Is prior experience required to demonstrate the capability of managing a Hydrodog Business?
Hydrodog Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
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
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 Hydrodog's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, either the franchisee or one of their principal owners (with at least 20% ownership) must meet Hydrodog's qualifications and participate in the direct operation of the Hydrodog Business as a "Business Manager." One of the qualifications for the Business Manager is to have a sufficient amount of experience to demonstrate the capability of managing a HydroDog Business.
In addition to demonstrating sufficient experience, the Business Manager must also have management responsibility and authority over the HydroDog Business on a day-to-day basis, be actively employed on a full-time basis to manage HydroDog Business operations, satisfactorily complete Hydrodog's initial training program and any other required training programs, and hold at least 20% ownership interest of the Business Entity.
If a franchisee fails to meet Hydrodog's standards in the skills assessment, they will be required to attend a dog grooming academy of Hydrodog's choosing at their own expense prior to initial training. This suggests that Hydrodog places a significant emphasis on the Business Manager's ability to effectively manage the Hydrodog Business, and is willing to require additional training to ensure that the manager meets their standards.