What is the Benjamin Franklin Plumbing franchisee required to do regarding telephone numbers for the Franchised Business?
Benjamin_Franklin_Plumbing Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
- 6.5. Telephone Numbers.
You are required to obtain one or more separate telephone numbers that are identified with the Franchised Business and no other business.
At the termination or expiration of this Agreement, those telephone numbers and any online listings become our property.
Simultaneous with signing this Agreement, you agree to sign the Telephone Number and Internet Agreement attached as Appendix D, duly appointing us as attorney-in-fact to effect a transfer to us of the telephone numbers and online listings for the Franchised Business upon expiration or termination of this Agreement.
We may require that telephone numbers and electronic identities you use in connection with the Franchised Business be owned and controlled by us or an approved supplier, and that you transfer to an approved call routing and tracking supplier all telephone numbers associated with the Franchised Business.
- 6.6. Live Voice and Call Center.
Telephone calls to the Franchised Business are required to be answered by "live" voices during the hours specified in the Brand Standards Manuals.
You may not have calls answered by answering machines, voicemail, or digital assistants.
We may require or prohibit forwarding calls to mobile phones.
As provided in Section 6.10, we have the right to require you to use a designated call center
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 88–312)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Benjamin Franklin Plumbing Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees must obtain one or more separate telephone numbers exclusively for the Franchised Business. These numbers cannot be associated with any other business. Upon termination or expiration of the Franchise Agreement, these telephone numbers and any online listings become the property of Benjamin Franklin Plumbing.
Simultaneous with signing the Franchise Agreement, the franchisee must sign a Telephone Number and Internet Agreement, which appoints Benjamin Franklin Plumbing as their attorney-in-fact to transfer the telephone numbers and online listings to Benjamin Franklin Plumbing upon expiration or termination of the agreement. Benjamin Franklin Plumbing may also require that telephone numbers and electronic identities used in connection with the Franchised Business be owned and controlled by them or an approved supplier.
Benjamin Franklin Plumbing has the right to require the franchisee to transfer all telephone numbers associated with the Franchised Business to an approved call routing and tracking supplier. Furthermore, telephone calls to the Franchised Business must be answered by "live" voices during the hours specified in the Brand Standards Manuals, and calls cannot be answered by answering machines, voicemail, or digital assistants. Benjamin Franklin Plumbing may also require or prohibit forwarding calls to mobile phones and has the right to require the franchisee to use a designated call center.