Buying a Thai Express franchise in Canada

What Thai Express says about itself

Thai Express’s about page says the first location opened in downtown Montreal in 1999, that the brand “joined MTY Food Group” in 2004, and that it has grown “to over 300 locations worldwide” (as published, read Oct 22, 2026). Its franchising page repeats “Over 300 locations worldwide and growing” and lists British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia, followed by the USA, the United Kingdom and “Guyana South America”. The page does not say whether each of those places has open territory for a new franchisee or only existing stores, so it is not treated here as a list of available areas.

What the franchising page does not publish

The franchising page read on Oct 22, 2026 is a short introduction and an enquiry form. It names no initial franchise fee, total investment, liquid capital or net worth requirement, royalty, advertising contribution or agreement term, and it gives no length for training. It says only that Thai Express provides “continuous support and professional guidance” from “the early stages of training and development” through opening day. Figures for Thai Express that appear on third-party directories are not quoted here, because they are not the franchisor’s own. Ask Thai Express for its franchise disclosure document: Ontario’s Arthur Wishart Act (s.5(4)) requires that document to contain all material facts, including those prescribed, and copies of the proposed franchise agreements.

Buying an existing Thai Express

Thai Express does not say on that page whether it sells existing restaurants, so read each listing’s text for who is selling. Deavo had 3 Thai Express listings on Oct 20, 2026, too few to compare asking prices. Ontario’s Arthur Wishart Act (s.5(8)) contemplates a franchisor having a right to approve a franchisee’s sale and a transfer fee “in an amount set out in the franchise agreement”, so ask the seller what this franchise agreement says on both before making an offer: see who has to approve a franchise resale and what a transfer fee is.

Financing

Thai Express’s franchising page names no lender or financing programme. For financing a franchise purchase, see can a franchise purchase be financed? and what financial requirements franchisors set for buyers.

Disclosure law where Thai Express is listed

Ontario, the only province with Thai Express listings, has a franchise disclosure statute. Under Ontario’s Arthur Wishart Act, a franchisee may rescind the franchise agreement, without penalty or obligation, no later than 60 days after receiving the disclosure document if the franchisor failed to provide it or a statement of material change within the time required by section 5 or its contents did not meet section 5, or no later than two years after entering into the agreement if the franchisor never provided it (s.6(1)–(2)). Section 5 does not apply to every sale: under s.5(7)(a) it does not apply to the grant of a franchise by a franchisee for the franchisee’s own account that is not effected by or through the franchisor (among other conditions), and s.5(8) says a grant is not effected by or through the franchisor merely because the franchisor may approve it or a transfer fee is payable. A buyer of an existing Thai Express from its franchisee should ask a lawyer whether a disclosure document is owed, and keep the date any disclosure document is received.