What is the maximum distance a Belocal franchisee's office can be from the perimeter of their Territory?
Belocal Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You will operate your Franchised Business out of a facility you choose, which may be home based ("Office"). Unless we grant you a variance, your Office must be located within a radius of 50 miles from the perimeter of your Territory.
Source: Item 1 — THE FRANCHISOR AND ANY PARENTS, PREDECESSORS, AND AFFILIATES (FDD pages 8–12)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Belocal's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, a franchisee's office, which may be home-based, must generally be located within 50 miles of the perimeter of their assigned territory. This requirement ensures that the franchisee is reasonably accessible to the territory they serve, facilitating local sales and relationship-building efforts.
However, Belocal retains the discretion to grant a variance to this location requirement. This means that in certain circumstances, a franchisee may be permitted to operate an office located further than 50 miles from their territory's perimeter. The FDD does not specify the conditions under which a variance might be granted, so prospective franchisees should discuss this with Belocal to understand the potential for exceptions.
This location policy is fairly typical in franchise systems where local presence and market knowledge are important for success. By setting a maximum distance, Belocal aims to ensure that franchisees are actively engaged in their territories and can effectively manage their business operations. Franchisees should carefully consider this requirement when selecting an office location, balancing convenience and cost with the need to remain within the prescribed radius.