Century 21

The vendor opportunity at Century 21

Century 21 operates 1,685 franchised real estate offices across the United States, all under a headquarters structure led by President and CEO Michael Miedler and COO Greg Sexton. For software vendors, this is a pure franchise play — no company-owned units exist in the system. The brand’s year-over-year unit count declined by 2.826%, signaling a consolidating network where efficiency tools and compliance-driven technology may find receptive buyers at the corporate level.

The royalty rate sits at 6.0%, and the initial franchise term runs 10 years. Average unit volume is not disclosed in the most recent FDD. With no company-owned stores, every technology adoption decision flows through the franchisor, making HQ the sole gatekeeper for vendor access to the entire network.

Who controls software purchasing

The FDD lists Michael Miedler as President and Chief Executive Officer, with Greg Sexton serving as Chief Operating Officer. These two executives sit at the center of operational and strategic technology decisions. Mark Westphale, Senior Vice President of Franchise Sales, is also named in Item 1 and likely plays a role in onboarding and system rollout to new franchisees. Elisabeth Gehringer, President and CEO of Compass International Holdings Franchise Brands, and Roger Favano, CFO of Brands and Anywhere Advisors at Compass International Holdings, appear in the ownership and leadership structure, indicating a broader corporate umbrella that may influence procurement at the brand level.

For vendors, the path to adoption starts with Miedler and Sexton. The absence of a franchisee advisory council or multi-unit operator bloc in the FDD suggests centralized control over technology mandates.

Mandated and current tech stack

Century 21’s Item 11 disclosures require franchisees to use 21online.com, Leads Engine, and a proprietary reporting system. These are non-negotiable components of daily operations. Additionally, the CIH Platform and Productivity Suite are recommended, though not mandatory. This stack points to a focus on lead generation, agent productivity, and performance reporting — areas where complementary or replacement tools may find an opening if they integrate cleanly with the mandated core.

No POS system is named, consistent with a real estate brokerage model that does not handle point-of-sale transactions in the traditional retail sense. Vendors offering CRM, transaction management, compliance, or data analytics tools should map their integrations to 21online.com and Leads Engine as the primary hubs.

Procurement, renewals, and timing

The FDD does not include an Item 8 extract, leaving the procurement model — whether designated supplier, approved supplier, or open — undisclosed. Vendors should approach HQ directly to understand approval requirements. The franchise agreement runs 10 years with no renewal rights. If Century 21 grants an additional term, the franchisor may require signing a materially different agreement or a Term Extension Addendum. This structure means technology decisions are likely revisited during new franchise sales pushes or when legacy systems reach end-of-life, rather than at predictable renewal intervals.

How to read the Century 21 FDD

The 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document is embedded below. It contains the full Item 1 leadership roster, Item 11 technology obligations, and Item 17 renewal terms referenced throughout this page. Use it to verify the mandated systems, executive titles, and unit counts before building your pitch. For a ranked target list of franchise brands aligned with your software category, FranCloud can help.