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№ 01Buying & Selling a Business · Franchise Resale · Ontario

Buying a Freshii franchise

Freshii's franchising is now administered through parent company Foodtastic rather than the original Toronto-founded corporate structure — which means the first job on a resale is confirming exactly which entity is reviewing your application, holding the right of first refusal, and signing the new agreement. Add a lease that needs the landlord's consent, and a Freshii resale has more moving parts than the salads-and-bowls concept suggests.

№ 01.1The Resale, End to End

From offer to ownership

Freshii resales follow the franchisor's own approval process on top of the usual purchase mechanics — here's how the two run together.

Getting approved

01

Conditional offer & deposit

Buyer and seller sign, with a deposit held in trust and conditions built around franchisor consent and a clean lease assignment.

1–2 weeks
02

Franchisor application & consent review

Freshii's franchising team — now operating under parent Foodtastic — reviews the incoming operator's application and financial qualification, and considers any right of first refusal.

3–6 weeks
03

Disclosure considerations

A franchise disclosure document may still be required even where the deal is framed as a private resale — Ontario courts read the resale exemption narrowly, so this gets confirmed early rather than assumed.

assessed early, in parallel

Getting to closing

04

Lease assignment & premises fit

Landlord consent to assign the lease, alongside confirming the location still meets current Freshii store-design and equipment standards.

2–6 weeks
05

Training & transfer approval

The incoming owner, or a designated manager, typically completes Freshii's operator training before or shortly after taking over.

1–3 weeks
06

Closing & after

Funds, keys, and signed documents change hands; we track final franchisor sign-off and lease-registration paperwork through to completion.

1 day, plus a short tail
Timelines vary by franchisor approval speedWe track every deadline so nothing lapses.
№ 01.2About the System

About the Freshii system

Toronto-headquartered; confirmed to operate as 'a Canadian fast casual restaurant franchise'; franchising now administered through parent Foodtastic

Founded and headquartered in Toronto with a significant home-market Ontario footprint

№ 01.3Deal Structure

Asset sale or share sale?

This is the first real decision in a Freshii resale — and it changes what you're buying, what you're taking on, and how the franchise agreement moves.

QuestionAsset purchaseShare purchase
What you buyThe location's assets — kitchen equipment, leasehold improvements, inventory, and the benefit of the existing franchise agreement, subject to consent from the current Freshii franchisor.The shares of the operating company that holds the location — everything it owns, and everything it owes.
Franchisor consent & ROFRRequired for this specific location, and typically the pacing condition on the whole deal.Required for the change of control itself — the franchisor reviews who is actually taking over the company.
The franchise agreementThe buyer typically signs a new, current-form agreement rather than stepping into the seller's original one.The existing agreement generally stays in place, transferred along with the company that holds it.
The leaseNeeds landlord 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 angleBuyer gets a stepped-up cost base on the assets purchased.Seller may access the lifetime capital gains exemption on qualifying shares.
Typical use for a Freshii locationThe default for a single Freshii location changing hands.Less common — occasionally used where an operator holds several locations under one company.
What you buy
Asset sale

The location's assets — kitchen equipment, leasehold improvements, inventory, and the benefit of the existing franchise agreement, subject to consent from the current Freshii franchisor.

Franchisor consent & ROFR
Asset sale

Required for this specific location, and typically the pacing condition on the whole deal.

The franchise agreement
Asset sale

The buyer typically signs a new, current-form agreement rather than stepping into the seller's original one.

The lease
Asset sale

Needs landlord consent to assign, timed alongside the franchisor's own approval.

Tax angle
Asset sale

Buyer gets a stepped-up cost base on the assets purchased.

Typical use for a Freshii location
Asset sale

The default for a single Freshii location changing hands.

We tell you which structure fits — before you sign anything.

№ 01.5Costs & Fees

You'll know the number before we start

No open-ended hourly surprises — the cost is confirmed in writing before any work begins.

Type of workFeeHow it's confirmed
Straightforward purchase or saleStarting from $3,388.87
Our charges · taxes included
Confirmed in writing once we see the agreement.
Larger or more complex dealQuoted to scopeShort call → fixed written quote before any work begins.
Searches, filings & third-party feesAt costItemized on your invoice, not marked up.
Franchisor transfer/application fees, landlord consent costs, and a broker's success fee if the deal was listed — all confirmed once we see your agreement.
Most deals start here

An owner-run business

A single Freshii location changing hands between one buyer and one seller — a standalone or strip-mall unit with a straightforward lease and a standard consent process.

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A bit more involved

A larger or more complex deal

An operator holding several Freshii locations, or Freshii alongside other Foodtastic-family brands, selling as one operating company — or a resale where the franchisor's right of first refusal needs 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.

№ 01.6Before You Ask

Common questions

Freshii's franchising is now handled through Foodtastic — does that change who I'm actually dealing with?

Yes, in practice. Foodtastic now administers Freshii's franchise system, so the entity reviewing your application, approving the transfer, and signing your new agreement may not be the one named on the seller's original paperwork. We confirm the current franchisor entity and make sure your new agreement is signed with the right party before you close.

Is a Freshii location usually in a mall food court, or a standalone spot?

Both formats exist across Ontario, and the lease dynamics differ — a standalone or strip-mall unit negotiates directly with a landlord, while a food-court unit answers to the mall's own assignment rules and common-area requirements. We check which kind of premises you're actually buying into before you get attached to the deal.

Does buying an existing Freshii location mean I skip the disclosure document?

Not necessarily. Ontario courts have read the resale-disclosure exemption narrowly, and franchisor involvement in the resale can be enough to trigger a full disclosure requirement anyway. Whether it applies to your deal gets confirmed early, not assumed from the word 'resale.'

What happens if Freshii exercises its right of first refusal after I've negotiated a deal?

It can step in and buy the location itself, on the same terms you negotiated, instead of letting your purchase proceed. It's a standard clause in most franchise systems, and it's built into the deal timeline from the start so it doesn't surprise you late.

How long does operator training usually take before I can run the location myself?

It varies, but most systems expect training completed before or shortly after closing so the location isn't left without a qualified operator. We time your closing date around it rather than treating training as an afterthought.

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 Freshii or its franchisor.

Ready to begin?

Tell us about your Freshii resale — we'll point you the right way and confirm the cost in writing before any work begins.

Prefer to talk first? Call 1-844-900-1070 — it’s free.
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