Mad Science isn't a storefront tutoring centre — it's a mobile, territory-licensed children's science-enrichment business delivered at schools, camps, and community sites, with a modest, long-running Canadian network behind it. That changes what a resale actually turns on: the territory licence, the program kits and vehicles used to deliver it, and vulnerable-sector screening for staff working with kids, not any lease.
Mad Science 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 review of the territory's active school, camp, and community-program bookings.
1–2 weeks†The franchisor reviews the proposed buyer and the territory being transferred, 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 framed as a private deal.
assessed early†Getting to closing
The territory licence itself is assigned rather than a lease, alongside the program kits, instructional materials, and any vehicles used to deliver sessions off-site.
2–4 weeks†Instructors working with children are reviewed for current vulnerable-sector screening, and the incoming owner typically completes franchisor curriculum and program-delivery training.
2–3 weeks†Funds and records change hands, program-kit inventory is confirmed, and the franchisor confirms the territory transfer is complete.
1 day, once conditions are met†CFA Look For A Franchise listing confirms 13 Canadian franchise units, CFA member since 2021; global leader in children's science enrichment since 1985
Ontario chapters among the 13 Canadian franchise territories
This is the first real decision in a Mad Science 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 territory's assets — the school and community-program client base, program kits and instructional materials, vehicles and equipment, and the franchise agreement's benefit. | 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. |
| Territory licence | Assigned for the specific territory, subject to franchisor consent — there's typically no lease or storefront involved. | Stays with the corporation; the change of control itself is what needs consent. |
| Program kits, materials & vehicles | Instructional kits, demonstration materials, and any vehicles used for off-site delivery are transferred as identified assets. | Generally continue as company property, unchanged by the share transfer. |
| Staff & instructor screening | Vulnerable-sector screening status for instructors working with children is reviewed for currency and continuity. | Employment and screening records generally continue uninterrupted — the employer doesn't change. |
| Typical use | The default for most single-territory resales. | Less common — occasionally used where an operator holds several territories under one company. |
The territory's assets — the school and community-program client base, program kits and instructional materials, vehicles and equipment, and the franchise agreement's benefit.
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.
Assigned for the specific territory, subject to franchisor consent — there's typically no lease or storefront involved.
Stays with the corporation; the change of control itself is what needs consent.
Instructional kits, demonstration materials, and any vehicles used for off-site delivery are transferred as identified assets.
Generally continue as company property, unchanged by the share transfer.
Vulnerable-sector screening status for instructors working with children is reviewed for currency and continuity.
Employment and screening records generally continue uninterrupted — the employer doesn't change.
The default for most single-territory resales.
Less common — occasionally used where an operator holds several territories 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 Mad Science territory changing hands between one buyer and one seller, with an established roster of school and community bookings.
Start my file →Several adjoining territories held by one operator changing hands as an operating company, or a resale where instructor screening 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.
Generally, no — the business model is mobile and in-school, delivering programs at schools, camps, and community sites rather than operating from a fixed public location. Some territories maintain a small office or storage space, but it's rarely the pacing item a retail lease would be.
Yes, typically — staff delivering programs to children are generally expected to hold current vulnerable-sector screening, and a resale's diligence confirms that screening is in place and up to date for retained staff.
They're identified assets transferred as part of the deal, confirmed against what the franchise agreement requires the territory to maintain — the buyer isn't left to assume what's included versus what needs to be separately sourced from the franchisor.
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.
Yes — an operator sometimes holds several adjoining territories under one company, and combining them is more commonly structured as a share sale so each territory's franchise agreement and program bookings stay intact together.
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 Mad Science or its franchisor.
Tell us about your Mad Science resale — we'll point you the right way and confirm the cost in writing before any work begins.