RE/MAX Holdings, Inc. Revenue Disclosure
Revenue Recognition
The Company generates most of its revenue from contracts with customers. The Company’s franchise agreements offer the following benefits to the franchisee: common use and promotion of REMAX and Motto trademarks; distinctive sales and promotional materials; access to technology; marketing tools and education; standardized supplies and other materials used in REMAX and Motto offices; recommended procedures for operation of REMAX and Motto offices; and specifically for Motto franchisees, access to a variety of quality loan options from multiple leading wholesale lenders. The Company concluded that these benefits are highly related and all part of one performance obligation for each franchise agreement, a license of symbolic intellectual property that is billed through a variety of fees including continuing franchise fees, annual dues, broker fees, marketing funds fees and franchise sales, described below. The Company has other performance obligations associated with contracts with customers in other revenue for education, marketing and events, subscription revenue, loan processing revenue, advertising revenue and revenue from marketing as a service (“MaaS”). The method used to measure progress is over the passage of time for most streams of revenue. The following is a description of principal activities from which the Company generates its revenue.
Continuing Franchise Fees
Continuing franchise fees are fixed contractual fees paid monthly (a) by regional franchise owners in Independent Regions or franchisees in Company-Owned Regions based on the number of REMAX agents in the respective franchised region or office or (b) by Motto franchisees based on the number of open offices. Motto offices reach the full monthly billing once the Motto office has been open for 12 months. Continuing franchise fees are recognized in the month for which the fee is billed and are a usage-based royalty as they are dependent on the number of REMAX agents or the number of Motto open offices.
Annual Dues
Annual dues are a fixed membership fee paid annually by REMAX agents directly to the Company. The Company defers the annual dues revenue when billed and recognizes the revenue ratably over the 12-month period to which it relates. See the “Deferred Revenue” section below for a reconciliation of the activity in the Company’s deferred revenue for annual dues. Annual dues revenue is a usage-based royalty as it is dependent on the number of REMAX agents.
Broker Fees
Broker fees are assessed against real estate commissions paid by customers when a REMAX agent buys or sells a property. Generally, the amount paid is 1% of the total commission on the transaction in most regions. Revenue from broker fees is a sales-based royalty and recognized in the month when a home sale transaction occurs.
Agents in Company-Owned Regions who joined REMAX prior to 2004, the year the Company began assessing broker fees, are generally “grandfathered” and continue to be exempt from paying a broker fee. Certain agents in Canada do not pay broker fees. As of December 31, 2025, approximately 22% of agents in the U.S. and Canada Company-owned Regions did not pay broker fees. Motto franchisees do not pay any fees based on the number or dollar value of loans brokered.
The Company has pricing components that cap broker fees at certain commission levels. If a franchise agreement includes a capped broker fee plan the sales- and-usage-based royalty exception is no longer valid. Therefore, revenue from any agent, even agents on a traditional plan, that operates under a franchise agreement with a capped broker fee is estimated and recognized ratably over the year.
Marketing Funds Fees
Marketing Funds fees are fixed contractual fees paid monthly by franchisees based on the number of REMAX agents in the respective franchised region or office or the number of Motto offices. These revenues are obligated to be used for marketing campaigns to build brand awareness and to support agent marketing technology. Amounts received into the Marketing Funds are recognized as revenue in the month for which the fee is billed. This revenue is a usage-based royalty as it is dependent on the number of REMAX agents or number of Motto offices.
All assets of the Marketing Funds are contractually restricted for the benefit of franchisees, and the Company recognizes an equal and offsetting liability on the Company’s balance sheet for all amounts received. Additionally, this results in recording an equal and offsetting amount of expenses, against all revenues such that there is no impact to overall profitability of the Company from these revenues. In addition, advertising costs are expensed as incurred.
Franchise Sales
Franchise sales comprises revenue from the sale or renewal of franchises. A fee is charged upon a franchise sale or renewal. Those fees are deemed to be a part of the license of symbolic intellectual property and are recognized as revenue over the contractual term of the franchise agreement, which is typically 5 years for REMAX and 7 years for Motto franchise agreements. See the “Deferred Revenue” section below for a reconciliation of the activity in the Company’s deferred revenue for franchise sales.
