Is Belocal or any third party required to provide ongoing maintenance, repairs, upgrades, or updates to a franchisee's technology?
Belocal Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Neither we, our affiliates, nor any third parties are required to provide ongoing maintenance, repairs, upgrades, or updates to your Technology, and there are currently no optional or required maintenance/ upgrade contracts for the Technology.
We own all client lists and all other information you collect during the term of your Franchise Agreement. You must not sell, transfer, or use this data for any purpose other than operating your Franchised Business. We recommend that you back up your data locally, which may require you to purchase a "back-up" subscription service. We are not responsible under any circumstances for any malfunction or "crash" of the Technology we require, recommend, provide, or approve, including for any Franchised Business data lost as a result of any such malfunction or "crash."
Despite the fact that you must buy, use, and maintain the Technology according to our standards and specifications, you will have sole and complete responsibility for: (1) the acquisition, operation, maintenance, and upgrading of the Technology; (2) the manner in which your Technology interfaces with our and any third party's technology; and (3) any and all consequences if the Technology is not properly operated, maintained, and upgraded.
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, neither Belocal, its affiliates, nor any third parties are required to provide ongoing maintenance, repairs, upgrades, or updates to a franchisee's technology. Furthermore, there are currently no optional or required maintenance or upgrade contracts for the technology used in the Belocal franchise system.
Belocal franchisees are solely responsible for the acquisition, operation, maintenance, and upgrading of their technology. This includes ensuring that the technology interfaces correctly with Belocal's and any third party's technology. Franchisees also bear all consequences if the technology is not properly operated, maintained, and upgraded.
While Belocal may provide software for client relationship management, sales order and commission management, and publication production management, they do not assume responsibility for its upkeep. Franchisees should budget for potential costs related to maintaining and upgrading their technology, as well as for data backup solutions, as Belocal is not responsible for data loss due to technology malfunctions. This is a common arrangement in franchising, where franchisees typically bear the responsibility for maintaining their own equipment and systems.