How much revenue does a ACE HARDWARE franchise make?

ACE HARDWARE does disclose financial performance data (Item 19) in their 2025 FDD, including average and median gross revenue figures. Get full access to see the exact revenue numbers and detailed financial breakdown.

How many ACE HARDWARE franchise locations are there?

As of the 2025 FDD, ACE HARDWARE has 4,885 franchise locations. The company has been franchising since 1928.

Can you get an SBA loan for a ACE HARDWARE franchise?

Yes, SBA loans are available for ACE HARDWARE franchises. We have historical SBA 7(a) loan data on file including approval counts, average loan amounts, and default rates. Get full access to see the complete SBA loan history.

Is ACE HARDWARE a good franchise to buy?

ACE HARDWARE shows several positive indicators: established brand with 4,885+ locations, transparent financial performance data (Item 19), low SBA loan default rate. However, franchise success depends on many factors including location, local market conditions, and owner involvement. We recommend speaking with existing franchisees and consulting with a franchise attorney before making a decision.

Loading FDD preview...

Unlock FDD download

Download this + 1,700 other FDDs · One-time purchase

The only franchise database you can use inside ChatGPT, Claude & Cursor. Learn more →

1,700+ FDDs structured for franchise professionals

We extract fees, Item 19 financials, franchisee contacts, SBA default rates, litigation, and outlet data from every FDD — so you can compare brands in minutes, not months. Used by multi-unit operators, consultants, and franchise development teams.

ACE HARDWARE

Ace Hardware Corporation is a retailer-owned cooperative wholesaler of hardware products, paint, and other merchandise, offering memberships and the right to operate branded retail hardware stores (3,000-12,000 sq ft) to independent retailers. Franchisees purchase shares in the cooperative, adhere to operational standards, and receive value-added services including advertising, merchandising assistance, promotional support, store design, training, insurance, and technology. The business model emphasizes cooperative wholesale distribution and branding support, targeting homeowners, DIY enthusiasts, contractors, and general consumers seeking hardware and home improvement supplies.

4,885locations

$604K–$2002K

Since 1928

RetailOak Brook, ILwww.acehardware.comDisclaimer

Loading preview...

Unlock FDD download

Download this + 1,700 other FDDs · One-time purchase

Franchise Costs

Franchise Fee

$5,000

Initial Investment

$603,850 – $2,001,550

Royalty Rate

N/A

Brand Fund

2.00%

Fixed Monthly Fees

$1,645 – $7,523

2% brand assessment (of prior year purchases, min $6,270 max $13,600 annually) + $315/mo core retail services + $700/mo POS maintenance + Local Lift Max Assessment ($422-$4,008/mo) + insurance ($208-$2,500/mo)

Financial Performance

Item 19 Financial Performance

Average Gross Revenue

$4,036,659.16

Data Based On: 689 participating Ace branded stores open for at least one full year as of December 31, 2023.

* Calculated weighted average gross revenue for all Reporting Stores: (13 units × $1,664,867 + 83 units × $2,254,853 + 343 units × $2,997,732 + 194 units × $5,308,506 + 56 units × $9,185,533) / 689 total units = $4,036,659.16. Median gross revenue, top quartile, and bottom quartile values were not explicitly provided for the entire sample.

Extracted Item 19 Section

Avg. Revenue: $4,036,659

Unlock financial performance data with full access to 1,700+ franchise reports

Unlock financial performance data

ACE HARDWARE Franchise Analysis

Ace Hardware's century-old cooperative model stands out in the hardware retail world, where independent owners band together for wholesale power and brand leverage. Item 19 finally pulls back the curtain on franchisee revenues, while a hefty SBA loan history hints at the capital intensity of launching these stores. But with recent legal clouds gathering, does this established giant still deliver reliable returns for newcomers?

Franchising since 1928, Ace has methodically expanded from 4,759 locations in 2023 to 4,885 in 2024—a steady +3% clip that signals resilience in a consolidating retail sector. Projected new units hit 170, outpacing terminations at 112, which keeps system health in positive territory despite some churn. Item 7 lays out the wide initial investment range of $603,850 to $2,001,550 for 3,000-12,000 sq ft stores, reflecting flexibility for urban vs. suburban builds, backed by 606 SBA loans averaging $776,841 and an impressively low 2.5% default rate that underscores franchisee viability.

Item 19 reveals average gross revenues of $4,036,659 per unit, a robust figure fueled by the co-op's merchandising muscle targeting DIYers and contractors. Ongoing fees stack up with a 2% brand assessment (min $6,270, max $13,600 annually on prior purchases), plus $315/month core services, $700/month POS, Local Lift Max ($422-$4,008/month), and insurance ($208-$2,500/month)—potentially 5-10% of sales in total outflows. A class action lawsuit alleging Illinois Franchise Disclosure Act violations, fraud, and inducement flags potential operational or disclosure risks, warranting scrutiny before buying into the co-op share structure.

Unlock full analysis

Analysis based on the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document. All figures should be independently verified before making investment decisions.

How ACE HARDWARE Compares

Key Insights

Higher investment than 79% of General Retail franchises
#1 largest franchise system in General Retail

Franchise	Investment	Fee	Royalty	Locations
ACE HARDWARE Current	$604K – $2.0M	$5K	N/A	4,885
DO IT BEST CORP.	$853K – $1.6M	$9K	N/A	3,555
WINDOW WORLD, WORLD OF WINDOWS	$123K – $363K	$45K	N/A	211
FLEET FEET, FLEET FEET TRIATHLETE	$352K – $652K	$45K	4.0%	197
PRETZELMAKER	$392K – $573K	$25K	7.0%	129
TECHY	$119K – $400K	$15K	7.0%	62
General Retail Average 14 franchises	$530K – $1.0M	$108K	5.7%	–

* Comparison based on latest FDD filings. Investment ranges from Item 7, fees from Item 5. Showing top 5 of 14 General Retail franchises by location count.