Is the Responsible Owner for an All Dogs Unleashed franchise permitted to engage in other businesses?
All_Dogs_Unleashed Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
- (c) Own, maintain, advise, operate, engage in, be employed by, make loans to, invest in, provide any assistance to, or have any interest in (as owner or otherwise) or relationship or association with, any business that provides dog training, grooming, or boarding services other than a ALL DOGS UNLEASHED franchised business operated pursuant to a then-currently effective franchise agreement.
This restriction shall apply, while I am an Owner, to any location within the United States, its territories or commonwealths, or any other country, province, state or geographic area in which Franchisor or its Affiliates have used, sought registration of or registered the Marks or similar marks or operate or license others to operate a business under the Marks or similar marks.
It will apply for two years after I cease to be an Owner (or two years after termination or expiration of the Franchise Agreement, whichever occurs first) to any location that is, or is intended to be, located (i) in the Service Area, or within 25 miles of the perimeter of the Service Area; or (ii) within the service area, or within 25 miles of the perimeter of the service area, of any other ALL DOGS UNLEASHED business in existence or under development at the time I cease being an Owner (or termination or expiration of the Franchise Agreement, whichever occurs first).
This restriction will be tolled during any period of my noncompliance.
I agree that each of the foregoing covenants shall be construed as independent of any other covenant or provision of this Guaranty.
If all or any portion of a covenant in this Guaranty is held unreasonable or unenforceable by a court or agency having valid jurisdiction in an un-appealed final decision to which Franchisor is a party, I expressly agree to be bound by any lesser covenant subsumed within the terms of such covenant that imposes the maximum duty permitted by law, as if the resulting covenant were separately stated in and made a part of this Guaranty.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 49–158)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 All Dogs Unleashed Franchise Disclosure Document, there are restrictions on an owner's ability to engage in other businesses, specifically those that compete with All Dogs Unleashed. While an owner, they cannot own, maintain, advise, operate, engage in, be employed by, make loans to, invest in, provide assistance to, or have any interest in any business that provides dog training, grooming, or boarding services, other than an All Dogs Unleashed franchise. This restriction applies within the United States and any other country where All Dogs Unleashed or its affiliates have registered their marks or operate a business under similar marks.
After ceasing to be an owner, this restriction continues for two years. During this period, the former owner is prohibited from engaging in competitive businesses within the service area or within 25 miles of the perimeter of the service area of their former All Dogs Unleashed business, or any other All Dogs Unleashed business in existence or under development. This restriction does not apply if the owner has less than a five percent beneficial interest in the outstanding securities of any publicly held corporation.
These restrictions are designed to protect All Dogs Unleashed's market and goodwill by preventing franchisees and former franchisees from using their knowledge and experience gained from the franchise to compete against the system. The agreement also states that these covenants are independent and can be modified to impose the maximum duty permitted by law if any portion is held unenforceable. This ensures that All Dogs Unleashed can maintain the broadest possible protection against competition from its franchisees and former franchisees.