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№ 01Buying & Selling a Business · Franchise Resale · Ontario

Buying a Orangetheory Fitness franchise

Orangetheory studios run on a staffed, coach-led class model rather than unstaffed 24-hour access, so a resale here turns on the coaching team and the class-package membership base as much as on the studio build-out itself. The brand's own Canadian franchising page actively recruits applicants for the province, and as the GTA studio count has grown, so has the flow of existing studios changing hands — each resale still running through the franchisor's consent, its right of first refusal, and the usual disclosure questions.

№ 01.1The Resale, End to End

From offer to ownership

Orangetheory Fitness resales follow the franchisor's own approval process on top of the usual purchase mechanics — here's how the two run together.

Getting approved

01

Conditional offer

Price and terms, with conditions built in for franchisor consent, an assignable lease, and a clear picture of active class-package memberships and coaching staff.

usually 1–2 weeks
02

Franchisor application & review

Head office reviews the incoming buyer's application and can exercise its right of first refusal instead of letting the sale proceed as negotiated.

several weeks, typically
03

Disclosure considerations

Courts read the resale-disclosure exemption narrowly, so a franchisor-facilitated Orangetheory resale may still require a full Arthur Wishart disclosure document before you're bound.

assessed early

Getting to closing

04

Lease assignment

The studio's commercial lease needs the landlord's written consent to assign, timed alongside the franchisor's own review.

2–6 weeks
05

Coach certification & transfer approval

Coaching staff typically hold brand-standard certification independent of ownership, and the incoming owner works through management training before or shortly after taking over.

before or shortly after closing
06

Closing

Funds, keys, and signed documents change hands, alongside a handover of class-package membership records and confirmation that landlord and franchisor consent are both in hand.

1 day, once conditions are met
Timelines vary by franchisor approval speedWe track every deadline so nothing lapses.
№ 01.2About the System

About the Orangetheory Fitness system

CFA 'Look For A Franchise' listing confirms an established Canadian franchise network; dedicated orangetheory.com/en-ca/franchising page for Canadian applicants.

Multiple GTA studios; company coverage highlights an expanding Ontario presence.

№ 01.3Deal Structure

Asset sale or share sale?

This is the first real decision in a Orangetheory Fitness resale — and it changes what you're buying, what you're taking on, and how the franchise agreement moves.

QuestionAsset purchaseShare purchase
What you buyThe studio's cardio and strength equipment, heart-rate monitoring systems, leasehold improvements, and the benefit of the existing franchise agreement, subject to consent.The shares of the operating company — every studio it holds under the Orangetheory banner, and everything it owes.
Seller's liabilitiesGenerally stay behind with the seller's existing corporation.Generally come with the company, including obligations tied to any other studios it operates.
Franchisor consent & ROFRRequired for this specific studio, and typically the pacing condition on the whole deal.Required for the change of control itself — the franchisor reviews who is actually taking over.
Membership base & class-package dataActive class-package memberships and booking records transfer with appropriate privacy handling under PIPEDA.Stays with the corporation, with the franchisor typically notified of the change in ownership.
Coaching team & equipment financingConfirm what studio equipment is owned, leased, or financed, with PPSA searches identifying any liens, alongside a plan for coaching-staff retention.Assessed the same way at the corporate level, since equipment and staff stay with the company.
Typical use in an Orangetheory resaleThe default for a single studio changing hands.More common where one operator holds several Orangetheory studios under one company.
What you buy
Asset sale

The studio's cardio and strength equipment, heart-rate monitoring systems, leasehold improvements, and the benefit of the existing franchise agreement, subject to consent.

Seller's liabilities
Asset sale

Generally stay behind with the seller's existing corporation.

Franchisor consent & ROFR
Asset sale

Required for this specific studio, and typically the pacing condition on the whole deal.

Membership base & class-package data
Asset sale

Active class-package memberships and booking records transfer with appropriate privacy handling under PIPEDA.

Coaching team & equipment financing
Asset sale

Confirm what studio equipment is owned, leased, or financed, with PPSA searches identifying any liens, alongside a plan for coaching-staff retention.

Typical use in an Orangetheory resale
Asset sale

The default for a single studio changing hands.

We tell you which structure fits — before you sign anything.

№ 01.5Costs & Fees

You'll know the number before we start

No open-ended hourly surprises — the cost is confirmed in writing before any work begins.

Type of workFeeHow it's confirmed
Straightforward purchase or saleStarting from $3,388.87
Our charges · taxes included
Confirmed in writing once we see the agreement.
Larger or more complex dealQuoted to scopeShort call → fixed written quote before any work begins.
Searches, filings & third-party feesAt costItemized on your invoice, not marked up.
Franchisor transfer/application fees, landlord consent costs, and a broker's success fee if the deal was listed — all confirmed once we see your agreement.
Most deals start here

An owner-run business

A single Orangetheory studio changing hands between one buyer and one seller — an established coaching team and membership base, a standard lease, and a straightforward franchisor consent process.

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A bit more involved

A larger or more complex deal

An operator selling several Orangetheory studios as one company, or a resale where the franchisor's right of first refusal, coaching-team continuity, 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.

№ 01.6Before You Ask

Common questions

Orangetheory is staffed and class-based — how is that different from resales in a 24-hour, unstaffed gym franchise?

It shifts where the value sits. A staffed, coach-led studio's worth depends heavily on its coaching team and class-package membership retention, alongside the equipment — so diligence looks closely at coach continuity and class fill rates, not just an access-control system and a membership list.

Do the coaches need to be re-certified when the studio changes owners?

Coaches typically hold their own brand certification tied to them individually, not to studio ownership, so a change of owner doesn't automatically affect their standing. Whether they choose to stay through the transition is the real question a buyer needs answered.

What happens to active class-package memberships when the studio is sold?

On an asset sale, active memberships and booking records are typically transferred to the buyer with appropriate handling of member data under PIPEDA. We confirm what continuity of membership terms members are entitled to before you take over.

Does buying an existing studio mean I skip the franchise disclosure document?

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.'

Do the studio's coaches need to renew their certifications when a new owner takes over, or does that stay with them individually?

Coach certifications are generally tied to the individual, not the studio, so they typically continue uninterrupted through a change of ownership. What we confirm during diligence is whether enough certified coaches are committed to staying on to keep classes running smoothly.

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 Orangetheory Fitness or its franchisor.

Ready to begin?

Tell us about your Orangetheory Fitness resale — we'll point you the right way and confirm the cost in writing before any work begins.

Prefer to talk first? Call 1-844-900-1070 — it’s free.
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