Bosley's operates as a specialty pet-superstore banner alongside its sister brand Pet Valu, both under the same Markham, Ontario corporate home — worth knowing on a resale, since the franchisor's consent process, and any decisions about which banner a location operates under, run through that shared corporate structure. What's actually changing hands is the store's larger-format inventory, its plaza lease, and its loyalty-program customer list, not the real estate itself.
Bosley's by Pet Valu resales follow the franchisor's own approval process on top of the usual purchase mechanics — here's how the two run together.
Getting approved
The offer sets price and structure, conditioned on franchisor consent and confirmation of what's included in the specialty-inventory count.
1–2 weeks†The franchisor reviews the proposed buyer and may exercise a right of first refusal before the sale can proceed.
several weeks, typically†A franchise disclosure document may still be required for this resale — Ontario courts read the resale-disclosure exemption narrowly, so franchisor involvement in the sale can trigger it even where it's called a private deal.
assessed early†Getting to closing
The store's larger-format plaza premises lease needs the landlord's written consent to assign, coordinated with the franchisor's own timeline.
2–6 weeks†The location's banner — Bosley's, as distinct from its Pet Valu sister banner — is confirmed, alongside continuity of the franchisor's supply relationship and required training.
1–3 weeks†Funds and keys change hands, inventory is counted and settled, and loyalty-program customer records transfer to the buyer's account.
1 day, once conditions are met†CFA Look For A Franchise listing confirms an active Canadian franchise network, CFA member since 2010, in business since 1979; operates as a specialty pet-superstore banner of Pet Valu
Sister banner to Ontario-headquartered Pet Valu (Markham, ON corporate home); Ontario stores among its established Canadian network
This is the first real decision in a Bosley's by Pet Valu resale — and it changes what you're buying, what you're taking on, and how the franchise agreement moves.
| Question | Asset purchase | Share purchase |
|---|---|---|
| What you buy | The store's assets — specialty-format inventory, fixtures, the loyalty-program customer data, and the franchise agreement's benefit, subject to franchisor consent. | The shares of the operating company — everything it owns, and everything it owes. |
| Banner & sister-brand structure | Confirmed as part of consent, since the franchisor operates both the Bosley's and Pet Valu banners under one corporate group. | Generally stays as-is, since the underlying corporation and its banner don't change. |
| Franchise agreement & supply relationship | Consent required for the specific store, including continuity of the supply relationship the store depends on for its specialty inventory. | Consent required for the change of control itself — the supply relationship generally stays with the corporation. |
| The lease | Needs the landlord's written consent to assign — often the pacing item for the whole closing, given the store's larger specialty-retail format. | Usually stays in place, unless the lease has its own change-of-control clause. |
| Customer & loyalty data | Loyalty-program membership and purchase-history data is transferred to the buyer's account under Ontario's privacy rules. | Stays with the corporation without needing to be re-transferred. |
| Tax angle | Buyer gets a stepped-up cost base on the assets purchased. | Seller may access the lifetime capital gains exemption on qualifying shares. |
The store's assets — specialty-format inventory, fixtures, the loyalty-program customer data, and the franchise agreement's benefit, subject to franchisor consent.
The shares of the operating company — everything it owns, and everything it owes.
Confirmed as part of consent, since the franchisor operates both the Bosley's and Pet Valu banners under one corporate group.
Generally stays as-is, since the underlying corporation and its banner don't change.
Consent required for the specific store, including continuity of the supply relationship the store depends on for its specialty inventory.
Consent required for the change of control itself — the supply relationship generally stays with the corporation.
Needs the landlord's written consent to assign — often the pacing item for the whole closing, given the store's larger specialty-retail format.
Usually stays in place, unless the lease has its own change-of-control clause.
Loyalty-program membership and purchase-history data is transferred to the buyer's account under Ontario's privacy rules.
Stays with the corporation without needing to be re-transferred.
Buyer gets a stepped-up cost base on the assets purchased.
Seller may access the lifetime capital gains exemption on qualifying shares.
We tell you which structure fits — before you sign anything.
No open-ended hourly surprises — the cost is confirmed in writing before any work begins.
| Type of work | Fee | How it's confirmed |
|---|---|---|
| Straightforward purchase or sale | Starting from $3,388.87 Our charges · taxes included | Confirmed in writing once we see the agreement. |
| Larger or more complex deal | Quoted to scope | Short call → fixed written quote before any work begins. |
| Searches, filings & third-party fees | At cost | Itemized on your invoice, not marked up. |
A single Bosley's store changing hands between one buyer and one seller, with a straightforward lease assignment and an established specialty customer base.
Start my file →A resale involving a banner-confirmation question with the shared Pet Valu corporate structure, or a store where the supply-agreement continuity needs to be worked through before terms are final.
Book a consultation →Not sure which you are? That's our job to figure out, not yours. As a rough guide, most deals under a couple of million dollars are the first kind — above that, you're usually in Mergers & Acquisitions territory.
It can, since one franchisor group reviews consent for both banners — confirming the specific trademark licence and whether any banner change is a condition of approval is a genuine part of diligence, not a formality.
The larger specialty-superstore format generally means a bigger plaza lease and a deeper, more specialized inventory count than a smaller banner would carry, so both get more diligence attention.
It's reviewed rather than assumed — confirming that the supply and distribution relationship continues smoothly under new ownership, and on what terms, is a genuine part of diligence.
Customer purchase history and loyalty data is personal information under Ontario's privacy framework, so its transfer to the buyer's account is handled deliberately as part of the deal.
Possibly. Ontario courts have read the resale-disclosure exemption narrowly, and franchisor involvement in matching a buyer to a seller can be enough to trigger a full disclosure requirement even where the deal is framed as a private resale.
Related
Where we close franchise resale deals
Treadstone Law is an independent law firm. We act for buyers and sellers of franchise businesses. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or retained by Bosley's by Pet Valu or its franchisor.
Tell us about your Bosley's by Pet Valu resale — we'll point you the right way and confirm the cost in writing before any work begins.