HobbyTown
Franchise research report · reviewed 2026 disclosure data
Researching HobbyTown franchise opportunities? Every figure below is cited to the FDD.
HobbyTown franchise specializes in hobby retail, offering radio-controlled vehicles, model kits, games, and crafting supplies to enthusiasts of all ages.
Headline figures
HobbyTown quick facts
- Is HobbyTown a franchise?
- Yes. HobbyTown offers franchises through a Franchise Disclosure Document. At the end of 2025, it reported 85 franchised and 1 company-owned outlets (2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 53).
- How much does it cost to open a HobbyTown franchise?
- The HobbyTown Franchise Disclosure Document reports an estimated initial investment of $327,100 (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 17). This is the franchisor's disclosed estimate, not a quote. Details
- What ongoing fees does HobbyTown charge?
- The disclosed ongoing royalty is 4.75% (2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 13). The brand or advertising fund contribution is $30,000 (2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 13). Other recurring fees are listed in Item 6. Details
- Does HobbyTown disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- Yes. The HobbyTown FDD includes an Item 19 financial performance representation (2026 FDD, Item 19, PDF p. 45). Figures apply only to the locations and period each one covers. Details
- How many HobbyTown locations are there?
- The FDD reports 86 outlets at the end of 2025 (2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 53). Existing locations do not indicate territory availability. Details
- Is HobbyTown a good franchise to buy?
- Franopolis does not rate or recommend franchises. From the reviewed FDD: Item 19 includes financial performance figures; check which locations and period they cover; Item 20 lists outlet openings, closures and transfers; Item 6 includes a brand or advertising fund contribution on top of royalty; Item 20 also lists current and former franchisees you can contact. Review the full FDD with a franchise attorney and accountant before deciding.
From reviewed FDD figures only. Not a recommendation or projection.
What the disclosures show
- 1Opening costs are estimated at $327,100 in the 2026 FDD (Item 7); several initial fee options apply.
- 2Item 19 reports adjusted operating results for 67 Franchised; may include independent-store conversions stores.
- 3Outlets declined by 8 in 2025, to 86 (United States, as labeled in the FDD, Item 20).
From reviewed FDD figures only. Not a recommendation or projection.
HobbyTown head-to-head
Closest peers in the same subcategory, side by side from reviewed FDD figures. Not a ranking or recommendation.
Costs · Items 5–7
What does it cost to open?
Estimated opening costs and the fees payable to the franchisor.
Startup Investment — Item 7
Total estimated initial investment
2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 17
Ongoing Fees — Item 6
Selected recurring charges; payment bases and conditions remain attached to each fee.
- Royalty / minimum advertising — 4.75%Main ongoing fee
44 reported fees, each with its payment basis, are listed below; they haven't been sorted into recurring, initial and occasional groups yet.
Financial Performance — Item 19
What results are disclosed—and for which locations?
6 separate populations, shown apart. Revenue is not owner income.
67 locations
Adjusted operating results · 67 locations
Adjusted company-owned results: the franchisor adjusted these centers' expenses to estimate franchisee costs. They are not observed franchisee results or owner take-home income.
- Who is counted
- All 67 reporting stores
- Period
- Median
- Excluded
- 18 full-year stores incomplete; 9 closed, 1 opened and 1 reacquired excluded. Expenses exclude automobile, contributions, employee benefits, health/life insurance, interest, meals/entertainment, owner payroll, travel.
- Method
- Unaudited franchisee reports; source rounded to dollars. 27 multiunit stores expenses allocated proportionally to store revenue. Marketing adjusted to 2%, royalty 4.75%; zeros may reflect other expense categories/store reports. Table4 repeated expense figures retained as printed.
These groups are never combined. Adjusted company-owned operating results cannot be divided by franchised revenue to calculate a franchisee profit margin.
Outlet Changes — Item 20
How has the outlet count changed?
United States, as labeled in the FDD · counts as of 2025 of each year.
2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 53
Net −14 outlets, 2023–2025
Year-end counts reported in Item 20. The scale starts at zero; the labels between the dots show each year's change. Openings and closures for 2025 haven't been pulled from the Item 20 tables yet, so no turnover or churn is shown.
Questions to investigate
Prompts based on what this brand's reviewed disclosures do and don't show — not conclusions. Join free as a member to save questions to your research.
For the franchisor
Which line items in the 2026 Item 7 estimate ($327,100) vary most by market, and why?
Which initial fee option would apply to my situation, and what conditions or discounts affect it?
Which locations are included in the Item 19 figures, and which were excluded?
Reported units decreased from 94 to 86 in 2025. What drove the change?
Is a territory available in my area, and how is it defined in my agreement?
For current and former owners
How did your actual startup costs and timeline compare with the Item 7 estimate?
How many hours a week do you work in the business, and in what role?
How do your results compare with the Item 19 figures, and what explains the difference?
What support from the franchisor has been most and least useful?
For your advisors
Ask a franchise attorney to review the territory, renewal, transfer and termination terms.
