A ServiceMaster Restore unit's value sits heavily in its standing with insurance adjusters and property managers — a long-established name in the restoration business, and the referral and preferred-vendor relationships that come from decades of emergency call-outs. A resale has to protect that standing while working through the franchisor's own consent process, since insurer vendor-program status is typically re-vetted on a change of ownership rather than simply carried over.
ServiceMaster Restore 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 review of active restoration files and insurer referral relationships, and confirmation that technician certifications are current.
1–3 weeks†The ServiceMaster Restore system reviews the incoming owner's background and financial standing, and typically holds a right of first refusal it can exercise before consenting to the transfer.
3–6 weeks†Arthur Wishart Act disclosure may still be required even where the parties are familiar with each other from the same system — courts read the resale exemption narrowly, so we confirm early whether it applies to your transfer.
runs alongside consent†Getting to closing
Units typically operate from a warehouse-style space for drying equipment, vehicles and supplies; landlord consent to assign runs on its own clock where a lease exists.
2–6 weeks†Franchisor operational training for the incoming owner runs alongside re-establishing the unit's standing with insurer preferred-vendor and direct-repair programs under the new ownership.
2–4 weeks†Funds, the franchise agreement, and open restoration files change hands together, with equipment financing and any active insurance claims confirmed before the date is set.
1 day, once conditions are met†CFA listing confirms an established Canadian franchise network on servicemasterrestore.ca; CFA member since 1992, in business since 1947.
Ontario locations within its established Canadian franchise network.
This is the first real decision in a ServiceMaster Restore 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 | Drying and remediation equipment, vehicles, open files, referral relationships, 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 consent to the ownership change. |
| Insurer vendor-program status | Typically needs to be re-established with insurance companies and property managers under the new ownership rather than assumed to carry over. | May survive if the underlying corporation and its operating history stay intact, though insurers can still require their own review. |
| Lease or premises | Needs landlord consent to assign, where the unit leases warehouse or shop space. | 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; 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 ServiceMaster Restore resale. | Occasionally preferred specifically to preserve insurer vendor-program status that's tied to the corporate entity. |
Drying and remediation equipment, vehicles, open files, referral relationships, 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 consent to the ownership change.
Typically needs to be re-established with insurance companies and property managers under the new ownership rather than assumed to carry over.
May survive if the underlying corporation and its operating history stay intact, though insurers can still require their own review.
Needs landlord consent to assign, where the unit leases warehouse or shop space.
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; 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 ServiceMaster Restore resale.
Occasionally preferred specifically to preserve insurer vendor-program status that's tied to the corporate entity.
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 ServiceMaster Restore territory changing hands between an existing owner and an incoming buyer, with the current technician team and insurer referral relationships continuing largely intact.
Start my file →A territory carrying significant commercial or large-loss restoration contracts, a franchisor requiring equipment or certification upgrades as a condition of consent, or insurer vendor-program relationships that need active re-establishment under new ownership.
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 necessarily. Insurer preferred-vendor and direct-repair program status is commonly re-vetted when ownership changes, even where the underlying corporation continues. We flag this early in diligence so it doesn't come as a surprise after you've already committed to a structure.
Open files need to be inventoried and allocated — who completes the work, who's paid, and how insurer billing already underway is handled. This is one of the more heavily negotiated items in a restoration-business resale.
Individual technician certifications (the industry-standard IICRC credentials, among others) stay with the person who holds them, not the business. If key certified technicians aren't staying on, that's a real diligence item, not a footnote.
Possibly. Ontario courts have read the Arthur Wishart Act's resale exemption narrowly, so shared history in the same franchise system doesn't settle the question on its own — we confirm whether disclosure applies to your specific deal.
Most single-territory resales run about 45 to 90 days, largely driven by the franchisor's review and by how quickly insurer vendor-program relationships can be re-confirmed under the new ownership.
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 ServiceMaster Restore or its franchisor.
Tell us about your ServiceMaster Restore resale — we'll point you the right way and confirm the cost in writing before any work begins.