Who is responsible for covering the costs of testing a proposed supplier for Canine Dimensions?
Canine_Dimensions Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You will be required to pay our costs of testing. If the supplier proposed by you meets our criteria, we will permit you to contract with that approved supplier. We reserve the right to re-inspect the facilities and to retest the product of any approved supplier and to revoke any approval if the supplier fails to continue to meet our high standards. Our approval will be revoked if we determine, in our reasonable discretion, that an approved supplier has not continued to meet our standards. In that case, we will inform you in writing of our decision to revoke our approval, and you will be required to cease contracting with that supplier immediately after your receipt of our notice of revocation. Other than our costs of testing (which will not be less than $250), we do not charge a fee for approval.
Source: Item 8 — RESTRICTIONS ON SOURCES OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES (FDD pages 14–17)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Canine Dimensions' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are responsible for covering the costs associated with testing a proposed supplier. Specifically, the FDD states that the franchisee will be required to pay Canine Dimensions' costs of testing. If the supplier meets Canine Dimensions' criteria, the franchisee will be permitted to contract with that approved supplier. Canine Dimensions reserves the right to re-inspect facilities and retest products and can revoke approval if the supplier fails to continue meeting their standards.
This means that if a Canine Dimensions franchisee wishes to use a supplier not already approved by the franchisor, they must first pay for Canine Dimensions to test and approve the supplier. This cost is in addition to any costs the franchisee incurs from the supplier themselves. The FDD specifies that the testing costs will not be less than $250.
This policy ensures that all suppliers meet Canine Dimensions' standards, maintaining consistency and quality across all franchise locations. However, it also places a financial burden on the franchisee, who must bear the cost of testing. The franchisee should consider this expense when evaluating potential suppliers and factor it into their overall budget. Furthermore, franchisees should be aware that even if a supplier is initially approved, Canine Dimensions can revoke that approval if the supplier's performance later declines, potentially requiring the franchisee to find and test a new supplier at their own expense.