Chopped Leaf's fresh-prep, no-fryer format shifts the equipment and food-safety focus away from what a typical quick-service resale worries about — there's no deep-fryer oil to assess, but there is a cold chain to protect, from the walk-in cooler through the prep line to the salad and bowl station. With Chopped Leaf operating across both Canada and the US, confirming which entity actually holds the rights an Ontario location's franchise agreement is tied to is a genuine diligence step, not a formality.
Chopped Leaf 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 walkthrough of the cold-holding and prep-line equipment.
1–2 weeks†The franchisor reviews the proposed buyer and the deal terms, 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 strip-plaza or mall lease needs landlord consent to assign, timed alongside the franchisor's own review.
2–6 weeks†The incoming owner or a designated manager typically completes Chopped Leaf's prep-line and food-safety training before or shortly after taking over.
1–3 weeks†Funds and keys change hands, cold-chain equipment condition is confirmed, and perishable produce inventory is counted at cost.
1 day, once conditions are met†Official choppedleaf.ca/franchise-opportunities/ page confirms active Canadian franchise recruitment, with locations open across Canada and the US and additional franchise agreements signed
Listed with an Oakville, ON contact point on the National Franchise Directory alongside its Canadian network
This is the first real decision in a Chopped Leaf 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 unit's walk-in cooler, prep-line and blending equipment, leasehold improvements, inventory, and the franchise agreement's benefit, subject to franchisor consent. | The shares of the operating company — every location it holds, and everything it owes. |
| Seller's liabilities | Generally stay behind with the seller's existing corporation. | Generally come with the company, known and unknown. |
| Franchisor consent & ROFR | Required for the specific unit changing hands, from the entity holding rights over the Canadian location. | Required for the change of control itself. |
| Cold-chain compliance history | Temperature logs and cold-holding equipment condition are a standard diligence item, given how much of the menu depends on the cold chain rather than cooking. | Compliance history is part of the broader diligence package on the company's food-safety record. |
| The lease | Needs the landlord's written consent to assign, timed alongside the franchisor's own approval. | 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. | Seller may access the lifetime capital gains exemption on qualifying shares. |
The unit's walk-in cooler, prep-line and blending equipment, leasehold improvements, inventory, and the franchise agreement's benefit, subject to franchisor consent.
The shares of the operating company — every location it holds, and everything it owes.
Generally stay behind with the seller's existing corporation.
Generally come with the company, known and unknown.
Required for the specific unit changing hands, from the entity holding rights over the Canadian location.
Required for the change of control itself.
Temperature logs and cold-holding equipment condition are a standard diligence item, given how much of the menu depends on the cold chain rather than cooking.
Compliance history is part of the broader diligence package on the company's food-safety record.
Needs the landlord's written consent to assign, timed alongside the franchisor's own approval.
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.
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 Chopped Leaf storefront changing hands between one buyer and one seller, with a straightforward lease and clean cold-chain compliance history.
Start my file →A multi-unit operator adding a location to an existing portfolio, or a resale where confirming the correct franchisor entity for a cross-border brand takes longer than expected.
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.
Yes — there's no fryer oil or exhaust system to assess, but the cold chain becomes the focus instead. Walk-in cooler condition, cold-holding units, and temperature-log compliance history matter more here than they would for a fried-food concept.
It can add a step. Confirming exactly which entity holds the rights tied to an Ontario location's franchise agreement is worth doing before you assume the seller's existing agreement transfers cleanly to a new operator.
Fresh produce and prepared ingredients don't hold value the way packaged goods do, so the count is usually timed close to closing day and valued at cost, with the method agreed in the purchase agreement rather than improvised on the day.
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.
Often, yes. Acquiring an operating company that holds more than one location is more commonly handled as a share purchase, so each location's franchise agreement and lease stay intact through the same transaction.
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 Chopped Leaf or its franchisor.
Tell us about your Chopped Leaf resale — we'll point you the right way and confirm the cost in writing before any work begins.