Ace Hardware vs Arby's Franchise Cost 2026
Ace Hardware runs $286K–$2.1M. Arby's runs $314K–$1.8M. The gap at midpoint: $132K.
Ace Hardware
$286K–$2.1M
total investment
Investment Difference
$132K
Arby's costs less
Arby's
$314K–$1.8M
total investment
Cost Breakdown
| Category | Ace Hardware | Arby's | Lower Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Investment | $286K–$2.1M | $314K–$1.8M | Arby's |
| Franchise Fee | $5,000 | $37,500 | Ace Hardware |
| Royalty Rate | 0.0% | 4.0% | Ace Hardware |
| Ad Fund Fee | 0.0% | 4.2% | Ace Hardware |
| Net Worth Required | $400K | $1.0M | Ace Hardware |
| Liquid Capital | $250K | $500K | Ace Hardware |
| Est. Break-Even | 5.3 yr | 20.5 yr | Ace Hardware |
Ace Hardware Profile
- Category
- retail
- Total Investment
- $286K–$2.1M
- Franchise Fee
- $5,000
- Royalty
- 0.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $2.8M
Arby's Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $314K–$1.8M
- Franchise Fee
- $37,500
- Royalty
- 4.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $1.4M
Bottom Line
Arby's costs $132K less to open at the midpoint. That difference goes toward working capital or a second location. Ace Hardware also wins on royalty rate.