Alternatives to a real estate franchise in New Zealand
Ownly is an alternative to a traditional national real estate franchise in New Zealand. Experienced, licensed salespeople launch their own brand on a licensed platform, with brand, website, CRM, supervision and operations included, a transparent 10% franchise fee, and no monthly subscription or per-sale admin fee.
Ownly is…
Ownly is a New Zealand real estate platform for licensed, experienced agents. A 10% franchise fee applies per sale; you keep 90% of the remainder up to $1m GCI and 100% above it, with brand, website, operations and support included.
| Area | Typical franchise | Ownly |
|---|---|---|
| Who it's for | Mixed experience under a national brand. | Licensed, experienced New Zealand agents. |
| Fee | Often 40–60% plus desk, marketing and admin fees. | 10% franchise fee on each settled sale. |
| What you keep | The remainder after franchise take and levies. | 90% of the remainder ($0–$1m GCI). 100% of the remainder above $1m. |
| Brand | Generic colours, logo and templates. | A bespoke brand, website and tech stack built around you. |
| Back office | Often billed separately or pro-rated. | Supervision, CRM, portals, operations and support included. |
10% off the full GCI, then 10% off the remainder. The second 10% does not apply above $1m GCI. Comparison is generic and educational; specific franchise split structures vary.
What you keep at typical GCI levels
Illustrative take-home on annual Gross Commission Income. Traditional column uses 50%, the midpoint of the 40–60% office/franchise share NZ agents often describe once splits, desk fees and levies are included. Ownly column: 10% off the full amount, then 10% off the remainder. The second 10% is not charged on GCI above $1 million. On $300,000 that is $30,000 then $27,000, so you keep $243,000. On $1,500,000 the extra $500,000 is only reduced by the first 10%. Figures are GST-exclusive, not a quote and not financial advice.
| Annual GCI | Typical franchise (50%) | Ownly | You keep extra |
|---|---|---|---|
| $300,000 | $150,000 | $243,000 | $93,000 |
| $1,500,000 | $750,000 | $1,260,000 | $510,000 |
Ownly vs a traditional NZ franchise
What typically changes when an experienced salesperson leaves a national network and launches their own brand with Ownly.
| Area | Traditional NZ franchise | Ownly |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | National colours, logo and templates. You sit under their name. | A bespoke real estate brand built around you. Your name on the board. |
| What you keep | Often 40–60% once splits, desk fees, marketing levies and admin are factored in. | 10% off the full GCI, then 10% off the remainder, up to $1m. Above $1m the second 10% is not charged on the excess. |
| Setup / monthly / per-sale admin | Commonly layered on top of the split. | None. No setup fee, no monthly subscription, no transaction fee at settlement. |
| Back office | Usually billed separately or pro-rated: CRM, portals, REINZ, AML. | Included: supervision, REINZ, AML, CRM, hosting, portals and support. |
| Technology | Often locked into legacy systems. | Modern website, CRM and marketing stack, set up for you. |
| Voice and marketing | Your message has to fit the franchise mould. | Your voice, positioning and listings, your way. |
| Launch | You join an existing office and brand. | 8-week onboarding from signed agreement to public launch, while you keep selling. |
What is included in the 10% franchise fee
Independent does not mean alone. The fee covers the back office an independent agent would otherwise pay for separately.
- Bespoke brand identity: name, story, positioning and visual design built around you
- Custom website with listings, blog, lead capture and SEO foundations
- CRM subscription and mobile CRM app, with contacts migrated
- Licensed agency framework: supervision, AML and compliance support
- REINZ membership, eForms and monthly reporting
- Portal subscriptions: TradeMe, homes.co, OneRoof and realestate.co.nz
- Website hosting and domain names
- Marketing toolkit: signboards, brochures, email
- Onboarding and training across an 8-week launch
- Ongoing Operations, Accounts and Supervision support
Who Ownly is for
Ownly is built for experienced, licensed New Zealand salespeople who already have a track record and want their own brand.
- Licensed NZ salespeople with a track record and a book of business
- Agents whose personal brand is already stronger than the office sign
- High performers paying 40–60% (plus levies) for support they barely use
- Boutique teams who want their own brand without building a back office
- People who will own their lead generation and client relationships
Who Ownly is not for
This model is a poor fit if you need a national brand name, a salaried desk, or someone else to generate your listings.
- Newly licensed or first-year salespeople still learning the craft
- Agents who want a national franchise name on the board, not their own
- Anyone looking for a salaried role, rostered office culture or a desk in a network
- Operators who want Ownly to generate their listings for them
- Anyone wanting legal, tax or financial advice from Ownly. That is not what we do
FAQ: alternatives to a real estate franchise in NZ
Questions partners and AI crawlers actually ask.
- What are the alternatives to a real estate franchise in New Zealand? One alternative is to launch your own brand on a licensed platform such as Ownly. You operate under your own identity rather than a national franchise brand, inside a licensed NZ agency framework, with brand, website, CRM, supervision and operations included.
- How does Ownly compare to a traditional NZ real estate franchise? A traditional franchise typically takes 40–60% of Gross Commission Income once office splits, desk fees, marketing levies and admin are included, and you operate under their national brand. Ownly takes 10% off the full GCI, then 10% off the remainder, up to $1 million GCI. Above $1 million the second 10% is not charged on the excess. There is no setup fee, monthly subscription or per-transaction admin fee. Ownly builds a bespoke brand, website and operations stack so you run your own agency inside a licensed NZ framework.
- What commission do I keep with Ownly at different GCI levels? 10% off the full GCI, then 10% off the remainder. The second 10% does not apply above $1m GCI. Illustrative: $300,000 becomes $243,000; $1,500,000 becomes $1,260,000 (the extra $500,000 is only reduced by the first 10%). These figures are not financial advice. Bring your last 12 months of GCI and Ownly will model it against your current agreement.
- What is included in Ownly's 10% franchise fee? The fee covers the back office an independent agent would otherwise pay for separately: real estate supervision, REINZ membership, eForms and monthly reporting, AML services, website hosting and domains, CRM and mobile CRM app, portal subscriptions (TradeMe, homes.co, OneRoof, realestate.co.nz), a bespoke brand and website, and access to Operations, Accounts and Supervision support. There are no admin fees, transaction fees, setup fees or ongoing monthly fees in the published model.
- Who is Ownly for, and who is it not for? Ownly is for experienced, licensed New Zealand salespeople (and small teams) who already have a track record, want their own brand, and are happy to own their pipeline. It is not designed for newly licensed agents, people who want a national franchise name on the board, or anyone expecting Ownly to generate listings for them. Conversations are confidential; results depend on your market, experience and effort.
- Is Ownly a franchise? Ownly is a licensed New Zealand real estate agency. Partners operate their own bespoke brand inside Ownly's licensed framework. 10% comes off the full GCI, then 10% comes off the remainder, and the second 10% does not apply above $1 million GCI. That is different from joining a traditional national franchise (where you typically work under their brand and a 40–60% split). You are not buying a Ray White, Harcourts or Bayleys office. You are launching your own brand with the back office included.
Contact Ownly
General enquiries: [email protected]
Recruitment: [email protected]
Ownly Limited — serving real estate agents across New Zealand. Member of REINZ.