Must a Belocal franchisee transfer any online presence to Belocal at any time Belocal requires during the term or following the termination of the Franchise Agreement?
Belocal Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You cannot establish, maintain, operate, or participate in any Online Presence relating to the Franchised Business (other than our Online Presence) without our prior written approval, which we can revoke any time an Online Presence fails to continue to meet our standards. We have the right to own all Online Presences related to the Franchised Business and the Marks. We have the right to require you to provide us with control over or access to any such Online Presences at any time, and to prohibit your use or access to such Online Presences upon your default under or any termination of the Franchise Agreement. You must transfer to us any Online Presence (including accounts, credentials, and login information) at any time we require during the term or following the termination of the Franchise Agreement.
Source: Item 16 — RESTRICTIONS ON WHAT THE FRANCHISEE MAY SELL (FDD pages 48–49)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Belocal's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Belocal franchisees are required to transfer any online presence related to the franchised business to Belocal at any time Belocal requests, both during the term of the Franchise Agreement and after its termination. This includes providing all necessary accounts, credentials, and login information.
Belocal maintains the right to own all online presences related to the franchised business and its trademarks. Franchisees cannot establish or maintain any online presence related to the franchised business without prior written approval from Belocal, which Belocal can revoke if the online presence fails to meet their standards. Belocal also has the right to require franchisees to provide control over or access to any such online presences at any time and can prohibit the franchisee's use or access to these online presences if the franchisee defaults under or upon termination of the Franchise Agreement.
This requirement gives Belocal significant control over the brand's online presence and ensures consistency across all franchise locations. For a prospective franchisee, this means they will not have full autonomy over their online marketing efforts and must adhere to Belocal's standards and requirements. It also means that upon termination of the franchise agreement, the franchisee will lose all rights to any online presence they have developed for the business, as it must be transferred to Belocal.