You will use our scheduling software, which we grant you access to in exchange for your payment of the Software and Internet Fee. Our third party designated vendor is the supplier of this software. You will also obtain website development services, search engine optimization, and other online marketing services from our designated suppliers, which are independent third parties. We currently bill you for these required services by charging the Software and Internet Fee and pay the suppliers on your behalf. We currently use Ingeniux Corporation (“IGX”) to service and maintain our website. You will enter into a Participation Agreement with IGX to permit you to receive access to IGX’s Vendor SaaS Services. A copy of the IGX Participation Agreement is attached to this Disclosure Document as Attachment N.
From the filings
Ace Handyman Franchising
Home servicesAce Handyman Franchising bills franchisees centrally for required technology through its Software and Internet Fee, routed to IGX and other designated suppliers. The system spans 387 units, 369 of them franchised, and is part of Ace Hardware's broader corporate structure.
For software vendors selling into US franchise brands.
Live signals
Ordinary royalty terms
6% component; full terms unconfirmed
Complete royalty terms are not confirmed for the selected filing.
Recorded percentage components
These are recorded percentage components. Each has its own base and conditions; the chart does not state the total payment or confirm ad-fund completeness.
1recorded components (FY2026)
15% reference
Mandated & recommended tech
The systems vendors compete with
Systems named in Item 11 of this filing. None is recorded as mandated here, which is not the same as the filing mandating nothing. Read Item 11 before treating the category as open.
13. The “median” for purposes of the tables means the financial results of the Reporting Unit falling in the middle of each group in terms of Total Revenue, or, where there is an even number of Reporting Units, the average of the financial results of the two Reporting Units falling in the middle of the group. The numbers in that column do not necessary represent the median overall result of all of the Reporting Units in the table for each particular line item other than Total Revenue. 14. The information in the tables were prepared from data obtained from the unaudited reports submitted by the Reporting Operators shown in each table to us from their QuickBooks software for calendar year 2024. We have not audited these reports and cannot guarantee their accuracy. 15. The tables contemplate those costs expressly listed as included in the “Total Cost of Goods” and “Total Expenses” categories of each table. Expenses vary substantially and are based on particular factors relevant to each Operator. You may incur operating expenses different from those stated above as well as other isolated or recurring expenses. See ITEMS 5, 6, and 7 for fees and other expenses you may incur. Further, the tables do not show any taxes paid by the Reporting Operators, including any sales taxes and income taxes that may be applicable. Taxes vary widely between Territories and from Operator to Operator. You should conduct an independent investigation of the costs and expenses you will incur in operating your AHS Business. Franchisees or former franchisees listed in Attachment H and Attachment I to this Disclosure Document may be one source of this information.
Franchisor behaviours
What the franchisor requires
18 requirements the franchisor states in this filing, each in its own words; 6 explicit no's; 10 questions the text does not settle, which is not a no.
How the franchisor buys
Is there a franchisee advisory council, association or committee?
YesItem 11
We have established a Franchisee Advisory Council, which serves to assist us in determining how to operate the National Fund and other advertising matters.
Does the franchisor reserve the right to change designated suppliers or systems at any time?
YesItem 8
neither we nor any affiliate of ours is currently an approved supplier for any goods or services for your AHS Business, although we reserve the right to designate ourselves or other affiliates as approved suppliers for certain goods or services in the future.
How much revenue did the franchisor and its affiliates earn from franchisee purchases in the last fiscal year?
0Item 8
During our last fiscal year (ending December 28, 2024), we did not derive any revenues from materials sold to our franchisees.
Item 8 gives this proportion in one of two shapes: separate percentages for establishing the business and for operating it, or one figure covering "establishing and operating" together. Where they are separate, answer with the operating percentage; where the passage gives only the combined figure, answer with that. What percentage of the franchisee's purchases must come from designated or approved suppliers?
80Item 8
We estimate that purchases in accordance with our standards and specifications will comprise 80 to 90 percent of the product purchase requirements for the ongoing operations of an AHS Business.
Can a franchisee propose a new supplier for the franchisor's approval?
YesItem 8
Once we designate a particular supplier for a particular product or service, if you want to utilize similar materials or services in your AHS Business from a supplier that has not previously been approved by us, you will need to first obtain our approval.
Data and IT
Must the franchisee comply with PCI, data-security or cybersecurity standards set by the franchisor?
YesItem 11
Therefore, you must be PCI compliant by following and adhering to the then-current PCI DSS, currently found at www.pcisecuritystandards.org, or any similar or subsequent standard for the protection of cardholder data throughout the term of your Franchise Agreement.
Franchise management
Does the franchisor conduct periodic inspections, audits or evaluations of the franchised business?
YesItem 9
Inspection and audits Section 16.3 ITEM 6
Can the franchisor change the operations manual and brand standards unilaterally?
YesItem 14
We may modify the Operations Manual in our sole discretion, but the modifications will not alter your status and rights under your Franchise Agreement.
Must the franchisor approve the franchisee's site or location before opening?
YesItem 11
You may not open your AHS Business until such time as you have obtained an approved location.
Marketing
Is the franchisee prohibited from operating its own website or social media accounts, or required to use pages the franchisor provides?
