Ace Hardware vs Do it Best
Franchise Comparison 2026
Both Ace Hardware and Do it Best are retail franchises. Ace Hardware requires an investment of $612K – $2.0M while Do it Best requires $853K – $1.6M. On SBA loan performance, Ace Hardware has a lower charge-off rate (13.4%) compared to Do it Best (17.4%). FranchiseVerdict rates Ace Hardware A (Strongest tier) and Do it Best A (Strongest tier).
| Metric | Ace Hardware | Do it Best |
|---|---|---|
| Verdict Grade | AStrongest tierStrongest tier | AStrongest tierStrongest tier |
| Investment Range | $612K – $2.0M | $853K – $1.6M |
| Franchise Fee | $5K | $9K |
| Royalty Rate | No traditional royalty; cooperative model. Annual Brand Assessment = 2% of prior-year purchases from Ace (subsequent years), subject to min $6,270 / max $13,600 (new stores) or min $5,064/$4,500 - max $48,100 (existing stores under Local Lift Max Assessment); initial flat $6,000 (or $12,000 if Q4 activation) | $90/month (basic); $140/month (enhanced); $195/month (advanced) |
| Average Revenue (Item 19) | N/AOutlet subset | N/A |
| SBA Charge-Off Rate | 13.4% (863 loans) | 17.4% (95 loans) |
| Total Units | 5,250 | 4,053 |
| Unit Growth (YoY) | N/A | N/A |
| Year Began Franchising | 1976 | 1945 |
| FDD Year | N/A | 2025 |
Investment Range
$612K – $2.0M
$853K – $1.6M
Franchise Fee
$5K
$9K
Royalty Rate
No traditional royalty; cooperative model. Annual Brand Assessment = 2% of prior-year purchases from Ace (subsequent years), subject to min $6,270 / max $13,600 (new stores) or min $5,064/$4,500 - max $48,100 (existing stores under Local Lift Max Assessment); initial flat $6,000 (or $12,000 if Q4 activation)
$90/month (basic); $140/month (enhanced); $195/month (advanced)
Average Revenue (Item 19)
N/AOutlet subset
N/A
SBA Charge-Off Rate
13.4% (863 loans)
17.4% (95 loans)
Total Units
5,250
4,053
Unit Growth (YoY)
N/A
N/A
Year Began Franchising
1976
1945
FDD Year
N/A
2025