What is Zoomin Groomin's obligation regarding consent to the transfer of a franchise in Minnesota?
Zoomin_Groomin Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
With respect to franchises governed by Minnesota law, the franchisor will comply with Minnesota Statutes, Section 80C.14, Subd. 3-5, which require (except in certain specified cases) (1) that a franchisee be given 90 days notice of termination (with 60 days to cure) and 180 days notice for non-renewal of the franchise agreement and (2) that consent to the transfer of the franchise will not be unreasonably withheld.
Source: Item 17 — g. of the Disclosure Document is modified to state that, in addition to the grounds for immediate termination specified in Item 17.h., the franchisor can terminate upon written notice and a 60 day opportunity to cure for a breach of the Franchise Agreement. (FDD pages 51–65)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Zoomin Groomin's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, for franchises governed by Minnesota law, Zoomin Groomin's consent to the transfer of a franchise cannot be unreasonably withheld. This is in accordance with Minnesota Statutes, Section 80C.14, Subd. 3-5.
This means that if a Zoomin Groomin' franchisee in Minnesota decides to sell or transfer their franchise to a new owner, Zoomin Groomin' must have a legitimate, justifiable reason for refusing to approve the transfer. They can't deny the transfer based on arbitrary or discriminatory reasons.
This provision protects the franchisee's investment and provides them with an exit strategy if they choose to leave the Zoomin Groomin' system. It is a fairly standard protection in franchise agreements, as franchisors typically want to ensure that any new franchisee meets their standards and is capable of operating the business successfully, but they also can't unduly restrict a franchisee's right to transfer their business.