What must an Exit franchisee immediately cause the local telephone company to do with its telephone numbers after termination?

According to Exit's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, after termination of the franchise agreement, the franchisee must immediately contact the local telephone company to change all telephone numbers associated with the franchised real estate office. Furthermore, the franchisee is obligated to assign these numbers to the Subfranchisor. This requirement ensures that Exit maintains control over its branding and customer communications within the territory, even after a franchise agreement ends.

However, there is an exception to this rule. If the Exit franchisee has fulfilled all financial obligations to both Exit and the Subfranchisor and is not in default at the time of the agreement's expiration, the franchisee is not required to comply with the stipulation to change and assign the telephone numbers. This provides a benefit to franchisees who maintain a good standing with Exit throughout the term of their agreement.

This provision is fairly standard in franchise agreements, as it protects the franchisor's brand identity and customer relationships. By transferring the phone numbers to the Subfranchisor, Exit ensures a seamless transition and prevents potential confusion among customers who may still associate the phone number with the Exit brand. Prospective franchisees should be aware of this obligation and factor it into their business planning, particularly concerning marketing and customer communication strategies after the franchise term.