If Belocal charges the initial franchise fee, what form of payment is required?
Belocal Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
If we were to charge a franchise fee, the fee would be non-refundable and due in a lump sum. Last year, we uniformly waived the initial franchise fee for both new publications and Bridge Publications.
Source: Item 5 — INITIAL FEES (FDD pages 13–14)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Belocal's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, if the initial franchise fee of $735 is charged, it is non-refundable and must be paid in a lump sum. However, Belocal is currently waiving the initial franchise fee for new franchises offered on or after the issuance date of the FDD, specifically those that facilitate the publishing of a new publication. This waiver is in effect unless the disclosure document is amended to reflect otherwise.
Belocal retains the right to charge the initial franchise fee if the franchise involves managing a publication that was previously a Bridge Publication. This means that if a franchisee takes over a publication that was already operating under a different model (Bridge Publication), the initial fee may apply.
For prospective franchisees, it's important to confirm whether the initial franchise fee is waived at the time of signing the agreement. If the fee is applicable, franchisees should be prepared to pay the $735 upfront as a lump sum. Understanding the conditions under which the fee is charged or waived is crucial for budgeting and financial planning when considering a Belocal franchise.