Ace Hardware vs Wingstop Franchise Cost 2026
Ace Hardware runs $286K–$2.1M. Wingstop runs $389K–$902K. The gap at midpoint: $540K.
Ace Hardware
$286K–$2.1M
total investment
Investment Difference
$540K
Wingstop costs less
Wingstop
$389K–$902K
total investment
Cost Breakdown
| Category | Ace Hardware | Wingstop | Lower Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Investment | $286K–$2.1M | $389K–$902K | Wingstop |
| Franchise Fee | $5,000 | $20,000 | Ace Hardware |
| Royalty Rate | 0.0% | 6.0% | Ace Hardware |
| Ad Fund Fee | 0.0% | 4.0% | Ace Hardware |
| Net Worth Required | $400K | $1.2M | Ace Hardware |
| Liquid Capital | $250K | $600K | Ace Hardware |
| Est. Break-Even | 5.3 yr | 20.2 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
Wingstop Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $389K–$902K
- Franchise Fee
- $20,000
- Royalty
- 6.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $1.6M
Bottom Line
Wingstop costs $540K less to open at the midpoint. That difference goes toward working capital or a second location. Ace Hardware also wins on royalty rate.