Can a Zoomin Groomin franchisee operate their vehicle outside of their assigned territory?
Zoomin_Groomin Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You may only operate your Outlet (the Vehicle) within your Territory. We may approve relocation of your Franchised Business if we feel that conditions have changed such that a relocation represents a sound business decision.
You and other franchisees may not accept orders from consumers outside of your Territory, nor may you use other channels of distribution, such as the Internet, catalog sales, telemarketing, or other direct marketing, to make sales outside your Territory, without our prior written permission. We may grant or deny permission in our sole judgment. In no event will you be permitted to offer Services to any Client within a developed territory owned by another unit franchisee. Should we grant permission for you to operate in an undeveloped neighboring territory, our permission will be freely revocable by us for any reason or no reason at all. Further, you will be required to immediately stop providing Services to any Client located outside of your Territory upon verbal or written notice from us that a new franchisee has purchased such territory, and you will provide a list of all customers previously served by you in such territory to the new franchisee.
Should you (i) provide Services or otherwise operate your Franchised Business in another franchisees territory or (ii) fail to stop providing Services or otherwise operate the Franchised Business within fifteen (15) days after being advised that our permission to provide Services or otherwise operate the Franchised Business outside the Territory is revoked because a new franchisee purchased certain rights, then you will pay to the franchisee in whose territory such Services were provided an amount equal to 100% of all grooming and convenience fee collected by you for such Services. Furthermore, you must notify such franchisee who has rights in such territory and provided payment to them within ten (10) days of receipt of payment by you.
Source: Item 12 — TERRITORY (FDD pages 32–34)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Zoomin Groomin's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are generally restricted to operating within their designated territory. The FDD specifies that a Zoomin Groomin franchisee may only operate their vehicle within their assigned territory, which is defined by zip codes, natural, or political boundaries. This territory typically contains a minimum population of approximately 125,000 residents.
However, there are some exceptions. A Zoomin Groomin franchisee may accept orders from consumers outside of their territory or use other channels of distribution to make sales outside their territory, but only with prior written permission from Zoomin Groomin. This permission can be granted or denied at Zoomin Groomin's sole discretion. If a franchisee operates in an undeveloped neighboring territory with permission, Zoomin Groomin can revoke that permission at any time, for any reason. If a new franchisee purchases the neighboring territory, the original franchisee must immediately stop providing services there and provide a customer list to the new franchisee.
If a Zoomin Groomin franchisee provides services in another franchisee's territory without permission or fails to stop operating in an area after permission is revoked, they must pay the franchisee whose territory was infringed upon 100% of all grooming and convenience fees collected for those services. The franchisee must also notify the affected franchisee and provide payment within ten days of receipt. These restrictions are in place to protect the territorial rights of each Zoomin Groomin franchisee and to avoid conflicts between franchisees.