About Ace Hardware
We are your local hardware store and we are a part of your community. Ace Hardware has over 5,000 stores around the world with the majority of those stores independently owned and operated by local entrepreneurs. These hard working men and women are part of the fabric of your community. They are small business owners who are local and loyal, just like it ought to be. While others have become large and impersonal, at Ace, we’ve remained small and very personal. That’s why we say a visit to Ace, is like a visit to your neighbor.
Ace stores come in all sizes and shapes based on the needs of each individual neighborhood. We have small, urban stores, large rural stores and everything in between. Ace stores offer a wide variety of paint, lawn and garden, tools, local niche services and virtually anything you’ll ever need to fix, repair and maintain your home. And of course, Ace is most certainly the place with the helpful hardware folks!
Founded in 1924 by a small group of Chicago hardware store owners, Ace changed the retail landscape by allowing individual stores to purchase merchandise in bulk to save money and buy at the lowest possible price. This partnership enabled even the smaller stores to compete effectively at retail despite larger stores in their market. And to this very day, Ace Hardware Corporation is still owned solely and exclusively by the local Ace retail entrepreneurs. For the latest in company news, visit the Ace Newsroom via the link below.
Company Founded
1924
Current Leadership
John Venhuizen, CEO
Started Franchising
1976 (45 years)
Total Number of Units
5,385 (as of 2020)
Part-Time / Full-Time
Full Time
How Much Does It Cost To Open A Ace Hardware Franchise?
There are several costs associated with opening a Ace Hardware franchise. There is typically a franchise fee set by the franchisor, which covers the costs of opening a franchise location. Some other commons fees include equipment fees, marketing fees, licensing fees, insurance, and taxes, to name a few.
Some franchises may have a weekly fee that the franchisee pays for operating a Ace Hardware franchise. The weekly fee for opening a Ace Hardware franchise is Core Retail Services Charged Monthly.
The full breakdown of these fees can be found in the Financial Disclosure Document (FDD) provided to franchisees by the franchisor. The FDD report will contain additional information such as whether the franchise is renewable (Ace Hardware Is Not Renewable) and does the franchise offer financing support (Ace Hardware Ace Hardware has relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to cover the following: franchise fee, startup costs, equipment, inventory, accounts receivable, payroll).
Ace Hardware Company Details
Here are some additional details about Ace Hardware.
Initial Investment | $5,000 |
Net Worth Requirement | $400,000 |
Veteran Incentives | Franchise fee (affiliation fee) waived |
Cash Requirement | $250,000 |
Term of Agreement | None |
Absentee Ownership | No |
Run from Home | No |
Part Time | No |
Training and Support Offered By Ace Hardware
Ace Hardware offers several support options to its franchisees. With 5,385 (as of 2020) units, Ace Hardware aims to provide support to each franchise owner to help them operate a successful franchise location. Ace Hardware offers No on the job training, 40 hours classroom training, and No additional training.
Training and Support Offered
Here are the support options offered by Ace Hardware.
On-The-Job Training | No |
Classroom Training | 40 hours |
Additional Training | No |
Ongoing Support |
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Marketing Support |
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Is Ace Hardware Right For You?
Ace Hardware has gone digital! Here are all of the ways you can find Ace Hardware online. Oftentimes, you can reach out to current franchisees of Ace Hardware online. Current franchisees may be able to offer personalized insights into what it is like owning a Ace Hardware franchise and offer tips to running a successful Ace Hardware franchise location.
Why Should You Start a Ace Hardware Franchise?
Investing in a Retail franchise such as Ace Hardware can kickstart your franchise portfolio. Our goal at Why Franchise is to provide you with the resources needed to be a successful franchise owner. Fill out the form below to get more information about Ace Hardware franchise and we'll be in touch soon!