Must a Belocal franchisee submit their proposed entity name to the franchisor for approval?
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 must submit their proposed entity name to Belocal for approval. The franchisee cannot name their entity using any name that Belocal does not approve.
Belocal maintains control over its brand and trademarks by requiring franchisees to seek approval for their entity names. This ensures consistency and prevents franchisees from using names that could potentially dilute or infringe upon Belocal's established brand identity. This requirement extends to any business entity in which the franchisee owns or holds an interest.
This stipulation is important for prospective franchisees as it limits their autonomy in choosing a business name. Franchisees must factor in the time required for approval and the possibility of needing to revise their proposed name if it does not meet Belocal's standards. It is advisable to propose several name options to expedite the approval process.