Is a Belocal franchisee allowed to use any of the Marks in connection with Independent-Staff-facing labor and employment materials?

According to Belocal's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, a franchisee is not allowed to use any of Belocal's marks in materials related to labor and employment for independent staff. This restriction is in place to protect the value and goodwill associated with Belocal's marks. Belocal emphasizes that any violation of this agreement would cause substantial and irreparable injury to the franchisor. Therefore, Belocal requires the franchisee's unrestricted promise to use the marks only in the manner authorized by Belocal.

This restriction means that franchisees must be careful not to include any Belocal logos, trademarks, or other branding elements in documents such as job postings, employment contracts, training materials, or internal communications directed at their independent staff. This is to ensure that there is no confusion about the employer-employee relationship and to maintain the integrity of the Belocal brand. Franchisees must clearly communicate to their staff that they, the franchisee, are the employer, not Belocal.

This policy is fairly standard in franchising, as franchisors need to protect their brand identity and avoid potential liability related to employment matters. Franchisees are generally responsible for managing their own employees and independent contractors, and the franchisor wants to avoid being seen as a joint employer. Franchisees should consult with legal counsel to ensure that all of their labor and employment practices comply with applicable laws and regulations, and that they do not inadvertently create any co-employment risks for Belocal.

Belocal franchisees must also ensure that no payroll checks or other employment-related documents contain or reference the Marks or Belocal's name. This reinforces the separation between the franchisee's business operations and the Belocal franchise system, further clarifying the employment relationship. Franchisees should be meticulous in reviewing all staff-facing materials to ensure compliance with this requirement.