Harvey's operates within Recipe Unlimited's franchise system, which markets existing-restaurant sales as a formal channel alongside new-build development — meaning a resale is often sourced through the franchisor itself, not just a private listing. A genuine wrinkle worth knowing going in: Harvey's is frequently paired with Swiss Chalet under one roof, so buying a combo location can mean two franchise agreements changing hands in the same deal.
Harvey's 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 confirmation of whether the site is a standalone Harvey's or a combo location paired with Swiss Chalet.
1–2 weeks†The franchisor reviews the proposed buyer and may exercise a right of first refusal — where the franchisor's own existing-restaurant-sales program sourced the deal, that review can start earlier in the process.
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 lease — for a standalone drive-thru building or a larger combo-format restaurant — needs the landlord's written consent to assign.
2–6 weeks†The incoming owner, or a designated manager, typically completes the franchisor's training program; a combo location may involve training and sign-off for both brands.
1–3 weeks†Funds and keys change hands, inventory is counted and settled, and the franchisor confirms the transfer — or transfers — are complete.
1 day, once conditions are met†Official Recipe Unlimited franchising page lists Harvey's among its Canadian franchise brands with a dedicated franchising contact line
Long-established Canadian burger chain with a large share of Recipe Unlimited's system restaurants located in Ontario
Recipe Unlimited explicitly offers 'existing restaurant sales' alongside new-build franchise opportunities
This is the first real decision in a Harvey's 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 assets — equipment, leasehold improvements, inventory, and the franchise agreement's benefit (or benefits, for a combo location), 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(s) | Consent required for each brand operating at the site, often paired with current-form agreements for each. | Consent required for the change of control itself, across every brand the corporation operates. |
| The lease | Needs the landlord's written consent to assign — often the pacing item for the whole closing. | Usually stays in place, unless the lease has its own change-of-control clause. |
| Health-unit standing | A fresh inspection or notice of change of operator is typically scheduled around closing. | Standing generally continues with the corporation, but the local public health unit is notified of the ownership change. |
| 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 most single-location resales. | Less common — occasionally used where an operator holds several locations under one company. |
The unit's assets — equipment, leasehold improvements, inventory, and the franchise agreement's benefit (or benefits, for a combo location), 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 each brand operating at the site, often paired with current-form agreements for each.
Consent required for the change of control itself, across every brand the corporation operates.
Needs the landlord's written consent to assign — often the pacing item for the whole closing.
Usually stays in place, unless the lease has its own change-of-control clause.
A fresh inspection or notice of change of operator is typically scheduled around closing.
Standing generally continues with the corporation, but the local public health unit is notified of the ownership change.
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 most single-location resales.
Less common — occasionally used where an operator holds several locations under one company.
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 standalone Harvey's location changing hands between one buyer and one seller, with a straightforward lease and one franchise agreement.
Start my file →A combo Harvey's/Swiss Chalet location involving two franchise agreements, or a resale sourced through the franchisor's own existing-restaurant-sales program where terms still need to be finalized.
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.
Recipe Unlimited, the franchisor, explicitly offers existing-restaurant sales as a channel alongside new-build development — so some resales are sourced and pre-screened through the franchisor itself, rather than being purely private listings, which can shape how early the franchisor's consent process starts.
Often, yes. Combo locations pairing the two brands under one roof are common, and buying one typically means a franchise agreement for each brand rather than a single agreement covering both — worth confirming early, since it affects both the consent timeline and the training requirement.
Generally yes — a standalone unit's footprint and lease terms tend to be more contained than a larger combo-format building, though both still need the same landlord consent-to-assign process.
Possibly. Ontario courts have read the resale-disclosure exemption narrowly, and franchisor involvement in matching a buyer to a seller — including through a formal existing-restaurant-sales program — can be enough to trigger a full disclosure requirement.
Most resales count and value saleable inventory on closing day, added to the agreed price. The method — who counts, how spoilage is handled — gets set out in the purchase agreement, not improvised at close.
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 Harvey's or its franchisor.
Tell us about your Harvey's resale — we'll point you the right way and confirm the cost in writing before any work begins.