What are the general obligations of a Hydrodog franchisee regarding the operation of the franchise business?
Hydrodog Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
o others.
ITEM 15 OBLIGATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ACTUAL OPERATION OF THE FRANCHISE BUSINESS
You must at all times faithfully, honestly and diligently perform your obligations under any Franchise Agreement, continuously exert your best efforts to promote and enhance HydroDog Businesses and not engage in any other business or activity that conflicts with your obligations to operate your HydroDog Business in compliance with the Franchise Agreement.
Either you, or one of your principal owners (with ownership of at least 20% of your Business Entity) must meet our qualifications and participate personally in the direct operation of your HydroDog Business ("Business Manager"). The Business Manager must be trained as a professional dog groomer, certified through the HydroDog Grooming Academy.
At all times, your HydroDog Business must be under the direct supervision of your Business Manager. Our current qualifications for Business Managers are: (i) have a sufficient amount of experience to demonstrate to us that he/she is capable of managing a HydroDog Business; (ii) have management responsibility and authority over the HydroDog Business on a day-to-day basis; (iii) be actively employed on a full-time basis to manage HydroDog Business operations; (iv) satisfactorily complete our initial
training program and any other training programs we require during the term of your Franchise Agreement; and (v) hold at least 20% ownership interest of the Business Entity.
We require your owners, Business Managers and any of your employees, independent contractors, agents, or representatives who may have access to our confidential information to sign Confidentiality and Non-Solicitation and Non-Competition Agreements with you that lists us as a third-party entity in the form attached to this disclosure document as Exhibit "F." We require you to designate one of your owners as having authority to deal with us and to bind you to obligations with us. We have the right to communicate with and deal with that owner without having to simultaneously contact and obtain approval from each of your owners.
If you are a Business Entity, your owners must not only personally guarantee your obligations under the Franchise Agreement, but also agree to be personally bound by, and personally liable for the breach of, every provision of the Franchise Agreement. This includes both monetary obligations and obligations to take or refrain from taking specific actions or to engage or refrain from engaging in specific activities. The form of "Principal Owner's Guaranty" is attached as Exhibit "B" to the Franchise Agreement. We require you to complete a "
Source: Item 15 — OBLIGATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ACTUAL OPERATION OF THE FRANCHISE BUSINESS (FDD pages 34–35)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Hydrodog FDD, franchisees have several key obligations in operating their franchise. A franchisee must diligently perform their obligations under the Franchise Agreement and continuously exert their best efforts to promote and enhance HydroDog Businesses. They cannot engage in any other business or activity that conflicts with their obligation to operate the HydroDog Business in compliance with the Franchise Agreement.
Either the franchisee or one of their principal owners (with at least 20% ownership) must meet Hydrodog's qualifications and participate personally in the direct operation of the HydroDog Business as a Business Manager. The Business Manager must be trained and certified through the HydroDog Grooming Academy and be under the direct supervision of the Business Manager.
Hydrodog franchisees must also adhere to the standards, specifications, and operating procedures established in the Operations Manuals, including any updates or amendments. They are responsible for monitoring any online or electronic versions of the Manuals for changes. Franchisees must use Hydrodog's approved supplier for scheduling all grooming appointments and pay the then-current monthly Scheduling Fee. They must also offer and sell only the Products and Services that Hydrodog has designated or previously approved, obtaining these from designated or approved suppliers. Furthermore, franchisees must comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and ordinances related to health and sanitation, pet grooming and animal welfare, commercial vehicle operation and maintenance, and workplace safety.