Century 21 plans to open 1,500 offices in India

US estate agency franchise company Century 21 is preparing for franchise-led expansion in India. It plans to build a network of around 1,500 offices and 30,000 agents over the next five years. To support this, it has divided India into 126 territories, with plans to give entrepreneurs the opportunity to acquire territorial rights and develop their own networks.

Expansion blueprint based on 126 territories

According to a Business Standard report dated 8 September 2026, Peter Matthews, group chief executive of Century 21 UAE and India, outlined the company’s Indian expansion plans. He said the company had divided India into 126 territories. Entrepreneurs and businesses would be able to acquire individual territories and build their own property networks under the Century 21 brand.

Under this model, responsibility for expansion would not rest solely with the company. The report says franchise businesses acquiring territories would then expand their own networks. On this basis, the company expects to have around 1,500 offices and approximately 30,000 associated agents within five years.

An important distinction is that 126 refers to the proposed territorial structure, while 1,500 is the target number of offices. Neither figure should be interpreted as the number of cities covered or locations already operating. The available information does not confirm a city-by-city list of offices.

Five-year targets, not current achievements

According to Matthews, the company plans to develop these 126 territories and sell the rights to them within five years. He cited the company’s research data and franchising experience as the basis for its office and agent projections. These figures therefore represent the company’s expectations for the future, not the size of an existing network in India.

The report also says Century 21 is in the process of raising capital to launch in India. The available research does not specify how much has already been raised, who the prospective investors are or when the fundraising process is expected to conclude. The expansion plan should therefore not be treated as an announcement that funding has been secured.

For those considering franchising in India, the key development is an international brand’s proposed territorial model. Prospective partners should, however, distinguish between targets and actual progress. Selling rights, opening offices and recruiting agents are separate stages; an announcement about one does not establish that the others have been completed.

Connecting Indian and international buyers

A Rediff.com report dated 9 September 2026 also covers Century 21’s entry into India and its five-year expansion targets. It says the company aims to connect Indian buyers with international properties and non-resident Indians with property in India.

This indicates the intended direction of the business: the company aims not only to increase the number of local offices, but also to facilitate property connections for clients in India and overseas. However, the available reports do not provide details of separate service fees, specific overseas markets or customer support arrangements for this activity.

Prospective franchise partners should therefore distinguish between the brand’s international profile and the practical support they would receive in India. How will customer leads be provided? What responsibilities will local offices have? How will international enquiries be handled? These are questions to ask before making a decision, rather than services that have already been confirmed.

Terms to check before becoming a partner

The available research does not provide details of territorial rights prices, initial investment, ongoing fees, contract length or potential earnings. Large targets for office and agent numbers alone are therefore not a basis for judging a franchise’s profitability.

When presented with an offer, interested entrepreneurs should obtain written clarity on territorial boundaries, exclusive rights, permission to add further offices and responsibility for building an agent network. They should also request clear information on training, technical support, customer leads and local operating costs. These are practical due diligence points; the available reports do not guarantee any of these provisions.

Practical takeaway: Century 21’s plan offers a proposed route to building regional franchise networks in India. Base any investment decision on written rights, total costs, actual support and verified expansion progress, rather than five-year targets.