Coverall's commercial cleaning franchise system operates across several Canadian provinces, with Ontario named directly alongside Alberta, British Columbia and Manitoba on the franchisor's own site — worth knowing since a resale here can occasionally cross provincial lines if the account book you're buying spans more than one province's Regional Support arrangement. As with most commercial cleaning franchises, what actually changes hands is an assigned book of client accounts and cleaning equipment, not a storefront.
Coverall 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 terms, conditioned on the franchisor's Regional Support office consenting and a review of the specific accounts included.
1–2 weeks†The Regional Support office reviews the buyer and deal terms, and may exercise a right of first refusal over the account book.
3–6 weeks, typically†Coverall's franchise offerings are sold under a formal Franchise Disclosure Document; whether Ontario's own resale-disclosure exemption applies to your specific transfer gets confirmed early rather than assumed, since courts read that exemption narrowly.
assessed early, in parallel†Getting to closing
Commercial cleaning accounts often carry their own consent-required assignment terms, worked through account-by-account.
2–8 weeks†Training on service standards and the Regional Support office's systems is typically required before final sign-off.
1–3 weeks, often overlapping†Funds and the new franchise agreement change hands, with the assigned account book confirmed as of the closing date.
1 day, once conditions are met†Official coverall.com site lists a dedicated Canada franchise footer section naming active provinces, confirming commercial-cleaning franchise offerings sold under a Franchise Disclosure Document.
Ontario named directly among Coverall's active Canadian provinces (alongside Alberta, British Columbia and Manitoba).
This is the first real decision in a Coverall 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 assigned book of commercial cleaning accounts, cleaning equipment and supplies, and the existing franchise agreement, subject to consent. | The shares of the corporation holding the account book — every account it services, and everything it owes. |
| Franchisor consent & ROFR | Required for the specific account book changing hands, reviewed by the Regional Support office. | Required for the change of control itself. |
| Client-account assignment | Individual commercial cleaning accounts may need their own consent to assign — typically the practical bottleneck in a Coverall resale. | Accounts generally stay in place without individual re-consent, since the contracting corporation doesn't change. |
| Equipment & supplies | Cleaning equipment is itemized and checked against PPSA registrations for liens or financing. | Equipment stays with the corporation; existing financing continues as a company liability. |
| Tax angle | Buyer gets a stepped-up cost base on the assets purchased. | Seller may access the lifetime capital gains exemption on qualifying shares. |
| Typical use | The default for a single franchisee's account book changing hands within one province. | Less common — occasionally used where an operator holds accounts spanning more than one of Coverall's active provinces. |
The assigned book of commercial cleaning accounts, cleaning equipment and supplies, and the existing franchise agreement, subject to consent.
The shares of the corporation holding the account book — every account it services, and everything it owes.
Required for the specific account book changing hands, reviewed by the Regional Support office.
Required for the change of control itself.
Individual commercial cleaning accounts may need their own consent to assign — typically the practical bottleneck in a Coverall resale.
Accounts generally stay in place without individual re-consent, since the contracting corporation doesn't change.
Cleaning equipment is itemized and checked against PPSA registrations for liens or financing.
Equipment stays with the corporation; existing financing continues as a company liability.
Buyer gets a stepped-up cost base on the assets purchased.
Seller may access the lifetime capital gains exemption on qualifying shares.
The default for a single franchisee's account book changing hands within one province.
Less common — occasionally used where an operator holds accounts spanning more than one of Coverall's active provinces.
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 franchisee's account book changing hands within one province, between one buyer and one seller, with a standard consent process.
Start my file →An account book spanning more than one of Coverall's active provinces, or a resale where a right of first refusal or several client consents need 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.
Generally no for a single-province account book, but it's worth flagging if the accounts you're buying span more than one of Coverall's active provinces, since that can bring more than one Regional Support office into the consent process.
Not automatically — that's the franchisor's own offering document for new franchisees, and it's separate from the question of whether Ontario's Arthur Wishart Act resale-disclosure exemption applies to your specific private transfer. We confirm that question independently.
Not automatically. Many commercial cleaning contracts require the client's consent before assignment, so working through which accounts need active consent is a central part of a Coverall resale.
Quite a lot — cleaning crews often have the direct relationship with the client site, so understanding which staff are staying on is central to keeping the accounts you're paying for.
Most run about 6 to 10 weeks, generally paced by the Regional Support office's consent review and working through individual client-account consents.
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 Coverall or its franchisor.
Tell us about your Coverall resale — we'll point you the right way and confirm the cost in writing before any work begins.