Can a Belocal franchisee use 'N2' 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 restricted from using 'N2' in their business entity name. Specifically, the franchisee cannot use any of Belocal's marks or trade names, including "BELOCAL," "N2," "N2 Publishing," or "Hyport Digital," or any abbreviation, acronym, or variation of those words.
Before naming their business entity, a prospective Belocal franchisee must submit their proposed name to Belocal for written approval. This ensures that the name complies with Belocal's branding standards and avoids any unauthorized use of its trademarks. Belocal retains the right to disapprove any name that it deems unsuitable.
This restriction is typical in franchising, as franchisors like Belocal need to protect their brand identity and ensure consistency across all franchise locations. By controlling the use of its trademarks, Belocal can maintain the goodwill associated with its brand and prevent confusion among customers. Franchisees must adhere to these guidelines to maintain the integrity of the Belocal brand.