After the Caring Transitions franchise agreement terminates, what must the franchisee do with the telephone numbers used in connection with the franchised business?
Caring_Transitions Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
- (f) Promptly notify the telephone company and all listing agencies of the termination or expiration of Franchisee's right to use the telephone numbers and directory listings used
in connection with the franchised business and authorize the transfer of the telephone numbers and directory listings to Franchisor or its designee. Franchisee acknowledges that, as between Franchisor and Franchisee, Franchisor has the sole right to all telephone numbers and directory listings used in connection with the franchised business, and Franchisee hereby authorizes Franchisor, and appoints Franchisor and any officer designated by Franchisor, as Franchisee's attorney-in-fact, to direct the telephone company and all listing agencies to transfer the telephone numbers and directory listings to Franchisor or Franchisor's designee if Franchisee fails or refuses to do so. The telephone company and all listing agencies may accept such direction or this agreement as conclusive of Franchisor's exclusive rights in the telephone numbers and directory listings and Franchisor's authority to direct their transfer.
Source: Item 20 — OUTLETS AND FRANCHISEE INFORMATION (FDD pages 41–49)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Caring Transitions's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, upon termination or expiration of the franchise agreement, the franchisee is required to promptly notify the telephone company and all listing agencies about the termination or expiration of their right to use the telephone numbers and directory listings associated with the franchised business. The franchisee must also authorize the transfer of these telephone numbers and directory listings to Caring Transitions or its designee.
Caring Transitions asserts that it has the sole right to all telephone numbers and directory listings used in connection with the franchised business. To ensure the transfer happens, the franchisee appoints Caring Transitions as their attorney-in-fact, allowing Caring Transitions to direct the telephone company and listing agencies to transfer the numbers and listings if the franchisee fails or refuses to do so. The telephone company and listing agencies can accept the franchise agreement as conclusive evidence of Caring Transitions's rights and authority to direct the transfer.
In practical terms, this means that a franchisee who leaves the Caring Transitions system, whether through termination or expiration of the agreement, must relinquish control of any phone numbers and listings used for the business. This is a fairly standard practice in franchising, as it ensures that the brand maintains control over its identity and customer communications. A prospective franchisee should understand that the phone numbers they use to build their business will revert to Caring Transitions upon their departure from the system.