Ace Hardware vs McDonald's Franchise Cost 2026
Ace Hardware runs $286K–$2.1M. McDonald's runs $1.3M–$2.3M. The gap at midpoint: $624K.
Ace Hardware
$286K–$2.1M
total investment
Investment Difference
$624K
Ace Hardware costs less
McDonald's
$1.3M–$2.3M
total investment
Cost Breakdown
| Category | Ace Hardware | McDonald's | Lower Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Investment | $286K–$2.1M | $1.3M–$2.3M | Ace Hardware |
| Franchise Fee | $5,000 | $45,000 | Ace Hardware |
| Royalty Rate | 0.0% | 4.0% | Ace Hardware |
| Ad Fund Fee | 0.0% | 4.0% | Ace Hardware |
| Net Worth Required | $400K | $500K | Ace Hardware |
| Liquid Capital | $250K | $500K | Ace Hardware |
| Est. Break-Even | 5.3 yr | 14.1 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
McDonald's Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $1.3M–$2.3M
- Franchise Fee
- $45,000
- Royalty
- 4.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $3.2M
Bottom Line
Ace Hardware costs $624K less to open at the midpoint. That difference goes toward working capital or a second location. Ace Hardware also wins on royalty rate.