Who directs the marketing programs financed by the Hydrodog Marketing Fund?
Hydrodog Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
As the Franchisor, we maintain a National Marketing Program through the Marketing Fund to promote brand awareness and generate leads for all franchisees. We will direct all marketing programs financed by the Marketing Fund and will have sole discretion over the creative concepts, materials, and endorsements used and the geographic market and media placement and allocation. We will use an in-house advertising department, or national or regional advertising agencies.
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, the franchisor directs all marketing programs financed by the Marketing Fund. This includes having sole discretion over the creative concepts, materials, endorsements, geographic market, and media placement and allocation. Hydrodog may use an in-house advertising department or national or regional advertising agencies to execute these programs.
This means that while franchisees contribute 1% of their gross sales (up to a potential 2%) to the Marketing Fund, they do not have direct control over how those funds are spent. Hydrodog retains the authority to decide which marketing initiatives to pursue and how to allocate resources.
Hydrodog has the right, but not the obligation, to establish a Marketing Fund Advisory Committee consisting of franchisees to advise and consult with Hydrodog regarding marketing programs. However, Hydrodog retains sole discretion over all aspects of the Marketing Fund, including its administration and use. This structure is fairly common in franchising, where the franchisor typically manages the marketing fund to ensure brand consistency and maximize the impact of advertising efforts.