Who is responsible for the costs associated with Paragon School of Pet Grooming enrollment for a Hydrodog franchise?
Hydrodog Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Additionally, we have partnered with Paragon School of Pet Grooming, a virtual training program that provides franchisees and their staff with access to professional grooming education. This resource is particularly recommended for franchisees and their staff who have limited or no grooming experience. While enrollment with Paragon is not required, franchisees who wish to enhance their grooming skills or provide additional training for their employees may find this program valuable. Please note that any costs associated with Paragon enrollment are the responsibility of the franchisee and are not included in Item 7 of this disclosure document.
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND TRAINING (FDD pages 22–30)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Hydrodog's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the franchisee is responsible for any costs associated with enrollment in the Paragon School of Pet Grooming. While Hydrodog has partnered with Paragon School of Pet Grooming to provide franchisees and their staff with access to professional grooming education, enrollment is not required. Hydrodog recommends this resource particularly for franchisees and their staff who have limited or no grooming experience.
This means that if a Hydrodog franchisee chooses to enroll themselves or their employees in the Paragon School of Pet Grooming to improve their grooming skills, they must cover all expenses related to the enrollment. These costs are not included in the initial franchise fee or any other fees outlined in Item 7 of the FDD.
Prospective franchisees should consider the potential costs of this optional training when evaluating their investment. While not mandatory, the training could be beneficial for those lacking grooming experience, potentially leading to improved service quality and customer satisfaction. However, franchisees need to budget for these additional training expenses separately.