CEFA operates licensed early learning campuses built around its own bilingual, enrichment-focused curriculum — which means a resale carries the same core wrinkle as any Ontario daycare sale: the childcare licence itself doesn't transfer to a new operator. The buyer needs to secure their own licence under the Child Care and Early Years Act before day one, and how the campus's CWELCC funding agreement is treated is often what actually shapes the closing timeline.
CEFA Early Learning 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 a review of the campus's enrollment, staffing ratios, and CWELCC funding status.
2–3 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 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 existing childcare licence doesn't transfer with a change of operator, so the buyer applies for their own licence while the campus's CWELCC funding-agreement treatment is worked out in parallel.
8–16 weeks, typically the longest step†The incoming operator and lead staff complete CEFA's curriculum and program training, alongside confirming staff-to-child ratios and background checks are current.
2–4 weeks†Funds change hands once the new licence and franchisor sign-off are in place, and enrollment records transfer to the new operator.
1 day, once conditions are met†CFA Look For A Franchise listing confirms an active Canadian franchise network, CFA member since 2011, in business since 1998
Ontario campuses among its established Canadian early-learning network (provincial breakdown not published)
This is the first real decision in a CEFA Early Learning 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 campus's assets — leasehold improvements, classroom equipment, enrollment and waitlist records, the curriculum licence, and the franchise agreement's benefit, subject to franchisor consent. | The shares of the operating company — everything it owns, and everything it owes. |
| Seller's liabilities | Generally stay behind with the seller's existing corporation. | Generally come with the company, known and unknown. |
| Franchise agreement | Consent required for the specific campus, often paired with a current-form agreement. | Consent required for the change of control itself. |
| CCEYA childcare licence | Not transferable — the buyer applies for and obtains their own licence under the Child Care and Early Years Act before operating. | A share sale can sometimes preserve the existing corporate licence, but Ministry approval of the ownership change is still required. |
| CWELCC funding agreement | How the campus's Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care funding agreement is treated on a change of ownership needs to be confirmed with the Ministry directly. | Funding continuity is a central negotiating point either way, since a gap affects both revenue and parent fees. |
| The lease & classroom compliance | Needs the landlord's written consent to assign, plus confirming classroom space still meets licensed square-footage-per-child requirements. | Usually stays in place, unless the lease has its own change-of-control clause. |
The campus's assets — leasehold improvements, classroom equipment, enrollment and waitlist records, the curriculum licence, and the franchise agreement's benefit, subject to franchisor consent.
The shares of the operating company — everything it owns, and everything it owes.
Generally stay behind with the seller's existing corporation.
Generally come with the company, known and unknown.
Consent required for the specific campus, often paired with a current-form agreement.
Consent required for the change of control itself.
Not transferable — the buyer applies for and obtains their own licence under the Child Care and Early Years Act before operating.
A share sale can sometimes preserve the existing corporate licence, but Ministry approval of the ownership change is still required.
How the campus's Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care funding agreement is treated on a change of ownership needs to be confirmed with the Ministry directly.
Funding continuity is a central negotiating point either way, since a gap affects both revenue and parent fees.
Needs the landlord's written consent to assign, plus confirming classroom space still meets licensed square-footage-per-child requirements.
Usually stays in place, unless the lease has its own change-of-control clause.
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 CEFA campus changing hands between one buyer and one seller, with licensing and CWELCC funding continuity confirmed early.
Start my file →A multi-campus operator adding a location to an existing portfolio, or a resale where CWELCC funding treatment or Ministry licensing timing needs to be resolved 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.
No — Ontario's Child Care and Early Years Act licence is not transferable on a change of ownership. You apply for your own licence, and timing that Ministry approval against your closing date is usually the single biggest scheduling factor in the deal.
That depends on how the Ministry treats the specific transaction, and it's worth confirming directly rather than assuming — a gap or change in CWELCC funding status affects both the campus's revenue and the fees parents pay, so it's a genuine negotiating point.
Yes — CEFA's bilingual, enrichment-focused curriculum is proprietary to the brand and is trained separately from the general RECE qualifications your staff already hold, and it's typically required of the incoming operator and lead teachers.
Longer than most — the Ministry licensing and CWELCC review add real time on top of the franchisor's own consent process, so 90 to 180 days from offer to close is a more realistic range than the 30 to 60 days typical of a retail or quick-service resale.
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 CEFA Early Learning or its franchisor.
Tell us about your CEFA Early Learning resale — we'll point you the right way and confirm the cost in writing before any work begins.