Rapid Realty, the upstart New York-based firm that’s opened 55 franchises since launching in 2009, is expanding further.
CEO and founder Anthony Lolli said he is currently scouting out locations for new franchises in Boston, Philadelphia, Atlanta and Tampa and other markets across the country.
The company currenlty has 55 franchises in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, Staten Island, New Jersey and Long Island, and more than 800 agents and brokers.
In recent months, the quicksilver growth has precipitated dozens of requests from prospective franchisees seeking to open in yet untapped markets, according to Lolli.
“What we’ve accomplished in New York can be easily translated into many urban areas, which is why we are hearing from so many potential franchise owners, most of whom already have brokerage experience,” said Lolli. “Being your own boss is part of the American Dream and we’ve found a niche that enables people to earn good livings by helping others find homes. Landlords trust us, too, because they consistently get good tenants.”
Each franchise unit is set up in a boutique-style 250- to 700 s/f storefront on a heavily-trafficked commercial corridor. “I like to think of our storefront operations as mom-and-pop hardware stores with the back-up of a Home Depot inventory,” said Lolli. “We have a great database and give extensive training to every franchisee and their agents.”
