Studio Pilates International is new enough to Canada that its first announced location — in Oakville — was among the brand's very first anywhere in the country. That means a Studio Pilates resale in Ontario today is likely to be one of the earliest changes of ownership the Canadian system has processed, so the usual playbook for a mature, decades-old franchise resale applies with a caveat: fewer precedents to draw on, and a franchisor still building out its own consent and transfer process as the network grows.
Studio Pilates International 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 structure, with conditions built in for franchisor consent, lease assignment, and confirmation of the reformer equipment's condition and any financing attached to it.
1–2 weeks†The franchisor reviews the incoming operator — given how new the Canadian network is, this step may run closer to a new-territory review than a routine, well-worn resale process.
2–6 weeks†A franchise disclosure document 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†Getting to closing
Landlord consent to assign the lease is confirmed alongside a review of the reformer and studio equipment's ownership status, including any financing or PPSA liens.
2–4 weeks†Pilates instructors typically hold brand-specific reformer-method certification distinct from a general fitness credential, so the incoming owner or manager confirms staffing meets the brand's training standards.
1–3 weeks†Funds, keys, equipment, and signed documents change hands.
1 day, once conditions are met†CFA Look For A Franchise listing confirms Studio Pilates International as a CFA member since 2023, actively entering the Canadian market with its first Canadian franchise locations
One of the brand's first two Canadian locations was announced for Oakville, Ontario (alongside Langley, BC), with an opening planned in 2025
This is the first real decision in a Studio Pilates International 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 studio's reformer and Pilates equipment, leasehold improvements, active client bookings, and the benefit of the existing franchise agreement, subject to consent. | The shares of the operating company — every studio it holds, and everything it owes. |
| Franchisor consent & ROFR | Required for the specific studio changing hands. | Required for the change of control itself, across every studio the corporation operates. |
| The lease | Needs landlord consent to assign — often the pacing item for a studio-format resale. | Usually stays in place unless the lease has its own change-of-control clause. |
| Reformer equipment financing | Confirm what's owned outright versus financed or leased, with a PPSA search identifying any liens, since reformers are typically a studio's single largest capital item. | Assessed the same way at the corporate level, since the equipment stays with the company. |
| Instructor certification | Brand-specific reformer-method certification is separate from a general fitness credential, and instructor continuity directly affects class scheduling and client retention. | Employment generally continues, though individual instructors can still leave regardless of who holds the shares. |
| Tax angle | Buyer gets a stepped-up cost base on the assets purchased. | Seller may access the lifetime capital gains exemption on qualifying shares. |
The studio's reformer and Pilates equipment, leasehold improvements, active client bookings, and the benefit of the existing franchise agreement, subject to consent.
The shares of the operating company — every studio it holds, and everything it owes.
Required for the specific studio changing hands.
Required for the change of control itself, across every studio the corporation operates.
Needs landlord consent to assign — often the pacing item for a studio-format resale.
Usually stays in place unless the lease has its own change-of-control clause.
Confirm what's owned outright versus financed or leased, with a PPSA search identifying any liens, since reformers are typically a studio's single largest capital item.
Assessed the same way at the corporate level, since the equipment stays with the company.
Brand-specific reformer-method certification is separate from a general fitness credential, and instructor continuity directly affects class scheduling and client retention.
Employment generally continues, though individual instructors can still leave regardless of who holds the shares.
Buyer gets a stepped-up cost base on the assets purchased.
Seller may access the lifetime capital gains exemption on qualifying shares.
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 reformer studio changing hands between one buyer and one seller, with a straightforward lease and clear equipment ownership.
Start my file →A deal where equipment financing or liens need to be resolved before closing, or where the transaction functions more like a new-territory agreement than a mature resale given how new the Canadian network still is.
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 really, not yet. With the Canadian network still centred on its first locations, an Ontario resale today is likely one of the earliest the brand has processed here, so expect the franchisor's consent process to be less standardized than with a decades-old system.
The reformer equipment. These purpose-built Pilates machines are typically the studio's largest capital cost, so confirming what's owned outright versus financed or leased — with a PPSA search for any liens — is a bigger diligence item here than in most fitness-franchise resales.
Studio Pilates instructors typically need brand-specific reformer-method certification, which is distinct from a general personal-training credential — instructor continuity through a sale is worth confirming early, since replacing a certified instructor isn't as simple as hiring a generalist.
Not necessarily. Ontario courts have read the resale-disclosure exemption narrowly, and franchisor involvement in the resale can be enough to trigger a full disclosure requirement anyway — we confirm early whether it applies to your deal.
It depends on the specific deal. With such a small existing footprint, some transactions marketed as a 'resale' may functionally look more like a new development agreement with an existing lease and some client goodwill attached — we confirm which structure actually applies before you sign anything.
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 Studio Pilates International or its franchisor.
Tell us about your Studio Pilates International resale — we'll point you the right way and confirm the cost in writing before any work begins.