
Owning a Motto Mortgage Franchise
Hello, future business owner! If you’re reading this, you’re likely exploring the opportunity to own a Motto Mortgage franchise. Franchising can be an exciting venture, offering you a slice of entrepreneurship powered by brand recognition and an established business model. But, before you dive headfirst into the mortgage franchise world, let’s break down the essentials you need to know.
Here's how the franchise journey unfolds
Your Path to Ownership
These steps outline our general framework, but we’ll tailor the exact path to fit your specific goals and needs as we get started.
Here's how the franchise journey unfolds
Your Path to Ownership
These steps outline our general framework, but we’ll tailor the exact path to fit your specific goals and needs as we get started.
Here's how the onboarding process works
Your Office Opening Timeline

Welcome to the Motto Network
Once your franchise agreement is signed and the initial fees are paid, you’ll officially move from the “signing” phase to the “doing” phase.
Your personal Motto HQ onboarding consultant will be by your side as you lock in your location, finalize your business name, and guide you through our tech and marketing platforms. They will also help you navigate the licensing process. Their goal is to clear the path so you can focus on building your business.
Your First Steps
This is where your business starts taking shape. Together, you and your onboarding team dive into your plans and iron out the essentials, making sure the foundation is solid. These details are the “keys” to fast-tracking the opening of your business, so getting them right the first time matters.
Whether you want to tackle these details yourself or prefer to be walked through each step, your dedicated onboarding consultant is there to help you hit the ground running.
Licensing and Setup
Licensing is a critical milestone that you don’t have to face alone. We’ll connect you to our network of knowledgeable licensing consultants who know the NMLS and state requirements inside and out. We’ve also got your back with ready-to-use templates and examples to make gathering your documents simple.
While the state reviews your application, we’ll use that time to get you fully set up with your official email and access to Motto platforms. By the time your license arrives, you’ll already know your way around the systems and tools you’ll use every day.
You’re Ready to Open!
Once the state gives you the green light, it’s full speed ahead. This is the exciting part where everything you’ve worked for clicks into place. You’ll get connected with lenders, tech, and more so you can start taking loan applications right away. You’ll also participate in our initial education program, “Broker 101” – a deep-dive into the platforms and systems – at Denver HQ.
From help recruiting your loan originators to your grand opening press release and beyond, we’re here to help you launch with total confidence. You did it!
Here's how the onboarding process works
Your Office Opening Timeline

Welcome to the Motto Network
Once your franchise agreement is signed and the initial fees are paid, you’ll officially move from the “signing” phase to the “doing” phase.
Your personal Motto HQ onboarding consultant will be by your side as you lock in your location, finalize your business name, and guide you through our tech and marketing platforms. They will also help you navigate the licensing process. Their goal is to clear the path so you can focus on building your business.
Your First Steps
This is where your business starts taking shape. Together, you and your onboarding team dive into your plans and iron out the essentials, making sure the foundation is solid. These details are the “keys” to fast-tracking the opening of your business, so getting them right the first time matters.
Whether you want to tackle these details yourself or prefer to be walked through each step, your dedicated onboarding consultant is there to help you hit the ground running.
Licensing and Setup
Licensing is a critical milestone that you don’t have to face alone. We’ll connect you to our network of knowledgeable licensing consultants who know the NMLS and state requirements inside and out. We’ve also got your back with ready-to-use templates and examples to make gathering your documents simple.
While the state reviews your application, we’ll use that time to get you fully set up with your official email and access to Motto platforms. By the time your license arrives, you’ll already know your way around the systems and tools you’ll use every day.
You’re Ready to Open!
Once the state gives you the green light, it’s full speed ahead. This is the exciting part where everything you’ve worked for clicks into place. You’ll get connected with lenders, tech, and more so you can start taking loan applications right away. You’ll also participate in our initial education program, “Broker 101” – a deep-dive into the platforms and systems – at Denver HQ.
From help recruiting your loan originators to your grand opening press release and beyond, we’re here to help you launch with total confidence. You did it!

Crunching the Numbers
Investment and Costs
Initial Franchise Fee: This is your ticket to the franchise party. The initial franchise fee is the upfront, one-time payment that the franchisee makes, usually upon signing the franchise agreement, and it can vary widely depending on the brand and market. It’s your entry point into the franchise network, granting access to the franchise brand, its business model, and systems.
Recurring Fees: Most franchise systems include ongoing fees – usually monthly – that support shared services like marketing, technology, and operational support. These fees are part of the value of being connected to a larger, supportive network.
Startup and Ongoing Costs: Beyond the initial and recurring fees, remember that you’re still going to be operating a business, and you may need to budget for startup and ongoing costs like office space, licensing and legal fees, technology and software, and local marketing.
For a more detailed breakdown of the fees and costs associated with owning a franchise, it’s a good idea to refer to items 5, 6, and 7 of your Franchise Disclosure Document (the “FDD”). These items of the FDD outline the initial fees, recurring fees, and the estimated initial investment required to open and operate the franchise.