HobbyTown franchise
A hobby store selling models, games, radio-controlled products and supplies. At the end of 2025 there were 86 HobbyTown locations in the US, 85 franchised and 1 company-owned.
- Cost to open
- $327K–$458K
- Franchise fee
- $49,500
- Royalty
- 4.75% of gross sales
- Locations, 2025
- 86−21 in 3 yrs
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Company snapshot
- SBA loans
- On the SBA Franchise Directory
From HOBBY TOWN UNLIMITED, INC’s 2026 filing; SBA status from the SBA Franchise Directory, October 28, 2026.
How much a HobbyTown franchise costs
Opening Single store costs an estimated $327,100 to $458,000. That covers the franchise fee and everything else needed to open, through the first months of working capital.
Source: HOBBY TOWN UNLIMITED, INC, 2026 filing, page 17
HobbyTown franchise fee
The franchise fee is $49,500. You pay it when you sign the franchise agreement.
Source: HOBBY TOWN UNLIMITED, INC, 2026 filing, page 11
Royalty and ongoing fees
| Royalty | 4.75% of gross sales. |
|---|
The typical franchise royalty is 6% of sales, plus 2% for marketing. See franchise fees and royalties to compare.
Source: HOBBY TOWN UNLIMITED, INC, 2026 filing, page 13
Sales and earnings
Shares figures HobbyTown publishes sales or earnings figures for its locations. The full tables, with notes on which locations are counted, are in its filing.
Source: HOBBY TOWN UNLIMITED, INC, 2026 filing, page 45
Locations opened and closed
| Year | Franchised | Company-owned | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 100 (−6) | 0 | 6 |
| 2024 | 94 (−6) | 0 | 8 |
| 2025 | 85 (−9) | 1 | 10 |
Closed or left counts terminations, non-renewals, locations bought back by the franchisor and locations that stopped operating.
See which brands grew most in the fastest-growing franchises rankings.
Source: HOBBY TOWN UNLIMITED, INC, 2026 filing, page 53
How HobbyTown compares
Of the 65 retail franchises on this site, HobbyTown is the 43rd cheapest to open and the 42nd largest by number of locations.
| Measure | HobbyTown | Typical retail |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to open, low end | $327K | $224K |
| Royalty | 4.8% | 5% |
| Closed or left per year | 8.1% | 4.7% |
| Change in franchised locations, 3 yrs | −19.8% | +4.8% |
| Shares earnings figures | Yes | 56 of 65 |
Typical is the median across the 65 brands in retail franchises.
