Can Central Bark Doggy Day Care require compliance with an advertising policy?
Central_Bark_Doggy_Day_Care Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
We may periodically set a maximum or minimum price that you charge for products and services offered by your CENTRAL BARK facility, though we are not obligated to do so. We also may require you to comply with an advertising policy which will prohibit you from advertising any price for a product or service that is different than our suggested retail price.
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS, AND TRAINING (FDD pages 24–32)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 FDD, Central Bark Doggy Day Care may require franchisees to comply with an advertising policy. This policy can prohibit franchisees from advertising prices for products or services that differ from Central Bark Doggy Day Care's suggested retail price. This ensures brand consistency and price uniformity across all franchise locations.
Central Bark Doggy Day Care also maintains a system-wide marketing fund, where franchisees must contribute a monthly marketing fee equal to the greater of 2% of their Franchised Business's Gross Sales or $500. This fund is used for various advertising, marketing, and promotional activities to promote the Central Bark Doggy Day Care brand. These activities include digital marketing, website development, public relations, and the creation of promotional materials.
Additionally, Central Bark Doggy Day Care may establish local advertising cooperatives (LACs) in areas with multiple Central Bark Doggy Day Care facilities. Franchisees are required to participate in these LACs and contribute their share as determined by the LAC's governing documents, typically not exceeding 2% of Gross Sales. These LACs focus on local advertising programs and materials, subject to Central Bark Doggy Day Care's approval, providing a localized approach to marketing efforts. Franchisees are also required to spend a minimum of $26,000 on initial launch advertising within a specified timeframe, using approved vendors for these activities.