Who owns the City Wide Telephone Line used for the Franchised Business?
City_Wide Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
(24) hours a day and include a specific reference that identifies the number as being associated with CITY WIDE. These telephone numbers, lines and the services related thereto (collectively, "Telephone Line") will be the sole and exclusive property of CITY WIDE. Franchisee shall always be solely responsible for any expenses and debts incurred with respect to the Telephone Line. Franchisee does hereby irrevocably convey, assign and transfer to CITY WIDE all the rights relative to the termination and/or changing of the Telephone Line should the franchise arrangement and/or relationship between the parties cease at any time for any reason. Additionally, Franchisee does hereby irrevocably convey, assign and transfer to CITY WIDE all the rights to place forwarding instructions upon the Telephone Line to whatever numbers and to any persons CITY WIDE desires, should the franchise arrangement and/or relationship cease at any time for any reason. This includes the assignment of the Telephone Line or forward instructions if Franchisee is using a Telephone Line tied to a cellular, mobile or other portable phone to operate the Franchised Business. All expenses in terminating, changing and forwarding the Telephone Line always times be the sole responsibility of Franchisee. CITY WIDE may, from time to time, establish such further reasonable requirements concerning the establishment and operation of the Office and Franchisee shall promptly comply with such requirements upon receipt of notice thereof.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD page 65)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to City Wide's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the City Wide telephone line used for the franchised business is the sole and exclusive property of City Wide. However, the franchisee is responsible for all expenses and debts related to the telephone line.
Furthermore, the franchisee irrevocably conveys, assigns, and transfers all rights related to the termination or changing of the telephone line to City Wide should the franchise arrangement cease for any reason. This includes the right to place forwarding instructions on the telephone line to any numbers or persons City Wide desires if the franchise relationship ends. This assignment also applies if the franchisee uses a telephone line tied to a cellular, mobile, or other portable phone to operate the franchised business.
In practical terms, this means that while a City Wide franchisee will manage and pay for the telephone line used for their business, City Wide retains ownership and control of the line. If the franchise agreement terminates, City Wide has the right to take over the phone number and redirect calls as they see fit. This is a significant point for prospective franchisees to consider, as they will not retain ownership of the phone number they use to build their business if the franchise agreement ends.