Where is the Belocal franchisee's non-exclusive geographic area described?
Belocal Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
When you sign the Franchise Agreement, we will grant you the non-exclusive right and license to establish and operate the Franchised Business. You will be granted a non-exclusive geographic area ("Territory") described in Attachment B to the Franchise Agreement, within which you have the right to distribute the Publication. We do not allow you to relocate your Territory. You will not have the right to distribute the Publication to any person, community, or industry group outside of your Territory. You have the right to sell and offer to sell print advertising and digital advertising services to clients located both inside and outside of your Territory, but only in accordance with our then-current digital advertising policies, crossselling policies and Franchise Brand Standards Manual. We also have the right to allow other franchisees or affiliates to offer and sell advertising in all forms to clients located in your Territory.
Your Territory will be defined by geographic boundaries or descriptions we select. We do not grant any minimum territory. The actual size of the Territory will vary depending upon the availability of markets, our long-range plans, your financial and operational resources, and market conditions. A written description of the Territory will be inserted in Attachment B to the Franchise Agreement before you sign the Franchise Agreement. The boundaries used to define the Territory will be geographic boundaries as configured on the effective date of the Franchise Agreement, which may be described as certain neighborhoods, subdivisions, or communities, or a specific home count in an area, as determined by us. We have the sole discretion to change your Territory, including its size, shape, boundaries, and population, upon ninety (90) days' notice to you.
Source: Item 12 — TERRITORY (FDD pages 42–44)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Belocal's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the franchisee's non-exclusive geographic area, referred to as the "Territory," is described in Attachment B to the Franchise Agreement. Belocal grants the franchisee the non-exclusive right to operate within this Territory, distributing the Publication within its boundaries. However, Belocal does not allow franchisees to relocate their Territory and restricts distribution of the Publication outside of it.
The Territory's boundaries are defined by Belocal using geographic descriptions, such as neighborhoods, subdivisions, communities, or a specific home count. The actual size of the Territory varies based on market availability, Belocal's plans, the franchisee's resources, and market conditions. It is important to note that Belocal does not guarantee any minimum territory size. The written description of the Territory is included in Attachment B of the Franchise Agreement before the franchisee signs it.
Belocal retains the discretion to modify the Territory, including its size, shape, boundaries, and population, by providing the franchisee with ninety (90) days' notice. This lack of an exclusive territory and the franchisor's right to alter it are significant factors for a prospective franchisee to consider. While franchisees can sell advertising to clients outside their territory under certain conditions, Belocal also reserves the right to allow other franchisees or affiliates to sell advertising within a franchisee's Territory. This means a Belocal franchisee could face competition from other Belocal entities within their own assigned area.