After the HydroDog agreement expires, can I transfer the HydroDog business phone numbers to HydroDog's direction?
Hydrodog Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
(e) if we do not have or do not exercise an option to purchase your HydroDog Business pursuant to this Agreement you agree that after the effective date of expiration of this Agreement or the Notification Date (whichever is applicable), you will notify the telephone company and all telephone directory publishers of the termination or expiration of your right to use any telephone, telecopy or other numbers and any regular, classified or other telephone directory listings associated with any Mark, authorize the transfer of such numbers and directory listings to us or at our direction and/or instruct the telephone company to forward all calls made to your telephone numbers to numbers we specify;
(f) you agree to furnish us, within 30 days after the effective date of expiration of this Agreement or the Notification Date (whichever is applicable), with evidence satisfactory to us of your compliance with the foregoing obligations;
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 43–166)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Hydrodog's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, after the franchise agreement expires and if Hydrodog does not exercise its option to purchase your Hydrodog business, you are required to transfer the business phone numbers to Hydrodog's direction. Specifically, you must notify the telephone company and directory publishers about the termination of your right to use any phone numbers or listings associated with Hydrodog's marks. You must also authorize the transfer of these numbers and listings to Hydrodog or instruct the phone company to forward calls to numbers Hydrodog specifies.
This obligation ensures that Hydrodog maintains control over its brand identity and customer communications even after a franchise agreement ends. It prevents potential confusion among customers who might try to contact the former franchise location using the old phone number. This is a fairly standard practice in franchising, as franchisors need to protect their brand and ensure a consistent customer experience across all locations, even after a franchisee exits the system.
Furthermore, the agreement stipulates that within 30 days after the expiration date or the Notification Date, you must provide Hydrodog with satisfactory evidence of your compliance with these obligations. This requirement ensures that the transfer of phone numbers and directory listings is properly executed and documented. Failure to comply with these terms could potentially lead to legal repercussions or other penalties as outlined in the franchise agreement.