During the Term, what is the Zoomin Groomin franchisee's obligation regarding vehicle replacement?
Zoomin_Groomin Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Vehicles kept past their lifecycles are less efficient and incur greater fuel costs and maintenance costs. This leads to breakdowns, closures, and unhappy employees and Clients. You will plan for vehicle replacement as reasonably needed during the Term.
You will take all commercially reasonable efforts to maintain and keep your Vehicle's body and mechanical components in a pristine and safe condition. If, for whatever reason, you are unable to safely operate your Vehicle(s) or it otherwise becomes unavailable for more than ten (10) business days, then you will repair or replace it as soon as practical. If it remains out of service for more than thirty (30) days, then we can terminate without any refund to you.
You must purchase at least one (1) mobile pet grooming vehicle (the "Vehicle") from an approved vendor that meets our specification and comply with your state's Osha requirements. You must use the Vehicle for the operation of the Franchised Business. You must keep the Vehicle available and in normal operating condition as specified in the Manual. You must maintain the Vehicle in accordance with the Manual. You must refrain from using or permitting the use of the Vehicle for any other purpose or activity at any time without first obtaining our written consent. You must begin taking commercially reasonable efforts to secure an initial Vehicle within sixty (60) days of the Effective Date. If you believe in your sole judgment that the Territory can support more than one Vehicle, you may obtain a second or subsequent Vehicle at any point during the Term.
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, franchisees must plan for vehicle replacement as reasonably needed during the term of the agreement. Zoomin Groomin emphasizes that keeping vehicles past their lifecycles leads to inefficiencies, higher fuel and maintenance costs, breakdowns, closures, and dissatisfaction among employees and clients.
If a franchisee's vehicle is out of service for more than ten business days, the franchisee is obligated to repair or replace it as soon as practical. Should the vehicle remain out of service for more than thirty days, Zoomin Groomin reserves the right to terminate the franchise agreement without any refund to the franchisee.
Zoomin Groomin also requires that franchisees purchase at least one mobile pet grooming vehicle from an approved vendor that meets the franchisor's specifications and complies with state OSHA requirements. Franchisees must use this vehicle for the operation of the franchised business and keep it in normal operating condition as specified in the manual. The franchisee must also maintain the vehicle according to the manual and refrain from using it for any other purpose without written consent from Zoomin Groomin. Franchisees must begin taking commercially reasonable efforts to secure an initial Vehicle within sixty (60) days of the Effective Date.
If a franchisee believes that their territory can support more than one vehicle, they may obtain a second or subsequent vehicle at any point during the term of the agreement. This allows franchisees to expand their operations as demand increases, subject to their own assessment of the territory's potential.