CertaPro Painters units run on a production calendar as much as a P&L — crews, subcontracted painting teams, and preferred-supplier paint accounts all have to keep moving through a resale without missing the busy season. Alongside the franchisor's consent process, a buyer's diligence usually focuses on how much of the business is subcontracted labour, how the paint-supplier account is structured, and whether the current production schedule survives the change of ownership intact.
CertaPro Painters 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 is conditioned on franchisor consent, a review of the current production schedule and estimator pipeline, and confirmation of the unit's subcontracted-crew and supplier arrangements.
1–3 weeks†The franchisor reviews the incoming owner's background and financial standing, and typically holds a right of first refusal it can exercise before the transfer proceeds.
3–6 weeks†A resale still sits inside the Arthur Wishart Act framework — Ontario courts read the resale exemption narrowly, so we confirm early whether disclosure applies to your specific transfer rather than assuming it doesn't.
runs alongside consent†Getting to closing
Most units operate from a small office or storage space for equipment and materials rather than a public storefront; landlord consent to assign is confirmed where a lease is involved.
2–4 weeks†Franchisor operational training runs alongside confirming which painting crews and subcontractors continue with the new owner, and re-establishing the unit's preferred-supplier paint account under the buyer's name.
2–4 weeks†Funds, the franchise agreement, and the current job pipeline change hands together, with deposits already collected on booked jobs allocated between seller and buyer.
1 day, once conditions are met†CFA listing confirms an active Canadian franchise network.
Ontario locations within its Canadian franchise network.
This is the first real decision in a CertaPro Painters 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 | Equipment, vehicles, the active job pipeline and estimator relationships, goodwill and the franchise agreement. | The shares of the corporation that holds the franchise agreement, including its history and existing liabilities. |
| The franchise agreement | Assigned to the buyer with franchisor consent, usually alongside a new or amended agreement. | Generally stays with the corporation, but the franchisor must consent to the ownership change. |
| Painting crews & subcontractors | Each crew or subcontractor relationship is reviewed and individually confirmed to continue with the buyer. | These relationships typically continue automatically, since the contracting corporation doesn't change. |
| Lease or premises | Needs landlord consent to assign, where the unit leases office or storage space. | Usually stays in place unless the lease has its own change-of-control clause. |
| Tax angle | Buyer gets a stepped-up cost base on the assets purchased; an HST election may apply to the sale. | Seller may access the lifetime capital gains exemption on qualifying shares. |
| Typical use | The more common structure for a single-territory CertaPro resale. | Occasionally preferred where a large commercial or property-management contract would otherwise be difficult to reassign. |
Equipment, vehicles, the active job pipeline and estimator relationships, goodwill and the franchise agreement.
The shares of the corporation that holds the franchise agreement, including its history and existing liabilities.
Assigned to the buyer with franchisor consent, usually alongside a new or amended agreement.
Generally stays with the corporation, but the franchisor must consent to the ownership change.
Each crew or subcontractor relationship is reviewed and individually confirmed to continue with the buyer.
These relationships typically continue automatically, since the contracting corporation doesn't change.
Needs landlord consent to assign, where the unit leases office or storage space.
Usually stays in place unless the lease has its own change-of-control clause.
Buyer gets a stepped-up cost base on the assets purchased; an HST election may apply to the sale.
Seller may access the lifetime capital gains exemption on qualifying shares.
The more common structure for a single-territory CertaPro resale.
Occasionally preferred where a large commercial or property-management contract would otherwise be difficult 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 CertaPro territory changing hands between an existing owner and an incoming buyer, with the current crews, subcontractors and paint-supplier account continuing largely as-is.
Start my file →A territory built around a significant commercial or property-management painting contract, a franchisor requiring rebranding or equipment upgrades as a condition of consent, or a deal timed around the production season with a substantial in-progress job pipeline.
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 varies by unit, and it matters a great deal to your diligence — subcontracted crews carry different continuity and liability considerations than employees do. We review the current crew structure and confirm which relationships are expected to continue before you commit to a price.
It can. Buyers and sellers often prefer to close either well before or well after the peak season rather than mid-schedule, and the current job pipeline and any deposits already collected need to be accounted for carefully whenever the deal lands.
Purchasing accounts and any associated pricing terms are typically tied to the franchisee, not the physical business, so they need to be actively re-established under the buyer's name rather than assumed to carry over automatically.
Possibly, yes. Ontario courts have read the Arthur Wishart Act's resale exemption narrowly, so familiarity between the parties doesn't settle the question — we confirm whether disclosure applies to your specific transfer.
Most single-territory resales run about 45 to 90 days, shaped mainly by the franchisor's consent review and by timing the closing around the production season rather than in the middle of it.
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 CertaPro Painters or its franchisor.
Tell us about your CertaPro Painters resale — we'll point you the right way and confirm the cost in writing before any work begins.