2025 FDD Issued Mar 27, 2025 Minnesota Commerce (CARDS)
Ace Hardware Painting Services Franchise Cost (2025)
An Ace Hardware Painting Services franchise costs an estimated $89,250 – $153,470 to open, according to Item 7 of the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD). That total includes the $50,000 – $80,000 initial franchise fee (Item 5) and covers this format: Home-Based Painting Business. Item 6 lists royalty fee: 6% of Gross Revenues, subject to the conditions below. This record has unresolved source-review issues and was published provisionally before independent verification was complete.
Read the source-review hold before using these figures.
- Total investment
- $89.3K – $153KItem 7 source and qualifications
- Franchise fee
- $50K – $80KItem 5 source and terms
- Royalty
- 6% of Gross RevenuesItem 6 conditions and fee bases apply
- Brand fund
- 2% of Gross RevenuesItem 6 conditions and fee bases apply
What stands out about Ace Hardware Painting Services
Territory size explains the franchise-fee range in Item 5: the initial charge increases with households above the base territory size. Item 7 assumes a home office and says independent contractors typically bring their own tools. Its equipment allowance therefore describes a different opening setup from a painting company buying all of its crews' equipment.
Royalty and national brand charges have an annual reconciliation requirement. Under Item 6, an owner whose actual gross revenue falls below the contractual minimum must pay the difference between fees calculated on that minimum and fees already paid. The stated percentage rates alone therefore do not establish the amount due.
The local marketing requirement rises after the opening year and again in later years. Software charges are separate, and a third-party call center is an optional way to meet the live-answering requirement. Item 19 does not disclose historical sales or profit, so this FDD does not supply a sales benchmark for a fee illustration.
What are the initial franchise fees and financial requirements for Ace Hardware Painting Services?
Item 5 lists an initial franchise fee of $50,000 – $80,000 for Ace Hardware Painting Services. Check the cited Item 5 for payment timing, discounts and format-specific terms.
Item 5 (PDF pages 14-15) sets the initial franchise fee at $50,000 for a territory of up to 70,000 households. The fee increases by $1 for each additional household, up to 100,000 households. Qualified existing franchisees and owners of an affiliate franchise may receive a $14,000 discount under the stated conditions. Honorably discharged veterans may receive a $5,000 discount for their first agreement. Discounts cannot be combined. Conversion fees and purchases of more than five territories may be negotiated. The fee is due at signing and is non-refundable.
Source: Ace Hardware Painting Services 2025 FDD, Item 5, PDF p. 14.
This record lists no minimum net worth or liquid-capital requirement for Ace Hardware Painting Services, because no sourced figure has been recorded. Ask the franchisor for its current financial qualifications in writing.
How much does it cost to open an Ace Hardware Painting Services franchise? (Item 7)
Source: Ace Hardware Painting Services 2025 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 19.
Item 7 of Ace Hardware Painting Services’s 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document estimates the total cost to open one home-based painting business at $89,250 – $153,470. This total includes the initial franchise fee.
| Expense Category | Low ($) | High ($) |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $50,000 | $80,000 |
| Travel and living expense while training | $2,500 | $6,000 |
| Furnishings | $0 | $3,000 |
| Tools and equipment | $200 | $800 |
| Computer Hardware and Software | $2,500 | $5,500 |
| Software and Internet Fees | $1,920 | $1,920 |
| Call Center Expenses | $1,500 | $2,250 |
| Initial Marketing Spend | $7,500 | $9,000 |
| Licenses and permits | $630 | $2,500 |
| Insurance | $5,000 | $7,000 |
| Professional fees | $500 | $6,000 |
| Miscellaneous opening costs | $2,000 | $4,500 |
| Additional Funds (3 months) | $15,000 | $25,000 |
| Total | $89,250 | $153,470 |
For comparison, the median high-end investment among 12 home services records without a source-review hold is $283,275.
Item 7 (PDF pages 19-22) assumes a home office and a territory of up to 100,000 households. The table includes $200-$800 for tools and equipment and $15,000-$25,000 in additional funds for three months. The tool estimate assumes the owner already has necessary tools at the low end; independent contractors typically bring their own equipment. Additional funds exclude the owner's living expenses and expenses for employing assistants. Call-center costs are a three-month estimate for an optional third-party service; a live person must answer business calls during the stated hours.
What ongoing royalties and fees does Ace Hardware Painting Services charge? (Item 6)
Source: Ace Hardware Painting Services 2025 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 16.
