How must Hydrodog franchisees conduct advertising and promotion?
Hydrodog Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
her 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.
Any digital platforms we establish or maintain, including but not limited to websites, apps, or other ecommerce channels, may serve multiple functions, including advertising and promoting HydroDog products, programs, and services, as well as marketing HydroDog franchise opportunities. We exclusively retain all rights to electronic commerce, and these platforms will be managed by our designated web designers.
You are not permitted to promote your HydroDog Business or use any of the Marks in any manner on any social or networking websites, such as Facebook, LinkedIn or X, without our prior written consent. We will provide you with access to branded social media pages, handles, and assets, which you are required to update regularly. We alone may establish, maintain, modify or discontinue all internet activities pertaining to the System, including through the use of a page or profile on a social media website such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X or Snapchat. You must comply with our System standards regarding the use of social media in your HydroDog Business's operation, including prohibitions on your and the Business's employees posting or blogging comments about the Business or the System, other than on a website or social media platform established or authorized by us ("social media" includes personal blogs, common social networks like Facebook and Instagram, professional networks like LinkedIn, live-blogging tools like X, virtual worlds, file, audio and video-sharing sites, and other similar social networking or media sites or tools). We will provide access to branded social media pages/handles/assets, and you must update these regularly. We reserve the right to conduct collective/national campaigns via local social media on your behalf. In addition, only we may respond to reviews of HydroDog businesses that are posted on Yelp, TripAdvisor and similar Websites. (Franchise Agreement, Section 12.10)
Computer Systems and POS System
You must acquire and use in developing and operating your HydroDog Business a computer system consisting of the computer services, components, equipment, computer hardware, telecommunications equipment or services, point-of-sale system, the software used in connection with the Business Management System and other operating or communications software that we designate or require for use by HydroDog Businesses (collectively, the "Software") that we specify from time to time in the manner we designate (collectively, the "Computer System"). You must sign any standard license agreement or user agreement that may be required to use a system that we specify. You must use the required systems for service calls,
managing inventory, reporting Gross Sales and other information, training personnel, and other functions as we specify from time to time.
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, all advertising and promotion, whether done by the franchisee or a cooperative, must be in an approved media and format, conducted in a dignified manner, and conform to Hydrodog's standards. Franchisees must submit written samples of all proposed advertising and promotional plans and materials for approval at least 30 days before their intended use, unless the plans and materials were prepared by Hydrodog or have been approved by Hydrodog within the last 12 months.
Hydrodog franchisees are not permitted to promote their HydroDog business or use any of the marks on any social or networking websites, such as Facebook, LinkedIn or X, without prior written consent. Hydrodog will provide access to branded social media pages, handles, and assets, which franchisees are required to update regularly. Hydrodog alone may establish, maintain, modify or discontinue all internet activities pertaining to the System. Only Hydrodog may respond to reviews of Hydrodog businesses that are posted on Yelp, TripAdvisor and similar Websites.
Hydrodog also has a national marketing fund for the common benefit of HydroDog franchisees. Franchisees must contribute 1% of their Gross Sales to the Marketing Fund, and Hydrodog reserves the right to increase this contribution to up to 2% of Gross Sales upon thirty (30) days' written notice. Franchisees must also participate in Marketing Fund programs. Hydrodog directs all marketing programs financed by the Marketing Fund and has sole discretion over the creative concepts, materials, and endorsements used and the geographic market and media placement and allocation.
Hydrodog has the right to designate any geographic area for establishing a regional advertising and promotional cooperative. All franchisees in the designated geographical area must participate in the Cooperative. Cooperative contributions will be credited towards the franchisee's Local Advertising expenditure, and will not exceed the Local Advertising expenditure unless a majority of the Cooperative's members vote to spend an amount greater than the Local Advertising expenditure on advertising. No promotional or advertising plans or materials may be used by a Cooperative or furnished to its members without Hydrodog's prior approval.