Who pays for the dog grooming academy if a Hydrodog franchisee fails the skills assessment?
Hydrodog Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
If you are already a dog groomer, you must complete and pass a skills assessment administered by us prior to Initial Training.
Should you fail to meet our standards in the skills assessment (as determined by us in our sole discretion), you will be required to attend a dog grooming academy of our choosing at your expense prior to Initial Training.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 43–166)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Hydrodog's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, if a franchisee is already a dog groomer but fails the skills assessment, the franchisee is responsible for the cost of attending a dog grooming academy. This academy must be one chosen by Hydrodog.
This means that prospective Hydrodog franchisees who are already groomers need to be confident in their skills before taking the assessment. Failure results in the additional expense of attending a grooming academy, which could impact their initial investment and timeline for opening their franchise. The FDD specifies that Hydrodog has sole discretion in determining whether a franchisee meets the required standards in the skills assessment.
Franchisees should inquire about the cost of the dog grooming academy to factor this potential expense into their financial planning. Understanding the criteria for the skills assessment is also crucial to adequately prepare and avoid the additional training expense. It would be prudent to ask Hydrodog for details on the skills assessment, including the specific skills tested and the passing score, to better gauge preparedness.