Ace Hardware vs Coast-To-Coast Store
Ace Hardware vs Coast-To-Coast Store: Ace Hardware costs $579K–$1.9M to open; Coast-To-Coast Store costs $57K–$348K. Ace Hardware has 850 units, Coast-To-Coast Store has 86. SBA loan history: Ace Hardware = 1,175 loans (7.0% default); Coast-To-Coast Store = 115 loans (16.5% default). The franchise with more SBA-funded units, lower default rate, and lower royalty load is the safer financing bet — see the comparison below.
Ace Hardware vs Coast-To-Coast Store — Capital, Scale & Lending Analysis
Data-driven differentiation pulled from FDD filings and SBA 7(a) loan-level data. Each pairing reflects a unique combination of capital intensity, system scale, and financing path.
Capital Intensity
Coast-To-Coast Store requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($57K vs $579K for Ace Hardware), a 917% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $5K for Ace Hardware versus $56K for Coast-To-Coast Store — Ace Hardware has the lower entry fee.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Ace Hardware operates 850 units to Coast-To-Coast Store's 86 — roughly 10× the system size. Ace Hardware has been operating 102 years (founded 1924) versus 98 for Coast-To-Coast Store (founded 1928) — a 4-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Ace Hardware has the deeper SBA lending track record with 1,175 historical 7(a) approvals versus 115 for Coast-To-Coast Store. Ace Hardware's peak SBA year was 2021 (105 loans); Coast-To-Coast Store's peak was 1993 (21 loans). Ace Hardware's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Geographically, Ace Hardware concentrates in CA (120 SBA-funded units) while Coast-To-Coast Store leads in IA (18) — pick the brand whose strongest state matches yours for warmest lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Ace Hardware deals is $678K vs $191K for Coast-To-Coast Store — useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 7.0% for Ace Hardware and 16.5% for Coast-To-Coast Store — Ace Hardware has the cleaner historical loss profile by 9.5 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 60 (Moderate) for Ace Hardware and 41 (Fair) for Coast-To-Coast Store, giving Ace Hardware the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 60/100 | 41/100 |
Health Tier | Moderate | Fair |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | N/A |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 1,175 | 115 |
SBA Volume | — | — |
Default Rate | 7.0% | 16.5% |
Peer Tier | major | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $579K – $1.9M | $57K – $348K |
Franchise Fee | $5K | $56K |
Royalty Rate | N/A | N/A |
Ad Fund | N/A | N/A |
Liquid Capital | $250K | N/A |
Net Worth Required | $400K | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 850 | 86 |
Franchised Units | 850 | 86 |
Company-Owned | — | — |
Term Length | N/A | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1924 | 1928 |
Franchising Since | 1960 | N/A |
Years Franchising | 66 yrs | N/A |
Headquarters | Oak Brook, IL | GREENFIELD, IA |
Category | Hardware Stores | Hardware Stores |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | N/A |
Which Is Better — Ace Hardware or Coast-To-Coast Store?
Lower upfront capital required
Coast-To-Coast Store
Ace Hardware: $579K starting · Coast-To-Coast Store: $57K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Ace Hardware
Ace Hardware: 1,175 SBA loans · Coast-To-Coast Store: 115 SBA loans
Lower historical default rate
Ace Hardware
Ace Hardware: 7.0% · Coast-To-Coast Store: 16.5%
Larger system & brand presence
Ace Hardware
Ace Hardware: 850 units · Coast-To-Coast Store: 86 units
More lender financing options
Ace Hardware
Ace Hardware: 328 unique lenders · Coast-To-Coast Store: 68 unique lenders
Decision matrix uses publicly disclosed FDD and SBA loan data. Not a recommendation — your best franchise depends on capital, market, operating capacity, and risk tolerance.
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Ace Hardware vs Coast-To-Coast Store: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Ace Hardware and Coast-To-Coast Store is about more than brand preference — it's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $57K to $1.9M.
Both brands have active SBA lending histories — Ace Hardware with 1,175 SBA loans and Coast-To-Coast Store with 115. This means proven lender acceptance and established underwriting paths for franchise buyers.
SBA 7(a) loans are the most common franchise funding vehicle, offering up to $5M with as little as 10% down. PeerSense connects franchise buyers with the specific lenders who have approved loans for these brands — not generic referrals, but lenders with actual franchise lending track records.
Data sourced from SBA loan records, Franchise Disclosure Documents, and public filings. Updated regularly. Not financial advice — consult with a lending professional before making investment decisions.