If John T. Hewitt maintains management responsibility relating to the operation of a franchisor, must this be disclosed in the Zoomin Groomin FDD?

According to the 2025 Zoomin Groomin FDD, if John T. Hewitt maintains management responsibility relating to the operation of a franchisor, this must be disclosed in Item 3 of any Franchise Disclosure Document filed by the franchisor. This requirement stems from a Consent Order between the Commissioner of Financial Protection and Innovation for the State of California and John T. Hewitt. The Commissioner determined that Hewitt is subject to a Final Order related to United States of America v. Franchise Group Intermediate L 1, LLC d/b/a Liberty Tax Service.

This disclosure obligation applies if Hewitt is a director, trustee, general partner, principal officer, or maintains management responsibility relating to the sale or operation of the respective franchisor. The disclosure must include the Final Order and details of the governmental action. This requirement ensures transparency regarding Hewitt's involvement and any potential regulatory concerns associated with him.

For a prospective Zoomin Groomin franchisee, this means that if John T. Hewitt holds any of the specified roles or responsibilities within the Zoomin Groomin franchise, any past or ongoing litigation or governmental actions involving him must be disclosed in the FDD. This allows potential franchisees to assess any risks associated with his involvement in the franchise and make informed decisions.