What specific training must a Business Manager complete to operate a Hydrodog franchise?
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, a Business Manager, defined as either the franchisee or a principal owner with at least 20% ownership, must be trained as a professional dog groomer and certified through the HydroDog Grooming Academy. This requirement ensures that the Hydrodog Business is under the direct supervision of a qualified individual.
In addition to grooming certification, the Business Manager must meet several qualifications. They need to demonstrate sufficient experience to manage a HydroDog Business, possess management responsibility and authority over the business on a day-to-day basis, and be actively employed full-time in managing the business operations. Furthermore, the Business Manager must satisfactorily complete Hydrodog's initial training program and any other training programs required during the term of the Franchise Agreement.
Prior to opening a Hydrodog Business, the franchisee and their trainees must successfully complete the HydroDog Academy, which includes passing all required assessments to evaluate comprehension of the training topics. Upon completion, a certificate is issued, which may be required for operational approval. The initial training program, known as HydroDog Academy, combines online and on-site training to equip franchisees with essential operational skills, focusing on daily operations, grooming practices, and customer management. The online portion includes self-paced modules, video tutorials, and interactive assessments, while the on-site training covers equipment setup, client management, service delivery, and HydroDog business protocols.