Ace Hardware vs Code Ninjas Franchise Cost 2026
Ace Hardware runs $286K–$2.1M. Code Ninjas runs $169K–$339K. The gap at midpoint: $931K.
Ace Hardware
$286K–$2.1M
total investment
Investment Difference
$931K
Code Ninjas costs less
Code Ninjas
$169K–$339K
total investment
Cost Breakdown
| Category | Ace Hardware | Code Ninjas | Lower Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Investment | $286K–$2.1M | $169K–$339K | Code Ninjas |
| Franchise Fee | $5,000 | $26,000 | Ace Hardware |
| Royalty Rate | 0.0% | 8.0% | Ace Hardware |
| Ad Fund Fee | 0.0% | 2.0% | Ace Hardware |
| Net Worth Required | $400K | $250K | Code Ninjas |
| Liquid Capital | $250K | $100K | Code Ninjas |
| Est. Break-Even | 5.3 yr | 8.4 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
Code Ninjas Profile
- Category
- education
- Total Investment
- $169K–$339K
- Franchise Fee
- $26,000
- Royalty
- 8.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $380K
Bottom Line
Code Ninjas costs $931K less to open at the midpoint. That difference goes toward working capital or a second location. Ace Hardware also wins on royalty rate.