What constitutes 'other similar causes beyond the franchisee's control' that would excuse a Zoomin Groomin franchisee's failure to operate the business?
Zoomin_Groomin Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
o substantially comply with the lawful requirements imposed upon the franchisee by the franchise agreement after being given notice at least 60 days in advance of the termination and a reasonable opportunity, which in no event shall be less than 60 days from the date of the notice of noncompliance, to cure the failure. The period to exercise the right to cure shall not exceed 75 days unless there is a separate agreement between the franchisor and franchisee to extend the time.
CA Bus & Prof Code Section 20021
If during the period in which the franchise is in effect, there occurs any of the following events which is relevant to the franchise, immediate notice of termination without an opportunity to cure, shall be deemed reasonable:
- (a) The franchisee or the business to which the franchise relates h
Source: Item 9 — 01. Financial Statements and Exhibits. (FDD pages 68–156)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Zoomin Groomin's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, a franchisee may face termination of their franchise agreement if they fail to operate the business for five consecutive days, or any shorter period deemed unreasonable by Zoomin Groomin, unless the failure to operate is due to specific events. These events include fire, flood, earthquake, or other similar causes beyond the franchisee's control.
This clause protects the franchisee from immediate termination without an opportunity to cure the issue if the business interruption is due to circumstances outside of their control. The listed examples—fire, flood, and earthquake—provide a baseline for what constitutes an excusable event. The inclusion of "other similar causes" suggests that events of comparable severity and uncontrollability would also be considered, though the FDD does not explicitly define what these might be.
For a prospective Zoomin Groomin franchisee, this means understanding that while consistent operation is expected, there are protections in place for unforeseen disasters. It would be prudent for a potential franchisee to discuss with Zoomin Groomin specific scenarios that might fall under "other similar causes" to gain a clearer understanding of the scope of this clause. This could include events like widespread utility outages, regional states of emergency, or other significant disruptions that could prevent the franchisee from operating their mobile pet grooming services.