Can All Dogs Unleashed transfer its rights or obligations under the Franchise Agreement?
All_Dogs_Unleashed Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
1.1. Grant. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, Franchisor hereby grants you the right ("Franchise") to establish and continuously operate a Facility at the Approved Location identified (or to be identified) in Attachment B, to provide canine training, boarding, grooming, and other authorized services at the Facility and at third-party locations within the Service Area in accordance with our standards, and to use the System and Marks in connection with the advertising, promotion, and operation of the business licensed hereunder. You may not sublicense any rights granted by this Agreement, nor delegate any obligations imposed under this Agreement.
1.4.3 merge with, acquire, or be acquired by, including through purchase or sale of substantially all assets, any other person or entity, including any of our or your competitors (each an "M&A Transaction"), and continue to conduct in any location any business engaged in by the merging, acquiring, or acquired person or entity, including any business directly competitive with your Facilities regardless of where the business is located and to permit the business to operate under any name other than the Marks. After an M&A Transaction, we have the right to require you to convert your Facilities to a different name and you agree to: (i) participate, at your expense in any such conversion; and (ii) waive all claims, demands or damages arising from or related to the loss of the Mark, the System or any association or affiliation with the Marks or the System;
- 1.4.4 develop, or become associated with, other concepts (either directly or through affiliate entities) and grant franchises under those concepts for locations anywhere, including in the Development Area; and
- 1.4.5 use and license to engage in any other activities not expressly prohibited in this Agreement.
Without limiting the above rights, we have the right to develop, administer and operate, whether directly or through an affiliate or licensee, digital platforms and digital products offering ALL DOGS UNLEASHED® products (including equipment and merchandise) and services to customers and end users regardless of whether they are located in your Development Area. Additionally, we (including through our affiliates and designees) have the right to sell ALL DOGS UNLEASHED® merchandise and equipment through any outlet and from any location without restriction and we have the right to promote, offer, sell and provide ALL DOGS UNLEASHED® services through mobile applications and other platforms; without restriction, including in the Development Area.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 49–158)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 All Dogs Unleashed Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are not allowed to sublicense any rights granted by the agreement or delegate any obligations imposed by the agreement.
However, All Dogs Unleashed does retain specific rights, including the ability to engage in certain transactions. All Dogs Unleashed can merge with, acquire, or be acquired by another entity, even a competitor. They can continue conducting any business, regardless of location, and permit the business to operate under any name other than the All Dogs Unleashed marks. In the event of such a transaction, All Dogs Unleashed has the right to require franchisees to convert their facilities to a different name. Franchisees would be responsible for the conversion expenses and must waive all claims related to the loss of the All Dogs Unleashed mark or system.
All Dogs Unleashed also retains the right to develop or become associated with other concepts, either directly or through affiliate entities, and grant franchises under those concepts for locations anywhere, even within a franchisee's development area. Additionally, All Dogs Unleashed can use and license others to engage in any activities not expressly prohibited in the franchise agreement. All Dogs Unleashed can also develop, administer, and operate digital platforms and products offering All Dogs Unleashed products and services to customers, regardless of their location, and sell merchandise and equipment through any outlet without restriction.