Osmow's grew up in the GTA and has expanded quickly, which means many of its locations are still relatively early in their original franchise term compared to some of the province's older, more established chains. Much of the menu is halal-sourced, too — so alongside the usual lease and health-unit steps, confirming that halal-certified supply relationships carry through to the buyer is a genuine, sector-specific piece of diligence for this brand.
Osmow's 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, conditioned on franchisor consent and a clean health-unit standing — not just financing.
1–2 weeks†The franchisor reviews the proposed buyer and may exercise a right of first refusal before the sale can proceed — a growing system often means an actively engaged franchisor reviewing new operators.
several weeks, typically†A franchise disclosure document may still be required for this resale — Ontario courts read the resale-disclosure exemption narrowly, so franchisor involvement in the sale can trigger it even where it's called a private deal.
assessed early†Getting to closing
The plaza, food-court, or standalone lease needs the landlord's or property manager's written consent to assign.
2–6 weeks†Continuity of halal-certified supplier relationships is confirmed for the incoming owner, alongside the franchisor's standard training program.
1–3 weeks†Funds and keys change hands, inventory is counted and settled, and the franchisor confirms the transfer is complete.
1 day, once conditions are met†Official osmowsfranchise.com site actively recruits Canadian and US franchisees, branding itself 'North America's fastest growing shawarma brand'
Toronto-founded shawarma chain with a dense GTA and broader Ontario footprint
This is the first real decision in a Osmow's 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 unit's assets — equipment, leasehold improvements, inventory, and the franchise agreement's benefit, subject to franchisor consent. | The shares of the operating company — everything it owns, and everything it owes. |
| Seller's liabilities | Generally stay behind with the seller's existing corporation. | Generally come with the company, known and unknown. |
| Franchise agreement | Consent required for the specific unit, often paired with a current-form agreement given how recently the system has grown. | Consent required for the change of control itself. |
| The lease | Needs the landlord's or property manager's written consent to assign — often the pacing item for the whole closing. | Usually stays in place, unless the lease has its own change-of-control clause. |
| Menu supply chain | Halal-certified supplier and vendor agreements are reviewed and typically reassigned or reissued to the buyer. | Stays with the corporation without needing to be re-transferred. |
| 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 most single-unit resales. | Less common — occasionally used where an operator holds several units under one company. |
The unit's assets — equipment, leasehold improvements, inventory, and the franchise agreement's benefit, subject to franchisor consent.
The shares of the operating company — everything it owns, and everything it owes.
Generally stay behind with the seller's existing corporation.
Generally come with the company, known and unknown.
Consent required for the specific unit, often paired with a current-form agreement given how recently the system has grown.
Consent required for the change of control itself.
Needs the landlord's or property manager's written consent to assign — often the pacing item for the whole closing.
Usually stays in place, unless the lease has its own change-of-control clause.
Halal-certified supplier and vendor agreements are reviewed and typically reassigned or reissued to the buyer.
Stays with the corporation without needing to be re-transferred.
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 most single-unit resales.
Less common — occasionally used where an operator holds several units 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 Osmow's unit in a plaza or standalone building, changing hands between one buyer and one seller with a straightforward lease and supply-chain review.
Start my file →A food-court unit with a property-manager licence agreement to negotiate alongside the franchisor's consent, or a multi-unit operator adding a location to an existing GTA portfolio.
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.
It adds a genuine diligence item beyond the usual lease and health-unit checks: confirming that the location's halal-certified supplier relationships transfer smoothly to the incoming owner, since much of the menu depends on that certified supply chain continuing without interruption.
A faster-growing system does tend to have more locations still within their original franchise term rather than approaching renewal, which can shape how a current-form agreement compares to what a seller originally signed — worth reviewing early rather than assuming continuity of terms.
The brand's densest footprint sits in and around the GTA, though its presence extends more broadly across Ontario — location density can affect how much comparable resale activity there is to benchmark a specific deal against.
Possibly. Ontario courts have read the resale-disclosure exemption narrowly, and franchisor involvement in matching a buyer to a seller can be enough to trigger a full disclosure requirement even where the deal is framed as a private resale.
It can — an actively growing brand often attracts more prospective buyers to a given resale opportunity, which is worth factoring into how quickly you move once you've found a location you want.
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 Osmow's or its franchisor.
Tell us about your Osmow's resale — we'll point you the right way and confirm the cost in writing before any work begins.