From the filings
Software purchasing control at Engel & Völkers Yachting Brokerage sits with the franchisor's headquarters, where executives like President and CEO Anthony Hitt and Chief Strategy Officer Stuart Siegel shape operational mandates. The brand mandates the Engel & Völkers Integrated Product Suite and evyachting.com across its small, fully franchised network of 4 US locations. For vendors, this is a compact, centrally controlled account where proving integration value with the mandated stack is the primary path to adoption.
For software vendors selling into US franchise brands.
Live signals
Ongoing fee load
The recurring percentage of gross sales named in this filing, before rent, labour or any technology fee.
12%of gross sales (FY2023)
15% reference
Franchisor behaviours
14 requirements the franchisor states in this filing, each in its own words; 9 explicit no's; 11 questions the text does not settle, which is not a no.
Accounting
Does the franchisor have direct or independent electronic access to the franchisee's financial, sales or customer records?
YesItem 11
We may have independent access to information and data that is electronically collected by your Yachting Brokerage.
How the franchisor buys
Is the franchisor or an affiliate itself a supplier of required products, services or systems?
YesItem 8
We reserve the right to designate or approve one or more third parties (a “Supplier” or “Suppliers”), or ourselves or one of our respective affiliates, to supply you with certain products and services using the Trademarks.
Does the franchisor reserve the right to change designated suppliers or systems at any time?
YesItem 8
We reserve the right to designate or approve one or more third parties (a “Supplier” or “Suppliers”), or ourselves or one of our respective affiliates, to supply you with certain products and services using the Trademarks.
How much revenue did the franchisor and its affiliates earn from franchisee purchases in the last fiscal year?
1145193Item 8
Our revenues from required purchases and leases of products or services in the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022 were $1,145,193 or 4.43% of our total revenues.
Item 8 gives this proportion in one of two shapes: separate percentages for establishing the business and for operating it, or one figure covering "establishing and operating" together. Where they are separate, answer with the operating percentage; where the passage gives only the combined figure, answer with that. What percentage of the franchisee's purchases must come from designated or approved suppliers?
20Item 8
The percentage of your required purchases to all purchases of goods and services you will need to make to establish and operate your franchised business will be approximately 20% to 25%.
Can a franchisee propose a new supplier for the franchisor's approval?
YesItem 8
If you propose to contract for or purchase products or services from any supplier that we have not previously designated or approved, you must notify us in writing and submit to us all information, specifications and samples that we request.
Franchise management
Does the franchisor conduct periodic inspections, audits or evaluations of the franchised business?
YesFranchise agreement
Franchisee hereby grants Franchisor or its appointed agents the right to perform audits of its office organization, accounting procedures, and other aspects of the Yachting Brokerage at reasonable times during normal business hours, with or without prior notice to Franchisee, and at the same time to allow inspection…
Can the franchisor change the operations manual and brand standards unilaterally?
YesFranchise agreement
In its sole business judgment, the Franchisor may take any steps it deems necessary to adapt and modify the ENGEL & VÖLKERS System, the Integrated Product Suite, the System Documentation and the Trademarks, and the required equipment, technology, signs, trade dress and other business characteristics Franchisee will…
Must the franchisor approve the franchisee's site or location before opening?
YesItem 11
Any location you operate your Engel & Völkers yachting Brokerage from must first be approved by us.
Payments
Are royalties and other fees collected by automatic bank debit (ACH or electronic funds transfer) from the franchisee's account?
YesItem 6
We require you to set up a separate bank account for direct debit of Royalties, contributions to the National Marketing and Technology Fund and other ongoing fees under the Franchise Agreement.
People
Does the franchisor require minimum staffing levels or specific roles?
YesFranchise agreement
Franchisee affirms, warrants and understands that it may staff its franchised business with as many employees as it desires at any time so long as Franchisor’s minimal staffing levels are achieved.
Point of sale
Does the franchisor have independent access to the data in the franchisee's POS or computer system?
YesItem 11
We may have independent access to information and data that is electronically collected by your Yachting Brokerage.
Training
Can the franchisor charge the franchisee for additional, refresher or remedial training?
YesItem 11
You and your designated employees will also be required to attend additional training, supplemental or refresher courses in accordance with the Engel & Völkers training program at times and locations designated by us and to pay our then current fees.
Is attendance at an annual convention or conference mandatory for the franchisee?
YesFranchise agreement
Any Principal owning twenty-five percent (25%) or more in Franchisee must attend all such conferences, at Franchisee’s expense.
Engel & Völkers Yachting Brokerage presents a niche, high-end target for software vendors. With only 4 franchised units in the US, the addressable market is small, but the centralized control structure means a single successful sale at the headquarters level can unlock the entire network. The brand operates in the real estate segment, specifically yachting brokerage, and is headquartered in New York. The royalty rate is 10.0%, though average unit volume (AUV) is not disclosed in the most recent FDD. Year-over-year unit growth is also not available. For a vendor, the opportunity lies not in volume, but in becoming a deeply integrated partner within a tightly controlled, luxury-focused system.
Software purchasing decisions are made at the franchisor's headquarters. The 2023 FDD lists the following executives who form the likely buying center: Anthony Hitt, President and Chief Executive Officer; Andrew Dinsmore, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer; Ulrike Cohen, Chief Administrative Officer and Secretary; and Stuart Siegel, Chief Strategy Officer. Sven Odia is also listed as a Director. For a vendor pitching operational or financial software, the CFO and Chief Strategy Officer are the most probable champions or blockers. The absence of a named CIO or CTO in the filing suggests technology decisions are handled by this senior leadership group.
The franchise system mandates a specific technology suite. According to the FDD, franchisees must use the Engel & Völkers Integrated Product Suite and evyachting.com. These are the only named systems in the available data. There is no mention of an optional or recommended vendor list beyond these mandates. For a software vendor, this means any new tool must either complement this mandated stack or demonstrate a compelling reason to replace a component of it. Integration with the Integrated Product Suite is a non-negotiable requirement for consideration.
Details on the procurement model are sparse. The FDD extract does not include information from Item 8 regarding designated suppliers, approved suppliers, or purchasing requirements. Similarly, Item 17 renewal terms and the initial franchise term length are not disclosed. This lack of data makes it impossible to map out standard contract windows or renewal-driven sales cycles. Vendors should approach this account with a direct, relationship-based strategy, targeting the known HQ executives, rather than waiting for a predictable procurement event.
The 2023 Franchise Disclosure Document is the primary source for verifying the mandated technology, executive team, and unit count. When reviewing the full document, pay close attention to Item 11 for a complete list of mandated systems and any approved suppliers. Item 8 will clarify whether franchisees are required to purchase from specific vendors. The full FDD is available in the embedded viewer below. For a ranked target list of franchise systems that match your software's ideal customer profile, FranCloud can help you prioritize your outreach.
Questions vendors ask
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FDD alert
We’ll email you the moment Engel & Völkers Yachting Brokerage files a new annual FDD, usually the freshest signal of a vendor change.
Operator footprint
4 operators run 4 mapped locations. 0 of them are multi-unit. Aggregate counts from the filing; no names.
Operators by units owned
Top states by locations
| CA | 2 |
|---|---|
| FL | 1 |
| MD | 1 |
Ownership
unknown of engel v lkers u s holding gmbh.
Related Real estate brands
Primary franchise filings · updated June 2026. Every figure is source-traceable and QA-checked.