What are the computer hardware requirements for a Belocal franchisee?
Belocal Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
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You must have a working phone and maintain a personal computer or tablet at your Office that is capable of accessing the Internet. You must maintain a high-speed Internet connection (with email capability). We estimate that the cost to acquire these items is $0 to $2,650, depending on whether or not you have to purchase these items or you already have them. We estimate that the annual cost for any optional or required maintenance, updating, upgrading, or support contracts for these items will be $0 to $500.
We will provide you with sales order and commission management software and publication production management software to assist you in the operations of your Franchised Business. We have the right to charge you for this software, but do not currently assess any fee related to your use of such software. If we provide you one or more email addresses containing the name or any part of the name of any N2 publication or any of the Marks or any part of the Marks, then you must use such email address(es), as applicable, when conducting your Franchised Business and as directed in the Franchise Brand Standards Manual. You must not use such email address(es) when conducting personal or any other business not directly connected to the Franchised Business.
You must acquire and use any other computer (including tablets) hardware, cloud systems, artificial intelligence tools, and software for the operation of the Franchised Business that we require, including any enhancements, additions, substitutions, modifications, upgrades, and specific models or versions ("Technology"). We may also require you to license from us, or others we designate, any computer softwa
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS, AND TRAINING (FDD pages 37–42)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Belocal's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees must have a working phone and maintain a personal computer or tablet at their office with internet access. A high-speed internet connection with email capability is also required. The estimated cost to acquire these items ranges from $0 to $2,650, depending on whether the franchisee needs to purchase new equipment or already owns suitable devices. The annual cost for optional or required maintenance, updates, upgrades, or support contracts for these items is estimated to be between $0 and $500.
Belocal will provide sales order and commission management software, as well as publication production management software, to assist franchisees in their operations. While Belocal has the right to charge for this software, they currently do not assess any fees for its use. Franchisees must also acquire and use any other computer hardware, cloud systems, artificial intelligence tools, and software that Belocal requires, including any enhancements, additions, substitutions, modifications, upgrades, and specific models or versions.
Belocal may also require franchisees to license software from them or designated third parties and pay associated fees. There is no contractual limitation on the frequency or cost of these obligations. Belocal reserves the right to maintain complete access to any technology or cloud systems they require franchisees to use, and franchisees must provide all necessary passwords and login credentials upon request. Despite the franchisee's responsibility for acquiring, operating, and maintaining the technology, they are solely responsible for its acquisition, operation, maintenance, and upgrading, as well as its interface with Belocal's and third-party technology.