factual

How much notice does Hydrodog need to give a franchisee to exercise its option to purchase the business?

Hydrodog Franchise · 2025 FDD

Answer from 2025 FDD Document

Provisions Other Agreement Summary
of the Agreement Date; abandonment; unapproved transfers; conviction of or a plea of no contest to, a felony or other serious crime; dishonest or unethical conduct; unauthorized assignment of the Franchise Agreement or of an ownership interest in you or the HydroDog Business; loss of the HydroDog Vehicle; unauthorized use or disclosure of the Manuals or confidential information; failure to pay taxes, repeated defaults (even if cured); and bankruptcy. All non-curable defaults are subject to applicable state law.
(i) Franchisee's obligations on termination/ non renewal Sections 17.1 - 17.4 Obligations include payment of outstanding amounts, complete de-identification and return of confidential information (also see (r) below).
(j) Assignment of contract by franchisor Sections 15.1, 15.4, 15.5 and 15.6 No restriction on our right to assign.
(k) Section 15.2 Voluntary or involuntary, direct or indirect
"Transfer" by assignment, sale, gift or other disposition of any
franchisee - interest in the Franchise Agreement, you or the
defined HydroDog Business.
(l) Franchisor's approval of transfer by franchisee Section 15.2 We have the right to approve all transfers, even to a Business Entity controlled by you.
(m) Conditions for franchisor approval of transfer Section 15.3 New franchisee qualifies, you pay us all amounts due, transferee and its managerial employees agree to complete training, transferee agrees to be bound by terms and conditions of Franchise Agreement, our then current form of Franchise Agreement is signed and the then-current initial franchise fee is paid, we approve material terms, you subordinate amounts due to you, and you sign other documents we require - including general releases in the form provided in Exhibit "E" (also see r below).
(n) Franchisor's right of first refusal to acquire franchisee's business Section 15.8 We can match any offer for an ownership interest in you, your Franchise Agreement or your HydroDog Business provided that we may substitute cash for any form of payment at a discounted amount if an interest rate will be charged on any deferred payments, our credit will be deemed equal to that of any proposed purchaser, we will have no less than 60 days to prepare for closing and we receive all customary representations and warranties, as we specify.
(o) Franchisor's option to purchase franchisee's business Section 17.5 Upon 60 days' notice to you, we have the option to buy the Business, including the HydroDog Vehicle, at fair market value after our termination, or your termination without cause, of the agreement (but not expiration).

Source: Item 17 — RENEWAL, TERMINATION, TRANSFER AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION (FDD pages 36–38)

What This Means (2025 FDD)

According to Hydrodog's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Hydrodog has the option to purchase a franchisee's business under certain conditions. Specifically, Hydrodog must provide the franchisee with 60 days' notice before exercising this option. This option becomes available to Hydrodog after termination of the franchise agreement, or if the franchisee terminates the agreement without cause, but not upon expiration of the agreement. The purchase would include the HydroDog Vehicle. Hydrodog will pay the fair market value for the business.

This provision in the franchise agreement means that a Hydrodog franchisee could be required to sell their business back to Hydrodog if the franchise agreement is terminated either by Hydrodog or by the franchisee without a valid reason. The franchisee will have a 60-day window to prepare for the sale.

It is important to note that the FDD states that the purchase will be at fair market value. Franchisees should understand how "fair market value" will be determined and whether an independent appraisal will be conducted. This buy-back option does not apply when the franchise agreement expires at the end of its term, only if it's terminated early. Prospective franchisees should seek clarification on the specific conditions under which Hydrodog might terminate the agreement and exercise this purchase option.

Disclaimer: This information is extracted from the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document and is provided for research purposes only. It does not constitute legal or financial advice. Consult with a franchise attorney before making any investment decisions.