Commercial Investors Group is the first franchise model in commercial real estate investing. Founded in 2005 by Mike Sowers in New Hope, Minnesota, the business originally focused on residential property flips before transitioning to commercial assets and launching its franchise arm in 2021.
Headquartered in New Hope, MN, Commercial Investors Group operates under CIG Franchise Systems, LLC. It began franchising its proprietary investing system in August 2021, offering a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs to enter the commercial real estate space with structured support.
The franchise offers a full commercial real estate investment platform. It sells franchise licenses that provide access to a private equity fund, proprietary deal-analysis software, structured training, and ongoing support—including deal coaching, due-diligence tools, and capital-raising systems.
It differentiates itself with a tech-driven, equity-based model and comprehensive support. Unlike traditional franchisors, CIG uses custom software that handles marketing, underwriting, construction, leasing, and asset management—all while employing an equity-based royalty rather than a fee-only structure.
Here's what you would need to invest if you were to start this franchise. These costs are provided by the franchisor in the Franchise Disclosure Document.
Commercial Investors Group provides a structured and comprehensive training program for its franchisees, designed to prepare them for successful business operation. Here are the key components of their training:
Commercial Investors Group does not offer exclusive territorial protection to its franchisees. While each franchisee operates within a designated market area defined by counties, cities, or zip codes, the franchisor retains the right to compete in the same area.
Franchisees may face competition from other franchisees, company-owned outlets, and alternative distribution channels, even within their own assigned territory.
Franchisees are limited to marketing and purchasing properties within their designated areas but are allowed to attract investors and tenants nationwide. The franchisor may make slight adjustments to the designated territory, although it does not reserve the right to eliminate a franchisee’s territory entirely.
KEY FRANCHISE STATS
All you need to know about this franchise
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