Item 6 of Ace Hardware Painting Services’s 2025 FDD lists the charges below. Recurring charges and charges triggered by a transfer, renewal or other event have different conditions. Read each fee’s basis and notes before comparing rates.
How to read an Item 6 fee table.
| Fee Type | Amount / Rate | Payment Frequency | Notes & Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royalty Fee | 6% of Gross Revenues | Every period | 6% of the previous month's actual Gross Revenues, payable on the 18th day of the month, subject to annual reconciliation against minimum annual gross revenue (PDF page 18, note 4). (Item 6, PDF p. 16) |
| National Brand Fee | 2% of Gross Revenues | Every period | 2% of actual Gross Revenues, payable monthly with the royalty fee, subject to annual reconciliation against minimum annual gross revenue. (Item 6, PDF p. 16) |
| Software and Internet Fees | $640 per month | Every period | Currently $640 per month from the first full calendar month after operations begin. The franchisor may change the fee on 30 days' notice. (Item 6, PDF p. 16) |
| Minimum Individual Marketing Expenditure | Varies | Every period | $15,000 in the first operating year, $24,000 in the second, and $30,000 in each subsequent year. A local advertising group may receive all or part of this spending. (Item 6, PDF p. 16) |
| Meeting and Convention Fees | Varies | When it applies | No attendance fee. Failure to attend costs $1,500 per meeting. Attending without staying at the designated hotel or for the full event costs $750 per meeting. (Item 6, PDF p. 16) |
| Transfer Fee | $10,000 | When it applies | $10,000 before acceptance of transfer; reduced to $3,500 for a family member. No fee for a transfer to a business entity wholly owned by the franchisee. Broker or buyer-finding fees may also apply. (Item 6, PDF p. 17) |
| Audit Fee | Varies | When it applies | Cost of the audit if Gross Revenues are understated by at least 2%. Note 7 on PDF page 19 estimates $2,500 to $5,000, but costs may be higher. Underpaid amounts also incur the disclosed interest. (Item 6, PDF p. 17) |
| Returned Electronic Funds Transfer Fee | $100 | When it applies | $100 when an electronic funds transfer is not honored, in addition to applicable late fees and interest. (Item 6, PDF p. 17) |
| Successor Franchise (Renewal) Fee | $5,500 | When it applies | Due on execution of a successor franchise agreement. (Item 6, PDF p. 17) |
| Supplier Approval | Varies | When it applies | Currently none. The franchisor reserves the right to charge a fee for a request to approve a supplier for an item with a designated approved supplier. (Item 6, PDF p. 17) |
| Additional Training | Varies | When it applies | Currently $55 per hour per person plus out-of-pocket expenses, payable within 30 days of invoice. Opening training is free. (Item 6, PDF p. 17) |
| Interest and Late Fees on Late Payments or Reports | Varies | When it applies | Interest up to 18% per year on amounts owed, plus $75 for each late report or fee, subject to legal limits. (Item 6, PDF p. 17) |
| Costs and Attorneys' Fees | Varies | When it applies | Varies with the circumstances; may be payable if the franchisee does not prevail in an action based on the franchise agreement. (Item 6, PDF p. 17) |
| Indemnification | Varies | When it applies | Reimbursement if the franchisor is held liable for claims arising from the franchised business. (Item 6, PDF p. 18) |
Explore annual fees and payback assumptions
This fee schedule cannot be reduced to the calculator’s simple sales-based formula. Enter your own assumptions and check them against the Item 6 terms.
Ace Hardware Painting Services startup investment and modeled fees over 10 years
A source check placed this record on review hold. Automatic fee estimates are withheld until the outstanding issues are resolved. Item 6 (PDF pages 16-19) reconciles royalty and national brand fees against minimum annual gross revenue. Local marketing spending also changes by operating year. A single sales percentage cannot represent these obligations. See the fee amounts and definitions in Item 6 above. Open the calculator with your own assumptions.
Item 20: Ace Hardware Painting Services franchised outlet history
Source: Ace Hardware Painting Services 2025 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 51.
Item 20 Table 3 reports 8 franchised outlets at the end of 2024. The company-owned table reports a further 3 outlets.
| Year | Franchised at Start | Opened | Reported Exits | At End | Franchise Exit Rate (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2024 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 8 | — |
Calculated outlet totals, net growth and exit rates are withheld because this record has not cleared the current Item 20 source checks. The table retains the outlet counts printed in Item 20. Read the unresolved source issues.
Reported exits include terminations, non-renewals, franchisor reacquisitions and other cessations. A reacquired outlet may continue operating. How we calculate the exit rate. How to read the Item 20 outlet tables.
