What is a Dog Haus franchisee's obligation regarding the Dog Haus Manuals upon termination or expiration of the Franchise Agreement?

According to Dog Haus's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, upon the expiration or termination of the Franchise Agreement, a franchisee is obligated to return the Manuals to Dog Haus. Specifically, the franchisee must return the Manuals and all written materials incorporating Dog Haus Trade Secrets and all copies of any of the same to the franchisor at the franchisee's own cost. The Manuals are, and at all times remain, Dog Haus's sole property and must be promptly returned upon expiration, termination, or an Assignment of the Agreement.

This requirement is in place to protect the Dog Haus System, Dog Haus Marks, Dog Haus Trade Secrets, and the goodwill associated with them. The Manuals contain mandatory and recommended specifications, standards, procedures, rules, and other information pertinent to the Dog Haus System and the franchisee's obligations under the Franchise Agreement. These Manuals are an integral part of the agreement, and all provisions contained within them are incorporated into the agreement by reference.

For a prospective Dog Haus franchisee, this means that access to the operational knowledge and brand standards is contingent upon maintaining an active franchise agreement. Upon termination or expiration, all documentation, whether in electronic or hard copy, must be returned. This is a fairly standard practice in franchising, as franchisors need to maintain control over their proprietary systems and prevent unauthorized use of their intellectual property after a franchise relationship ends. Failure to return the manuals could result in legal action from Dog Haus to recover its property and protect its trade secrets.