Can a Belocal franchisee use 'N2 Publishing' as part of their business entity name?
Belocal Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
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 expressly prohibited from using "N2 Publishing" as part of their business entity name. The franchise agreement states that franchisees cannot use any of Belocal's marks or trade names, including "BELOCAL," "N2," "N2 Publishing," or "Hyport Digital," or any variation thereof, in their business entity name.
This restriction ensures that the Belocal brand remains consistent and avoids potential confusion among customers. It also protects Belocal's trademarks and prevents franchisees from creating the impression that their business is directly owned or operated by the franchisor.
Before registering their business entity, a prospective Belocal franchisee must submit their proposed name to Belocal for written approval. This process allows Belocal to ensure compliance with the franchise agreement and protect its brand identity. Failure to obtain approval could result in a breach of the franchise agreement.
This type of restriction is common in franchising, as franchisors typically want to maintain tight control over their brand and prevent franchisees from using names that could dilute or damage the brand's reputation.