PDF pages 50-51 contain the system summary, transfer totals, franchised outlet totals and company-owned outlet totals. The reported franchised openings begin in 2024; the preceding years contain no franchised outlets. Company-owned totals include the predecessor and an affiliate.
How much do Ace Hardware Painting Services franchise owners make? (Item 19)
Source: Ace Hardware Painting Services 2025 FDD, Item 19, PDF p. 49.
Ace Hardware Painting Services’s 2025 FDD has no Item 19 financial performance representation, so it gives no official sales, profit or owner-pay figures. Treat any earnings claim you hear from a salesperson with caution, and ask current owners (their contacts are listed in Item 20).
Payback calculator (enter your own assumptions) Check any inputs against this record’s Item 7 startup costs and Item 6 fee rules.
How long is the Ace Hardware Painting Services franchise agreement term?
Source: Ace Hardware Painting Services 2025 FDD, Item 17, PDF p. 47.
The standard Ace Hardware Painting Services franchise agreement runs 10 years, with renewal terms of 10 years.
How long does it take to open an Ace Hardware Painting Services franchise? (Item 11)
Source: Ace Hardware Painting Services 2025 FDD, Item 11, PDF p. 33.
Item 11 of the 2025 FDD states the time from signing a Franchise Agreement to opening: typically 120 days.
This opening estimate comes from the older FDD identified in the source-review hold; permits, equipment and training can change the schedule.
Franchises with a similar investment range
These published records are selected by proximity to Ace Hardware Painting Services’s $89,250 low-end Item 7 investment, starting with Home Services. Formats, fees and source qualifications differ; the figures are not interchangeable budgets:
- ShelfGenie $95.3K – $148K Source review pending Provisional publication Home Services
- The Junkluggers $96K – $359K Home Services
- Weed Man $81.2K – $109K Source review pending Provisional publication Home Services
- Painter1 $80.3K – $168K Source review pending Provisional publication Home Services
- Budget Blinds $101K – $211K Home Services
- Pillar To Post $103K – $134K Source review pending Provisional publication Home Services
Compare other home services franchises
Frequently Asked Questions about Ace Hardware Painting Services
This record has unresolved source-review issues and was published provisionally. Read the specific issues before using these answers.
- What does the startup estimate for Ace Hardware Painting Services assume?
- Item 7 estimates $89,250 – $153,470 for a home-office business. It includes the $50,000 – $80,000 franchise fee, software, initial marketing, tools and additional funds. The low equipment allowance assumes existing tools, and independent contractors typically supply their own equipment.
- Does Ace Hardware Painting Services disclose franchise earnings?
- No. Item 19 of the 2025 FDD does not provide historical revenue or profit figures for franchised or company-owned outlets.
- Are the royalty and brand fees calculated only on actual sales?
- No. Item 6 lists 6% of Gross Revenues and 2% of Gross Revenues, but both are subject to annual reconciliation against minimum annual gross revenue. An owner below that minimum must pay an additional reconciliation amount.
Sources
Ace Painting Franchising, LLC Franchise Disclosure Document, issued March 27, 2025, as filed with the Minnesota Commerce (CARDS). Read the source FDD PDF. How to get this FDD yourself.
- Item 5: cited PDF p. 14
- Item 6: cited PDF p. 16
- Item 7: cited PDF p. 19
- Item 19: cited PDF p. 49
- Item 20: cited PDF p. 51
- Agreement term (Item 17): cited PDF p. 47
Page references for Ace Hardware Painting Services use the PDF viewer's digital page count, not printed page headers. Some viewers download the document instead of opening the referenced page.
If the state document viewer does not open, use Minnesota Commerce's public filing instructions to look up the filing by franchisor name and document date.
Document & verification changelog
- November 3, 2026: Record updated.
- November 3, 2026: Provisional publication approved per owner directive: Owner authorized provisional republication on November 3, 2026. The available FDD is older than the site's 18-month source limit; the sourceReview hold remains. The original first-publication date is retained and this record is not currently verified.
- October 27, 2026: Withdrawn from publication on October 27, 2026. The cited FDD (issued March 27, 2025) is more than 18 months old, Minnesota issued an Order of Cancellation for the registration on May 18, 2026, and no later FDD was found. The page returns when a current FDD is available and checked.
- October 19, 2026: Source review hold recorded. Unresolved corrections are listed in this source section.
- October 16, 2026: Initial cost profile published from the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document (issued March 27, 2025).