Can Belocal disapprove previously approved advertising plans and materials for a Belocal franchise?
Belocal Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You must obtain our prior approval for all advertising and promotional plans and materials that you desire to use to promote your Franchised Business and that we have not prepared or previously approved. You may only use advertising materials that you create, or have created for you, if we determine that these materials and the proposed use of these materials meet our standards. We reserve the right to disapprove at
any time any plans and materials we have previously approved, and you must promptly discontinue using any promotional or advertising plans or materials upon notice from us to do so.
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, Belocal retains the right to disapprove advertising and promotional materials, even if they were previously approved. This means that a Belocal franchisee must promptly stop using any promotional or advertising plans or materials if they receive notice of disapproval from Belocal.
This provision gives Belocal significant control over the advertising and promotional activities of its franchisees. While franchisees have the freedom to create their own advertising materials, Belocal has the final say on whether those materials can be used. The franchisee bears the risk that advertising materials they develop and begin using may later be disallowed.
For a prospective franchisee, this highlights the importance of understanding Belocal's advertising standards and guidelines. It would be prudent to maintain open communication with Belocal regarding advertising plans to minimize the risk of developing materials that are later rejected. Franchisees should factor in the potential costs and time associated with revising or replacing disapproved advertising materials into their business planning.
This level of franchisor control over advertising is relatively common in franchising, as franchisors seek to maintain brand consistency and protect their brand image. However, the ability to retroactively disapprove previously approved materials is a stricter provision than some franchises employ.