Ask an accountant to build a cash-flow plan using your own assumptions, not the franchisor's.
Sources & vintage history
Every displayed fact is retained with its disclosure vintage, item, page, and reviewed status. Prior vintages remain on file rather than being overwritten.
Citations (2026 FDD)
- [1]Estimated initial investment — Item 7 · PDF p. 17
- [2]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — All 67 reporting stores · PDF p. 45; PDF p. 46
- [3]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Quartile 1 by adjusted operating income; 67-store reporting population · PDF p. 46; PDF p. 47
- [4]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Quartile 2 by adjusted operating income; 67-store reporting population · PDF p. 47; PDF p. 48
- [5]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Quartile 3 by adjusted operating income; 67-store reporting population · PDF p. 48; PDF p. 49
- [6]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Quartile 4 by adjusted operating income; 67-store reporting population · PDF p. 49; PDF p. 50
- [7]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record · PDF p. 44; PDF p. 50
- [8]Outlet counts — Item 20, Table 1 · PDF p. 53
"PDF p." is the page in the PDF file; "printed p." is the number printed on the FDD page. Source document: FDD
Territory & operations
96 addresses in Franopolis's imported location list. Coverage may differ from Item 20 outlet counts.
These are contract disclosures, not confirmation that any territory is currently available.
Legal & agreement
Franchisor financial statements
| Fiscal year | Measure | Reported value |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | accounts receivable | $116,932 |
| 2025 | accounts receivable - related partyMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing | $76,459 |
| 2025 | inventoriesMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing | -$88,633 |
| 2025 | accounts receivable - net of allowance | $477,953 |
| 2025 | accounts receivable - related partyMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing | $157,231 |
| 2025 | inventoriesMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing | $88,633 |
| 2025 | assets available for sale | $26,693 |
| 2025 | prepaid expensesMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing | $34,497 |
| 2025 | total current assets | $1,867,612 |
| 2025 | property, plant, and equipment net of accumulated depreciation | $38,272 |
| 2025 | software costs - net | $10,555 |
| 2025 | operating lease right-of-use asset - net | $222,634 |
These figures describe the franchisor company, not individual franchise locations.
SBA-backed loans to franchisees
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Source: U.S. Small Business Administration 7(a) & 504 FOIA data. Loan volume is not a measure of franchisee success.
Related research
Brands in the same subcategory first, then the wider industry, ordered by shared business format, overlapping investment range, Item 20 outlet count and search interest. This is not a ranking or recommendation.
Head-to-head comparisons
At a glance
Business history
Not reviewed
Owner participation
Not reviewed
Territory language
Litigation disclosure
Not reviewed
Bankruptcy disclosure
Not reviewed
Agreement term
Not reviewed
Reader notes on wording
Our automated check found that these summaries may not match the FDD's exact wording. Read the FDD excerpt itself; it is the authoritative text. Core cost, fee, Item 19 and outlet figures are not affected.
Item 19 · PDF p. 48 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 4 Adjusted Advertising & Marketing (2%) — number at/above average
“Operating Expenses Adjusted Advertising & Marketing (2%) $919,537 $991,328 $1,822,046 $246,897 11 (65%)”
Note: The extracted Table 4 text repeats the Gross Revenue figures under Adjusted Advertising & Marketing (2%), leaving the row-to-value mapping unresolved (PDF p.48).
Item 19 · PDF p. 48 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 4 Alarm Expense — Median
“Alarm Expense $614,975 $658,205 $1,224,899 $151,067 10 (59%)”
Note: The extracted Table 4 text repeats the Cost of Goods Sold figures under Alarm Expense, leaving the row-to-value mapping unresolved (PDF p.48).
Item 19 · PDF p. 48 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 4 Adjusted Advertising & Marketing (2%) — High
“Operating Expenses Adjusted Advertising & Marketing (2%) $919,537 $991,328 $1,822,046 $246,897 11 (65%)”
Note: The extracted Table 4 text repeats the Gross Revenue figures under Adjusted Advertising & Marketing (2%), leaving the row-to-value mapping unresolved (PDF p.48).
Item 19 · PDF p. 48 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 4 Alarm Expense — number at/above average
“Alarm Expense $614,975 $658,205 $1,224,899 $151,067 10 (59%)”
Note: The extracted Table 4 text repeats the Cost of Goods Sold figures under Alarm Expense, leaving the row-to-value mapping unresolved (PDF p.48).
Item 19 · PDF p. 48 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 4 Alarm Expense — Low
“Alarm Expense $614,975 $658,205 $1,224,899 $151,067 10 (59%)”
Note: The extracted Table 4 text repeats the Cost of Goods Sold figures under Alarm Expense, leaving the row-to-value mapping unresolved (PDF p.48).
Item 19 · PDF p. 48 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 4 Bad Debt — Median
“Bad Debt $304,561 $327,015 $597,147 $95,831 2 (12%)”
Note: Bad Debt row repeats Gross Profit figures; source does not settle the expense values.