Other Revenue
Other revenue is primarily from:
| ● | Event-based revenue from education and other programs, which is recognized when the event occurs and until then amounts collected are included in “Deferred revenue”. |
| ● | Data service subscription revenue, which is recognized when the control of the products or services has transferred to the customer, which may occur at a point in time or over time, depending on the nature of the contract. |
| ● | Preferred marketing arrangements, which involves both flat fees paid in advance as well as revenue sharing, both of which are generally recognized over the period of the arrangement and are recorded net as the Company does not control the good or service provided. |
| ● | Technology products and subscription revenue, which charges a monthly fee to its customers or a periodic fee to agents who use the products or services. |
| ● | Mortgage loan processing revenue, which charges a flat fee per transaction which is recognized when a loan is closed. |
| ● | Advertising revenue is generated through advertisements, media and sponsorship sales via our websites. Revenue is recognized as ads are delivered based on the number of clicks or impressions and is recorded net of any commissions paid to advertising agencies, as applicable, as the Company does not control the good or service provided. |
| ● | MaaS is a centralized data-driven marketing platform that enables affiliates, such as brokers, owners, agents, and teams, to efficiently launch marketing campaigns. Revenue is generated from affiliate spend on marketing services within the platform and is recognized on a gross basis, as the Company controls the goods or services provided. |
Deferred Revenue and Capitalized Contract Costs
Deferred revenue is primarily driven by Franchise sales and Annual dues, as discussed above, and is included in “Deferred revenue” and “Deferred revenue, net of current portion” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Other deferred revenue is primarily related to event-based revenue. The activity consists of the following (in thousands):
Balance at | Revenue | Balance at | ||||||||||
January 1, 2025 | New billings | recognized (a) | December 31, 2025 | |||||||||
Franchise sales | $ | 21,282 | $ | 5,582 | $ | (7,983) | $ | 18,881 | ||||
Annual dues | 12,261 | 29,801 | (30,462) | 11,600 | ||||||||
Other | 4,083 | 21,042 | (21,356) | 3,769 | ||||||||
$ | 37,626 | $ | 56,425 | $ | (59,801) | $ | 34,250 | |||||
| (a) | Revenue recognized related to the beginning balance for Franchise Sales and Annual Dues was $7.2 million and $11.8 million, respectfully, for the year ended December 31, 2025. |
Capitalized contract costs include commissions paid on Franchise sales and other contract costs that are recognized as an asset and amortized over the contract life of the franchise agreement. The activity in the Company’s capitalized contract costs (which are included in “Other current assets” and “Other assets, net of current portion” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets) consist of the following (in thousands):
Additions to | ||||||||||||
Balance at | contract cost | Expense | Balance at | |||||||||
January 1, 2025 | for new activity | recognized | December 31, 2025 | |||||||||
Capitalized contract costs | $ | 3,553 | $ | 2,735 | $ | (1,970) | $ | 4,318 | ||||
Disaggregated Revenue
In the following table, segment revenue is disaggregated by geographical area (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||
2025 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||
U.S. Company-Owned Regions | $ | 122,933 | $ | 131,375 | $ | 138,499 | ||
U.S. Independent Regions | 5,821 | 6,017 | 6,439 | |||||
Canada Company-Owned Regions | 39,177 | 40,693 | 40,805 | |||||
Canada Independent Regions | 2,754 | 2,758 | 2,891 | |||||
Global | 16,334 | 14,421 | 12,754 | |||||
Fee revenue (a) | 187,019 | 195,264 | 201,388 | |||||
Franchise sales and other revenue (b) | 18,073 | 18,829 | 25,794 | |||||
Total Real Estate | 205,092 | 214,093 | 227,182 | |||||
U.S. | 54,311 | 59,335 | 63,791 | |||||
Canada | 17,301 | 18,521 | 19,039 | |||||
Global | 1,223 | 1,127 | 1,031 | |||||
Total Marketing Funds | 72,835 | 78,983 | 83,861 | |||||
Mortgage (c) | 13,674 | 14,609 | 13,993 | |||||
Other (c) | — | — | 635 | |||||
Total | $ | 291,601 | $ | 307,685 | $ | 325,671 | ||
| (a) | Fee revenue includes Continuing franchise fees, Annual dues and Broker fees. |
| (b) | Franchise sales and other revenue is derived primarily within the U.S. |
| (c) | Revenue from Mortgage and Other are derived exclusively within the U.S. |
Historical Timeline
| Fiscal Year | Filed | |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Feb 19, 2026 | Showing above |
| 2024 | Feb 20, 2025 | |
| 2023 | Feb 22, 2024 | |
| 2018 | Feb 22, 2019 | |
About Revenue Disclosures
Revenue disclosures under ASC 606 explain how a company identifies performance obligations, allocates transaction prices, and determines when revenue is recognized. This section is essential for understanding whether reported revenue reflects genuine economic activity or aggressive accounting choices. Analysts examine the mix of point-in-time versus over-time recognition, which directly affects revenue timing and comparability.
Key signals: rising contract liabilities (deferred revenue) suggest strong future revenue visibility, while declining contract assets may indicate slowing project milestones. Watch for variable consideration estimates — rebates, returns, and performance bonuses that require management judgment. Significant changes in disaggregated revenue by geography or product line can reveal shifting business mix before it appears in headline numbers. Compare revenue growth against contract liability growth to assess sustainability, and scrutinize any changes in the timing of recognition that coincide with earnings pressure.