What rights does Hydrodog have as a condition to granting consent for a franchisee's website?
Hydrodog Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
In connection with any Website, the Franchise Agreement provides that you may not establish a Website, nor may you offer, promote, or sell any products or services, or make any use of the Proprietary Mark, through the Internet without our prior written approval. As a condition to granting any consent, we will have the right to establish any requirement that we deem appropriate, including a requirement that your only presence on the Internet will be through one or more web pages that we establish on our Website.
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, Hydrodog maintains significant control over franchisee websites. Before a franchisee can establish a website related to their Hydrodog business, marks, or the Hydrodog system, they must obtain prior written approval from Hydrodog.
As a condition of granting consent for a franchisee's website, Hydrodog has the right to establish any requirement it deems appropriate. This includes the right to require that a franchisee's only presence on the internet be through web pages that Hydrodog establishes on its own website. This gives Hydrodog broad authority to dictate the online presence of its franchisees.
This level of control is not uncommon in franchising, as franchisors seek to maintain brand consistency and manage online reputation. However, prospective Hydrodog franchisees should carefully consider the implications of this control, as it limits their ability to independently market their business online. Franchisees should discuss with Hydrodog what specific requirements they might impose and how this might affect their online marketing strategies.