Mr. Handyman franchises don't carry a single trade licence the way an electrical or plumbing business does, so a resale looks a little different: the legal work centres less on one regulator's sign-off and more on the franchisor's own approval process, the recurring customer relationships and service agreements changing hands, and making sure liability insurance and any subcontracted licensed-trade work are properly accounted for before you close.
Mr. Handyman 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 is conditioned on franchisor consent, a clean review of the customer base and any open jobs in progress, and confirmation that the unit's liability insurance is in good standing.
1–2 weeks†The Neighborly-family system reviews the incoming owner's background and financial standing, and typically holds a right of first refusal before consenting to the transfer.
3–6 weeks†Even a resale negotiated quietly between two people who already know each other can still trigger Arthur Wishart Act disclosure — courts read the resale exemption narrowly, so we confirm early whether it applies here.
runs alongside consent†Getting to closing
Many units run from a modest office or warehouse space rather than a storefront; where a lease exists, landlord consent to assign runs on its own timeline.
2–4 weeks†Franchisor operational training for the new owner happens alongside confirming which licensed-trade subcontractors (electricians, plumbers, gas fitters) the unit relies on for specialized jobs, so those relationships carry forward.
2–3 weeks†Funds, the franchise agreement, and open work orders change hands together, with insurance and any vehicle financing confirmed before the date is set.
1 day, once conditions are met†CFA listing shows 15 Canadian franchise units (Neighborly-family brand).
Ontario locations among the 15 Canadian franchise units.
This is the first real decision in a Mr. Handyman 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 tools, service vehicles, customer list, open work orders, goodwill and the franchise agreement. | The shares of the corporation that holds the franchise agreement, including its history and existing liabilities. |
| The franchise agreement | Assigned to the buyer with franchisor consent, usually alongside a new or amended agreement. | Generally stays with the corporation, but the franchisor must be notified of and consent to the ownership change. |
| Lease or premises | Needs landlord consent to assign, if the unit operates from a leased office or warehouse. | Usually stays in place unless the lease has its own change-of-control clause. |
| Staff & subcontractor relationships | Technician employment and any subcontracted trade relationships are reviewed and assigned individually. | Employment and subcontractor agreements generally continue uninterrupted, since the corporate employer doesn't change. |
| Tax angle | Buyer gets a stepped-up cost base on the assets purchased; an HST election may apply to the sale. | Seller may access the lifetime capital gains exemption on qualifying shares. |
| Typical use | The more common structure for a single-territory Mr. Handyman resale. | Occasionally preferred where key commercial-account contracts would otherwise be difficult to reassign. |
The unit's tools, service vehicles, customer list, open work orders, goodwill and the franchise agreement.
The shares of the corporation that holds the franchise agreement, including its history and existing liabilities.
Assigned to the buyer with franchisor consent, usually alongside a new or amended agreement.
Generally stays with the corporation, but the franchisor must be notified of and consent to the ownership change.
Needs landlord consent to assign, if the unit operates from a leased office or warehouse.
Usually stays in place unless the lease has its own change-of-control clause.
Technician employment and any subcontracted trade relationships are reviewed and assigned individually.
Employment and subcontractor agreements generally continue uninterrupted, since the corporate employer doesn't change.
Buyer gets a stepped-up cost base on the assets purchased; an HST election may apply to the sale.
Seller may access the lifetime capital gains exemption on qualifying shares.
The more common structure for a single-territory Mr. Handyman resale.
Occasionally preferred where key commercial-account contracts would otherwise be difficult to reassign.
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 Mr. Handyman territory changing hands between an existing owner-operator and an incoming buyer, with the technician team and subcontractor relationships staying in place.
Start my file →A territory with meaningful commercial or property-management accounts, a franchisor requiring updated branding or systems as a condition of consent, or open work orders and deposits that need to be carefully allocated between seller and buyer.
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.
Mr. Handyman units generally route specialized licensed-trade work to subcontractors rather than doing it in-house, and liability typically follows whoever performed the work and the terms of the subcontractor agreement. We review those arrangements and the unit's liability insurance as part of diligence, not as an afterthought.
For most Mr. Handyman units, the recurring customer base and any commercial or property-management accounts are worth more than the hard assets. That's why the offer should account for how those relationships and open work orders are transferring, not just what's sitting in the warehouse.
Not necessarily, but familiarity between the parties doesn't decide the question. Ontario courts have read the Arthur Wishart Act's resale exemption narrowly, so we confirm whether your specific transfer qualifies before anyone assumes it's exempt.
These need to be inventoried and allocated as part of the agreement — who completes them, who's paid for them, and how any deposits already collected are handled. Left unaddressed, in-progress jobs are one of the more common sources of post-closing disputes.
Most single-territory resales run about 45 to 75 days from a signed offer, largely tracking how quickly the franchisor completes its consent review and how fast the lease and insurance items get confirmed.
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 Mr. Handyman or its franchisor.
Tell us about your Mr. Handyman resale — we'll point you the right way and confirm the cost in writing before any work begins.