To whom does the City Publications franchisee relinquish or transfer the Franchised Business telephone number upon termination or expiration?

According to the 2025 City Publications Franchise Disclosure Document, upon termination or expiration of the franchise agreement, the franchisee must relinquish or transfer the Franchised Business telephone number to City Publications or its designee. The decision of who receives the telephone number lies at City Publications's discretion.

In addition to transferring the phone number, the franchisee is also required to notify the telephone service provider and all listing agencies about the termination or expiration of their rights to use any telephone number or telephone directory listings associated with the "CITY PUBLICATIONS" name or any of its Marks. The franchisee must also authorize the transfer of these items to City Publications or as directed by City Publications.

This provision ensures that City Publications maintains control over its brand identity and customer communications even after a franchise agreement ends. This is a fairly standard practice in franchising, as it protects the brand's goodwill and prevents potential confusion among customers. A prospective franchisee should be aware of this obligation, as it means they cannot continue using the business's phone number for any new ventures after the franchise agreement is terminated or expires.