Master Mechanic has been operating in Canada since 1982 and has been a CFA member since 2000 — a long enough run that its franchise agreement has gone through more than one template over the decades. A resale here is a good moment to confirm which version currently governs the shop, because the terms an incoming owner signs (royalty structure, term length, renewal conditions) can look meaningfully different from what the outgoing owner has been operating under.
Master Mechanic 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 an early check of which version of the franchise agreement currently applies to the shop.
1–2 weeks†The franchisor reviews the proposed buyer 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 called a private deal.
assessed early†Getting to closing
The lease needs landlord consent to assign, alongside a screening-level review of used oil, coolant, brake fluid, and tire disposal on site.
2–6 weeks†The incoming owner typically signs a current-form agreement — which may carry different royalty or advertising-fund terms than the seller's legacy agreement — and completes Master Mechanic's shop-standards training.
1–3 weeks†Funds and keys change hands, equipment and bay condition are confirmed, and the franchisor confirms the transfer is complete.
1 day, once conditions are met†CFA Look For A Franchise listing confirms an established Canadian full-service auto-repair franchise network, in business since 1982, CFA member since 2000
Ontario auto-repair shops within its established Canadian franchise network
This is the first real decision in a Master Mechanic 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 shop's equipment, leasehold improvements, inventory, and the franchise agreement's benefit, 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 | Consent for the unit, typically paired with the current-form agreement rather than an assumption of the seller's original one — material for a network this long-established. | Consent for the change of control itself; the underlying agreement stays as-is unless the franchisor requires an update anyway. |
| Advertising fund obligations | Any local or co-op advertising-fund obligations are tied to the franchise agreement being purchased, not the seller personally. | Attach to the corporation regardless. |
| Environmental exposure | A screening-level review of used oil, coolant, brake fluid, and tire disposal is a standard part of diligence before assets are purchased. | Environmental exposure attaches to the corporation, so historical handling practices matter even more on a share sale. |
| The lease | Needs the landlord's written consent to assign into the buyer's name. | Usually stays in place, unless the lease has its own change-of-control clause. |
The shop's equipment, leasehold improvements, inventory, and the franchise agreement's benefit, 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 for the unit, typically paired with the current-form agreement rather than an assumption of the seller's original one — material for a network this long-established.
Consent for the change of control itself; the underlying agreement stays as-is unless the franchisor requires an update anyway.
Any local or co-op advertising-fund obligations are tied to the franchise agreement being purchased, not the seller personally.
Attach to the corporation regardless.
A screening-level review of used oil, coolant, brake fluid, and tire disposal is a standard part of diligence before assets are purchased.
Environmental exposure attaches to the corporation, so historical handling practices matter even more on a share sale.
Needs the landlord's written consent to assign into the buyer's name.
Usually stays in place, unless the lease has its own change-of-control clause.
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, long-operating Master Mechanic shop changing hands with a straightforward current-form agreement.
Start my file →A resale where the outgoing owner's legacy agreement terms differ materially from what the franchisor now requires, or a multi-shop transition.
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.
Because Master Mechanic has operated since 1982, its agreement has gone through more than one template — royalty rates, term lengths, and renewal conditions can differ by cohort, so confirming the current version early avoids surprises when the incoming owner's agreement is drafted.
Generally, yes — a longer operating history usually means more past transactions to reference, though terms still vary shop to shop and each resale needs its own review rather than assuming a prior deal sets the template.
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.
Diligence typically focuses on how used oil, coolant, brake fluid, and tires have been stored and disposed of — a standard screening-level review for a full-service repair format.
Any local or co-op advertising-fund contribution is tied to the franchise agreement itself, so it's worth confirming what's owed or committed before closing rather than assuming it resets with a new owner.
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 Master Mechanic or its franchisor.
Tell us about your Master Mechanic resale — we'll point you the right way and confirm the cost in writing before any work begins.