Is a Belocal franchisee allowed to use any abbreviation of the 'BELOCAL' mark as part of their business entity name?
Belocal Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
- B. Franchisee shall not use the name of any N2 publication or any of Franchisor's Marks or trade names, including the specific Marks "BELOCAL," "N2," "N2 Publishing," "Hyport Digital," or any abbreviation, acronym, or variation of those words as part of Franchisee's name, as part of any business entity in which Franchisee owns or holds an interest, or as part of any Online Presence (including any Internet, Web address, or email domain name or URL). Franchisee must submit to Franchisor for approval, in writing, Franchisee's proposed entity name, and Franchisee shall not name its entity using any name that is not approved by Franchisor.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD page 71)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Belocal's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, a franchisee is not allowed to use any abbreviation, acronym, or variation of the word "BELOCAL" as part of their business entity name. The franchisee also cannot use any of Belocal's marks or trade names, including "N2," "N2 Publishing," or "Hyport Digital" in their business entity name. Before naming their entity, a franchisee must submit their proposed name to Belocal for written approval. This ensures that the business name aligns with Belocal's brand standards and protects its trademarks.
This restriction is typical in franchising, as franchisors like Belocal need to maintain consistent branding across all franchise locations. By controlling the use of its trademarks and names, Belocal can protect its brand reputation and avoid potential customer confusion. Franchisees must adhere to these guidelines to ensure they do not infringe on Belocal's intellectual property rights.
For a prospective Belocal franchisee, this means carefully considering the business entity name and obtaining approval from Belocal before finalizing it. Failure to comply with these requirements could result in a breach of the franchise agreement. Franchisees should discuss any concerns or questions about naming their business entity with Belocal during the due diligence process.