Buying a COBS Bread franchise in Canada

What COBS Bread says about itself

COBS Bread’s franchising page says the business began in 1980 in Australia as a family-run business known as Bakers Delight, and that it expanded to Canada in 2003. It describes itself as “The No.1 Bakery Concept in Canada” and says it received the Franchisees’ Choice designation from the Canadian Franchise Association for fourteen consecutive years (2011 – 2024). These are the franchisor’s statements about itself (as published, read Nov 4, 2026); Deavo has not verified them.

New bakery or an existing one

The page says the initial investment depends on whether you plan to purchase a new or an existing bakery: “The cost of a new location is approximately $800,000+” and “The cost of an existing location can be anywhere from $400,000 to $1,000,000+.” The page does not name a currency, and does not say what an existing-location cost includes, so treat the range as the franchisor’s own indication and ask what a particular bakery’s price covers. It also says it has “established bakeries that are currently looking for their new leader”, listed in an Available Bakeries section of its site, so buying an existing bakery from COBS Bread’s own list is one route. Listings on Deavo are another; an asking price there is the advertiser’s number, not a valuation.

Fees, royalty and cash required

The page says: “For new bakeries, we have a sweet deal for you – no initial franchise fee!” It also says COBS Bread “charges franchisees an ongoing Royalty Fee of 7% of weekly sales” and that franchisees invest 3% of weekly sales in the Marketing and Advertising fund, and that other fees and charges “may apply from time to time” and are detailed in the disclosure document. On cash, it says “You will require 30% of the total investment in cash or liquid assets, plus working capital”, and that for a new bakery purchase this is approximately $250,000+. The page does not say whether an existing bakery carries an initial fee.

Training and how long it takes

COBS Bread says training runs for 16 weeks, “but can vary”, takes place primarily in one of its operating bakeries, and that no previous baking experience is needed. It says the path from commitment to bakery ownership “will typically take six to twelve months”. The steps it lists run from an inquiry form and an application to meetings with a Franchise Recruitment Manager and its operations team, and a Discovery Day working in one of its bakeries. Whether a buyer of an existing bakery repeats the full training is a question for COBS Bread; see does buying a resale require retraining?

Financing

The page says it is the franchisee’s responsibility to secure financing, and that COBS Bread “has established special packages with several major Canadian banks” it can introduce once someone has been approved as a franchise candidate. It adds that in some circumstances it may offer vendor financing, in addition to bank financing, assessed case by case and subject to additional approvals. For how Canadian franchise purchases are financed in general, see can a franchise purchase be financed?

Disclosure law and a COBS Bread resale

The province with a COBS Bread listing on Nov 3, 2026 has a franchise disclosure statute. Late or missing disclosure can give a franchisee a statutory right to rescind, within deadlines each Act sets, and a resale from an existing franchisee may be exempt in some provinces on conditions the Act lists; read what disclosure a resale buyer gets. Keep the date you receive any disclosure document, and check the recurring fees in it against the page above.