What are Belocal's cross-selling policies regarding selling digital advertising services outside of a franchisee's territory?
Belocal Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
. You have the right to sell and offer to sell print advertising and digital advertising services to clients located both inside and outside of your Territory, but only in accordance with our then-current digital advertising policies, crossselling policies and Franchise Brand Standards Manual. We also have the right to allow other franchisees or affiliates to offer and sell advertising in all forms to clients located in your Territory.
Your Territory will be defined by geographic boundaries or descriptions we select. We do not grant any minimum territory. The actual size of the Territory will vary depending upon the availability of markets, our long-range plans, your financial and operational resources, and market conditions. A written description of the Territory will be inserted in Attachment B to the Franchise Agreement before you sign the Franchise Agreement. The boundaries used to define the Territory will be geographic boundaries as configured on the effective date of the Franchise Agreement, which may be described as certain neighborhoods, subdivisions, or communities, or a specific home count in an area, as determined by us.
Source: Item 12 — TERRITORY (FDD pages 42–44)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Belocal's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees have the right to sell digital advertising services both inside and outside their designated territory. However, this is contingent upon adherence to Belocal's then-current digital advertising policies, cross-selling policies, and Franchise Brand Standards Manual. Belocal also retains the right to allow other franchisees or affiliates to offer and sell advertising in all forms to clients located within a franchisee's territory.
This means that while Belocal franchisees can pursue sales opportunities beyond their immediate territory, they must stay updated on and comply with Belocal's evolving policies and standards. These policies are not explicitly detailed in this section, so franchisees need to proactively seek out and understand these guidelines. Additionally, franchisees should be aware that Belocal and other franchisees can compete for clients within their territory.
Belocal franchisees are authorized to sell only Extended Reach services for digital advertising. They are restricted from marketing or selling any services outside their territory, except for print advertisements for inclusion in the Publication or the publications managed by others and digital advertising services, subject to Belocal's cross-selling policies and digital advertising policies, without prior written consent.
In practice, this policy provides both opportunities and potential challenges. Franchisees can expand their customer base beyond their territory, but they must navigate Belocal's policies and potential competition from other parts of the Belocal system. Prospective franchisees should carefully review the Franchise Brand Standards Manual and inquire about the specifics of the digital advertising and cross-selling policies to fully understand these rights and restrictions.