Does Belocal guarantee the maintenance of an Online Presence for the Belocal brand?
Belocal Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
We may maintain a website in order to promote the Marks, the publications, or any or all of the Franchised Businesses. We may also develop and maintain any other type of online, internet, virtual, or digital presence (each an "Online Presence") as we see fit. We have the right to control these Online Presences and use or discontinue any of them in our discretion. An Online Presence includes but is not limited to (1) the website, other webpages, URLs, or domain names; (2) accounts, pages, handles, or profiles on social media sites; social networking sites; news sites and groups; online, internet, or digital directories; video, photography, audio, podcast, and messaging services; blogs; or forums; (3) e-commerce sites or accounts; (4) digital or online advertising and marketing content and services; (5) mobile applications; (6) virtual reality platforms; or (7) any identifiers of an Online Presence; (8) business profile pages accessible online; or (9) a presence on any other type of online, internet, virtual, or digital tool, good, or service that may be developed.
We have the right to require you to obtain our consent to create or operate Online Presences that are related to us, the System, the Marks, any publication, or your Franchised Business. For any Online Presence you are permitted (by express consent or by general policy) to create and operate, we reserve the right to be exercised at our option to have the Online Presence directly owned or controlled by us during the term of the Franchise Agreement or to require it to be transferred to us after the expiration or termination of the Franchise Agreement. Similarly, you must provide us, on request, with credentials and login information to any such Online Presence. Your use of any Online Presence must comply with the policies in the Franchise Brand Standards Manual and other brand guidelines. We can revoke your permission to use any Online Presence at any time.
Typically, the types of Online Presences we will permit you to create and operate are social media sites for the Publication. Failure to comply with any social media policies we may establish may be a default under the Franchise Agreement. You must grant us administrative access to each of the social media sites you use, however, we do not regularly monitor or control the content of these social media sites, including the content you post.
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS, AND TRAINING (FDD pages 37–42)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Belocal's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Belocal does not guarantee the maintenance of an Online Presence. Belocal states that it may maintain a website to promote the marks, publications, or any of the franchised businesses. They may also develop and maintain any other type of online, internet, virtual, or digital presence as they see fit. Belocal retains the right to control these Online Presences and use or discontinue any of them at their discretion.
Belocal has the right to require franchisees to obtain their consent to create or operate Online Presences related to them, the System, the Marks, any publication, or the franchisee's Franchised Business. For any Online Presence a franchisee is permitted to create and operate, Belocal reserves the right to have the Online Presence directly owned or controlled by them during the term of the Franchise Agreement or to require it to be transferred to them after the expiration or termination of the Franchise Agreement. Franchisees must provide Belocal, on request, with credentials and login information to any such Online Presence.
Franchisees' use of any Online Presence must comply with the policies in the Franchise Brand Standards Manual and other brand guidelines. Belocal can revoke a franchisee's permission to use any Online Presence at any time. Typically, the types of Online Presences Belocal will permit franchisees to create and operate are social media sites for the Publication. Failure to comply with any social media policies Belocal may establish may be a default under the Franchise Agreement. Franchisees must grant Belocal administrative access to each of the social media sites they use; however, Belocal does not regularly monitor or control the content of these social media sites, including the content franchisees post.