According to Hydrodog's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the franchise fee is not refundable. The FDD states clearly that all payments and fees due to Hydrodog or its affiliates are non-refundable under any circumstances. This includes situations where the franchisee does not open for business or if the franchise agreement is terminated. The franchise fee, specifically, is due when the Franchise Agreement is signed and is explicitly stated as non-refundable. This is a standard practice in franchising, as the fee covers Hydrodog's initial costs in evaluating and setting up a new franchisee.

This non-refundable policy means that a prospective Hydrodog franchisee should conduct thorough due diligence before signing the Franchise Agreement. This includes carefully reviewing the FDD, seeking legal and financial advice, and fully understanding the obligations and risks involved. Once the agreement is signed and the franchise fee is paid, the franchisee cannot recover this fee, even if they later decide not to proceed with the franchise.

While payments to Hydrodog are non-refundable, the FDD does note that payments to third parties may be refundable if the franchisee and the third party agree to such terms. This could apply to expenses such as payments for the HydroDog Vehicle, construction, professional fees, or grooming school costs. The availability and terms of any financing obtained from third parties will depend on factors such as the franchisee's creditworthiness and the lending policies of the financial institutions involved. Therefore, franchisees should carefully review the refund policies of any third-party vendors they work with during the initial setup phase.