As an entity, is a Dog Haus franchisee allowed to use the Dog Haus Marks as part of their business name?
Dog_Haus Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
If Franchisee is an Entity, Franchisee shall not use the Dog Haus Marks, or Franchisor's trade name, or any words or symbols which are confusingly phonetically or visually similar to the Dog Haus Marks, as all or part of Franchisee's name.
In addition, Franchisee shall not use any Dog Haus Marks (i) with any prefix, suffix, or other modifying words, terms, designs, or symbols (other than logos licensed to Franchisee under this Agreement); (ii) in connection with unauthorized services or products; (iii) as part of any domain name or electronic address maintained on the Internet, the World Wide Web, or any other similar proprietary or common carrier electronic delivery system; or (iv) in any other manner not expressly authorized in writing by Franchisor, or (v) in connection with, supporting, endorsing, promoting or otherwise advocating, advertising or marketing, in favor of or against any political party or candidate or cause or position at any time, which shall include using its products, branded paper products or goods for these purposes.
Franchisee shall give all notices of trademark and service mark registration that Franchisor specifies and shall use and obtain all fictitious or assumed name registrations required by Franchisor or under Applicable Law.
Franchisee further agrees that no service mark other than "Dog Haus", other Dog Haus Marks specified by Franchisor shall be used in marketing, promoting, or operating the Franchised Restaurant.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD page 87)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Dog Haus Franchise Disclosure Document, if a franchisee is an entity, they are not allowed to use the Dog Haus Marks, the franchisor's trade name, or any confusingly similar words or symbols as part of their business name. This restriction ensures that the franchisee's business name remains distinct from the Dog Haus brand to avoid confusion. This limitation is in place to protect the Dog Haus brand and maintain its uniformity across all franchise locations.
Furthermore, franchisees are prohibited from using the Dog Haus Marks with any prefixes, suffixes, or modifying terms, except for logos specifically licensed to them under the Franchise Agreement. They cannot use the marks in connection with unauthorized services or products, as part of any domain name or electronic address without written authorization, or in any manner not expressly authorized by Dog Haus. This includes any use that supports or promotes any political party or cause. Franchisees must also include all trademark and service mark registration notices specified by Dog Haus and obtain any required fictitious or assumed name registrations.
These stipulations are designed to protect the integrity and uniformity of the Dog Haus brand. By preventing franchisees from incorporating the Dog Haus Marks into their business names or using them in unauthorized ways, Dog Haus aims to maintain consistent branding and prevent potential consumer confusion. This also allows Dog Haus to control its online presence and marketing efforts, ensuring that the brand is represented accurately and professionally across all platforms.
In practical terms, a prospective Dog Haus franchisee operating as a corporation or LLC must choose a business name that is entirely distinct from the "Dog Haus" name and marks. This may require careful consideration and legal review to ensure compliance. Franchisees must also be vigilant about how they use the Dog Haus Marks in their marketing and online presence, adhering strictly to the guidelines provided by the franchisor to avoid any potential breach of the Franchise Agreement.