Farms and agri-businesses, wineries, breweries and distilleries, greenhouse and grower operations, and kennels or equestrian facilities make up Ontario's agriculture-and-rural resale family. Real property is usually the dominant value driver across the whole group, and how that land is held tends to shape the deal structure more than any single regulatory approval.
Real property usually leads the deal — Whether it's farmland, vineyard acreage, greenhouse structures or equestrian pasture, the land itself typically represents more of the deal's value than any other single component, and standard property diligence, title, financing, environmental review, sits alongside, and sometimes ahead of, the operating-business diligence.
Supply-managed quota is a distinct asset class of its own — Where a farm operates in a supply-managed sector, dairy, poultry or eggs, quota transfer runs through the relevant marketing board's own approval process, separately from the land and business sale itself, and is worth treating as its own workstream from the start.
Manufacturer and production licensing applies to wineries, breweries and distilleries — An AGCO manufacturer licence is required to produce and sell on-site, and it generally needs to be re-issued or transferred to the new owner, which keeps regulatory approval on the deal's critical path alongside any vineyard-specific certification and distribution agreements.
Water and environmental permits are tied to the site — Irrigation water-taking permits, nutrient-management plans and well or septic compliance are typically tied to the specific property rather than the business, so reviewing and, where needed, transferring these site-specific approvals is a standard part of diligence across most of this family.
Browse the specific agriculture and rural business types below for the property and licensing details particular to each.
Working farms and agri-businesses; typically $500K–$10M+, almost always bundling real property (farmland is the dominant value driver); supply-management quota (dairy, poultry, egg) is a distinctive Ontario asset class where it applies.
Craft wineries, breweries and distilleries; typically $500K–$8M+, frequently bundling real property/vineyard or production facility; AGCO manufacturer licensing is central to the deal.
Commercial greenhouse and grower operations; typically $500K–$8M+, almost always bundling real property given the capital intensity of greenhouse structures and irrigation infrastructure.
Boarding kennels, breeding operations and equestrian/boarding stables; typically $300K–$3M, almost always bundling rural real property given the land intensity of the use.
†Typical patterns across Canadian deals — not a quote or advice; every deal is confirmed on its own facts.
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 family-run kennel, greenhouse or small farm selling to a hands-on buyer, with standard property and equipment diligence.
Start my file →A supply-managed farm sale involving quota transfer, or a winery or distillery sale involving AGCO manufacturer licensing and distribution agreements.
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.
Because land, farmland, vineyard acreage, greenhouse infrastructure, pasture, typically represents more of a deal's value than any other single component, standard commercial real-estate diligence generally plays as large a role as the operating-business review, sometimes larger.
In sectors like dairy, poultry or eggs, quota is a separate, closely regulated asset that transfers through the relevant marketing board's own approval process rather than automatically alongside the land and business. It's worth treating as its own workstream, distinct from the rest of the sale.
Generally, the AGCO manufacturer licence needs to be re-issued or transferred to the new owner rather than assumed to carry over automatically, which keeps that approval on the deal's critical path. Any vineyard-specific certification and distribution agreements typically need separate review as well.
Water-taking permits for irrigation, nutrient-management compliance, and well or septic systems are typically tied to the specific property, so reviewing their current status, and transferring them where required, is a standard part of diligence across most businesses in this family.
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