Does Hydrodog currently have any franchisee advertising councils or advertising cooperatives?
Hydrodog Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
operative. (Franchise Agreement, Section 12.8)
Advertising Councils
There currently are no franchisee advertising councils or advertising cooperatives that advise us on advertising policies. In our discretion, we reserve the right to establish an advisory council of franchisees that does advise us on advertising policies and other matters. (Franchise Agreement, Section 12.7)
Approval Requirement
All advertising and promotion by you and by any cooperative must be in the type of media and format that we approve, must be conducted in a dignified manner, and must conform to our standards and requirements. You or the cooperative must submit written samples of all proposed advertising and promotional plans and materials for our approval at least 30 days before their intended use, unless the plans and materials were prepared by us or have been approved by us within the last 12 months. (Franchise Agreement, Section 12.5)
Website/Intranet/Social Media
All Websites (as defined below) are managed exclusively by HydroDog web designers and are considered "advertising" under the Franchise Agreement, subject to our review and prior written approval before use. This management includes access to the resource center, store, and vendor list. As used in the Franchise Agreement, the term "Website" means an interactive electronic document contained in a network of computers linked by communications software that you operate or authorize others to operate and that refers to your HydroDog Business, Marks, us, or the System. The term Website includes Internet and World Wide Web home pages. In connection with any Website, the Franchise Agreement provides that you may not establish a Website, nor may you offer, promote, or sell any products or services, or make any use of the Proprietary Mark, through the Internet without our prior written approval. As a condition to granting any consent, we will have the right to establish any requirement that we deem appropriate, including a requirement that your only presence on the Internet will be through one or more web pages that we establish on our Website.
We will also have the right to establish a website or other electronic system providing private and secure communications (such as an intranet) between us, our franchisees, and other persons and entities that we determine appropriate. If we require, you must establish and maintain access to the intranet in the manner we designate. Additionally, we may periodically prepare agreements and policies concerning the use of the intranet that you must acknowledge and/or sign.
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND TRAINING (FDD pages 22–30)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Hydrodog's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, there are currently no franchisee advertising councils or advertising cooperatives. However, Hydrodog retains the right to establish an advisory council of franchisees to advise on advertising policies and other matters at its discretion. Hydrodog also has the right to designate any geographic area for establishing a regional advertising and promotional cooperative, in which all franchisees in the designated area must participate.
If a regional advertising cooperative is established, franchisees' contributions will be credited towards their local advertising expenditure, but will not exceed it unless a majority of the cooperative's members vote to spend more. Each cooperative will focus on administering regional advertising programs and developing standardized advertising materials, subject to Hydrodog's approval. These cooperatives must operate from written governing documents and prepare annual financial statements available to franchisees.
Hydrodog maintains control over all advertising and promotion, requiring it to be in approved media and formats, conducted in a dignified manner, and conforming to their standards. Franchisees or cooperatives must submit advertising plans and materials for approval at least 30 days before use, unless the materials were prepared or approved by Hydrodog within the last 12 months. Hydrodog may grant exemptions from cooperative membership at its discretion and reserves the right to form, change, dissolve, or merge any cooperative.