The RE/MAX real-estate franchise was founded in 1973. Dave and Gail Liniger established the company in Denver, Colorado, with a business model designed to attract productive real-estate agents.
The name RE/MAX comes from “Real Estate Maximums,” reflecting the company’s emphasis on giving agents higher commission potential and considerable independence. Its office model differed from traditional brokerages by focusing on agent productivity and revenue sharing.
RE/MAX expanded through franchising, allowing independently operated offices to use common branding, systems, and training. That structure helped the company spread throughout the United States and later into international markets.
The company’s founding date is sometimes confused with its later public-company milestones or international expansion dates. The franchise itself began in 1973, before RE/MAX became a widely recognized global real-estate network.