Item 19 · PDF p. 48 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 4 Bank Charges — Median
“Bank Charges $919,537 $991,328 $1,822,046 $246,897 3 (18%)”
Note: Bank Charges row repeats Gross Revenue figures; source does not settle the expense values.
Item 19 · PDF p. 48 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 4 Bank Charges — Average
“Bank Charges $919,537 $991,328 $1,822,046 $246,897 3 (18%)”
Note: Bank Charges row repeats Gross Revenue figures; source does not settle the expense values.
Item 19 · PDF p. 48 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 4 Bank Charges — High
“Bank Charges $919,537 $991,328 $1,822,046 $246,897 3 (18%)”
Note: Bank Charges row repeats Gross Revenue figures; source does not settle the expense values.
Item 19 · PDF p. 48 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 4 Bad Debt — number at/above average
“Bad Debt $304,561 $327,015 $597,147 $95,831 2 (12%)”
Note: Bad Debt row repeats Gross Profit figures; source does not settle the expense values.
Item 19 · PDF p. 48 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 4 Bank Charges — percent at/above average
“Bank Charges $919,537 $991,328 $1,822,046 $246,897 3 (18%)”
Note: Bank Charges row repeats Gross Revenue figures; source does not settle the expense values.
Item 19 · PDF p. 48 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 4 Contract Labor — Average
“Contract Labor $614,975 $658,205 $1,224,899 $151,067 5 (29%)”
Note: Contract Labor row repeats COGS figures; source does not settle the expense values.
Item 19 · PDF p. 48 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 4 Alarm Expense — High
“Alarm Expense $614,975 $658,205 $1,224,899 $151,067 10 (59%)”
Note: The extracted Table 4 text repeats the Cost of Goods Sold figures under Alarm Expense, leaving the row-to-value mapping unresolved (PDF p.48).
Item 19 · PDF p. 48 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 4 Adjusted Advertising & Marketing (2%) — Low
“Operating Expenses Adjusted Advertising & Marketing (2%) $919,537 $991,328 $1,822,046 $246,897 11 (65%)”
Note: The extracted Table 4 text repeats the Gross Revenue figures under Adjusted Advertising & Marketing (2%), leaving the row-to-value mapping unresolved (PDF p.48).
Item 19 · PDF p. 48 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 4 Bad Debt — Low
“Bad Debt $304,561 $327,015 $597,147 $95,831 2 (12%)”
Note: Bad Debt row repeats Gross Profit figures; source does not settle the expense values.
Item 19 · PDF p. 48 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 4 Bank Charges — number at/above average
“Bank Charges $919,537 $991,328 $1,822,046 $246,897 3 (18%)”
Note: Bank Charges row repeats Gross Revenue figures; source does not settle the expense values.
Item 19 · PDF p. 48 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 4 Bad Debt — Average
“Bad Debt $304,561 $327,015 $597,147 $95,831 2 (12%)”
Note: The extracted Table 4 text repeats Gross Profit figures under Bad Debt, leaving the row-to-value mapping unresolved (PDF p.48).
Item 19 · PDF p. 48 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 4 Alarm Expense — Average
“Alarm Expense $614,975 $658,205 $1,224,899 $151,067 10 (59%)”
Note: The extracted Table 4 text repeats the Cost of Goods Sold figures under Alarm Expense, leaving the row-to-value mapping unresolved (PDF p.48).
Item 19 · PDF p. 48 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 4 Adjusted Advertising & Marketing (2%) — percent at/above average
“Operating Expenses Adjusted Advertising & Marketing (2%) $919,537 $991,328 $1,822,046 $246,897 11 (65%)”
Note: The extracted Table 4 text repeats the Gross Revenue figures under Adjusted Advertising & Marketing (2%), leaving the row-to-value mapping unresolved (PDF p.48).
Item 19 · PDF p. 48 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 4 Bad Debt — High
“Bad Debt $304,561 $327,015 $597,147 $95,831 2 (12%)”
Note: Bad Debt row repeats Gross Profit figures; source does not settle the expense values.
Item 19 · PDF p. 48 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 4 Bank Charges — Low
“Bank Charges $919,537 $991,328 $1,822,046 $246,897 3 (18%)”
Note: Bank Charges row repeats Gross Revenue figures; source does not settle the expense values.
Item 19 · PDF p. 48 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 4 Bad Debt — percent at/above average
“Bad Debt $304,561 $327,015 $597,147 $95,831 2 (12%)”
Note: Bad Debt row repeats Gross Profit figures; source does not settle the expense values.
Item 19 · PDF p. 48 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 4 Alarm Expense — percent at/above average
“Alarm Expense $614,975 $658,205 $1,224,899 $151,067 10 (59%)”
Note: The extracted Table 4 text repeats the Cost of Goods Sold figures under Alarm Expense, leaving the row-to-value mapping unresolved (PDF p.48).
Independent analysis of franchisor-provided data. Not investment advice. Franopolis does not distribute FDDs.