What is the procedure for a HydroDog franchisee to request approval of a new supplier?
Hydrodog Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You must purchase the products, supplies, equipment, and services that you use or sell in the HydroDog Business in accordance with our specifications and quality standards and, if applicable, only from suppliers we have designated or approved (which may include us or our affiliates). You will at all times maintain a complete inventory of approved items and supplies necessary for operating your HydroDog Business and providing services to customers.
If we require you to use an approved supplier for a particular item, but you wish to purchase the item from a supplier that we have not approved, you may submit a written request for approval of the supplier, unless it is an item for which we have designated a particular vendor as the source for the particular product or service. We will provide our standards and specifications to you or to the proposed supplier, subject to the supplier's execution of a confidentiality agreement in a form acceptable to us. We have the
right to inspect the proposed supplier's facilities and to require delivery of product samples either to us or to an independent laboratory designated by us for testing. You may be required to pay a fee, which will not exceed our reasonable costs incurred in evaluating the supplier, regardless of whether or not we approve the supplier. You may not purchase, sell, or offer for sale any products or services of the proposed supplier until you receive our written approval of the proposed supplier. We will notify you of approval or disapproval of the proposed supplier within 30 days after receiving your request and completion of evaluation and testing, if required. Our failure to respond within this timeframe shall not constitute approval of the proposed supplier. You may not sell or offer for sale any products or services of the proposed supplier until you receive our written approval.
Source: Item 8 — RESTRICTIONS ON SOURCES OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES (FDD pages 18–21)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to HydroDog's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees must adhere to the brand's system standards and purchase products, supplies, equipment, and services from designated or approved suppliers. If a franchisee wishes to use a non-approved supplier for an item that doesn't have a designated vendor, they can submit a written request for approval.
HydroDog will then provide its standards and specifications to the franchisee or the proposed supplier, contingent on the supplier signing a confidentiality agreement. HydroDog has the right to inspect the supplier's facilities and request product samples for testing, either directly or through an independent laboratory. The franchisee may have to cover the costs of evaluating the supplier, regardless of the approval outcome.
The FDD states that HydroDog will notify the franchisee of the approval or disapproval within 30 days of receiving the request and completing the evaluation and testing. However, a lack of response within this timeframe does not constitute approval. The franchisee cannot purchase, sell, or offer products from the proposed supplier until they receive written approval from HydroDog.