Coldwell Banker vs RE/MAX
Coldwell Banker vs RE/MAX: Coldwell Banker costs $36K to $734K to open; RE/MAX costs $75K to $1.2M. Coldwell Banker has 136 units, RE/MAX has 347. SBA loan history: Coldwell Banker = 45 loans (17.8% 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.
Coldwell Banker 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
Coldwell Banker requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($36K vs $75K for RE/MAX), a 53% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $20K for Coldwell Banker versus $49K for RE/MAX, Coldwell Banker has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 6% for Coldwell Banker 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 Coldwell Banker's 136, roughly 3× the system size. Coldwell Banker has been operating 120 years (founded 1906) versus 53 for RE/MAX (founded 1973), a 67-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 45 for Coldwell Banker.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 17.8% for Coldwell Banker and 9.2% for RE/MAX, RE/MAX has the cleaner SBA loss record by 8.6 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 29 (Fair) for Coldwell Banker 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 | 29/100 | 67/100 |
Health Tier | Limited | Strong |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 45 | 262 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 17.8% | 9.2% |
Peer Tier | established | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $36K to $734K | $75K to $1.2M |
Franchise Fee | $20K | $49K |
Royalty Rate | 6% | 5% |
Ad Fund | 2% | 1% |
Liquid Capital | $175K | $35K |
Net Worth Required | $250K | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 136 | 347 |
Franchised Units | 135 | 347 |
Company Owned | 1 | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | 5 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1906 | 1973 |
Franchising Since | 1998 | 2005 |
Years Franchising | 28 yrs | 21 yrs |
Headquarters | N/A | SAN JOSE, CA |
Category | Offices of Real Estate Agents | Offices of Real Estate Agents |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2026 | 2026 |
Which Is Better, Coldwell Banker or RE/MAX?
Lower upfront capital required
Coldwell Banker
Coldwell Banker: $36K starting · RE/MAX: $75K starting
More SBA lender confidence
RE/MAX
Coldwell Banker: 45 SBA loans · RE/MAX: 262 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
RE/MAX
Coldwell Banker: 17.8% · RE/MAX: 9.2%
Larger system & brand presence
RE/MAX
Coldwell Banker: 136 units · RE/MAX: 347 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
RE/MAX
Coldwell Banker: 6% · RE/MAX: 5%
More lender financing options
RE/MAX
Coldwell Banker: 37 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
Coldwell Banker vs RE/MAX: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Coldwell Banker and RE/MAX is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $36K to $1.2M.
Coldwell Banker has 45 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.
Coldwell Banker vs RE/MAX, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Coldwell Banker or RE/MAX?
How much does a Coldwell Banker franchise cost compared to RE/MAX?
Can I finance Coldwell Banker or RE/MAX with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Coldwell Banker 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