Greater Sudbury runs on the mining-services supply chain — contractors, equipment haulers and machine shops that keep the region's mines running — plus the trucking companies covering the long distances between Sudbury and the smaller communities it services. Add a steady base of garages and independent retail along the Kingsway and Lasalle Boulevard, and it's a market where a fleet sale and a corner-store sale can land on our desk the same week.
Part of Northern Ontario — one regional deal market, page by page.
Every figure below traces to a named public source — no estimates, no filler.
†Typical patterns across Ontario deals — not a quote or advice; every deal is confirmed on its own facts.
The same sequence underlies almost every owner-run Greater Sudbury deal — what changes from deal to deal is how long each step takes.
Reaching an agreement
Buyer and seller agree on price and key terms, usually informally, before lawyers draft anything binding. We review before you sign — even a "non-binding" LOI can lock in terms you didn't mean to fix.
usually 1–2 weeks†The APS sets out price, structure (asset or share), conditions, and closing date. We draft or review it and negotiate the protections — reps, warranties, holdbacks — that actually matter for your deal.
1–3 weeks to negotiate†Corporate, PPSA lien, litigation, and licence searches confirm what you're actually buying. We chase the seller's lawyer, the registries, and any regulator whose sign-off your deal needs.
2–4 weeks, in parallel†Getting to closing
Landlord, franchisor, lender, and licensing-body sign-offs are chased in parallel with the paperwork. Sudbury deals with mining-sector customer contracts usually need those contracts' change-of-control clauses checked early — losing a major mine-services contract on a change of ownership can be the single biggest risk in the deal.
often the critical path†Funds, keys, and signed documents change hands. We coordinate directly with both sides' lawyers and the lender so nothing is left to a last-minute phone call.
1 day, once conditions are met†Registrations, licence transfers still in progress, and any post-closing deliverables — like a holdback release — get tracked to completion, not left for you to chase.
1–2 week tail†This is the first real decision in almost every deal — and it changes what you're buying, what you're taking on, and how it's taxed.
| Question | Asset purchase | Share purchase |
|---|---|---|
| What you buy | The business's assets — equipment, inventory, lease, goodwill, name. | The shares of the company itself — everything it owns, and everything it owes. |
| Seller's liabilities | Generally stay behind with the seller's corporation. | Generally come with the company, known and unknown. |
| Tax angle — seller | Straightforward proceeds treatment in most cases. | May qualify for the lifetime capital-gains exemption on qualifying small business shares. |
| Tax angle — buyer | A stepped-up cost base on assets bought; an HST s.167 election may apply. | Cost base carries over from the seller — a different position for the buyer. |
| Licences & contracts | Must generally be re-issued or assigned into the buyer's name. | Usually stay in place, since the corporation itself doesn't change. |
| Employees | Employment Standards Act continuity rules typically apply. | Employment generally continues uninterrupted — the employer doesn't change. |
| Typical use in Greater Sudbury | Most owner-run Sudbury deals — garages, retail, smaller contracting businesses — are asset sales. | Mining-services contractors and trucking fleets more often go share, to keep customer contracts and CVOR history with the corporation. |
The business's assets — equipment, inventory, lease, goodwill, name.
The shares of the company itself — everything it owns, and everything it owes.
Generally stay behind with the seller's corporation.
Generally come with the company, known and unknown.
Straightforward proceeds treatment in most cases.
May qualify for the lifetime capital-gains exemption on qualifying small business shares.
A stepped-up cost base on assets bought; an HST s.167 election may apply.
Cost base carries over from the seller — a different position for the buyer.
Must generally be re-issued or assigned into the buyer's name.
Usually stay in place, since the corporation itself doesn't change.
Employment Standards Act continuity rules typically apply.
Employment generally continues uninterrupted — the employer doesn't change.
Most owner-run Sudbury deals — garages, retail, smaller contracting businesses — are asset sales.
Mining-services contractors and trucking fleets more often go share, to keep customer contracts and CVOR history with the corporation.
We tell you which structure fits — before you sign anything.
Different lists depending on which side of the deal you're on — both matter for how smoothly closing goes.
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 café or restaurant, a salon, a franchise unit, or a trades business in Greater Sudbury — usually one buyer, one seller.
Start my file →A company with several owners or employees, bank financing, real estate, or a deal that needs negotiated protections before you sign.
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.
Neighbouring pages in the same regional deal market.
The regional picture — consents, sectors and the full municipal web.
Usually the customer contracts themselves. Mine operators often require their own consent before a services agreement can be assigned to a new owner, and even a strong relationship can be lost in an asset sale if that consent isn't secured. We review the contracts early and, where it matters, help plan the introduction to the mine operator before closing rather than after.
Generally no — CVOR safety history attaches to the corporation, not the vehicles, so an asset-sale buyer typically starts a fresh safety record with the MTO. Given the long-haul routes common to Sudbury-area carriers, some fleet buyers prefer a share purchase instead specifically to preserve that history — we explain the trade-off for your fleet before you decide.
Not the legal mechanics, but it can change the logistics — sellers and buyers aren't always in the same building, or even the same community, so we're used to running searches, signings and closings without requiring everyone to be in one room at the same time.
It confirms the seller's WSIB account is in good standing and that the buyer won't inherit unpaid premiums on the business — a standard closing condition, particularly for trades and mining-services contractors. We request it early so it isn't a last-minute scramble.
Ontario's Employment Standards Act has continuity rules that can carry over length of service and other obligations on an asset sale, which matters here given how long-tenured Sudbury's mining-services and trades crews tend to be. We walk through what that means for your specific staff before you commit to a number.
| Resource | Official link |
|---|---|
| City of Greater Sudbury business licensing | Visit www.greatersudbury.ca |
| WSIB clearance certificates | Visit www.wsib.ca |
| Ministry of Transportation (CVOR) Carrier safety & CVOR | Visit www.ontario.ca |
| OMVIC — used vehicle dealer registration | Visit www.omvic.ca |
Industries we cover
Nearby
Serving Greater Sudbury.
Tell us about your Greater Sudbury deal — we'll point you the right way and confirm the cost in writing before any work begins.