
Can I finance Century 21 or Realty Executives with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Century 21 or Realty Executives?
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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; 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