If Belocal chooses to conduct advertising, does Belocal have discretion in selecting the coverage area for the Belocal brand?
Belocal Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
We are not required to spend any money to advertise your Franchised Business, the Publication, or the BELOCAL brand generally. We are not required to spend any money for advertising in your Territory. If we choose to conduct any advertising related to the Franchised Business, the Publication, or the BELOCAL brand generally, we may use any media we choose, any source we choose (an in-house team, or local, regional, or national companies) and have total discretion to select the coverage (local, regional, or national).
You must obtain our prior approval for all advertising and promotional plans and materials that you desire to use to promote your Franchised Business and that we have not prepared or previously approved. You may only use advertising materials that you create, or have created for you, if we determine that these materials and the proposed use of these materials meet our standards. We reserve the right to disapprove at
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 has complete discretion regarding the coverage area for advertising related to the Belocal brand. Belocal is not obligated to spend any money to advertise a franchisee's franchised business, the publication, or the Belocal brand in general, including within the franchisee's territory. However, if Belocal chooses to conduct advertising, it has total discretion to select the coverage area, whether local, regional, or national.
This means that Belocal franchisees have no control over Belocal's advertising decisions, including where and how advertising funds are spent. Belocal can choose to focus advertising efforts in specific areas, potentially benefiting some franchisees more than others. This also means that Belocal is not required to conduct any advertising at all.
Prospective franchisees should consider this lack of control and the possibility that Belocal may not prioritize advertising in their specific territory. It is important to note that franchisees must obtain Belocal's prior approval for all advertising and promotional plans and materials that they desire to use to promote their franchised business and that Belocal has not prepared or previously approved. Belocal reserves the right to disapprove any plans and materials previously approved, and franchisees must discontinue using any promotional or advertising plans or materials upon notice from Belocal to do so.