HobbyTown USA vs Ace Hardware Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of HobbyTown USA vs Ace Hardware including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees
	HobbyTown USA Franchise	Ace Hardware Franchise
Investment	$199,500 - $374,000	$41,000 - $2,110,230
Franchise Fee	$20,000	$5,000
Royalty Fee	3%	0
Advertising Fee	1%-3%	-
Year Founded	1969	1924
Year Franchised	1986	1976
Term Of Agreement	10 years	-
Term Of Agreement	10 years	-
Renewal Fee	$2K	-
Business Experience Requirements
	HobbyTown USA Franchise	Ace Hardware Franchise
Experience	-	Minimum Financial Requirements: * $250,000 Liquid Assets * $400,000 Net Worth
Financing Options
	HobbyTown USA Franchise	Ace Hardware Franchise
	In-House/3rd Party	In-House/3rd Party
Franchise Fees	No/No	No/Yes
Start-up Costs	No/No	No/Yes
Equipment	No/No	No/Yes
Inventory	No/No	No/Yes
Receivables	No/No	No/Yes
Payroll	No/No	No/Yes
Training & Support
	HobbyTown USA Franchise	Ace Hardware Franchise
Training	On-The-Job Training: 40 hours Classroom Training: 40 hours	Training in all functional areas of operation, service and promotion: * Effective store management * Strategies and management of each revenue center * Purchasing and inventory strategies * Implementing helpful customer service * Financial management and "back-office" procedures * Hiring, training and managing employees * Effective store marketing techniques
Support	Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software	Hands on, in-store training at opening - Ongoing contact from dedicated Ace support staff - In-store tools for continual improvement * In-store customer survey * Customer comment card program * Mystery shopper program A district manager will be assigned to your store to facilitate ongoing business needs and help you develop store growth plans to maximize retail sales and profits.
Marketing	Co-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media Email marketing Loyalty program/app	-
Operations	5% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 4 Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (95% of current franchisees are owner/operators)	-
Expansion Plans
	HobbyTown USA Franchise	Ace Hardware Franchise
US Expansion	Yes	-
Canada Expansion	No	No
International Expansion	Yes	No

Company Overviews

About HobbyTown USA

Join a successful franchise The HobbyTown USA team has developed a business plan that has proven successful over the last twenty years. When you sign up as a HobbyTown USA franchise owner, we give you operational training from our expert staff, provide you with services that would not be cost-effective as an independent business owner and offer national brand recognition with the HobbyTown USA name. "The hobby industry has seen many exciting changes over the last two decades and it continues to grow, but one thing remains constant, HobbyTown USA continues to offer our customers a wide variety of hobby products that provide hours of family entertainment for very little investment."
* Join the HobbyTown USA team and enjoy these benefits: The most recognized and trusted name in the hobby industry
* Financing assistance after the agreement is executed
* Site location and lease negotiation assistance
* Comprehensive store layout and design services
* On-site training and opening assistance
* Complete pre-opening and operations manuals
* Ongoing business support from the home office
* Point of purchase and inventory computer program and 24/7 technical support
* Customizable store website
* Marketing support
* Discount product purchase program and national buying power
* Annual franchise convention with educational seminars and trade show

About Ace Hardware

What started as a little chain of stores built up by a gathering of Chicago retailers in 1924 has advanced into one of the country's driving "useful equipment" merchant possessed cooperatives. Ace has developed from a couple of Chicago-region tool shops, to incorporate more than 4,700 stores in 50 states and more than 70 nations. However one thing has stayed unaltered - Ace's dedication to conveying accommodating equipment administration to shoppers.

With the budgetary sponsorship and support from an all around trusted and privately grasped mark you can begin your own particular business that leads its industry in consumer loyalty.

Why Ace Hardware?

Fruitful people like you pick Ace Hardware for business proprietorship regularly for these 7 reasons:

New store motivations - up to $330,000*
No sovereignty expenses and a part of the organization benefits are dispersed back to the retail proprietors every year
Autonomous possession with devoted preparing and support
Adaptable item blend that can be altered to your nearby market
Suggested center Ace item blend in view of 16 years of Point-of-Sale information
Strong establishment and craze confirmation future
All around perceived and privately grasped

*Incentives fluctuate by store design/estimate and depend on Discovery prescribed items and amounts. Motivation given as an acknowledge, not as money or an advance. $330,000 depends on a prescribed request for a 10,000sq. ft. store.

The fruitful Ace Owner:

Is a diligent employee
Is energetic about awesome client benefit
Has great correspondence and deals abilities
Has a reputation for achievement
Has administration abilities

Veteran Incentives  Franchise fee waived