Can the commission for cross-selling into Bridge Publications by a Belocal franchisee be calculated differently than commissions under Section 4.A?
Belocal Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
If Franchisee is authorized to sell into Bridge Publications, Franchisee shall be entitled to a commission in connection with any cross-selling into Bridge Publications.
Such commission shall be paid in accordance with Franchisor's then-current commission policy, as set forth in the Franchise Brand Standards Manual, and the amount of such commission may be calculated in a different manner than the calculation of Commissions under Section 4.A., in Franchisor's sole discretion.
The amount of the commission shall always be at least the amount of the then-current fees Franchisor or its affiliates receive for selling Corporate Ads into the Publication.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD page 71)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Belocal's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, if a franchisee is authorized to sell advertisements into N2 publications managed by Belocal or its affiliates, known as "Bridge Publications," they are entitled to a commission for any cross-selling into these publications. The commission structure for cross-selling into Bridge Publications may differ from the standard commission calculations outlined in Section 4.A of the franchise agreement. The specific details of the commission policy are found in the Franchise Brand Standards Manual, and Belocal retains the discretion to determine the calculation method.
This means that a Belocal franchisee's earnings from cross-selling into Bridge Publications could be subject to a different formula than their regular commissions. This could potentially increase or decrease their earnings from these sales, depending on the specifics of the commission policy in the Franchise Brand Standards Manual.
However, the commission amount must always be at least the amount of the then-current fees Belocal or its affiliates receive for selling Corporate Ads into the Publication. This clause provides a minimum threshold for the commission a franchisee can earn, ensuring it aligns with what Belocal itself earns from similar corporate ad sales. Prospective franchisees should carefully review the Franchise Brand Standards Manual to understand the exact commission structure for cross-selling into Bridge Publications and how it compares to the standard commission calculations.