Buying or selling an existing Paul Davis Restoration franchise in Ontario means buying an emergency-response property-restoration business — drying and mitigation equipment, a crew, a warehouse or shop space, and, often the most valuable piece, standing relationships with insurance adjusters and preferred-vendor programs that generate a steady stream of referral work. None of that transfers on reputation alone; it has to be handled deliberately as part of the sale.
Paul Davis Restoration 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 look at the franchise's referral relationships and equipment condition, not just its revenue.
1–2 weeks†The franchisor reviews the buyer and deal terms, and may exercise a right of first refusal to take over the franchise itself instead of approving your purchase.
3–8 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
Landlord's consent on the warehouse or shop space, alongside confirming ownership and financing on drying equipment, vehicles, and tools.
3–6 weeks†The incoming owner or key staff complete restoration-specific training and certification requirements, and WSIB standing is confirmed, before the franchisor signs off.
2–6 weeks, often overlapping†Funds, keys, and the new franchise agreement change hands together, with equipment and vehicle titles settled the same day.
1 day, once conditions are met†CFA listing confirms an active Canadian franchise network; operates in Canada as a subsidiary of FirstService Brands Canada Inc.
Ontario locations within its Canadian franchise network.
This is the first real decision in a Paul Davis Restoration 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 franchise's assets — drying and mitigation equipment, vehicles, leasehold improvements, and the existing franchise agreement and referral standing, subject to consent. | The shares of the corporation operating the franchise — everything it owns, and everything it owes. |
| Franchisor consent & ROFR | Required for the specific territory changing hands — often the pacing condition on the whole deal. | Required for the change of control itself, with the franchisor reviewing who is actually taking over. |
| Insurer referral-network standing | Preferred-vendor and adjuster-referral relationships generally need to be actively re-established with the incoming owner — they don't transfer automatically just because the location's name stays the same. | These relationships are more likely to continue uninterrupted, since the corporation the insurer or adjuster network deals with doesn't change. |
| The lease / premises | Warehouse or shop-space lease needs the landlord's consent to assign, timed alongside the franchisor's own consent. | Usually stays in place unless the lease has its own change-of-control clause. |
| 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 franchise's assets — drying and mitigation equipment, vehicles, leasehold improvements, and the existing franchise agreement and referral standing, subject to consent.
The shares of the corporation operating the franchise — everything it owns, and everything it owes.
Required for the specific territory changing hands — often the pacing condition on the whole deal.
Required for the change of control itself, with the franchisor reviewing who is actually taking over.
Preferred-vendor and adjuster-referral relationships generally need to be actively re-established with the incoming owner — they don't transfer automatically just because the location's name stays the same.
These relationships are more likely to continue uninterrupted, since the corporation the insurer or adjuster network deals with doesn't change.
Warehouse or shop-space lease needs the landlord's consent to assign, timed alongside the franchisor's own consent.
Usually stays in place unless the lease has its own change-of-control clause.
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 Paul Davis Restoration territory changing hands between one buyer and one seller — equipment, a shop lease, and a standard franchisor consent process.
Start my file →An operator selling several territories as one operating company, or a resale where insurer referral relationships, a right of first refusal, or a disclosure question needs to be worked through first.
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.
Not automatically. Preferred-vendor and referral relationships with insurers and adjusters are typically tied to the individual operator's track record, so a buyer generally needs to actively re-establish them rather than assume they transfer with the business name.
Both matter, but the referral relationships — and the steady work they generate — are often what a buyer is really paying for. Equipment gets valued and itemized in the usual way, but the referral side needs its own honest assessment during diligence.
Not necessarily. Ontario courts have read the resale-disclosure exemption narrowly, and franchisor involvement in the resale can trigger a full disclosure requirement regardless of how the deal is framed.
WSIB clearance is typically confirmed as part of closing, and crew certifications relevant to restoration work are checked for continuity — an incoming owner should know before closing whether key certified staff are staying on, since that affects both operations and referral standing.
Often, yes. Multiple territories under one operating company are more commonly sold as shares, so every territory's franchise agreement, equipment financing, and referral relationships stay intact at once.
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 Paul Davis Restoration or its franchisor.
Tell us about your Paul Davis Restoration resale — we'll point you the right way and confirm the cost in writing before any work begins.