Can RCW 19.100.180 supersede provisions in the Zoomin Groomin franchise agreement?
Zoomin_Groomin Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
RCW 19.100.180 may supersede provisions in the franchise agreement or related agreements concerning your relationship with the franchisor, including in the areas of termination and renewal of your franchise.
Provisions in the franchise agreement or related agreements stating that the franchisor may exercise its discretion on the basis of its reasonable business judgment may be limited or superseded by RCW 19.100.180(1), which requires the parties to deal with each other in good faith.
Any provision in the franchise agreement or related agreements that prohibits the franchisee from communicating with or complaining to regulators is inconsistent with the express instructions in the Franchise Disclosure Document and is unlawful under RCW 19.100.180(2)(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, RCW 19.100.180 may indeed supersede provisions within the franchise agreement, particularly concerning the franchisee's relationship with Zoomin Groomin. This is explicitly stated in the Washington Addendum to the Franchise Agreement.
Specifically, the FDD notes that provisions in the franchise agreement allowing Zoomin Groomin to exercise discretion based on reasonable business judgment may be limited or superseded by RCW 19.100.180(1), which mandates that both parties deal with each other in good faith. Furthermore, any part of the franchise agreement that prohibits a franchisee from communicating with regulators is unlawful under RCW 19.100.180(2)(h).
This means that as a Zoomin Groomin franchisee in Washington, certain clauses in your franchise agreement might not be fully enforceable if they conflict with the standards set by Washington state law. It is important to carefully review the Washington Addendum and understand how state law affects the enforceability of different provisions in the franchise agreement.