Innovative Fitness is a Canadian-founded personal-training franchise built around one-on-one and small-group coaching rather than open-floor gym access, and it's a genuinely small network — a handful of active Canadian units. A resale here centres on the trainer roster and each client's prepaid training-package balance far more than on equipment or square footage, since the studio itself is typically a modest leased space built for coaching sessions rather than a large equipment fleet.
Innovative 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
The offer sets price and structure, with conditions built in for franchisor consent, landlord consent, and continuity of the studio's trainer roster.
1–2 weeks†The franchisor reviews the incoming operator and the proposed terms before consenting to the transfer of that specific studio.
2–4 weeks, typically†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 studio's coaching equipment, which is typically modest compared to a big-box gym.
2–4 weeks†Personal trainers hold their own professional certifications and their retention is negotiated as a staffing matter, while outstanding prepaid training-package credits are reconciled.
2–3 weeks, around closing†Funds, keys, and studio equipment change hands.
1 day, once conditions are met†CFA Look For A Franchise listing confirms Innovative Fitness as 'a Canadian franchise personal training company' with 9 active Canadian units
Ontario studios among its 9-unit Canadian personal-training franchise network (provincial breakdown not published)
This is the first real decision in a Innovative Fitness 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 coaching equipment, leasehold improvements, active client roster, 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 a modest space rather than a large-footprint lease. | Usually stays in place unless the lease has its own change-of-control clause. |
| Trainer staffing | Personal trainers hold their own individual certifications, which stay with them personally — retention is negotiated as a staffing matter, not transferred as a licence. | Employment generally continues uninterrupted, though individual trainers can still leave regardless of who holds the shares. |
| Prepaid training packages | Outstanding prepaid session packages are reconciled as a disclosed liability, since clients often pay in blocks rather than per visit. | Stays with the corporation; no separate reconciliation needed. |
| 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 coaching equipment, leasehold improvements, active client roster, 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 a modest space rather than a large-footprint lease.
Usually stays in place unless the lease has its own change-of-control clause.
Personal trainers hold their own individual certifications, which stay with them personally — retention is negotiated as a staffing matter, not transferred as a licence.
Employment generally continues uninterrupted, though individual trainers can still leave regardless of who holds the shares.
Outstanding prepaid session packages are reconciled as a disclosed liability, since clients often pay in blocks rather than per visit.
Stays with the corporation; no separate reconciliation needed.
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 Innovative Fitness studio changing hands between one buyer and one seller, with a stable trainer team and a straightforward lease.
Start my file →A resale where trainer retention or prepaid-package liability needs careful review before terms are final, given how much of the value depends on individual coaching relationships.
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 — trainers typically hold their own professional certifications and can move on independently of who owns the studio, so retention is negotiated as a staffing matter and often drives much of the deal's value, since clients tend to be loyal to their individual coach.
It can. With only a handful of active Canadian units, there are fewer comparable transactions to benchmark a price against, so valuation often leans more heavily on the specific studio's client roster and trainer team than on broad market data.
Outstanding prepaid session packages are reconciled as part of the deal and disclosed to the buyer as a liability being assumed, so it's confirmed in diligence rather than discovered after closing.
No — the business model doesn't affect the legal test. Whether the studio runs on a personal-training or open-floor format, Ontario courts have read the resale-disclosure exemption narrowly across the board, so we confirm early whether it applies to your specific deal rather than assuming it from the format.
Mostly the latter. Because the model is one-on-one and small-group coaching rather than an open-floor gym with a big equipment fleet, the leased space and equipment are usually modest — the real value sits in the trainer roster and the active client relationships.
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 Innovative Fitness or its franchisor.
Tell us about your Innovative Fitness resale — we'll point you the right way and confirm the cost in writing before any work begins.