MaidPro is a residential cleaning-service franchise built around a compact dispatch office rather than a storefront, so a resale turns on the recurring client base and the retention of bonded, background-checked cleaning staff more than on physical premises or equipment. In-home service depends on trust, so continuity of the people actually cleaning clients' houses is one of the first things worth confirming before you commit to a price.
MaidPro 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 franchisor consent and a review of the recurring residential client base.
1–2 weeks†The franchisor reviews the incoming buyer and deal terms, and may exercise a right of first refusal before consenting to the transfer.
3–6 weeks, typically†Arthur Wishart Act disclosure 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
Bonded, background-checked cleaning staff retention is assessed alongside any dispatch-office lease assignment, since the recurring-client value depends on both.
2–6 weeks†The incoming owner completes training on scheduling systems and service standards before the franchisor finalizes the transfer.
1–3 weeks, often overlapping†Funds and the franchise agreement change hands, with the client list and staff roster confirmed as of the closing date.
1 day, once conditions are met†CFA Look For A Franchise listing confirms an active Canadian franchise network, in business since 1991.
Ontario branches within its Canadian franchise network.
This is the first real decision in a MaidPro 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 recurring residential client list, cleaning supplies and equipment, any dispatch-office lease, and the existing franchise agreement's benefit, subject to consent. | The shares of the corporation operating the territory — everything it owns, and everything it owes. |
| Franchisor consent & ROFR | Required for the specific territory changing hands. | Required for the change of control itself. |
| Recurring client list | Reviewed account-by-account, since a residential cleaning business's value sits almost entirely in repeat bookings rather than hard assets. | Client relationships generally stay in place without individual re-consent, since the contracting corporation doesn't change. |
| Staff continuity & bonding | Background-checked, bonded cleaning staff retention is assessed, since clients grant home access based on trust in specific individuals as much as the brand. | Employment continues as a company liability and relationship, without needing to be individually re-confirmed. |
| 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 territory changing hands. | Less common — sometimes used where an operator holds multiple territories under one company. |
The territory's assets — the recurring residential client list, cleaning supplies and equipment, any dispatch-office lease, and the existing franchise agreement's benefit, subject to consent.
The shares of the corporation operating the territory — everything it owns, and everything it owes.
Required for the specific territory changing hands.
Required for the change of control itself.
Reviewed account-by-account, since a residential cleaning business's value sits almost entirely in repeat bookings rather than hard assets.
Client relationships generally stay in place without individual re-consent, since the contracting corporation doesn't change.
Background-checked, bonded cleaning staff retention is assessed, since clients grant home access based on trust in specific individuals as much as the brand.
Employment continues as a company liability and relationship, without needing to be individually re-confirmed.
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 territory changing hands.
Less common — sometimes used where an operator holds multiple 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 MaidPro territory changing hands between one buyer and one seller, with a stable recurring client base and staff staying on.
Start my file →A territory with meaningful client churn risk to price around, or an operator selling multiple territories as one operating company.
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.
You're primarily buying a recurring residential client base and a team of bonded, background-checked cleaning staff, run out of a compact dispatch office rather than retail premises — diligence focuses there rather than on a lease or a lot of hard assets.
Quite a lot — clients grant home access based on trust in specific cleaners as much as the brand, so understanding which staff are staying on, and what that means for keeping the clients you're paying for, is central to a MaidPro resale.
This is addressed in the purchase agreement, not discovered after the fact — churn risk in the client base is assessed during diligence, and the price can be structured to reflect what actually transfers.
Not necessarily. Ontario courts have read the resale-disclosure exemption narrowly, and franchisor involvement in matching a buyer to a seller can trigger a full disclosure requirement even where the deal is framed as a private resale.
Most run about 6 to 10 weeks, generally paced by the franchisor's consent review and confirming client and staff continuity rather than any lease negotiation.
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 MaidPro or its franchisor.
Tell us about your MaidPro resale — we'll point you the right way and confirm the cost in writing before any work begins.