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

Buying a Ramada by Wyndham franchise

Ramada sits toward the fuller-service end of Wyndham's Canadian portfolio — restaurants, lounges, and meeting space are common alongside guest rooms — which means an existing property is more likely than Wyndham's limited-service banners to already carry a licensed bar or restaurant needing its own AGCO transfer alongside the real estate and brand approvals. Superior Lodging Corp administers Ramada's Canadian development, and a resale runs the property review, financing, and brand approval on parallel tracks, with a Property Improvement Plan scoped to a larger, fuller-service building.

№ 01.1The Resale, End to End

From offer to ownership

Ramada by Wyndham 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

Offer on the property & the flag

The offer covers both the real estate and the Ramada franchise agreement together, conditioned on Superior Lodging Corp approving the transfer to the incoming owner.

2–4 weeks
02

Brand & property review

The franchisor reviews the incoming operator and conducts a property inspection, sizing a Property Improvement Plan against a fuller-service building with meeting or banquet space.

4–8 weeks
03

Financing & title diligence

Because real property is usually involved, mortgage financing, title, survey, and environmental review run alongside the brand approval.

4–8 weeks, in parallel

Getting to closing

04

AGCO transfer, if licensed

Where the property carries a licensed lounge or restaurant — common at this fuller-service tier — an AGCO transfer or interim authorization proceeds on its own timeline.

4–8 weeks, if applicable
05

New franchise agreement

The incoming owner signs a new, current-form franchise agreement, often incorporating the negotiated Property Improvement Plan as a closing condition.

negotiated alongside brand approval
06

Closing

Real property, business assets, and the franchise agreement all close together, with a defined timeline for completing any required renovations after taking over.

1 day, plus a PIP completion tail
Timelines vary by franchisor approval speedWe track every deadline so nothing lapses.
№ 01.2About the System

About the Ramada by Wyndham system

Franchised in Canada as part of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts' portfolio, with Canadian development handled by Superior Lodging Corp; the brand's franchise page lists the opportunity type as 'Franchised' with an active application process for prospective owners.

Ramada hotels operate in a number of Ontario markets, including Mississauga.

№ 01.3Deal Structure

Asset sale or share sale?

This is the first real decision in a Ramada by Wyndham 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 real property (if included), the hotel's operating assets, and the benefit of the Ramada franchise agreement, subject to the franchisor's consent.The shares of the corporation holding the property and the franchise agreement — everything it owns and owes.
Seller's liabilitiesGenerally stay behind with the seller, apart from anything specifically assumed in the agreement.Generally come with the company, known and unknown, including any mortgage or lease obligations.
Franchisor consent & PIPRequired for the transfer, typically paired with a Property Improvement Plan sized to a fuller-service building — meeting space and food & beverage areas included.Required for the change of control, with the same PIP review still applying to the property itself.
Liquor licenceCommon at this brand tier — an existing AGCO licence typically needs its own transfer process alongside the real estate and brand approvals.The licence itself doesn't automatically transfer with a share sale, but AGCO's change-in-control notice requirements still apply.
Staff (ESA)Employment Standards Act continuity rules apply to how hotel staff carry over, including any food & beverage and banquet team members.Employment generally continues uninterrupted — the employer doesn't change.
Tax angleBuyer generally gets a stepped-up cost base on the real property and business assets purchased; HST self-assessment applies to the real property transfer.Seller may access the lifetime capital gains exemption on qualifying shares; the property's cost base carries over.
What you buy
Asset sale

The real property (if included), the hotel's operating assets, and the benefit of the Ramada franchise agreement, subject to the franchisor's consent.

Seller's liabilities
Asset sale

Generally stay behind with the seller, apart from anything specifically assumed in the agreement.

Franchisor consent & PIP
Asset sale

Required for the transfer, typically paired with a Property Improvement Plan sized to a fuller-service building — meeting space and food & beverage areas included.

Liquor licence
Asset sale

Common at this brand tier — an existing AGCO licence typically needs its own transfer process alongside the real estate and brand approvals.

Staff (ESA)
Asset sale

Employment Standards Act continuity rules apply to how hotel staff carry over, including any food & beverage and banquet team members.

Tax angle
Asset sale

Buyer generally gets a stepped-up cost base on the real property and business assets purchased; HST self-assessment applies to the real property transfer.

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, already-flagged Ramada property changing hands, with the real estate, franchise agreement, and an existing liquor licence moving together in one transaction.

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A bit more involved

A larger or more complex deal

A property requiring a substantial Property Improvement Plan, a licensed restaurant or lounge needing an AGCO transfer, or a buyer acquiring more than one flagged property at once.

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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

Does a Ramada property usually already have a liquor licence?

Often, yes — Ramada sits toward the fuller-service end of the brand family, and a licensed lounge or restaurant is common. That makes an AGCO transfer a live consideration more often here than at Wyndham's limited-service banners, and we build it into the closing timeline from the start rather than treating it as an afterthought.

Is the Property Improvement Plan bigger for a Ramada than for an economy-tier hotel brand?

Usually, because the format itself is bigger — meeting space, banquet facilities, and a full-service restaurant all fall within a PIP's scope where a limited-service property wouldn't have them. The specific list still depends on the property's actual condition, which the inspection determines before terms are finalized.

What happens to existing banquet or event bookings when the property changes hands?

That's addressed in the purchase agreement — whether the buyer assumes existing bookings, how deposits already collected are handled, and staffing continuity for the events team are all deal points we work through rather than leave to be sorted out after closing.

Do I deal with Wyndham directly, or a Canadian company?

Day-to-day, you're dealing with Superior Lodging Corp, the Calgary-based company that administers Ramada's Canadian development, rather than Wyndham's US head office directly.

What happens to an existing mortgage on the property when ownership changes?

That depends on the structure. An asset sale usually means new financing for the buyer and a payout of the seller's existing mortgage at closing; a share sale can sometimes allow an existing mortgage to stay in place, subject to the lender's consent.

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 Ramada by Wyndham or its franchisor.

Ready to begin?

Tell us about your Ramada by Wyndham 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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