Ace Hardware vs Dunkin' Franchise Cost 2026
Ace Hardware runs $286K–$2.1M. Dunkin' runs $526K–$1.8M. The gap at midpoint: $17K.
Ace Hardware
$286K–$2.1M
total investment
Investment Difference
$17K
Dunkin' costs less
Dunkin'
$526K–$1.8M
total investment
Cost Breakdown
| Category | Ace Hardware | Dunkin' | Lower Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Investment | $286K–$2.1M | $526K–$1.8M | Dunkin' |
| Franchise Fee | $5,000 | $40,000 | Ace Hardware |
| Royalty Rate | 0.0% | 5.9% | Ace Hardware |
| Ad Fund Fee | 0.0% | 5.0% | Ace Hardware |
| Net Worth Required | $400K | $500K | Ace Hardware |
| Liquid Capital | $250K | $250K | Ace Hardware |
| Est. Break-Even | 5.3 yr | 96.5 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
Dunkin' Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $526K–$1.8M
- Franchise Fee
- $40,000
- Royalty
- 5.9%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $1.1M
Bottom Line
Investment totals are close — $17K apart at the midpoint. The deciding factors here are royalty rate, franchise support, and which category fits your market. Ace Hardware has the lower royalty (0.0%).