If the Hydrodog franchise agreement expires, how long does the franchisee have to deliver materials containing Hydrodog marks?
Hydrodog Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
17.2 Marks. Upon the termination or expiration of this Agreement:
- (c) if we do not have or do not exercise an option to purchase your HydroDog Business pursuant to this Agreement, you agree to deliver to us within thirty (30) days after, as applicable, the effective date of expiration of this Agreement or the Notification Date all signs, sign-faces, sign-cabinets, marketing materials, forms and other materials containing any Mark or otherwise identifying or relating to a HydroDog Business and allow us, without liability to you or third parties, to remove all such items from your HydroDog Business;
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 43–166)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Hydrodog's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, a franchisee has 30 days after the expiration of the franchise agreement to deliver all materials containing Hydrodog marks to the company, provided Hydrodog does not exercise its option to purchase the franchisee's Hydrodog business. These materials include signs, sign-faces, sign-cabinets, marketing materials, and forms. The franchisee is also obligated to allow Hydrodog to remove these items from the business location without liability.
This requirement ensures that upon expiration of the franchise agreement, the franchisee ceases to represent themselves as part of the Hydrodog franchise system. This protects Hydrodog's brand identity and prevents potential confusion among customers. It is a standard practice in franchising to ensure consistent brand representation and prevent unauthorized use of trademarks after a franchise agreement ends.
Furthermore, the franchisee is responsible for altering the Hydrodog Business to clearly distinguish it from its former appearance and other Hydrodog Businesses, preventing public confusion. They must also notify the telephone company and directory publishers about the termination of their right to use any telephone numbers associated with Hydrodog, transferring these to Hydrodog or forwarding calls as directed by Hydrodog. The franchisee must provide evidence of compliance with these obligations within 30 days of the agreement's expiration or the Notification Date, whichever is applicable.