How Five Below is run
Five Below operated 1,921 stores in 46 states at the end of January 2026 and plans more than 3,500 over time; its annual report describes no franchised stores. (Five Below annual report, fiscal 2025)
Franchises like Five Below
If you want to own a discount store business, these franchise brands sell the closest thing to Five Below, largest first.
| Brand | Cost to open | Fee | Royalty | Locations | Sales a location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plato's ClosetFee $25K · Royalty 5% · Sales $1.31M a location | $356K–$468K | $25K | 5% | 526+26 in 3 yrs | $1.31M |
| MinisoFee $50K · Royalty No royalty; 45%–65% product share | $361K–$745K | $50K | No royalty; 45%–65% product share | 351+277 in 3 yrs | – |
| Uptown CheapskateFee $35K · Royalty 5% | $364K–$682K | $35K | 5% | 162+49 in 3 yrs | – |
| Learning ExpressFee $40K · Royalty 5% · Sales $891K a location | $203K–$386K | $40K | 5% | 79−11 in 3 yrs | $891K |
| DaaBIN StoreFee $35K · Royalty 5% | $162K–$276K | $35K | 5% | 11+11 in 3 yrs | – |
| Just-A-BuckFee $25K · Royalty 4% | $176K–$298K | $25K | 4% | 10−4 in 3 yrs | – |
Locations are US locations, franchised and company-owned, at the end of the latest year filed. Sales are yearly, before costs, where the brand publishes them.
Plato's Closet is the largest, with 526 US locations, and DaaBIN Store costs least to open, from $161,750. Miniso added the most locations, +277 over 3 years. Of the brands that publish sales, Plato's Closet reports the most per location, $1.31M a year. The typical retail franchise starts at $198K to open; see where the money goes.