Learning Express vs Ace Hardware Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees
	Learning Express Franchise	Ace Hardware Franchise
Investment	$25,825 - $364,150	$41,000 - $2,110,230
Franchise Fee	$25,000 - $35,000	$5,000
Royalty Fee	5%	0
Advertising Fee	-	-
Year Founded	1987	1924
Year Franchised	1987	1976
Term Of Agreement	10 years	-
Term Of Agreement	10 years	-
Renewal Fee	10% of then current fran. fee	-
Business Experience Requirements
	Learning Express Franchise	Ace Hardware Franchise
Experience	General business experience People skills	Minimum Financial Requirements: * $250,000 Liquid Assets * $400,000 Net Worth
Financing Options
	Learning Express Franchise	Ace Hardware Franchise
	In-House/3rd Party	In-House/3rd Party
Franchise Fees	No/Yes	No/Yes
Start-up Costs	No/Yes	No/Yes
Equipment	No/Yes	No/Yes
Inventory	No/Yes	No/Yes
Receivables	No/Yes	No/Yes
Payroll	No/Yes	No/Yes
Training & Support
	Learning Express Franchise	Ace Hardware Franchise
Training	On-The-Job Training: 30 hours Classroom Training: 30 hours Additional Training: At toy fair, annual convention	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 ield Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform	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 Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app	-
Operations	10% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 8 - 12 Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)	-
Expansion Plans
	Learning Express Franchise	Ace Hardware Franchise
US Expansion	Yes	-
Canada Expansion	No	No
International Expansion	Yes	No

Company Overviews

About Learning Express

                                               Learning Should be FUN
Learning Express Inc., is a specialty toy store franchise, with more than 100 locations across the country. As the leader of the specialty toy and children's gift category, Learning Express Inc. provides a fun and friendly shopping environment, with a knowledgeable sales staff that provides expert advice to parents looking for that perfect toy. At Learning Express Inc., we pride ourselves on the quality and uniqueness of our toy selection. We carefully select each product to ensure shelves are stocked with unique and innovative products that encourage learning through play, including games and puzzles, developmental toys, arts and crafts kits, science and nature products, construction toys, books, dolls, plush and other unique items exclusive to Learning Express Inc. and specialty toy retailers.

Veteran Incentives  $5,000 off franchise fee

#452 in Franchise 500 for 2020.

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