Can a Canine Dimensions franchisee increase their contribution to the Internet Advertising Fund above the minimum?
Canine_Dimensions Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You are required to participate in an internet marketing program that we will control (the "Internet Advertising Fund"). We will create and administer the Internet Advertising Fund using the websites and other media we select. Canine Dimensions Businesses owned by us or our affiliates may contribute to this fund on the same basis as our franchisees. The fee for the Internet Advertising Fund is a minimum of $1,000 month. You are free to increase this amount if you wish to do so.
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND TRAINING (FDD pages 19–23)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Canine Dimensions' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are required to participate in the Internet Advertising Fund, with a minimum contribution of $1,000 per month. The document explicitly states that franchisees are permitted to increase their contribution above this minimum amount if they choose to do so. This provides franchisees with the flexibility to invest more in internet marketing for their specific location or business goals.
The Internet Advertising Fund is managed by Canine Dimensions, who has complete discretion over how the funds are utilized. This includes using the funds for local, regional, or national internet marketing, advertising, sales promotion, promotional materials, public and consumer relations, website development, and search engine optimization. Canine Dimensions may also use the fund for the development of technology for the System and any other purpose to promote the Canine Dimensions Marks. While franchisees can increase their contribution, they should be aware that Canine Dimensions does not guarantee that advertising expenditures from the fund will directly benefit any specific franchisee or geographic area.
In fiscal year 2024, Canine Dimensions collected $499,450 for the Internet Advertising Fund. Of this amount, 96% was used for placement of Internet advertising, and 4% was allocated to administrative expenses. The Internet Advertising Fund is not audited, but Canine Dimensions will provide an annual accounting of how the funds were spent for the previous year upon written request from a franchisee, submitted at least 120 days after the end of the fiscal year. This accounting provides some transparency into how the fund is being managed, even though it is not independently audited.