Kumon has an active enough resale market in Canada that BeTheBoss Canada maintains a listing page just for Kumon franchise resales, separate from new-territory openings — a sign this is a system where buying an established centre, rather than starting from zero, is a well-worn path. A centre's value sits mostly in its enrolled families and its instructor relationships rather than in equipment, but the resale still runs through the same franchisor consent, right of first refusal, and disclosure questions as any other franchise.
Kumon resales follow the franchisor's own approval process on top of the usual purchase mechanics — here's how the two run together.
Getting approved
Price and terms, with conditions built in for franchisor consent, an assignable lease, and a clear picture of the centre's current enrolment.
usually 1–2 weeks†Kumon's franchise team reviews the incoming buyer's application — often including instructor qualifications or a plan to hire them — and can exercise its right of first refusal instead of letting the sale proceed.
several weeks, typically†Courts read the resale-disclosure exemption narrowly, so a franchisor-facilitated Kumon resale may still require a full Arthur Wishart disclosure document before you're bound.
assessed early†Getting to closing
The centre's commercial lease needs the landlord's written consent to assign, timed alongside the franchisor's own review.
2–6 weeks†An incoming owner typically works through Kumon's instructor certification and training process before or shortly after taking over teaching duties, or confirms a certified instructor is staying on.
before or shortly after closing†Funds, keys, and signed documents change hands, alongside a handover of enrolment and family contact records and confirmation that landlord and franchisor consent are both in hand.
1 day, once conditions are met†kumonfranchise.com/ca-en is the dedicated Canadian franchise portal; CFA listing confirms a large network of Canadian centres, CFA member since 1998.
Ontario is one of the largest provincial markets within Kumon's Canadian network.
BeTheBoss Canada maintains a dedicated 'Kumon Franchise Resales' listing page, separate from new-territory listings.
This is the first real decision in a Kumon 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 centre's equipment and furnishings, leasehold improvements, its enrolled-family relationships, and the benefit of the existing franchise agreement, subject to consent. | The shares of the operating company — every centre it holds under the Kumon banner, and everything it owes. |
| Seller's liabilities | Generally stay behind with the seller's existing corporation. | Generally come with the company, including obligations tied to any other centres it operates. |
| Franchisor consent & ROFR | Required for this specific centre, and typically the pacing condition on the whole deal. | Required for the change of control itself — the franchisor reviews who is actually taking over. |
| Enrolment & family records | Student and family contact and progress records transfer with appropriate privacy handling under PIPEDA. | Stays with the corporation, with the franchisor typically notified of the change in ownership. |
| Instructor qualification | The incoming owner's own certification, or a qualified instructor's continued involvement, is typically a condition of the transfer. | Assessed the same way, whether the certified instructor is the owner or a staff member. |
| Typical use in a Kumon resale | The default for a single centre changing hands. | More common where one operator holds several Kumon centres under one company. |
The centre's equipment and furnishings, leasehold improvements, its enrolled-family relationships, and the benefit of the existing franchise agreement, subject to consent.
The shares of the operating company — every centre it holds under the Kumon banner, and everything it owes.
Generally stay behind with the seller's existing corporation.
Generally come with the company, including obligations tied to any other centres it operates.
Required for this specific centre, and typically the pacing condition on the whole deal.
Required for the change of control itself — the franchisor reviews who is actually taking over.
Student and family contact and progress records transfer with appropriate privacy handling under PIPEDA.
Stays with the corporation, with the franchisor typically notified of the change in ownership.
The incoming owner's own certification, or a qualified instructor's continued involvement, is typically a condition of the transfer.
Assessed the same way, whether the certified instructor is the owner or a staff member.
The default for a single centre changing hands.
More common where one operator holds several Kumon centres 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 Kumon centre changing hands between one buyer and one seller — an established enrolled-family base, a standard lease, and a straightforward franchisor consent process.
Start my file →An operator selling several Kumon centres as one company, or a resale where instructor certification, the franchisor's right of first refusal, or a disclosure question 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.
It's common enough that a dedicated resale listing channel exists for this system in Canada, separate from new-territory openings — a sign that buying an established centre with an existing enrolled-family base is a well-worn path here, not an edge case.
Both models exist across the system, and which one applies to a given centre — and what the franchisor requires of an owner who isn't the instructor — is part of what gets confirmed during the franchisor's review of your application.
Student progress records and family contact information are typically transferred to the new owner with appropriate privacy handling under PIPEDA, and enrolled families are informed of the change. We confirm what continuity of program terms families are entitled to before you take over.
Not necessarily. Ontario courts have read the resale-disclosure exemption narrowly, and franchisor involvement in matching buyer to seller can still trigger a full disclosure requirement. We confirm whether it applies to your specific deal early, rather than assuming it from the word 'resale.'
Often, yes, with the right conditions in place. We can structure the purchase agreement so closing is conditioned on completing certification, or on a qualified instructor being engaged, rather than requiring it before you're even under contract.
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 Kumon or its franchisor.
Tell us about your Kumon resale — we'll point you the right way and confirm the cost in writing before any work begins.