Under what conditions is it unlawful for Zoomin Groomin to repurchase a franchisee's business in Washington?

According to the 2025 Zoomin Groomin Franchise Disclosure Document, provisions in the franchise agreement that allow Zoomin Groomin to repurchase a franchisee's business during the term of the agreement without the franchisee's consent are unlawful in Washington, unless the franchise is terminated for good cause. This is in accordance with RCW 19.100.180(2)(j).

This means that Zoomin Groomin cannot arbitrarily decide to buy back a franchise location in Washington while the agreement is still in effect if the franchisee does not agree to the repurchase. The only exception is if Zoomin Groomin has grounds to terminate the agreement for a valid reason, such as the franchisee's failure to meet performance standards or violation of the agreement terms.

This provision protects Zoomin Groomin franchisees in Washington from potentially unfair or coercive buy-back practices by the franchisor. It ensures that a franchisee can only be forced to sell their business back to Zoomin Groomin if there is a legitimate cause for termination, providing a level of security and stability for the franchisee's investment.