PANDORA vs Ace Hardware
Franchise Comparison 2026
Both PANDORA and Ace Hardware are retail franchises. PANDORA requires an investment of $961K – $1.8M while Ace Hardware requires $612K – $2.0M. Ace Hardware discloses average revenue of $3.1M; PANDORA does not report Item 19 data. Ace Hardware has SBA lending data on file with a 13.4% charge-off rate. FranchiseVerdict rates PANDORA B (Above average) and Ace Hardware A (Strongest tier).
| Metric | PANDORA | Ace Hardware |
|---|---|---|
| Verdict Grade | BAbove averageAbove average | AStrongest tierStrongest tier |
| Investment Range | $961K – $1.8M | $612K – $2.0M |
| Franchise Fee | N/A | $5K |
| Royalty Rate | No royalty fee; franchisee revenue model is based on required purchase of all inventory from franchisor | 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) |
| Average Revenue (Item 19) | N/A | $3.1M |
| SBA Charge-Off Rate | Limited data | 13.4% (863 loans) |
| Total Units | 447 | 5,250 |
| Unit Growth (YoY) | N/A | N/A |
| Year Began Franchising | 2010 | 1976 |
| FDD Year | 2024 | N/A |
Investment Range
$961K – $1.8M
$612K – $2.0M
Franchise Fee
N/A
$5K
Royalty Rate
No royalty fee; franchisee revenue model is based on required purchase of all inventory from franchisor
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)
Average Revenue (Item 19)
N/A
$3.1M
SBA Charge-Off Rate
Limited data
13.4% (863 loans)
Total Units
447
5,250
Unit Growth (YoY)
N/A
N/A
Year Began Franchising
2010
1976
FDD Year
2024
N/A