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 Ace Hardware
Investment 199500 - 374000 41000 - 2110230
Franchise Fee 0
Royalty Fee 3% 0
Advertising Fee 1%-3%
Year Founded 1969 1924
Year Franchised 1986 1976
Term Of Agreement
Term Of Agreement
Renewal Fee


Business Experience Requirements
  HobbyTown USA Ace Hardware
Experience Minimum Financial Requirements: * $250,000 Liquid Assets * $400,000 Net Worth

Financing Options
  HobbyTown USA Ace Hardware
 
Franchise Fees No No
Start-up Costs No No
Equipment No No
Inventory No No
Receivables No No
Payroll No No

Training & Support
  HobbyTown USA Ace Hardware
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 Ace Hardware
US Expansion Nationwide, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Canada Expansion 0
International Expansion Canada,

Start-Up Costs and Fees Mobile
Investment
HobbyTown USA
Ace Hardware
Franchise Fee
HobbyTown USA
Ace Hardware
Royalty Fee
HobbyTown USA 3%
Ace Hardware 0
Advertising Fee
HobbyTown USA 1%-3%
Ace Hardware
Year Founded
HobbyTown USA 1969
Ace Hardware 1924
Year Franchised
HobbyTown USA 1986
Ace Hardware 1976
Term Of Agreement
HobbyTown USA 10 years
Ace Hardware
Renewal Fee
HobbyTown USA $2K
Ace Hardware


Business Experience Requirements
Experience
HobbyTown USA
Ace Hardware Minimum Financial Requirements: * $250,000 Liquid Assets * $400,000 Net Worth

Financing Options
 
Franchise Fees
HobbyTown USA No
Ace Hardware No
Start-up Costs
HobbyTown USA
Ace Hardware
Equipment
HobbyTown USA}
Ace Hardware
Inventory
HobbyTown USA
Ace Hardware
Receivables
HobbyTown USA
Ace Hardware
Payroll
HobbyTown USA
Ace Hardware

Training & Support
Training
HobbyTown USA On-The-Job Training: 40 hours Classroom Training: 40 hours
Ace Hardware 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
HobbyTown USA Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software
Ace Hardware 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
HobbyTown USA Co-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media Email marketing Loyalty program/app
Ace Hardware
Operations
HobbyTown USA 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)
Ace Hardware

Expansion Plans
US Expansion
HobbyTown USA Nationwide, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Ace Hardware
Canada Expansion
HobbyTown USA
Ace Hardware 0
International Expansion
HobbyTown USA Canada,
Ace Hardware