Built by an Operator,
For Operators.
Olive Tree Builds wasn't founded in a boardroom. It was founded by a franchise operator who got tired of contractors who didn't understand the stakes. This is that story.
"I saw a big gap in the marketplace for a contractor who can deliver projects on time and within budget and who actually was transparent with clients. I didn't just see the problem — I lived it as a franchise owner myself."
A Second-Generation Contractor Who Became a Franchise Owner
Nathan Oliveira is a second-generation contractor. His father was a contractor, and Nathan grew up understanding the construction industry from the inside. But it wasn't until he stepped away from construction and became a franchise owner himself that the real insight clicked.
Nathan became a franchise owner with Uncle Tetsu and opened Cha Time in Barcelona, Spain. He experienced firsthand the frustrations that every franchise operator faces — contractors who don't understand franchise standards, timelines that slip, budgets that balloon, and a complete lack of transparency about what's actually happening on site.
That experience gave Nathan Oliveira — known in the industry as "Mr. Franchise" — a perspective that no traditional contractor has. He understands the franchisor approval process. He understands the pressure of a lease commencement date. He understands that a week's delay isn't just a schedule slip — it's payroll without revenue.
On January 1, 2023, Nathan founded Olive Tree Builds to close the gap he saw in the marketplace. The name "Olive Tree" comes from his last name — Oliveira, abbreviated — and "tree" represents a family tree, because Nathan envisioned a company where his entire family would eventually work together.
The Construction Industry Wasn't Built for Franchise Operators
Traditional general contractors are built to serve developers and institutional clients. Their processes, their language, and their priorities are calibrated for projects where a few weeks of delay is an inconvenience — not a catastrophe.
For a franchise operator, the reality is completely different. You have a lease commencement date, a franchisor approval timeline, a staff hiring schedule, and a marketing launch locked in. A week's delay doesn't just slip your schedule — it burns payroll without revenue, risks your franchise agreement, and can cost you your grand opening window.
Nathan saw this gap because he lived it. And he built Olive Tree Builds to close it. Every process, every system, and every hire is designed around one question: what would we want if we were the franchise operator?
From Operator to Builder
The Franchise Operator Years
Before founding Olive Tree Builds, Nathan Oliveira — known in the industry as "Mr. Franchise" — lived the franchise owner experience firsthand. He became a franchise owner with Uncle Tetsu and opened Cha Time in Barcelona, Spain. These weren't side projects. They were full-scale franchise operations that taught Nathan every frustration, every headache, and every detail that traditional contractors consistently miss.
Olive Tree Builds Is Founded
On January 1, 2023, Nathan founded Olive Tree Builds in the Greater Toronto Area. The name "Olive Tree" comes from his last name — Oliveira, abbreviated — and "tree" represents a family tree, because Nathan envisioned a company where his entire family would eventually work together. The mission was clear: build a construction company that thinks like a franchise operator, not a traditional GC.
First Franchise Partnerships
Olive Tree Builds earned its first franchise partnerships and quickly proved that the operator mindset translates directly into better builds. The team developed its CPM scheduling system — the same critical path methodology used by billion-dollar construction firms — and made it standard practice on every project, regardless of size.
Scaling Across Canada
The portfolio expanded rapidly. Olive Tree Builds completed franchise locations in Mont-Tremblant, Vancouver, West Edmonton Mall, and across the Greater Toronto Area. The company proved its systems could scale across geographies while maintaining the same standard of quality, transparency, and schedule protection.
New York Times Square & Beyond
Olive Tree Builds completed its first international project — the Iris Galerie flagship in New York City's Times Square. With over 20 franchise locations opened across Canada and the United States, the company launched the Franchise LaunchPad, a structured pre-construction service that gives franchise operators the data, planning, and protection they need before breaking ground.
Building What's Next
With 20+ franchise locations delivered, a growing team, and a reputation built on transparency and delivery, Olive Tree Builds continues to expand its geographic footprint and deepen its franchise partnerships. The mission hasn't changed: protect your capital, hit your opening date, and build something worth being proud of.
Protect Every Operator's Opening Day
We exist to give franchise operators the construction partner they deserve — one that understands the stakes, speaks their language, and delivers on every promise.
Canada's Most Trusted Franchise Builder
To become the most trusted name in franchise construction across Canada — the company that every franchise operator calls first, because they know we'll get it done right.
On Time. On Budget. No Surprises.
Every project we take on comes with a simple promise: we will protect your capital, hit your opening date, and communicate with total transparency from day one to handover.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who founded Olive Tree Builds and what is their background?
Olive Tree Builds was founded by Nathan Oliveira on January 1, 2023. Nathan is a second-generation contractor who also operated franchise locations himself — including Uncle Tetsu and Cha Time in Barcelona, Spain. This dual background as both a contractor and a franchise owner gives him a unique understanding of what franchise operators need from their construction partner.
Why is Olive Tree Builds called 'Olive Tree'?
The name comes from Nathan's last name — Oliveira, abbreviated to 'Olive' — and 'Tree' represents a family tree. Nathan envisioned a company where his entire family would eventually work together, building a legacy in commercial construction.
What makes Olive Tree Builds different from other commercial contractors?
Unlike traditional general contractors who serve developers and institutional clients, Olive Tree Builds was founded by a franchise operator who understands the unique pressures of franchise construction — lease commencement dates, franchisor approval timelines, staff hiring schedules, and marketing launch windows. Every process is designed around protecting your opening date and your capital.
How many franchise locations has Olive Tree Builds completed?
Olive Tree Builds has opened over 20 franchise locations across Canada and the United States, including projects in Mont-Tremblant, Vancouver, West Edmonton Mall, and New York City's Times Square for brands like Uncle Tetsu, Iris Galerie, and Cha Time.
Does Olive Tree Builds work outside of Ontario?
Yes. While Olive Tree Builds is headquartered in the Greater Toronto Area, the company has completed projects across Canada — including British Columbia, Alberta, and Quebec — as well as internationally in New York City and Barcelona, Spain.
Ready to Build With a Contractor Who Gets It?
Whether you're opening your first franchise location or scaling to your tenth, we're ready to be your build partner.