Century 21 vs eXp Realty: Which Is the Better Investment?

Side-by-side comparison of investment costs, fees, unit economics, and franchisee satisfaction. Data from FDD disclosures and franchise database — updated 2026.

Real Estate Real Data Not Investment Advice
C2

Century 21

Real Estate
$25K – $525K
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VS
eR

eXp Realty

Real Estate
$3K – $8K
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At a Glance: Key Differences

Data-driven observations based on disclosed figures. Not investment advice — verify current numbers in each franchise's FDD.

Investment Cost
eXp Realty wins on investment range ($517K less) vs Century 21.
Fee Burden
eXp Realty wins on royalty rate (1.0% lower) vs Century 21.
Unit Count
eXp Realty wins on total units (76,000 more) vs Century 21.
Satisfaction
eXp Realty wins on franchisee satisfaction vs Century 21.

Investment & Fees

Metric Century 21 eXp Realty
Min Investment $25K $3K
Max Investment $525K $8K
Franchise Fee $25K $500.00
Royalty Rate 6.0% 5.0%
Ad Fund Rate N/A N/A

Unit Economics

Metric Century 21 eXp Realty
Avg Unit Revenue N/A N/A
Avg Profit Margin N/A N/A

Scale & Growth

Metric Century 21 eXp Realty
Total Units 14,000 90,000
Annual Growth 200.0% 5.6%
Failure Rate N/A N/A

Franchisee Performance

Metric Century 21 eXp Realty
Franchisee Satisfaction 73/100 74/100

Track Record

Metric Century 21 eXp Realty
Years in Business N/A N/A
Years Franchising N/A N/A

Financial Requirements

Metric Century 21 eXp Realty
Min Net Worth Required N/A N/A
Liquid Capital Required N/A N/A

Operations

Metric Century 21 eXp Realty
Avg Employees N/A N/A
Training Weeks N/A N/A

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Century 21 or eXp Realty a better franchise investment?

The answer depends on your goals, budget, and market. Century 21 has 14,000 total units and a 73/100 franchisee satisfaction score. eXp Realty has 90,000 total units and a 74/100 franchisee satisfaction score. Use our ROI Calculator to model both scenarios.

How much does it cost to open a Century 21 franchise?

Based on data in our database, opening a Century 21 franchise requires an initial investment of $25K – $525K. The franchise fee is $25K, with ongoing royalties of 6.0%. Always request the current FDD for exact figures.

How much does it cost to open a eXp Realty franchise?

Based on data in our database, opening a eXp Realty franchise requires an initial investment of $3K – $8K. The franchise fee is $500.00, with ongoing royalties of 5.0%. Always request the current FDD for exact figures.

What is the royalty rate for Century 21 vs eXp Realty?

Century 21's royalty rate is 6.0%. eXp Realty's royalty rate is 5.0%. That means eXp Realty has the lower ongoing royalty burden.

Which has more locations — Century 21 or eXp Realty?

Century 21 has 14,000 total units. eXp Realty has 90,000 total units. A larger system can mean more brand recognition, but also more territorial competition.

Is Century 21 or eXp Realty semi-absentee friendly?

Century 21 is typically run as a owner-operator model. eXp Realty is typically run as a owner-operator model. If passive income is your goal, semi-absentee models let you hire a manager to run day-to-day operations.

Data sourced from franchise disclosure documents and public records. Investment ranges, royalty rates, and unit counts change — always request current FDD before making investment decisions. Last updated March 2026.

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