Unlike a delivery-focused pizza brand, most Boston Pizza locations operate as full-service casual dining restaurants with a bar or lounge area — which means an AGCO liquor licence transfer is a normal, expected part of most Boston Pizza resales, not an edge case. We act as independent counsel for buyers and sellers of individual Boston Pizza restaurants in Ontario; this page is not affiliated with or endorsed by Boston Pizza International.
Boston Pizza resales follow the franchisor's own approval process on top of the usual purchase mechanics — here's how the two run together.
Getting approved
Because most Boston Pizza locations operate a full bar or lounge, the offer should build in conditions for both the franchisor's consent and the AGCO liquor licence transfer from the outset.
1–3 weeks†Review of the buyer's background, financial capacity, and full-service restaurant and bar operating experience.
4–8 weeks†A full-service casual dining brand like Boston Pizza usually needs this step running in parallel from early on, alongside the franchisor's own review.
4–8 weeks, in parallel†Getting to closing
A franchisor-facilitated resale can look exempt from Arthur Wishart Act disclosure requirements — Ontario courts have read that resale exemption narrowly, so we assess whether disclosure may still be required.
assessed early, runs in parallel†Landlord consent to assign the lease on a larger full-service footprint than a delivery-format pizza brand typically needs.
2–6 weeks†Boston Pizza's operator training covers both kitchen and bar/lounge operations, running alongside final transfer approval before closing.
4–8 weeks, then closing†Official bostonpizzafranchise.com franchising site; brand markets itself as one of Canada's largest casual dining brands, recruiting franchisees
National casual-dining/pizza chain with a large number of Ontario locations
This is the first real decision in a Boston Pizza resale — and it changes what you're buying, what you're taking on, and how the franchise agreement moves.
| Question | Asset purchase | Share purchase |
|---|---|---|
| Franchise agreement | New agreement issued to the incoming operator, on Boston Pizza's then-current terms. | Existing agreement can stay in place, with Boston Pizza still reviewing and consenting to the ownership change. |
| Liquor licence (AGCO) | Transfer application, or a new licence — often bridged by an interim authorization so service can continue. | Stays with the corporation, but AGCO must be notified of the change in ownership. |
| Lease / premises | Landlord consent to assign, sized to the larger full-service footprint most Boston Pizza locations use. | Lease usually continues unless it carries its own change-of-control clause. |
| Staff (ESA) | Employment Standards Act continuity rules typically govern how kitchen and front-of-house staff carry over. | Employment generally continues without interruption — the employer doesn't change. |
| Tax angle | Buyer gets a stepped-up cost base on the assets purchased; an HST election may apply. | Seller may access the lifetime capital gains exemption on qualifying shares. |
| Typical use | The default for most single-location Boston Pizza transfers. | Less common — sometimes preferred where a licence is hard to reassign. |
New agreement issued to the incoming operator, on Boston Pizza's then-current terms.
Existing agreement can stay in place, with Boston Pizza still reviewing and consenting to the ownership change.
Transfer application, or a new licence — often bridged by an interim authorization so service can continue.
Stays with the corporation, but AGCO must be notified of the change in ownership.
Landlord consent to assign, sized to the larger full-service footprint most Boston Pizza locations use.
Lease usually continues unless it carries its own change-of-control clause.
Employment Standards Act continuity rules typically govern how kitchen and front-of-house staff carry over.
Employment generally continues without interruption — the employer doesn't change.
Buyer gets a stepped-up cost base on the assets purchased; an HST election may apply.
Seller may access the lifetime capital gains exemption on qualifying shares.
The default for most single-location Boston Pizza transfers.
Less common — sometimes preferred where a licence is hard to reassign.
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 Boston Pizza restaurant with its own liquor licence, changing hands between an outgoing and incoming operator on a standard lease.
Start my file →A multi-location Boston Pizza operator selling several restaurants together, or a location where real estate is part of the deal alongside the business.
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.
The large majority of Boston Pizza restaurants operate a bar or lounge area as part of the brand's full-service casual dining format, so an AGCO liquor licence — or its transfer — is a normal part of most resales, though we confirm the specific licence status for your location rather than assuming. Where a licence transfer is needed, it typically runs on its own timeline in parallel with the franchisor's approval.
An interim authorization mechanism can sometimes let the premises continue serving under interim authority while the full AGCO transfer application is processed, though what applies depends on your specific licence and circumstances. We confirm what's available for your location before you close.
Often yes — reviewing a full-service restaurant with a bar/lounge, sports-viewing setup and larger kitchen typically takes longer than approving a smaller delivery-focused format, and the liquor licence transfer adds its own timeline on top. We build a realistic runway into your conditions rather than assuming a fast-food-style turnaround.
Specialty equipment like the sports-viewing setup, sound system and bar fixtures is typically itemized in the asset sale like any other equipment, subject to confirming what's owned outright versus leased or financed. We run the searches to confirm what's actually included before the price is finalized.
Beyond standard franchisee onboarding, Boston Pizza's training for a full-service location typically covers both kitchen operations and bar/lounge service, given the brand's format. We can't speak to the franchisor's specific curriculum, but we track training as a condition of closing so it doesn't become a last-minute holdup.
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 Boston Pizza or its franchisor.
Tell us about your Boston Pizza resale — we'll point you the right way and confirm the cost in writing before any work begins.