Retail
6 brands
Batteries Plus
RetailWild Birds Unlimited
RetailPostNet
RetailAce Hardware Painting Services
RetailGNC
RetailCircle K
RetailRetail Category at a Glance
6 brands compete in retail, with an average minimum investment of $407K and an average royalty of 5.3%. 67% disclose Item 19 revenue data — above the database-wide average, giving buyers in this category better visibility into unit economics before committing capital.
2 brands are growing and 3 are contracting by net unit count. A category where more brands are growing than shrinking signals healthy demand — but individual brand trajectory matters more than category averages. Check each brand's 3-year unit trend in their FDD Item 20 before investing.
Learn More About Retail Franchises
Best Retail Franchises
Ranked by health score with editorial analysis
Best Retail Franchises to Own
In-depth guide with FDD data
Territory Protection Guide
In-depth guide with FDD data
All Franchise Guides
114 guides on costs, financing, due diligence
Investment Calculator
Model your total cost with real FDD data
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to open a retail franchise? ▾
Investment ranges for retail franchises in our database span from $89K to $2.7M. The lowest-cost option is Circle K starting at $1.5M, while the most expensive is Circle K at up to $2.7M. These figures come from official Franchise Disclosure Documents and include franchise fees, build-out, equipment, and initial working capital.
Which retail franchise has the best performance? ▾
Based on our health score methodology, Batteries Plus leads the retail category with a score of 89/100. The health score combines unit growth rate, system size, investment efficiency, and whether the franchisor discloses Item 19 revenue data. 2 of 6 retail brands disclose revenue data in their FDD, making direct financial performance comparison possible for those brands.
What are typical royalty rates for retail franchises? ▾
The average royalty rate across 6 retail brands with disclosed rates is 5.3%. Royalties are typically calculated as a percentage of gross revenue and paid weekly or monthly. Some brands also charge a marketing/advertising fund fee of 1-3% on top of royalties. When comparing franchises, look at the total ongoing fee burden (royalty + ad fund + technology fees) rather than royalty alone — the stacking effect can significantly impact unit-level profitability.