YesItem 11
You may not create, have or use any other social media accounts related to your AHS Business other than the ones we provide.
Is a minimum grand opening advertising spend required?
YesItem 6
You must also spend between $1,000 and $4,000 for a required Grand Opening event.
Is the franchisee required to spend a minimum amount on local advertising or marketing, as a percentage of sales or a fixed amount?
YesItem 11
Beginning with the third full month of operation of your AHS Business through the end of your first Contract Year, you must spend at least $30,000, increasing to $40,000 for your second Contract Year, and $50,000 for each Contract Year thereafter as your Minimum Individual Marketing Expenditure.
Operations
Must the franchisee buy products from a designated distributor?
YesItem 8
You are required to purchase all materials, supplies and goods needed to run your AHS Business from an Ace Supplier, but only when an item is in stock or readily available, and competitively priced.
Must equipment be purchased from designated or approved suppliers?
YesItem 8
You are required to purchase all materials, supplies and goods needed to run your AHS Business from an Ace Supplier, but only when an item is in stock or readily available, and competitively priced.
Payments
Are royalties and other fees collected by automatic bank debit (ACH or electronic funds transfer) from the franchisee's account?
YesItem 6
We currently require you to pay fees and other amounts due to us or our affiliates via electronic funds transfer (“EFT”) or other similar means.
People
Does the franchisor require minimum staffing levels or specific roles?
YesItem 15
You must ensure that at least one representative of your AHS Business maintains LRRP Certification at all times during the term of your Franchise Agreement.
Training
Can the franchisor charge the franchisee for additional, refresher or remedial training?
YesItem 11
You will be responsible for paying the travel, lodging and other costs for you, your Franchise Manager, your Office Manager, or your other representatives, and you will be required to pay us our standard fees for conducting additional training in accordance with our then current fee schedule.
Is attendance at an annual convention or conference mandatory for the franchisee?
YesItem 11
You or your Franchise Manager, and your Office Manager, must attend one regional meeting for your region and our annual national convention each year if we hold these meetings.
The filing answers no to 6 questions
- Does the franchisor have direct or independent electronic access to the franchisee's financial, sales or customer records?Item 11
- Is the franchisor or an affiliate itself a supplier of required products, services or systems?Item 8
- Does the franchisor or an affiliate receive rebates, commissions or other revenue from designated or approved suppliers?Item 8
- Does the franchisor charge a fee to evaluate a proposed supplier?Item 8
- Must the franchisee participate in a regional advertising cooperative when one exists?Item 11
- Does the franchisor have independent access to the data in the franchisee's POS or computer system?Item 11
The vendor opportunity at Ace Handyman Franchising
Ace Handyman Franchising operates 387 units, 369 of them franchised, with franchised outlets up 0.5% year over year. The Item 19 figure for the cohort of 286 Reporting Territories open the full 2024 year, operated by 148 Operators, is $242,018. Ace Handyman Franchising is part of Ace Hardware, alongside sibling brand Ace Painting Franchising, putting a vendor relationship here inside a larger hardware-retail corporate structure.
Who controls software purchasing
Ace Handyman Franchising bills franchisees centrally for required technology through its Software and Internet Fee, which the franchisor pays to IGX and any other designated suppliers on the franchisee's behalf — with the option to have those vendors bill franchisees directly in the future. In some cases, required systems and software are available only through the franchisor, its affiliates, or designated suppliers, and none of them are obligated to provide ongoing maintenance, repairs, upgrades, or updates once installed.
Tech named in the FDD, and what is actually required
The FDD names Ingeniux in Item 8 and QuickBooks by Intuit in Item 19. Franchisees must use the franchisor's scheduling software, and Item 11's minimum specifications require QuickBooks online version software and the Microsoft Office suite on a Windows 11 or higher PC. Beyond those named systems, the Software and Internet Fee arrangement above is the operative technology mandate: a franchisor-controlled fee routed to designated technology suppliers.
Procurement, renewals, and timing
Item 8's approved-supplier list centers on the Ace Suppliers — Ace Hardware and its retailer network — for materials, supplies, fixtures, equipment, and inventory, required when an item is in stock, readily available, and competitively priced.
How to read the Ace Handyman Franchising FDD
The embedded viewer below carries Ace Handyman Franchising's 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document, including the Item 8 language summarized above.
Talk to FranCloud for a ranked list of franchise systems like Ace Handyman Franchising where the technology mandate and procurement structure line up with your product.
Ordinary royalty terms
Complete royalty terms are not confirmed.
Questions vendors ask
Ace Handyman Franchising, answered from the filing
Read the filing itself
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Operator footprint
Who runs the locations
232 operators run 232 mapped locations. 0 of them are multi-unit. Aggregate counts from the filing; no names.
Operators by units owned
Top states by locations
| TX | 28 |
|---|---|
| FL | 25 |
| GA | 16 |
| NC | 13 |
| CA | 12 |
Ownership
The portfolio behind Ace Handyman Franchising
Ownership: Ace Hardware.
Sibling brands
Related Home services brands
Primary franchise filings · updated September 2026. Read the original filing for definitions, conditions, and qualifications.