Does HydroDog require franchisees to purchase furnishings, fixtures, and equipment only from approved suppliers?
Hydrodog Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
We have identified a specific recommended brand and model for many of the furnishings, fixtures and equipment items required to equip a HydroDog Business. You must purchase these items only from approved suppliers, which may include us or an affiliate. We may negotiate with vendors for the price,
warrantees, guarantees, delivery costs, maintenance contracts, etc. We do not represent that we will be able to obtain for you the lowest costs or best terms available.
We have the right to revoke approval of particular suppliers if we determine that the suppliers or their products or services no longer meet our standards. Upon receipt of written notice of revocation, you must stop buying from the disapproved supplier. In addition, if we revoke our approval of the products because they fail to meet our standards, you may be required not to use your remaining inventory of those products.
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.
Currently, the purchases and leases that you must make from us or our affiliates, from approved suppliers, or according to our System Standards represent approximately 70%-100% of your total purchases and leases in establishing, and approximately 80% of your total purchases and leases in operating, your HydroDog Business.
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 are required to purchase furnishings, fixtures, and equipment from approved suppliers. Hydrodog has identified specific recommended brands and models for many of these items. These approved suppliers may include Hydrodog itself or its affiliates. Hydrodog may negotiate with vendors regarding price, warrantees, guarantees, delivery costs, and maintenance contracts, but does not guarantee the lowest costs or best terms.
Hydrodog retains the right to revoke approval of particular suppliers if they no longer meet Hydrodog's standards. If approval is revoked, franchisees must stop buying from the disapproved supplier and may be required to discontinue using any remaining inventory of their products. Franchisees can request approval of a new supplier, unless Hydrodog has designated a particular vendor as the sole source for the item. Hydrodog will provide its standards and specifications to the proposed supplier, subject to a confidentiality agreement.
Hydrodog may inspect the proposed supplier's facilities and require product samples for testing, and the franchisee may be required to pay a fee for the evaluation. Hydrodog will notify the franchisee of approval or disapproval within 30 days after receiving the request and completing the evaluation and testing. Franchisees cannot purchase, sell, or offer for sale any products or services from the proposed supplier until they receive written approval from Hydrodog. Overall, Hydrodog estimates that purchases and leases from approved suppliers or according to their System Standards represent approximately 70%-100% of the total purchases and leases in establishing a HydroDog Business, and approximately 80% in operating the business.